Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed set sail from the city docks of Downtown Annapolis, April 25, as part of the Wounded Warrior Sailing Squadron 2015 Spring Regatta.

The regatta, hosted by the Annapolis-based National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) with support from Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating (CRAB) and the USNA Varsity Sailing Team provided a unique experience to the Wounded Warriors in attendance.

Wounded Warriors and their families boarded the CRAB Freedom 20s and USNA Colgate 26s and met the midshipmen and CRAB volunteers who would skipper and crew the boats. Shortly thereafter, they set sail and began planning their route.

"Everybody pitched in and worked hard to bring you here and give you an opportunity to be on the water," said Paul Bollinger, coordinator for the Wounded Warrior Sailing Squadron Regatta. "It will be a sailing experience you will remember for the rest of your lives."

Joining the racing crews this year was Terry Hutchinson, a local Annapolis sailing legend and two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, who lent his expertise to aid the Wounded Warriors in their race.

"I came out because I wanted to support the people who support us around the world, "said Hutchinson. "They sacrifice so we can live the way that we live."

The boats competed in four races of different courses. Volunteers and Wounded Warriors worked together to compete and enjoy each other's company.

"To be able to compete and sail with people who have real life experience doing incredible things is pretty humbling," Midshipman Fourth Class Warren Mazanec. "It's just incredible to see how dedicated they are and how much they enjoy their service and to be able to experience their knowledge while we're sharing our level of sailing with them is pretty awesome."

Sgt. 1st Class Joey Moore and his wife learned some Navy terminology and enjoyed the camaraderie of their crew.

"It was obviously different, but we had an outstanding crew," said Moore. "I learned a lot of [sailing] terminology. If it was warmer, I would have stayed out there all day.

The event culminated with pizza and an award ceremony. It was Bollinger's hope that the Wounded Warriors and their families had a great experience.

"This is the fifth Wounded Warrior Sailing Regatta and we've been very fortunate to have a record number of Wounded Warriors come out," said Bollinger. "[The regatta] gave them an opportunity to get on the boats with their families and share a moment of working the sails with mids and volunteers from CRAB, and do something that they may have never done before. It's a great opportunity."

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