Press Release - Lynn Moers, Captain Courageous
Lynn Moers has earned the title of Captain Courageous for his recent sailing
adventure. Mr. Moers fractured his neck in an accident 20 years ago and
became paralyzed from the neck down. Mr. Moers has been living on a
ventilator ever since. Through his dogged determination, Mr. Moers was able
to sail independently for the first time on June 24, 2004 with Sailability
Greater Tampa Bay, Inc. on Clearwater Bay using an Access Dinghy 303S
sailboat. The single passenger boat will not capsize, has a watertight
compartment for the ventilator, and electric winches to control the steering
and sails. The boat has a custom made seat that provides stability and full
body support. Mr. Moers is able to independently manage the sails and the
steering, with a chin control “joystick” device. The four way chin control
mechanism allows him to, push forward on the joystick to let the sails out,
pulling back brings the sails in, and right and left, steers the boat right
and left. It is a remarkable feat, considering that he cannot move his body
below his neck, and has to be connected to a ventilator to breathe. He only
has five minutes to live if the ventilator stops. There is a strobe light
connected to the ventilator to alert the medical team on a nearby safety
boat of ventilator functioning.
This sail was made possible with a grant from the Christopher Reeve
Paralysis Foundation, and additional grants from the Palm Harbor Junior
Women’s Club, Inc, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Equipment
adaptations were provided by, Custom Mobility, Inc. and the James A. Haley
VA hospital staff. Sailability Greater Tampa Bay, Inc coordinated the sail
along with providing the sailing instruction. He plans to sail again on
August 21st at 2pm with Sailability Greater Tampa Bay, Inc at the Clearwater
Community Sailing Center on Sand Key. The sail on the 21st will include
other sailors in a variety of adaptive boats, enjoying the freedom that most
of us take for granted. Due to his present physical condition we are ready
to change the date of the sail if need be. This is truly an example of the
community pulling together to make the waterways accessible to people of all
ages and abilities.
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