The 20th Annual Sandy Letzring SAILFEST Regatta was held on Sunday August 27th. This year 52 children undergoing treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and their families were invited to San Diego Yacht Club for cruises around La Playa Cove hosted by the SDYC Duffy Boat Fleet. Our guests then enjoyed a fabulous barbeque lunch and festivities back at the Club including Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Craft table, games and tours on the Harbor Police boat and PCF 816 from the Maritime Museum and the ever favorite rides on Shetland ponies accompanied this year by a baby goat.
SAILFEST was founded in 1996 by member Troy Sears with the vision of bringing children with life threatening illnesses to San Diego Yacht Club to share a fun day on the water. In 2006 the SDYC Board of Directors named the event The Sandy Letzring SAILFEST Regatta in memory of Sandy Letzring. This year the Club continued the tradition and celebrated SAILFEST’s 20th Anniversary.
Special thanks to the Harbor Police, the Maritime Museum, The Clown Ladies and My Little Pony Rides who participate every year and to our Duffy Boat skippers, all our shore volunteers including Lisa Record who coordinated boats this year. They all make this event possible and bring wonderful memories and smiles to these children and their families. We are looking forward to next year!