The galleon RAWFAITH (WWF Oct. ’02), under construction in Addison to provide accessible sailing for disabled children and their families, is spending the winter at the building site beside the Pleasant River. Capt. George McKay anticipates launching the ship in April.
McKay and his family have devoted the past three years and their savings to their mission, Accessible Sailing Adventures, which was inspired by the McKays’ 22-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, who has been confined to a wheelchair since age 12. McKay says although they were not able to launch in October as they had intended, they do not look at the delay as a setback. “What it means,” he says, “is that during the winter we’ll be doing interior work here in Addison rather than further south, as we’d originally planned.”
Commissioning trials in Maine waters are planned for July and August, 2003, and the McKays aim to begin their maiden voyage from Maine to Florida in September. George McKay has put out a call for several volunteers to fill crew positions on these voyages: a sailing captain consultant, first mate, navigator, two deck hands, a cook and galley helper. Room and board on RAWFAITH will be provided for volunteers.
McKay says the ship’s exterior planking has almost been completed and the crew, composed of himself, his three sons and volunteers, has turned full attention to interior work like putting down floors, building walls, and installing plumbing and electrical systems.
The McKays, who have formed the non-profit RAWFAITH Trust, continue to seek funding for the project. Randy Van Osten, a volunteer who first began working on the ship last summer with the New Jersey Agape Mission Projects and stayed on to help out, has returned home, where three area churches have agreed to help support the project. McKay recently spoke to the New Jersey groups, raising $5,000, and Van Osten is also applying for grants. Any amount, however small, helps move the project forward, says McKay. As another fundraiser, he has designed a 2003 calendar which can be seen at and ordered from the RAWFAITH web site.
McKay says the project could progress on $30,000, but that to outfit the ship with the best quality of equipment and materials, they will need about $300,000 “It’s the difference between getting the finest radar system or the cheapest, or using fir for the mast or laminated spruce,” he explained.
The McKays were heartened that many people came by to see the RAWFAITH and express support after reading about their mission in the October issue of Working Waterfront.
To follow progress of the RAWFAITH, visit www.accessiblesailing.info. To inquire about volunteer positions, contact George McKay at RAWFAITH@yahoo.com or (207) 483-2080.