Tag Archives: sailing

Citius, Altius, Fortius

In every way, every sailor in Rio is a bonified Olympian. The struggle, the hard work, the intensity, the goals, the determination. These athletes are athletes, through and through.

Each and everyone of them is different, better, and more for competing. And to compete at this level, one is truly a world-class athlete.

Making it to this level is recognition of extreme talent, dedication and drive. Making it to the podium is the extreme mark of achievement.

Race hard, sail fast. You are our champions.

Todd Gould
Producer
Racing to Rio

Team USA 1 earns #1

Congratulations to Sonar Team USA 1 on another hard-earned victory! Team USA 1 took first place at the Helly Hansen St. Petersburg NOOD (National Offshore One-Design) Regatta 2016 last Saturday.

The crew of Racing To Rio was excited to catch the team on film. Competition was strong and the team had to race able-bodied and disabled sailors alike, but triumphed in the end. Perseverance, passion, and a love for the water definitely shined through.

The Barbaro-Gould Foundation and its crew are thrilled for Team USA 1 and wish them the best of luck on their journey to Rio 2016!

As always, your donations help us bring this story to life!

 

Warrior Sailing

A special post Veteran’s Day tribute to Warrior Sailing

Warriors vying for the start line in their Sonars
Warriors vying for the start line in their Sonars

In addition to Brad Kendell’s Never Say Never Pirate Camp, Racing To Rio also features Paralympic gold medalist Jen French’s Warrior Sailing Program. The crew of Racing To Rio is ecstatic to film Jen and Warrior Sailing today, including interviews with the program director, Ben Poucher, and program advisor, Ralf Steitz.

Vietnam Vets sharing a moment under the sun.
Vietnam Vets sharing a moment under the sun.

Based in St. Petersburg and founded in 2013, the Warrior Sailing Program introduces disabled U.S veterans and active military to the sport of sailing. Participants go through a three-day training session that focuses on boating skills, as well as social skills. Jen says the program’s goal “is to share the spirit of sailing with our military warriors and teach them skills on the water and for a better quality of life.” The Barbaro-Gould Foundation is excited to provide more exposure for this worthy cause.

Ben Poucher giving the Warrior Sailing coaches their morning instructions.
Ben Poucher giving the Warrior Sailing coaches their morning instructions.

Program director, Ben Poucher, has a passion for nautical racing, having himself been part of the Skipper Icarus Racing (class 40) team for the 2011 and 2013 Atlantic World Cup. Most of his time is devoted to working with racing sailboat programs and the U.S Paralympic Sailing Team.

Ralf Steitz sharing his knowledge and joviality.
Ralf Steitz sharing his knowledge and joviality.

Program advisor, Ralf Steitz, is a veteran himself and the president of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Sailing Foundation, which helped Jen create Warrior Sailing with US Sailing. He has over 40 years of sailing experience, having taken part in many national and international competitions. A recipient of the Owen C. Torrey award for outstanding service and the Timothea LARR Award for lifelong contribution towards the advancement of sailor education, training and safety. Ralf eagerly passes on his sailing knowledge to the participants of Warrior Sailing.

Rich White from CCSC lending his hand as a coach.
Rich White from CCSC lending his hand as a coach.
Sonars jockeying for position around the buoys.
Sonars jockeying for position around the buoys.
Gene Hinkel doing what he does best.
Gene Hinkel doing what he does best.

The Racing To Rio crew is happy to interview these men and women, documenting the spirit of Warrior Sailing.

Packing up the Sonar's after a great day of sailing.
Packing up the Sonar’s after a great day of sailing.

 

 

Sailing: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Sailing is an age-old sport and a pillar of human progress. People have been sailing since the beginning of time, both for necessity and for leisure. Advancements in travel and trade not only led to the honing of seafaring skills, but also to the development of great civilizations. Today, sailing is just as important as it always has been, and has even branched out into a sport by itself.

Sailboat racing started out as yacht racing in the 17th and 18th centuries, and has since then, extended to a variety of sub-categories, including Paralympic Sailing. Sailing became popular among disabled sailors in the 1980s and by 1988, the newly formed International Handicap Sailing Community (IHSC) started organizing competitions for the disabled. After sailing appeared as an exhibition sport in the 1990 World Games for the Disabled, the IHSC was recognized by the International Sailing Foundation and renamed the International Foundation for Disabled Sailors (IFDS). Paralympic Sailing then appeared in 1996 as a demonstration sport and by 2000, sailing became an official Paralympic sport. Twelve countries participated in the 1996 demonstration and seventeen countries participated in the official 2000 Sailing Paralympics.

Paralympic sailing is now famous on the world stage and maintains a reputation for being one of the few Paralympic sports that encompasses nearly all ranges of disabilities. It levels the playing field for all disabled sailors and even allows them to race with able-bodied sailors. Paralympic sailing is a sport embraced by sailors all over the world because of this. Racing To Rio seeks to depict this beloved aspect of Paralympic sailing one final time as it films Sonar Team USA 1 and the challenges and victories of its members as they reach for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

In a decision that upset sailors world-wide, the International Paralympic Committee elected to officially remove sailing from the 2020 Paralympics. This decision may cement the Rio 2016 Paralympics as the final Paralympic sailing games in history. Team USA1 recognizes that 2016 may be its final opportunity to compete in the sailing Paralympics and win a gold medal for the U.S. The question of “what comes next?” looms over the minds of every Paralympic sailor as they prepare for what could be the most competitive Paralympic sailing game of their lives.

Racing To Rio will raise awareness for the importance of Paralympic sailing on both the local and international stage. It is the crew’s goal to show the world what an impact Paralympic Sailing has had on the lives of its participants and supporters, as well as those around them. If that goal is reached, then maybe, just maybe, the story of Paralympic Sailing will not end in 2016.

Racing To Rio needs your support! Donate now at racing2rio.com.

Donations can also be mailed to:

The Barbaro-Gould Foundation, Inc.
1211 Hamlet Avenue, Studio D
Clearwater, Florida 33756

Corporate sponsorships are also available—for more information, please contact Jennifer Barbaro or Todd Gould at 727-487-2148 or email to .

Let’s keep Paralympic Sailing dreams alive, together!

Teams Across Borders

The crew of Racing To Rio  will film Team USA 1’s last training session before they set sail for the country qualifiers at the IFDS Para Worlds Sailing Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Training alongside Team USA 1 is the Canadian Paralympic Sonar Team, whose members have been welcomed by the Clearwater area with open arms. Both teams are working with coach Mike Ingham with a common goal in mind: Racing to Rio 2016.

We look forward to capturing the high spirits of all involved as the Canadian Paralympic Sonar Team exchanges creativity, sporstsmanship, and most of all, passion, with Team USA 1.

The Canadian Paralympic Sonar Team is comprised of Paul Tingley, Logan Campbell, and Scott Lutes. Team USA 1 is made of Brad Kendell, Rick Doerr, and Hugh Freund.

Please show your support for these teams, Paralympic Sailing and Racing to Rio:

Donate Today!

Bill Mills: Director of Photography

The Barbaro-Gould Foundation is excited and honored to be joined by renowned cinematographer, Bill Mills, and his production company, Digital Cine HD. As Racing To Rio’s Director of Photography, Bill will be bringing a new layer of beauty, passion and expertise to the project.

As an ocean-lover, Bill is licensed as a captain, sailor, master scuba diver and has a myriad of experience with filming both on and under the water. Bill is especially passionate about marine projects, having extensively traveled the world’s waters on multiple projects including National Geographic’s Pursuit of the Giant Bluefin. In addition to his time with National Geographic, Bill has worked on CBS 60 minutes, with the Department of Defense and with the National Terrorism Preparedness Institute, amongst many more.

Bill has done cinematography for television and commercial documentaries, as well as feature films. His work has earned him six Emmys, a Primetime Emmy nomination for Best Cinematography, a Kodak Vision Award, three Cine Golden Eagles, a Platinum Best of Show Aurora, and a fellowship with the New York based Explorer’s Club.

Having spent the past eighteen years in St. Petersburg, Bill has a strong connection to the local community and is an avid sailor, himself.

Our esteemed Director of Photography, Bill Mills, our entire crew, and all of our sponsors are thrilled to be collaborating on a project that seamlessly ties together the arts, the community, and the great sport of sailing.

Stay tuned this week as we profile each of our crew members on the Racing to Rio set.

The Race is On

The clock is ticking and the Barbaro-Gould Foundation can’t wait to start production! At the moment, the crew is gathering more equipment and people. With the best directors of photography, audio technicians, assistant directors, and cameramen we can find, the foundation hopes to kick off Racing To Rio in an explosion of success.

But to reach its full potential, the film is still in need of donations, sponsorship, and support. All support is welcome. The crew needs all the help it can get to tell the story of Paralympic sailor, Brad Kendell, and his team’s journey to the 2016 Paralympics.

This could be the last sailing Paralympic games in history, making it essential for Racing To Rio to capture the essence of sailing and its importance to the local and global community.

Donations can be accepted at the following websites:  racing2rio.com, or igg.me/at/racing2rio. They can also be sent by mail to:

The Barbaro-Gould Foundation, Inc.
1211 Hamlet Avenue, Studio D
Clearwater, Florida 33756

Corporate sponsorships are also available—for more information, please contact Jennifer Barbaro or Todd Gould at 727-487-2148 or email to .

FILM CREW NEEDED!

@VSPC @MyClearwater @WarriorSailTeam @FilmStPeteClear

All hands on deck, literally! #Filming on boats and at docks at the beautiful #Clearwater Community #Sailing Center!

Opportunity to be a part of a professional #Hollywood film #crew, learn a lot, help a great not-for-profit cause, meet great filmmakers & get your name on a film credit!

#Production assistants/grips/craft services/extra hands needed!

All locations in Sand Key, FL except 11/5-8 in ST Pete, FL on water in boat & at docks for #WarriorSailing

Email or call 727-487-2148

10/20-10/21 -in office Production prep

10/22-10/25 Shooting Pirate Camp with challenged youth (approx 8a-5p fri-sun), with Thursday night being a short meet and greet party shoot.

10/28 will be office production day

10/29 to 11/1 is USA 1 Sonar Paralympic training with #BradKendell, his #Paralympic team, and world class Olympic coaches – usually starts between 8 & 10 am and ends by latest 4p – time on boat and sailing center

11/4 in office production day

11/5-11/8 Warrior Sailing with #JenFrench (st Pete yacht club & boat)

Copy of film when complete, meals as appropriate, and film credit as official titled crew will be provided

Essential Edibles

@VSPC @MyClearwater @ClearwaterArea  The camera is almost ready to roll on #Racing2Rio the Movie featuring Paralympic Sailor Brad Kendell and Tampa Area based sailing & leadership camps for individuals affected by challenges.  As the days draw closer, the Barbaro-Gould Foundation looks to other accommodations for its crew and cast.  We are now on the search for #restaurants, #supermarkets, and food services that can provide food, drink, and craft services for the team.

A healthy production is a successful production and like its response to all available help, the crew of Racing To Rio welcomes any craft service (meal, snacks, water, drinks)  donations!

 

 

 

 

Racing to the Press


As pre-production for Racing To Rio comes to an end, The Barbaro-Gould Foundation is excited to jump into filming come October.  We are preparing press releases and rounding out the last stages of pre-production.

Racing to Rio hopes to capture the resilient spirit of Paralympic sailors and the stunning impact they have on the community around them. The Clearwater area will be portrayed as a united community and foreground on the international sailing stage. In October, world class sailing coaches from the United States and beyond will arrive in Clearwater, along with Olympic and Paralympic teams alike. It is critical for the production team to record as many of these moments as possible.

In light of the Paralympic Committee’s decision to remove sailing from the 2020 games, it is especially urgent to highlight the importance of sailing and cover what will likely be the final Paralympic sailing game.

The Barbaro-Gould Foundation happily welcomes help and donations. Donations can be accepted at the following websites:  racing2rio.com, or igg.me/at/racing2rio. They can also be sent by mail to:

The Barbaro-Gould Foundation, Inc.
1211 Hamlet Avenue, Studio D
Clearwater, Florida 33756

Corporate sponsorships are also available (and beyond welcome!)—for more information, please contact Jennifer Barbaro or Todd Gould at 727-487-2148 or email at .