Three new adaptive sailboats hit the water at Coronado Yacht Club on Sept. 19, expanding the fleet of boats available for free sailing lessons for residents with physical disabilities to six.
The KMAC Foundation for Accessible Sailing commissioned the three Hansa Liberty boats at a 9 a.m. ceremony that drew members of the local sailing community and yacht club leadership, as first reported by the Coronado Eagle & Journal. A City of Coronado grant and private donations funded the purchase. The boats arrived in Coronado in June.
Each boat was named for a person significant to both the Coronado Yacht Club and the accessible sailing community.
What the boats can do
The Hansa Liberty is built for sailors with high-level disabilities. The boat features optional electric servo-assisted controls for the mainsail, jib sheets and tiller, according to manufacturer specifications. A rigid seat offers thoracic and neck support, and a built-in compartment holds ventilator or other medical equipment.
With the three new Liberties, the KMAC Foundation's fleet now totals six boats: three Hansa 303s and three Hansa Liberties. The foundation offers free sailing lessons every Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for anyone with a disability, according to the foundation's website.
Partners on the water
The commissioning rolled into a joint day of sailing with three partner organizations: Waves-4-All Adaptive Surfing, Wounded Warriors and the High Fives Foundation. Volunteers launched all six boats into Glorietta Bay, where Waves-4-All's catamaran joined the fleet for an afternoon on the water.
A barbecue at the yacht club closed out the day.
Waves-4-All, founded by a U.S. Navy veteran, focuses on making the ocean accessible for people with disabilities through adaptive surfing and sailing. The High Fives Foundation, a national nonprofit founded in 2009, provides adaptive sports programs for people recovering from life-changing injuries.
Honoring a Coronado sailor
The KMAC Foundation is named for Lt. JG Kyle McArthur, a Coronado schools graduate and Naval Academy alumnus who was killed in an automobile accident in 2013. His father, Jamie McArthur, founded the nonprofit to support adaptive sailing for kids, adults and veterans with disabilities.
"It's a big team effort and volunteers are the key to everything," Jamie McArthur said in September 2025, during a call for volunteers ahead of KMAC training sessions. "Everybody is welcome. … Every volunteer has a skill."
The foundation also hosts the annual KMAC Memorial Regatta and Hansa Championship of the Americas at the Coronado Yacht Club.
How to get involved
Residents interested in volunteering or sailing can reach the KMAC Foundation at (619) 568-4727. The free adaptive sailing program runs Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Coronado Yacht Club, 1631 Strand Way.
