Crew members of the Impossible Dream met the people who put the power in their universally accessible catamaran in October, when the Volvo Penta of the Americas staff welcomed them at Cobb’s Marina in Norfolk, Virginia.
Designed to be sailed by people with disabilities, the Impossible Dream was developed by Mike Browne, a paraplegic who envisioned a vessel that could be fully operated by a person in a wheelchair. Each year, the mixed-ability crew navigates over 6,000 miles from Miami to Quebec City, stopping at over 25 ports of call to sail with people who are currently undergoing physical rehabilitation.
The 60-foot vessel sails with the help of donated saildrives from Volvo Penta, along with newly installed Volvo Penta D2-75 engines.
“We are proud to contribute to the Impossible Dream’s mission of sharing the joys of boating with many disabled individuals and their families,” said Ron Huibers, president of Volvo Penta of the Americas. “Boating is something that everyone should be able to enjoy, and the Impossible Dream makes the dream of sailing a reality.”
At the private event, crew members from the Shake-a-Leg Miami Foundation conducted a ride-along on the south shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Along with Volvo Penta employees, local wounded veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs Norfolk Vet Center and their families participated. The Center is a non-profit veterans service organization that offers programs, services and events for wounded military veterans.
Impossible Dream is based at Shake-a-Leg Miami, one of the most accessible community boating centers in the world. The mission of the vessel is to engage the global community and introduce people with disabilities, wounded soldiers, disadvantaged youth and their families to the joys of sailing.
