The Brats 4 Sail brat fry, held Friday night at the Sheboygan Yacht Club, was a success by any measure. Thanks to our sponsors and the hundreds of people who came out to eat and drink, dance and ooh and aah to the spectacular fireworks show at the end of the night, SEAS raised more than $5,000 for our adaptive sailing program.

Those funds will be used to grow the adaptive sailing program, which makes the possibility of sailing a reality for children and adults with a variety of disabilities.

Outreach and Administrative Director Lisa Hartman said the first order of business will be to build on the foundation that's already been established. The program has a robust blind sailing program and has commissioned a specially constructed seat that's installed in one SEAS' 23-foot Sonars for adults with severe physical limitations.

"We definitely want to do a lot more outreach to different types of organizations during the off season of sailing so that we can grow the program and include other disabilities," Lisa said.

To make that happen, Brats 4 Sail was a great start.

"It was phenomenal for our first time," Lisa said. "Not knowing what to expect, people just came out to support the program and find out more about what was going on. And also to enjoy some music. Everyone I talked to was so happy with the turnout."

The Johnsonville Big Taste Grill, which took up a large chunk of the Yacht Club's parking lot, was a big draw for attendees, as was King Solomon, a popular reggae band from Milwaukee. The evening was punctuated by a spectacular fireworks show off South Pier, by Bartolotta.

The overwhelming support for Brats 4 Sail already has organizers thinking about next year.

"People were asking if this was going to become and annual event so need to seriously think about what we’re going to do," Lisa said.

One possibility organizers are considering is to turn Brats 4 Sail into a memorial fundraiser in memory of the late Terry Kohler, an ardent supporter of International Women's Match Racing and benefactor for the local sailing community, who died Sept. 20.

SEAS would like to extend another thank you, to all those who sponsored beer for the evening, for their continuous support: