We received sad news that John Ross-Duggan passed away yesterday in Hawaii. John was a C-7 Quadriplegic and still doing what he loved... sailing his Hobie Getaway in the surf with friends when they apparently capsized. We are told that he was sailing with two crew and after the capsize, the mast came down. John was trapped under the boat. One of the sailors was a trained EMT, but was not able to revive him.
John was an accomplished Hobie Catamaran racer and even after a car accident at the age of 23, that caused the paralysis... continued to follow his passion for sailing.
Follows is a history of his sailing career (significant achievements) taken from US Sailing
1998 World Disabled Sailing Gold Medalist
1996 US SAILING’S Male Athlete of the Year
1996 Paralympic Bronze Medalist
1996 Hobie 16 Trapseat World Champion
1977 Hobie 16 National Champion
RIP John.