SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The 18th annual Ability Cup at the Great Slave Cruising Club last Saturday raised $5,368 for the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities.

The Ability Cup goes to the crew that raises the most money. There are also trophies for fastest keelboat and fastest dinghy.

The boat Ice Cube took the Ability Cup this year and also won the trophy for fastest keelboat.

"Winning isn't nearly as important as taking part in this great event," said Ice Cube's skipper Ian McCrea.The boat Ice Cube has taken part in the race three times and won it twice.

McCrea gave the credit of the win to his crew - Mira Hall, Robert Clemmey and Dorothy Westergreen - and pledged to participate again next year.

The boat PDQ won the dinghy section.

Six boats in all took part in the race, the crew of each submitting pledges gathered from friends, family and workplaces. Conditions were reasonably favourable, with beaming sunshine, and only a couple of dead wind lulls out on the water.

The council's chairperson, Doreen Reid, said the event is invaluable because applications for government funding do not always bring in enough money.

"It's a really good partnership between the disability council and the Great Slave Cruising Club," she said.

The Ability Cub trophy was presented to the Ice Cube crew by Sandy Lee, minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities.