If hope floats, as an old cliché goes, that’s good news for county residents and their families dealing with the most difficult health issues.

This fall marks the 18th Reach for Hospice, a sailboat race on Sequim Bay that raises funds for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.

Captains and crews from Sequim Bay Yacht Club and Port Angeles Yacht Club sailboats stage a regatta on Saturday, Sept. 18.Funds given to Hospice are earmarked specifically for respite care, where a skilled nurse stays with a hospice patient to give family members time to take care of family and personal business. Hospice provides special care for people who are near the end of life.

New this year to the racing and accompanying festivities is a fundraising dinner on Thursday, Sept. 16, at C’est Si Bon restaurant in Port Angeles.

Cost is $60 per person and is limited to the first 120 attendees.

Those interested may participate as an individual or a corporate sponsor, by simple donation or by buying dinner tickets.

Business sponsorship levels for the 2010 campaign are: Commodore ($1,000); Fleet Captain ($500 to $999); Skipper ($250 to $499); and Race Crew ($100 to $249).

Donations are tax-deductible. Sponsorship donations are due by Aug. 20.

A total of $22,011 from more than 30 donors was collected in the 2009 “Reach” campaign, providing about 1,500 hours of respite care, according to publicity chairwoman Susan Sorensen.

In the past 17 years, the “Reach” race has provided more than $153,000.