Set Sail For A Cause: A Saturday For Support
If there was one sentiment felt throughout the Set Sail For A Cause event, it was the power of community. So many caring individuals came together to champion a cause very close to our hearts. We’d like to take some time to pause and reflect on the generous and adventurous participants that attended this memorable event.
On Saturday, September 30, a small conglomerate of Sail Caribbean veteran staff, current staff, alumni students, their compassionate families, along with quite a few interested strangers met at North Cove Marina In lower Manhattan on the Hudson to benefit the greater sailing and boating community affected by Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean Islands and Florida. Their goal was to bring the local tri-state sailing community together for free sailing, raffles and fun.
Throughout the course of the day, over 70 people, both experienced sailors and nautical newbies alike, shared laughter, wet exchanges and wild whoa’s on crossings to and fro the city’s banks — some passages more saturated than others 🙂 The volunteer North Cove Sailing staff recruited any and all takers to the seas for hours of entertainment on the water, even setting sail to the Statue of Liberty herself. Crews sharing the cockpits of the J24s were quick to bond during their sailing adventure.
Back on sturdy ground, all were also welcome to enter for a chance to win raffle prizes donated by the event’s partners and co-promoters.
Attendees and passersby had Rob Hagedorn’s hard work to thank for the intimate afternoon. Hagedorn, Sail Caribbean staff member from ’03 to ’06, directed the day and stood at the center of introductions between reminiscent veterans of summers past, and current campers and families eager for the summer to come. It was awesome to see Andrea Minkow, SC staff of ‘99 to ‘02, who helped the event run smoothly.
Altogether, preparation and execution of the event raised close to $7,000, 100% of which will be donated to the charity partners: BVI Recovery Fund, USVI Recovery Fund, SHTA St. Maarten Relief – Dutch Side, American Red Cross, Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross, and TBC St Martin – French Side.
Partners and Co-Promoters included IGY-North Cove Marina, Hudson River Community Sailing, Bitter End Yacht Club, Sail Caribbean, French American Yacht Club, Battery Park City Authority, BVI Tourism, St Martin Tourism and Dream Yacht Charter.
