Sailing For Scholars 2011

Second Annual Fundraising Regatta

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

A fundraiser regatta - open to all - to raise money in support of HRCS' cornerstone Accredited After School Program.

Check out photos from the event here!

The 2011 Sailing for Scholars Fundraiser Regatta was greeted with near perfect conditions.  Sunny, picturesue skies with only a hint of white, fluffy clouds; warm, fall temperatures, and plenty of breeze out of the south made for a perfect day of sailing.  The plan for the day was to race from the HRCS pier down to the harbor, complete a series of races in the harbor, and then race from the harbor back up to the HRCS pier.

The first start got off without a hitch with all eight boats on the starting line.  Sailing upwind in a slack current, the boats quickly progressed down the river towards the harbor.  The first race was lengthened initially to allow a longer course and then was shortened to end near the Statue of Liberty.  The top two boats, Lewis/Mazzoni and Constable, had a photo finish at the end of the first race.  

The second race was a windward-leeward from off the Statue of Liberty to a buoy south of Governor's Island and featured an intense start with all the boats fighting for a place on the line.  Lewis/Mazzoni and Constable swapped first and second for this race taking a tie into the last race.  

The last race was a distance race from the Statue of Liberty up to the same mark off of Governor's Island and back to the HRCS pier.  Unfortunately, due to a crew injury suffered after Race 2, Constable had to retire from racing and sail back to HRCS (the crew member ended up being ok).  The last was featured a tight start, a quick windward leg, and then a log spinnaker run all the way back up the river to HRCS.  Lewis/Mazzoni finished back at HRCS with a convincing first.

Following racing, racers were treated to a party at the Frying Pan with drinks, food, and awards for the top three finishers and top fundraiser.  Finishing with a 1-2-1 for the day, the boat of Amanda Lewis/Esteban Mazzoni was crowned Regatta Champions with Bobby Constable in 2nd Place and Rupert Murray in 3rd Place.  Many of the boats featured HRCS First Mates as crew.  These students completed the HRCS Accredited After School Program in their ninth grade year last year and have been invited back as First Mates for their sophomore year.  Read more about their second-year First Mate program here.  Amanda Lewis was also crowned Fundraising Champion for raising over $2,700.  

HRCS would like to thank all those who supported the event and believe in the mission of Hudson River Community Sailing.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.