2018 Golden Spinnaker Benefit Dinner at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court raises more than $300,000 for US Sailing Team
NEWPORT, R.I. (October 12, 2018) – The Sailing Foundation of New York (SFNY) raised more than $300,000 for the US Sailing Team at the 2018 Golden Spinnaker Benefit Dinner, held on Friday, September 28 at the iconic New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island. The special evening highlighted the incredible support of the sailing community to come together and bolster the hard-working efforts of these athletes aspiring to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
By renewing their longstanding tradition of support, the Sailing Foundation of New York and the New York Yacht Club were recognized as US Sailing Team Gold Medal Partners. The Gold Medal Partner Club status is reserved for organizations that support the Team with contributions of $100,000 or more.
Sailing Foundation of New York President and Board Member Tom Stark was thrilled with the evening’s success. “Every two years, we are excited for athletes and donors to have the opportunity to share an evening designed to galvanize support for U.S. Olympic pursuits in our sailing community. The generosity of New York Yacht Club members is unwavering, and the hospitality of the New York Yacht Club Flag Officers is steadfast. We are grateful to have the ability to make this happen and are proud to help act as a catalyst for these dedicated athletes.”
With nearly two years in his role, Malcolm Page, US Sailing’s Chief of Olympic Sailing, shared his optimism for the opportunities provided by the event. “The results of this evening show that our athletes have the full force of the sailing community behind them as they work together to become Olympians. The funds raised tonight directly support coaching, equipment, travel and more. While these seem like basic needs, they are truly necessary for athletes who commit to training in Olympic class sailing.”
The legendary and ubiquitous Ken Read held court for the evening as the Master of Ceremonies, conducting athlete interviews and navigating guests through a journey highlighting the challenges faced by sailing team members on their quest. The cocktail hour provided time for guests to learn more about the US Sailing Team athletes in attendance, with fun facts and Q&A booths positioned throughout the tent. Event Chair Colin Gordon addressed the crowd of nearly 200 supporters as they settled into dinner, providing a reminder of the collective efforts put forth to ensure the evening’s success.
As guests enjoyed dinner, a live auction cleverly orchestrated by Lydia Fenet of Christie’s Auction House kicked off a whirlwind of bids and raises to generate funds needed for athlete equipment, training and more. Auction highlights included exclusive artwork and experiential opportunities offered by the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic, the U.S. Challenger for the upcoming 36th America’s Cup, as well as two Tokyo 2020 Olympics travel packages offered by US Sailing.
“US Sailing, our national team and Olympic athletes are incredibly fortunate to have such a loyal, committed and energized partners in the Sailing Foundation of New York and the New York Yacht Club,” noted Jack Gierhart, CEO of US Sailing. “They have passionately supported Olympic sailing for the past 18 years – more than any other benefactor – because their leadership believes in our athletes and the collective benefits they, our national team and Olympic sailing bring to the sport. We are extremely grateful for their commitment to the sport, and welcome other organizations to join in supporting these dedicated athletes.”
The Sailing Foundation of New York, the New York Yacht Club and US Sailing would like to thank the following event sponsors for making this special night possible – American Magic, Oakcliff Sailing, Gowrie Group, American Cruise Lines, BMW, A.G.A Correa & Son, Helly Hansen, Sailor Bags, Yeti, and Knotty Tie Co.
Any organizations or individuals looking to support and contribute to the US Sailing Team, please contact US Sailing at infofoundation@ussailing.org.
US Sailing Media Contact: Jake Fish, 401-342-7925, jakefish@ussailing.org
About the Sailing Foundation of New York
In 2000, New York Yacht Club Commodore George “Dooie” Isdale commandeered a group of sailors who shared his vision of supporting promising athletes of all ages who did not have widely-available resources to assist with their pursuits.
It was from this collective passion that Commodore Isdale and his associates established the Sailing Foundation of New York (SFNY) – a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the support and growth of education, competition and sporting activities in the sailing community. For athletes, the Foundation provides much-needed guidance and financial support as they navigate their emergence in the sport. 100% of all SFNY contributions are allocated to directly support eligible organizations and athletes, with no administrative or operating expenses funded by donors. For additional information, please visit www.sailingfoundationofny.org.
About the US Sailing Team
The US Sailing Team is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. US Sailing names the top Olympic class athletes to the team annually, through both event qualification and at the discretion of team leadership. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. US Sailing Team sponsors include partners Helly Hansen, Harken, McLube, and Groupe Beneteau, and Marlow Ropes. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the National Governing Body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.