Over 200,000 spectators lined the docks of Southern Manhattan Friday May 6th – Sunday May 8th catching a glimpse of the newest sailing technology on the water, foiling sailboats (AC45s in this case.) US Sailing’s Reach Initiative was on hand all three days engaging local youth, schools, young sailors and their families in the following hands-on activities.

• Reach Simple Machine Scavenger Hunt – supported by Harken
• Reducing a Sailor’s Environmental Impact – Start with Lunch! sustainability activity supported by Team 11th Hour Racing
• Harken STEAM Classroom featuring a simple machine display and grinder

The America’s Cup community outreach program, Endeavour, led the way working with local “Community Programs:”Hudson River Community Sailing Center , Rocking the Boat, and NY Harbor School. The Community Programs brought youth from their programs to participate in the following: catamaran sailing on the Hudson River, Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series race viewing from the water, poster signings, and tons of STE(A)M activities supported by Harken, 11th Hour Racing, Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, US Sailing’s Reach Initiative, and the AC Endeavour Program. In addition each of the community partners also had tents with hands on activities for kids.

On Friday, youth from Rocking the Boat fought through heavy rain all morning. Nothing like putting on a dry suite to go Hobie sailing in the pouring rain on the Hudson. They prevailed all smiles ear to ear at the end of the day. On Saturday, youth from the New York Harbor School enjoyed the best weather of the weekend, just not for sailing. It was a jam packed day full of kids activities. Top sailors filled the village along with super stars. The feeling of excitement to officially start the racing was pouring from the docks. On Sunday, youth from Hudson River Community Sailing took to the water. The built all day which made for a action packed day of racing with 100,000 spectators.

Throughout the weekend, it was the people that made it happen. On and off the water, we constantly ran into members of the US Sailing family throughout the weekend, from attendees to volunteers. A huge thanks to Kevin Broome, (American Yacht Club) and Alicia Martorella, The WaterFront Center, (both US Sailing ITs)  for their help on the water sailing with youth on the Hobies all weekend. They were constantly sharing our great sport with everyone the came in contact with. Brendan Larrabee volunteered on the water with a crew from Oakcliff Sailing Center. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped make the event a success.

America’s Cup Endeavour

US Sailing’s Reach Initiative is honored to be an “Educational Partner” of the America’s Cup Endeavour Program, especially during the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series NY event. The AC Endeavour Program launched in 2015 in Bermuda, the host for the 2017 America’s Cup, to enable every student between the ages of 9 and 12 years old the opportunity to experience an interactive Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) curriculum through sailing. The Reach Initiative has worked with the AC Endeavour Program providing teacher training to middle school teachers and sailing instructors in Bermuda through US Sailing’s Reach Educator Course. The Reach curriculum has helped the AC Endeavour Program STEAM curriculum that leverages the innovative design and cutting edge technology at the heart of the America’s Cup to provide a hands-on and experiential learning environment for students and teachers. US Sailing is proud to support the AC Endeavour Program as they focus on leaving a sporting legacy in Bermuda through community sailing and STEAM Education.

11th Hour Racing

11th Hour Racing is a supporter of US Sailing’s Reach Initiative. The overarching goal of the Reach initiative is to increase the quality of STEM education and inspire future environmental stewards through sailing. 11th Hour Racing is currently supporting two regional hubs to systematically enhance the implementation of this program in schools and community sailing centers. Community Boating Center, the first Reach “Center of Excellence” of the Northeast region located in Providence, Rhode Island and Downtown Sailing Center of the Mid-Atlantic region located in Baltimore, Maryland, are working to become anchor programs to increase participation and serve as regional hub models for STEM/environmental education.

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