(New York, NY)- The second annual Harbor School Regatta at Governors
Island had Manhattan Sailing Club J/24 sailboats competing near and
around Governors Island as schooners and other sailing yachts host
hundreds of spectators in New York Harbor for a delightful afternoon of
cocktails, light bites and commentary by sailing experts and media
luminaries including MSNBC’s Willie Geist.Following the Regatta, sailors, spectators and Harbor School supporters from New York’s finance, media, technology, fashion, entertainment and philanthropic industries convened at Governors Beach Club on Governors Island for the Post–Regatta Bash, complete with live reggae music from "Aljam & the Reggaelution Band", cocktails and specialties from New York’s best eateries. Regatta proceeds benefitted the New York Harbor Foundation to fund career & technical education, after school programs, college readiness and summer programs for New York Harbor School students. New York Harbor School is only New York City public high school that provides a rigorous college preparatory education built upon New York’s maritime experience.
It's
not often that New Yorkers spend an afternoon sailing or cruising on
the water then head to a beach party in the city -- but that's exactly
what nearly 600 supporters of maritime education and a New York Harbor
revival did. For the past 10 years, local inner-city kids have been
spending time in and on the waters of New York Harbor learning marine
science, building boats, regenerating the local oyster population and
learning to sail as students of the Urban Assembly New York Harbor
School on Governors Island, the only New York City public high school
that provides a college preparatory education built on New York's
maritime experience. Harbor School students choose New York Harbor
School because they are intrigued by the concept of using the Harbor as a
classroom and are interested in becoming experts in a skill or
technology related to the Harbor. What better way to showcase what a
dynamic place the Harbor is for teaching and learning than a multi-class
Regatta that captivates hundreds of adults and at the same time
legitimizes the students' choice of schools?
Nearly
200 sailors participated in the Harbor School Regatta at Governors
Island with 24 J/24s. The event had Harbor School students sail New York
Harbor alongside expert sailors from the Olympics, racing teams and
maritime academies and industries, putting them in close and meaningful
contact with people who have reached the peak in fields Harbor School
students have chosen for high school. With NBC's Willie Geist
commentating on the Hornblower Hybrid spectator Boat and several Olympic
sailors skippering the J/24 races aboard Manhattan Sailing Club J/24s,
the buzz from the event helped remind New Yorkers they live on a Harbor,
that the city was founded here because of the Harbor, has depended on
the Harbor for hundreds of years, and must continue to depend on the
Harbor for commerce, food and recreation, as well as a sense of freedom
and connections to the rest of the world.After the race, nearly 600 people gathered on Governors Island, where they got a personalized tour of the Harbor School by the students, then danced the night away to live reggae music at Governors Beach Club as they enjoyed Goslings' Dark n' Stormies, Brooklyn Brewery favorites, Fishers Island Oysters, Luke's Lobster and other specialties. Dozens of sailing, maritime, financial, fashion and food and wine companies supported the event, including Chelsea Clock, Gaastra Pro, Nautica, Keeper Springs, Mast Brothers Chocolate, Virgin Atlantic and Conde Nast.
One Regatta team member offered a sentiment shared by fellow Harbor School supporters, saying that his racing team was made up of "life-long sailors passionate about sharing the life experience of being on the water with others. The Harbor School offers us the opportunity to align this passion with a practical and innovative educational program for kids in the the City of New York. We are proud to be able to support this school, its programs, and the opportunity it gives city kids to develop their own passion for the water, along with the career opportunities that passion and education may provide." For more Harbor School Regatta sailing information
