Hudson River Community Sailing to host 14th Annual Sailing for Scholars Gala and Regatta Fundraiser

Stonewall Sails Regatta 2021 on the Hudson River © HRCS

Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS), a leading nonprofit youth development and community sailing organization, will host its 14th annual Sailing for Scholars Gala and Regatta in New York City from Oct. 18-22.

The gala will be held in the Model Room of the New York Yacht Club on Oct. 18 and will honor Vanessa Galvez, Resident Engineer at Jacobs, an engineering firm for sustainable solutions. Sailing teams will raise funds and compete in a two-day regatta starting Oct. 21 at the Dyckman Marina in Inwood.

All proceeds from Sailing for Scholars directly support HRCS's innovative youth development and maritime access programs, including Sail Academy, a multi-year program that uses sailing and boat-building to teach math, science, and leadership to middle and high school students, and Adaptive Sailing, a program HRCS launched in 2021 that provides waterfront access, sailing education, and community building to New Yorkers living with physical and developmental disabilities.

Sail Academy teaches students concepts on land and water using small-group, experiential learning. The program includes internships, where students learn every aspect of running a commercial sailing school, preparing them with important job skills and career awareness. Students receive vital college access programming and networking opportunities as well. For the Adaptive Sailing program, HRCS works with experts in the fields of sailing, adaptive design, and outdoor recreation to provide specialized equipment and expert instruction for program participants.

"We would like to thank our generous donors and members of the community for helping us build an HRCS that will serve New Yorkers for decades to come," said HRCS Executive Director Robert Burke. "We are proud of the growth of our organization and hope to continue expanding our programs to provide sailing education and recreation to additional communities."

The 2023 Sailing for Scholars schedule includes:

• Wednesday, Oct. 18 - Gala and Silent Auction - HRCS will host its gala in-person in the Model Room of the New York Yacht Club. There will be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a unique silent auction, and remarks from HRCS students. Vanessa Galvez will be honored. This year's silent auction features private sailing lessons with two of the biggest names in American sailing: Charlie Enright, Skipper of the 11th Hour Racing Team that won The Ocean Race in dramatic fashion, and World Champion sailor Mike Buckley of Stars+Stripes. Bidders can also win a charter aboard America's Cup 12-Meter Yacht American Eagle, VIP tickets to The Rooftop at Pier 17 with dinner at The Fulton by Jean Georges and other exciting sailing and non-sailing items. You can purchase gala tickets here, and bid on auction items here.

• Saturday, Oct. 21 - Sunday, Oct. 22 - Regatta - With racing all weekend long, teams will compete on the water at the Dyckman Marina in Inwood. Winners will be announced at a post-event reception at The Hudson. The full list of competing teams - including HRCS's youth racing team, the Sea Dragons - with options to donate to each is available here.

For more information, please contact Maeve Gately at .