Sail for Pride Background
In 2001, days after the terrorist attacks on New York, the Pentagon and over the skies of Pennsylvania, while the country, indeed the world, was trying to come to terms with the attacks, a group of local and transplanted Rhode Islanders decided to take action to show their patriotism and raise funds to support the victims of the attacks. The group of sailors were proactive and quickly mobilized the entire Newport sailing community to participate in the event sailed on Narragansett Bay.
Scott Murray, a Scotsman, manager at New England Boatworks, together with Mick Harvey, an Australian, project manager at the time for Dennis Conner’s Stars and Stripes and Rhode Islander Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport hoped that 40 or 50 boats would show up to “Sail for Pride” and a few thousand dollars would be raised for the various victims relief charities.
Three weeks later, an astonishing $110,000 was raised and over 180 boats participated. Sail For Pride went against all of the norms of sailboat racing – the flotilla of boats ranged wildly in size from an 11-foot European dinghy up to the 77’ Sleighride. Boats that had never taken part in a race before turned up at the starting line for the race around Jamestown.
On the course it was common for right-of-way boats to wave others ahead rather than make them alter courses. Organizers encouraged boats of all sizes and types to join the event – family cruisers, weekend racers and professional sailing teams. Participants wrote checks, raised private funds and asked businesses for donations. Professional paid crews donated their wages for the day. At the party after racing, firefighters’ boots were brimming with cash generously donated at the event. Even people who did not participate in the race called and walked in to Sail Newport to donate. The money was all sent to 9-11 firefighter, police and victims charities.
After the race, the name “Sail for Pride” was retired to memorialize the unique event. Due to popular demand, the event was held again in 2002 and every year thereafter titled “Sail for Hope.” The new name was chosen to reflect the Rhode Island state motto and the annual event continues the spirit of giving. Since 2002, the funds have been directed to support local Rhode Island charities. “Lest we forget” continues as the motto and in the past nine years, beneficiaries have included the RI Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and Armed Forces Emergency Family Assistance Fund, The Seamens Church Institute, The R.I. Food Bank, the Newport Harbormaster’s Emergency Equipment fund, public high school sailing teams, US Olympic and Paralympic trials, the Red Cross and others. 2005 was another notable year as over $100,000 was raised to help Hurricane Katrina victims on the gulf coast.
In total, over $900,000 has been raised since 2001.
Check out the press coverage Sail For Pride has received by clicking on the following links!
