The goal of the Young Adult Program is to make it easier for college graduates who move to New York City to stay involved in the sport of sailing.
The Young Adult Program offers free sailing opportunities in exchange for maintenance help on the Foundation sailboats. This program is open to sailors who are 21 to 25 years of age.
“Each year, many college graduates move to our area,” observed Michael Fortenbaugh, Executive Director of the Foundation. “While getting their careers started, young adults often have financial constraints, making it hard for them to stay involved in sailing – a sport they love. The Young Adult Program will help to change this and make more sailing available to more people.”
The Foundation’s most impressive boats are two America’s Cup 12 Meters, US 42 & US 46, which competed in the 1987 Cup Races in Fremantle Australia. Sailing on a 12 Meter is a lifetime experience.
Photo: An IOD sailing in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty.
The Foundation also has an International One Design (IOD) yacht. This is a classic 35 ft sloop will make it possible for young adults to practice keelboat sailing.
Before COVID, the Foundation acquired a fleet of six 420 dinghies from Harvard University and although this fleet is currently mothballed, it will be reactivated in the future.
The Young Adult Program is open to 20 sailors. Spots are allocated based on skill and experience. The Foundation encourages young adults who have participated in collegiate sailing programs, especially those who have distinguished themselves on the race course or in organizations, to apply.
The Young Adult Program can also lead to professional opportunities such as teaching sailing, managing races and race coaching.
Sailors interested in applying for this program can do so at:
https://nyharborsailing.com/young-adult-program/application/
The idea for the Young Adult Program in New York Harbor was inspired by Yacht Club de Monaco which established a similar program recently. Their program involve three incredible ocean races, including the Palermo to Monte Carlo Race. Yacht Club de Monaco has extended an invitation for the NY Harbor young adults to join one of the races as part of a cultural exchange. This exchange is beneficial to our Young Adults by broadening their horizons and creating international friends and contacts.
All Foundation programs are currently based at the Manhattan Yacht Club which is the largest sailing organization in New York Harbor. The Club owns a fleet of J/24s which race on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. At other times, these boats are used for cruising in the harbor. Members also own IODs, Sunfish and Laser dinghies. The Club makes it possible for a lot of people to enjoy sailing in New York Harbor. The Club’s public teaching arm is Manhattan Sailing School which teaches 700 new adults how to sail every year. The Club was founded in 1987 and is now based at Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City, directly across the river from Manhattan’s Battery. This marina provides calm water and the best access to good sailing in the Harbor.
In addition to this new Young Adult Program, the Foundation already introduced junior sailing to the harbor in 2003. The largest program is Operation Optimist for kids 8 to 13 years of age which has grown to 40 Optimist dinghies. The Foundation has a Teen Sailing Academy which teaches on J/24s. Last year, the Foundation received the donation of a beautiful 36-ft sloop named “No Moe” which is offering overnight cruising opportunities to teens.
The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation was founded by members of the Manhattan Yacht Club in 1994 to foster and promote amateur sailing of national and international importance in New York Harbor. The Foundation organizes the Annual Sailors Ball which is its main fundraiser and the Lady Liberty Regatta, an all-women event on J/24 sailboats.