presents

Sail4Kids Captain’s Dinner and Wachovia Cup Regatta - Resounding Successes!

with host John Rousmaniere and this year's MFCH Champion Award recipient Olin Stephens!

Brenda & John Fareri, Co-Founders of the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital

On September 29, a sell-out crowd of more than 300 attended the Sail4Kids fundraising dinner at American Yacht Club in Rye, New York to benefit the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital (MFCH) at Westchester Medical Center. Not only was this event highly successful raising more than $215,000 in live and silent auctions, but it was also loads of fun!

The cocktail reception, sponsored by Mount Gay and Heineken, featured entertainment by two very talented young recording artists, Rebecca Haviland and Jill Stevenson, who provided a wonderful backdrop to the silent auction in which many fabulous donations were made available including a marvelous ski weekend in Vermont, a week’s stay at a cottage on Martha’s Vineyard, discount certificates from leading sailmakers, marine merchants, and restaurants, and private performances by Rebecca and Jill. 

After a heartfelt welcome by AYC Commodore Steve Furnary, John Rousmaniere – marine historian, noted author, accomplished sailor, and supporter of children’s hospitals – took over as Master of Ceremonies, introducing John and Brenda Fareri, who presented the co-chairs, Maria & Greg Stanton (LYC) and Daria & Alex Blackwell(AYC), with awards for their leadership in the Sail4Kids events.  After grateful recognition of the major sponsors, the dedicated committee members, and the sailors and shore crew who took part in the Sail4Kids Make a Memory Cruise, the evening continued on to the main program.

Drake Sparkman, John Rousmaniere, and Sarah Simmons presenting Champion Award to Olin Stephens.

Rear Commodore Drake H. Sparkman, III delivered a short tribute to the legendary partnership between his grandfather and Olin Stephens – this year’s recipient of the MFCH Champions Award.  John Rousmaniere, marine historian, noted author, accomplished sailor, and long-time friend of Olin, presetned a tribute to the joy Olin sparked in children over the years, while sailing aboard yachts of his design and dreaming about becoming great sailors in the children’s sailing salon at MFCH, which was designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Derecktor Shipyards.   The Award was presented by 8-year-old Sarah Simmons, a patient at the hospital and participant in the Sail4Kids Make a Memory Cruise. 

Chris Barron, getting the Live Auction off to a great start. Thanks, Chris!

While the lobster dinner satisfied hungry appetites, the Sotheby’s auctioneer, Sebastian Clarke, whetted appetites for the live auction with wit and humor.  To get the bidding off to a good start, Chris Barron – lead singer of the Spin Doctors – offered himself up in a private performance and demonstrated with a tune from the platinum album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite.  The room broke out into raucous applause as the bidding reached a crescendo surpassing expectations.  Chris, who had been a counselor at AYC in his teens, wore a broad grin all evening.

Subsequent auction items were snapped up with enthusiastic bidding and friendly banter among rival bidders.  A fabulous cruise donated by Aegean Sails, a two-person Hobie kayak donated by the Sail Locker, a signed baseball and tickets to a Mets playoff game, and a vacation in a private island resort in the Grenadines, all raised much needed funds for the hospital while providing the winners with great prospects for fun and entertainment. 

The final auction item, a spectacular original oil painting of the J-Class vessel Shamrock V by noted marine artist, Julia O’Malley-Keyes, achieved a record bid in the four year history of the event.  Julia, a huge supporter of children’s causes and other charities, immediately committed to taking part in next year’s event as well.   Bitter End Yacht Club donated a week's stay to the raffle which generated lots of interest. To learn about all the auction items including those donated for the silent auction, please visit the sponsors and auction listings page.

"Queen of the Seas - Shamrock V" auction item.

As the evening wound down and John Rousmaniere signed copies of his books, A Berth to Bermuda and In a Class by Herself, many happy participants collected their prizes and reminisced about the exciting night while others prepared mentally for the duel on the race course coming up the next morning in the AYC Fall Regatta, the second weekend of which is also designated as the Sail4Kids Wachovia Cup. 

Despite a morning of flat calm and postponements on Saturday, the wind piped up in the afternoon allowing PROs Drake Sparkman and Ian Dunn to get the boats off to successful completion of races on both courses.  With 6 classes on each course, including a Navigator’s Class, a record number of participants took part in this classic Regatta on Long Island Sound.  On Sunday, the forecast was for 15-20 knots and rain, which came partly true.  We had 15-20 knots for a while, rain for a while, then sun, and 40 degree wind shifts alternating with no wind at all, followed by 10-15 at the close of the day’s racing.  The Race Committee performed admirably, changing lines, shortening courses, and praying to the weather gods. 

Lars Forsberg of Black Watch, the 68-foot S&S yawl and winner of the Navigator Class, accepting his Wachovia Cup Award.

The awards ceremony, traditionally accompanied by Heineken and clam chowder, though rather long due to the multitude of prizes, was both exciting and entertaining. American Yacht Club’s Joerg Esdorn and the crew of Kincsem took line honors in the 20-boat J105 fleet with an amazing perfect performance, scoring 8 bullets in 8 straight races and discarding their last and only less-than-perfect run.  Their skill on the race course also won them the trophy for best overall performance in the 2006 AYC Fall Regatta.  In the 8-vessel Navigator’s Class, which included a collection of boats from a Capri 25 to a 68-foot classic S&S yawl sailing a longer distance course around the government marks, NYYC’s Lars Forsberg and his recently restored, S&S-designed Black Watch took first place in the class and in the people’s vote for the prettiest boat on the course.  For complete results, please visit www.AmericanYC.com.

Make plans now to join us for next year’s events. Visit www.Sail4Kids.org for updates and to learn how you can help support the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.