Boston Ocean Racing Challenges World's Top Sailing Teams in Support of the City's Youth Through Courageous Sailing

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Boston Ocean Racing, a high-performance ocean sailing and charitable organization, announced plans to compete in the 30^th Annual St. Martin Heineken Regatta. Boston Ocean Racing intends to build on their successful entry in last year’s event, and in doing so, boost their fundraising efforts on behalf of their designated charity, Courageous Sailing of Boston.

“Fundraising efforts such as this one being organized by the Boston Ocean Racing team are absolutely essential in enabling us to staff and operate our youth programs”

Courageous Sailing was established in 1987 as a 501(c)3 public charity in a joint effort between the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the late South Boston sailing enthusiast Harry McDonough. It was McDonough's dream to create a sailing center that would teach children from all economic and ethnic backgrounds lessons in partnership and trust while delivering "the ultimate sailing experience.” Through Courageous' Five-Step Program, young sailors develop essential life skills including leadership, communication, decision-making, and teamwork.

“Fundraising efforts such as this one being organized by the Boston Ocean Racing team are absolutely essential in enabling us to staff and operate our youth programs,” said John Maconga, Executive Director of Courageous Sailing. “We know that our sailing programs inspire learning, personal growth and leadership in these children. When our kids apply the lessons they learn in our programs to other parts of their lives, the results can be amazing. The number of children we serve each year is dependent on efforts like those of Boston Ocean Racing, as well as individuals who give through our other fundraising efforts or online at www.courageoussailing.org.”

The St. Martin Heineken Regatta is one of the world’s largest yacht racing events. With its challenging conditions and top prestige for the winners among the highly competitive ocean sailing community, the St. Martin event is expected to draw over 200 of the top racing yachts and their race teams from around the world. The 2010 event will be Boston Ocean Racing’s second international regatta event.

“We had a very competitive finish in last year’s regatta and we’re aiming higher this year,” said Boston Ocean Racing’s founder and skipper Jim Melvin. “More important, though, is the opportunity this race gives us to demonstrate what can be achieved through teamwork, dedication, focus and leadership. That’s what Courageous Sailing is teaching kids through its sailing programs. We want to support those programs, and promote the teaching of these important life skills through our efforts in this race. As life-long sailors, we want to give city kids a chance to experience the sport we love. For many of these kids, sailing is so close yet so far away. Our sponsors and donors are helping us to change that.”

How to Help

Boston Ocean Racing is seeking both individual and corporate sponsors. For more information on our team and the event, and how to become a donor or corporate sponsor, please visit the Boston Ocean Racing’s website at www.bostonoceanracing.org.

About Courageous Sailing

Courageous Sailing is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) community sailing club located in Boston Harbor at the Charlestown Navy Yard. It offers FREE youth sailing and affordable memberships, US Sailing-certified sailing lessons, racing, cruising and day sailing. All Courageous memberships and courses for adults help to support our youth sailing programs, which serves over 1,000 youths every year. For more information, go to www.courageoussalining.org.

Our Sponsors

Following is a list of the generous and committed corporate partners that are supporting Boston Ocean Racing’s charitable activities:

Schwartz Communications

Our Team

Dedicated to excellence in yacht racing at some of the world's most competitive regattas, Boston Ocean Racing is an experienced offshore racing team. The team also is committed to delivering exceptional results for our charity, our sponsors, and for the team itself. Collectively, our founding team has participated in hundreds of Boston area racing events, including multiple successful entries in the Corinthian 200, the PHRF Championships, Block Island Race Week, the Buzzards Bay Regatta, the Figawi, and the Marion-Bermuda race.

Boston Ocean Racing – Racing for the youth of Boston and the sport of sailing.