NBYC - Hospice Regatta

The 2008 Hospice Southeastern Connecticut Regatta season gets under way on Saturday, and we hope you will join in!

The first race is this Saturday, July 12. It is a PHRF race around Fisher’s Island sponsored by the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club. First warning gun is 11:30. For more information, visit their website and click on Racing.

On Wednesday, July 16, Niantic Bay Yacht Club, Stonington Harbor Dinghy Club (in collaboration with the Wadawanuck Club) and the Thames Yacht Club all raise money for Hospice during their regular Wednesday night races. Call the clubs for more information, or to pre-register, visit http://www.hospicesect.org/news/regatta_thanks.html.

Saturday, July 19 is the Mudhead Benefit Race. Visit their website to find the Notice of Race and registration form.

The next race of the season is the Ensign Hospice Regatta on August 11. This is a practice race out of Niantic Bay Yacht Club before the Ensign Nationals on August 12-15. Visit the Ensign Class website for more information about the week of racing.

Finally, Niantic Bay Yacht Club hosts a One-Design Regatta on Sunday, September 21 for Optis, Blue Jays, 420s and Lasers.

This year the Niantic Bay YC’s involvement in Hospice events is being dedicated in memory of our fellow club member and friend, Ellen Miller, aka Mel. This is a fitting tribute to Mel as she was involved with the Hospice Regatta from the very beginning as a member of the original committee. Over the years Mel continued to contribute to the Regatta events in many ways including fundraising, working behind the scenes with food preparation or out on the water in a crash boat! All these volunteer efforts were done with Ellen’s usual enthusiasm, zest, and zeal.

In this regard, we are asking the membership to lend their support to the three events that NBYC will be hosting.

The first event is the July 16th Wednesday Night Race for Hospice. Please join in by sailing for Hospice or joining friends to watch the Race in support of Hospice. This will be sailed as part of the usual Wednesday Night series but will be scored using standard ESCA-PHRF ratings. The Wednesday night series will be scored using Wednesday Night handicaps – one race but you will get two scores. We encourage you to participate in the Hospice part of the event by completing a Hospice Registration Form available online at http://www.hospicesect.org/news/regatta_thanks.html or available Wednesday night at the club. NBYC has also invited some of the other local clubs (Smith Cove, etc.) to join us for this event. Hospice prizes will be awarded Wednesday Night after racing. Club members Sally Budds, Louise Woodruff and Linda Brousseau will be tending bar and will be serving a complimentary glass of wine or other spirits! A chicken barbeque will be served by the galley as part of the Wednesday Night Dinner at the usual prices.

Hospice tee shirts and hats will be available for purchase that evening.

On September 20th, the Hospice Cocktail Party will be held at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Wade Thompson in Old Black Point. This party is a must! Come and see new and old friends, bring a guest and just enjoy a beautiful evening. Watch for your invitation in August!!

The Hospice events will close on September 21st at NBYC with a small boat one-design Regatta which will feature Lasers, Optis and JYs.

So….. let’s get behind this effort and have NBYC shine in memory of Ellen.

All money raised in these regattas stay here in southeastern Connecticut, helping neighbors, friends and family facing the end of their lives. Please support Hospice Southeastern Connecticut by racing or by supporting someone else who is sailing.

Thank you for your generosity!