Manhattan Yacht Club will Help Lead this Project
All members are encouraged to be part of this historically significant restoration project.
Dear Members,
America’s most famous yacht is “Stars & Stripes,” the 12 Meter which Dennis Conner used to win back the America’s Cup from Australia.
This victory in 1987 marked the highpoint of sailing in our nation. Dennis led an all-American team and was on the cover of Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated. This victory inspired our nation and everyone knew the name “Stars & Stripes.”
For the past two decades, Stars & Stripes had been sailing with tourists in St Marten. Then she was significantly damaged in Hurricane Irma. The owners in St Maarten understood her historical significant and wanted to pass her to new caretakers who could undertake the restoration.
This past June, the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation, which is run by members of our club, acquired Stars & Stripes. We were helped by three sponsors: Mount Gay Rum, the American Sailing Association and the Gowrie Group. After purchasing Stars & Stripes, we returned her to US soil where she awaits the next steps.
We are about to embark on a nation-wide fundraising campaign to raise $1 million to restore Stars & Stripes. Our Manhattan Yacht Club, located right here on the waters of New York Harbor and within sight of the Statue of Liberty, will play a leadership role.
Today, on the eve of Manhattan Yacht Club’s 35th Anniversary Season, I am calling on all Members to join the effort to restore Stars & Stripes. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to join the MYC Stars & Stripes Restoration Committee.
We need many people with a wide variety of skills and experience.
We need members who can assist in fundraising by identifying and soliciting individual donors, bringing onboard other sailing organizations and empowering them to raise funds, and reaching out to Foundations and apply for grants.
We need members skilled in building partnerships and sponsorships with more companies who understand the potential of Stars & Stripes to inspire the next generation of sailors.
We need members with public relations experience who can write press releases, activate social media and produce a newsletter.
We need members who like history and research to gather stories and artifacts from Stars & Stripes as well as the full 1987 America’s Cup.
We need members with time and patience who can go to the boat, sort through and record equipment and make sure that Stars & Stripes is kept in the best condition possible as we raise funds to restore her.
I encourage all members to join this historically significant project. Please join the committee below.
Opportunities to be part of something special like this do not come around very frequently. As we enter our 35th Anniversary, let’s doing something great together.
Best wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year – Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh
Members Who Have Joined the Committee & Made Donations
Donors of $1,000 & up (in order of making the donation)
Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh
Rear Commodore Scott Curtis
NYHSF Chair Jim Cavanaugh
Jay Parekh
Deiane Abajos
Mac True
Catherine Lehman
Donors of $100 & up (in order of making the donation)
Sean Armstrong
Virginia Tell
Mike Buckley
Richard Long
Zander Liem
Scott Redstone
Kim Latour
Andrew Frazier
Scott Crow
Yvette R Avenhall
James Salitan
Adam Lobdell
Jenn Smith
General Committee
Liana M. Nobile
Mark Anderson