The final numbers are in for Storm Trysail Foundation’s Annual Sailing and Legacy Fundraising Dinner - Honoring 50 Years of Carina – and the results are truly as impressive as the race record of the yacht being recognized; a net of $110,000 was tallied via ticket sales, as well as silent, online, and live-bidding auctions. The event was held on November 15th at Indian Harbor Yacht Club, the original home of Carina when she was commissioned by the Nye family. Over 180 attendees enjoyed the evening, which began with a tour of Carina on the docks, as well as one of the Collegiate Offshore Sailing Council’s Figaro2’s. Growing the fleet of the 33’ one-design sloops and providing them to a broader range of colleges is one of the Foundation’s main objectives, and the gala gave that initiative a major boost.
Amidst a trove of silverware won over the decades by the famous yacht (and infamous crews!), the family and friends of Carina gathered and old shipmates reconnected over Dark ‘n Stormy’s (the featured and sponsored drink of the evening by Gosling’s) while a video loop of photographs of many of Carina’s special moments throughout her illustrious history was shown.
Joey Moffitt, Dinner Chair for the gala, was gratified by the results of the night. “Carina has been an icon for everything that Storm Trysail Club stands for and supports: ocean racing, offshore cruising, safety at sea, the Corinthian spirit, and the promotion of good fellowship among blue water and ocean racing sailors. She has given countless offshore sailing opportunities to family, youths and accomplished sailors over a long and continuing career and her legacy is an inspiration to be celebrated. It seemed to be a fitting focus for the gala and we could not be more pleased by the response.”
Joey welcomed all of the guests and then introduced the Chair of the Storm Trysail Foundation and former STC Commodore, Rich du Moulin, who emceed the event with humor, calling upon Jonathan Nye (grandson of the original owner of Carina, Dick Nye, and son of the next owner Richard Nye), as well as current skipper and owner Rives Potts, to share some of their fonder memories of ‘growing up’ on the McCurdy and Rhodes designed sloop. The 50 years of Carina’s existence are split evenly between the Nye family and Potts. Du Moulin opened the auction with a surprise item; a marine toilet from Carina that had been restored and repainted in Carina’s colors, decorated with the yacht’s name. “Some of the world’s greatest sailors have had their finest moments sitting on this work of art!” he remarked to great laughter in the room. The auction then proceeded on to items including luxury vacation homes around the world, a high-end cruise package, offshore sailing passages on Carina, and a variety of other items and experiences.
The newly appointed Annual Fund Chair for the Foundation – Steve Minninger – was elated by the event’s success. “The evening was tremendously successful in recognizing Carina’s embodiment of the core principles or the Storm Trysail Club. Thanks to the audience’s generosity, as well as that of our sponsors, we raised over $110,000 to further support the Foundation’s Junior Safety-at-Sea program, The Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, as well as our Adult Hands-On Safety At Sea events and other educational outreach programs. I would like to thank all of the attendees, as well as our event sponsors Safe Harbor Marinas, Hunt and Betsy Lawrence, Bo and Edie Lycke, Matt Brooks and Pam Yorke Levy, Goslings and ShopRite of Carteret. Additionally, auction items were generously donated too many organizations and individuals to list them all, but we’d like to thank American Cruise Lines, The Royal Ocean Racing Club, Team One, Craft Beer, Trident Studios, and USA 1200.com Country Homes.”
A Special Thank You to our Event Sponsors:
- Safe Harbor Marinas
- Hunt and Betsy Lawrence
- Bo and Edie Lycke
- Matt Brooks and Pam Rorke Levy
- Gosling’s
- ShopRite
Table Sponsors:
- Jack Cummiskey
- Rich du Moulin
- Gary Grant
- Larry Huntington
- Tom Hutton
- Jonathan Nye
- Rives Potts
- Chris Sheehan
- Lenny Sitar
Committee Members:
- Rich du Moulin, Chair, Storm Trysail Foundation
- Johanna Moffitt, Event Chair, Storm Trysail Foundation
- Barry Gold, President, Storm Trysail Foundation
- AJ Evans, Commodore, Storm Trysail Club
- Ed Cesare, Vice Commodore, Storm Trysail Club
- Jack Cummiskey
- Larry Huntington
- Stephen Lirakis
- Steve Minninger
- Jonathan Nye
- Rives Potts
- Bill Schneider
- Patti Young
Auction Sponsors:
- American Cruise Lines
- USA1200.com
- Country Homes
- Wave Aerospace
- Commander’s Weather
- Schooner Spirit
- Royal Ocean Racing Club
- Craft Beer
- TeamOne
- North Sails
- 1661 Inn
- Maritime Treasure Trove
- Carina Cruise & Relics
- Trident Studios, Charles Robertson, CEO
- Steve & Heidi Benjamin
- Mark Strauss & Steve Pohill
- Ken & Brynn Campbell
- Lars Forsberg
- Eddie Warden-Owen
- Chris & Erin Sheehan
- Martha Parker
- Ken Read
- Rita Abrams & Steve Draper
- Brenda Lewis & Adam Paquin
- Rives & Nancy Potts
- Chris Upton