General news

Greetings to all in the Edgewood Sailing community.

With the days getting longer and the weather getting ever better we begin to think of events outdoors. With that end in mind the Edgewood Sailing School board and staff have been planning this coming season. I wanted to update you on where we stand and what we still need to do before the season begins.

Schedules are on the website for both the youth and adult programs. This year, the entire process can be done online, from registration to payment. Already, registration forms are being submitted.

We have begun to place orders for new equipment to replace what we lost in the fire for all of our fleet. The School has received support from area yacht clubs, individuals and institutions in its drive to rebuild. We are still actively in the process of raising funds to replace what we lost and greatly appreciate donations. These can be made online, at our website, or can be mailed directly to our PO box (Edgewood Sailing School, PO Box 25641, Cranston, RI 02905). This summer we will be hosting several fundraisers in a drive towards further restoring our programs. Remember, the Edgewood Sailing School is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible.

We have several fundraising events planned this season. One is May 14 at the house of Stephanie and George Shuster, the other will be June 30 at the Club. Please join in. 

The Edgewood Yacht Club has completely removed what remained of the old burnt clubhouse, a new dock will be installed to access the main dock (which did not burn). There will be a double wide classroom trailer on the premises as well as a tent all season long so that students and staff can find class space, shade and shelter when required.

Our staff is just about lined up for the coming season. We are looking for housing for one of our coaches - a marine biology major and sailor from the Texas A&M sailing team. If anyone has housing that they would be willing to provide for this individual for the summer months. Please let us know. We can provide a resume and recommendation letter to give you some background on him.

I look forward to seeing you all on the bay this summer.

Regards,

Chris Lee
Chair - Edgewood Sailing School

Sail Newport, the public community sailing center in Newport, RI, has announced partnering with Edgewood Sailing School in a donation project to benefit the Edgewood Sailing School youth sailing program, and an initial gift of 14 sails.  The Sailing School immediately extended thanks. 

Sail Newport's Executive Director Brad Read gave details of the project in an article first published Feb10 in the national sailing newsletter, Scuttlebut (printed below).  In the article, Brad Read wrote that the project will collect boat parts and gear, principally for Optis, to help re-stock Edgewood's 2011 Youth Sailing program from the January 2011 Edgewood Yacht Club fire.  The Sail Newport - Edgewood Sailing School project will end June 10, when the parts will be delivered to the Sailing School.  Meanwhile, Sail Newport is ready to receive and store equipment donations from sailors, their supporters and their families around the Bay and throughout New England.

Brad Read also announced that, setting the pace for the project, Sail Newport is making the opening contribution of 14 Opti mainsails. These will form the backbone of the Edgewood 2011 Opti program.

"The Edgewood Sailing School is honored to thank the Newport Yacht Club for its donation of eight 420 sails," wrote Chris Lee, ESS Board Chair.  "This critical first donation of equipment following the fire that destroyed virtually all of our sails, spars, rudders, tillers and other equipment,"  puts the Sailing School on track for rebuilding the equipment and supplies to assure that adult and youth students can be on the water for the season 2011.  

All the sailors, the volunteers and staff of the Sailing School join Chris in thanks for NYC's consideration and generaosity during this time of rebuilding for the school.

Sailing School joined the Edgewood Yacht Club all weekend at the Providence Boat Show. So many friends, families, neighbors, Members from other New England yacht clubs, and representatives of marine and historic organizations stopped by the Edgewood Yacht Club table.  The club fire, of course, prompted sympathy; the new Schedule, our busy young sailors in ESS tee-shirts, and our display of images and plans for 2011 prompted enthusiasm and smiles.  

A half-dozen returning folks and Edgewood Sailing School sailors each signed up as a 2011 new Member of the Edgewood Yacht Club, to show support.  For the Sailing School itself, donations on the website bubbled.  And this summer's classes are starting to fill.   Then, as the weekend continued, our story was spotted - with interviews for TV, and in the press following the activity at the show and with The FrozenFew who sailed on Sunday.

The BoatShow was a success.  And, with the Club, the Sailing School is very much looking forward to getting back to work, on the water for the 2011 program. (1/15/11)

Mario Hilario at WJAR produced a very nice piece about the community response to the fire at Edgewood Yacht Club. The combined effort of  neighbors and friends allowed the Frozen Few to sail on Sunday. The story aired on last night's 6 pm news. If you missed it, you can see it on the turnto10 web site.

Wednesday afternoon
January 12, 2011

Hello Edgewood Sailing School family,

As many of you know, the Edgewood Yacht Club, our home since 1956 burned down last night. It was a sad and tragic event. I want everyone to know that as a sailing school we will carry on and the youth calendar has been posted on our website for 2011. We will have a season this summer, though it may be different than the season you remember from last year. The sailing school board will be working on the plan to regroup and rebuild the program. It is too early to reveal any details as there are none at this point beyond a collective realization by those who are active in the Sailing School and/or the Yacht Club that we will carry on. None of our boats were damaged though we did lose all of our sails, spars, radios and other as yet unaccounted for equipment.