Sail Newport Hosts Tenth Annual Sail for Pride

Sail Newport will honor American servicemen and women’s charities this Sept. 11 by holding Sail for Pride. The event commemorates the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the United States.

R.I. Red Cross Services to Armed Forces Fund and the Wounded Warrior Project were selected as the recipients for fundraiser.

 “We want to help those servicemen and women and their families who have suffered as a result of fighting for our freedom since 9-11,” said Scott Murray, co-founder of the annual sailing event. “We don’t want to take their sacrifices for granted…and we will never forget.”

Sail for Pride was originally organized three weeks after the attacks on Sept. 11. The name “Sail for Pride” was retired in 2011 and was renamed Sail for Hope to incorporate Rhode Island’s state motto. This will be the first year since 2011 the event will be called Sail for Pride. The events have raised more than $800,000 for several charities.

Rhode Island sailors Brad Read of Middletown, Mick Harvey and Scotty Murray, both of Newport, founded the regatta.

 “In the past 12 months, the American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter has received more than 650 requests for assistance for Rhode Island servicemen and women and their families,” said R.I. Red Cross spokesman Nick Logothets. “These requests are a direct result of the hardships placed upon these families as they continue to defend our freedom.”

Sail Newport will invite boats to partake in the 18-plus mile race around Conanicut Island, beginning outside of Newport Harbor. Fundraising will continue after the race at the Newport Shipyard during the trophy presentation for the top-earning boat in the event. There will also be a silent auction.

New England Boatworks, IYAC, , the ,  and Brewer Yacht have all supported the regatta in past years.

 “The Vision of the Wounded Warrior Project is to foster the most successful, well adjusted generation of wounded warriors in the nation’s history,” said Mike Holty, of the WWP.  “As Americans, we must do all that we can to make this Vision a reality.”