September 22, 2005
2006 Jimmy Fund Regatta ready to set sail
Newport, RI - The second annual Jimmy Fund Regatta presented by Northern Trust is ready to set sail June 3-4. All boats will be sailing to benefit cancer research and care at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund.
Last year, sailors raised more than $175,000 for the Jimmy Fund. This year regatta organizers hope to bring in more than $200,000. All funds will support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the world's leaders in cancer research and care.
This world-class sailing regatta marks the kick-off of the 2006 Newport keelboat-racing season. Registration opens mid-March at www.jimmyfund.org/regatta. Competitors are encouraged to check the web site for the regatta schedule, class line-up, registration, the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, regatta announcements and scores.
Race and social headquarters will be located at Newport Shipyard on Newport Harbor with race management provided by Sail Newport. More than 100 boats are expected to participate in IRC, PHRF and One-Design classes, including Swan 45, Farr 40, Mumm 30, and Melges 24. Boats will compete in several divisions.
Sail Newport Executive Director Brad Read says, "We had an incredible inaugural year with the Jimmy Fund Regatta in 2005, and this year we expect more boats in all classes, especially in the Farr 40, IRC and PHRF Divisions. This is a key East Coast regatta and an ideal warm-up event for teams planning to race in Newport this summer."
Some One-Design classes will start racing on Friday, June 2, according to class requests. Most classes will start racing on Saturday, continuing through Sunday. At the conclusion of the last race, the Jimmy Fund Regatta Championship trophies will be handed out at an awards ceremony at Newport Shipyard.
A unique part of the Jimmy Fund Regatta is an event called the Sail for Jimmy on Saturday, June 3. All sailboats and powerboats in Narragansett Bay are invited to participate. It is mandatory for boats racing in the Regatta. However, this leg encourages all sailboats over 23 feet to join a racing class or cruising class to navigate the course around Conanicut Island. Powerboats are also welcome to cruise the course to show support for Dana-Farber.
"We want everyone to cruise around the island to support the Jimmy Fund and help people battling cancer," says Newport Shipyard owner and event host Charlie Dana, who is also a trustee of Dana-Farber. "The Sail for Jimmy is a fantastic event for serious racers, casual sailors, and power boaters."
The Sail for Jimmy starts at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. In the racing and cruising classes, slowest boats will start first. All boats will travel the 18-mile course southward past Castle Hill and around Jamestown. The finish line will be located inside Newport Harbor. Entry fees will be determined based on boat length.
The best places to watch the Sail for Jimmy are from the north end of Fort Adams State Park, Goat Island, Castle Hill and points along the Jamestown shoreline.
To also help with fundraising efforts and have fun, sailors, friends and individuals who want to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute may purchase tickets to the Jimmy Fund Regatta's "Party in the Paint Shed." The social event will be held at the Newport Shipyard on Saturday night, June 3 at 8 p.m. Guests will enjoy a casual dinner, live music, and dancing.
There will be a special awards ceremony at the Party in the Paint Shed to present the Sail for Jimmy awards to top finishers in multiple sailing classes. The highest fundraiser of the Sail for Jimmy will also be recognized with the Frank McCaffrey Memorial trophy, which honors a beloved local sailor who succumbed to leukemia in 2001.
Northern Trust is sponsoring the Jimmy Fund Regatta for a second year. Northern Trust is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Founded in 1889, Northern Trust has the earned distinction as an industry leader in high-touch service and has over $2.8 trillion in assets under administration.
