First Annual Harbor School Regatta at Governors Island Sets Sail October 6, 2011

New Yorkers Take to the Water on Historic America's Cup 12 Meter Yachts and Other Vessels to Support On-Water, Public Education at Inaugural Charity Regatta  

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After eight years of success educating New York City public high school students using the resources of New York Harbor, The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School is taking its fundraising efforts to the water for the first annual Harbor School Regatta at Governors Island.

On October 6, 2011, more than 600 members of New York's media, finance, education, food and wine, maritime, and business communities are expected to hit the water to sail and cheer at the inaugural Regatta, which serves as the opening event for Manhattan Sailing Club's New York Classics Week. Historic America's Cup 12 meters Weatherly, Nefertiti, American Eagle and Intrepid will join twenty J24 race boats from Manhattan Sailing Club in a race around Governors Island as part of two separate fleets. Corporate teams from companies including Credit-Suisse, Union Square Ventures, and Virgin Atlantic Airlines will join passionate sailors, Harbor School students, and supporters like former pro Olympic sailor, Hannah Swett, in a race to the finish.  Fans will take in the action from spectator boats in New York Harbor and enjoy entertaining race commentary by MSNBC's Willie Geist and NBC TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie.

Directly following the Regatta, sailors and spectators will head to the Post-Regatta BASH at Water Taxi Beach on Governors Island to enjoy the Harbor School Regatta awards ceremony complete with Dark 'n Stormies and other signature cocktails from Gosling's Rum, Fishers Island Oysters, Brooklyn Brewery seasonal brews, Marlow & Sons seafood chowder, High Plains Bison sausages, MAST Brothers Chocolate, and other local specialties.  

Sailors and spectators leave the docks at 1:00 p.m. for the 1:30 p.m. Regatta start with Post-Regatta BASH to follow from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

"Every day our students are interacting with the resources of New York Harbor as part of their curriculum, so it is only fitting that we bring our supporters out on the very waters where we do our most important work to participate in this unprecedented event," says Murray Fisher, Harbor School Co-Founder and New York Harbor Foundation President.  "This week at the Clinton Global Initiative's Annual Meeting, we will also be announcing our commitment to plant 40 million live oysters by 2015."

The Harbor School Regatta has attracted the support of dozens of Honorary Chairs including Jayni & Chevy Chase, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and NY State Speaker Sheldon Silver, Gloria Reuben, Senator Squadron, Congressman Nadler, and Congresswoman Margaret Chin as well as sponsors including Brooklyn Brewery, DNAInfo.com, Fishers Island Oysters, Gosling's Rum, High Plains Bison, Manhattan Sailing Club, Mason Made Cupcakes, MAST Brothers Chocolate, New York Water Taxi, Water Taxi Beach at Governors Island, popChips, Vineyard Vines, and VitaCoco.  

"One hundred percent of funds raised will benefit the students of New York City's only public, maritime high school as they pursue both a technical credential in a marine field and acceptance to a four year University. We are extremely grateful to New York's maritime and business communities for supporting this event," says Nate Dudley, Harbor School Principal.

New Yorkers interested in purchasing Spectator & Post-Regatta BASH tickets may visit: http://harborschoolregatta.eventbrite.com/ and those interested in sponsoring the event or sailing in the Regatta may contact [email protected].

About the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School

The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School partners with New York City's maritime community and uses New York Harbor's marine resources to create an extraordinary public high school experience that instills in its students the skills and ethic of environmental stewardship. Harbor School's mission is to graduate students prepared for success in college and who have earned a technical credential in one of the six marine fields: Vessel Operations, Marine Systems Technology, Ocean Engineering, Professional Diving, Aquaculture, and Marine Science Research. For more information visit www.nyharborschool.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together nearly 150 current and former heads of state, 18 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 2,000 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued in excess of $63 billion. The 2011 Annual Meeting will take place Sept. 20-22 in New York City.

SOURCE Urban Assembly New York Harbor School