Niantic Bay Sailing Academy Fund Raising Regatta

We have a water bottle refilling station with cold, filtered water that is used throughout the season.

Straws were not available at all during the regatta. We publicized our no straws policy prior to the event.

Thirty-inch grinders and cans of beverages were served at the reception.

The prize for first, second, and third place in all classes was a hat and reusable dry bag.

Clean practices have been publicized through educational posts for weeks prior to the regatta. These posts were on social media and some were printed and laminated for reusable signage around the club.

Joe Attwater from the CT Audubon Society presented a fascinating talk and demonstration on sea birds to our kids and NBYC members. We have been communicating with staff from Audubon Society since March about our NBSA stewardship mission. We hope to have an ongoing relationship with them in order to help us do our part in protecting sea birds and their natural habitats.

NBYC has many different types of recycled signs around the club, including those made with washed up wood, old optimist centerboards, and recycled cardboard.

Grinders from Big Y were served post-racing, which collaborates with local family-owned farms and independent producers in Connecticut.

We have a wonderful Green Team. Most excited that high school students Olivia Murin and Kennedy Nemec returned and have been a tremendous help this year. Our green team is involved in all aspects of planning our "home" regattas.

A can and bottle collection station was set up that included a bucket to collect left over liquid placed next to a barrel marked with a sign for the "East Lyme Viking Marching Band." This is another connection with a community group where we impart our efforts of sustainable seaside life!

Left over grinders from the reception were given to stewards and jr sailors. Very little waste was generated from this reception and cans were taken to the high school.

Participants used a QR code when they arrived to make the fundraiser donation, which also registered them into the evening's racing.

Niantic Bay Sailing Academy sailors have been doing beach cleanups with the help and organization of coaches and youth green team members Kennedy Nemec and Olivia Murin.

Only water is used to clean the boats following racing.

The wonderful presentation from the Audubon society helped increase awareness of the wildlife and habitats surrounding the yacht club and the waters we sail in. We also have reusable signage around the club about keeping animal habitats protected and intact.

There was an option of veggie grinders being served during the reception.

The NBYC bike rack has been upgraded to allow space for even more bicycles, and it was used by many sailors who attended the regatta. Because the fundraiser regatta is largely NBYC members, it is one that gets more on-foot or on-bike traffic than most.

Because mostly yacht club and sailing academy members participated in this regatta, most sailors lived close enough to walk, scooter or bike to the event. There were no coach boats on the water for this event.

The Clean Regatta mission has gained traction so that Sailors for the Sea practices are becoming a natural expectation. In the future we are hoping to begin certifying fleets. Above Is a picture of Olivia and Kennedy working on an educational sign used at the regatta.