Team Announces Crown Campaign
It is with great pleasure that the team announces our capital fundraising campaign in order to purchase a new fleet of college Club 420 boats from Zim Sailing in conjunction with our newest initiative to merge with the Fordham University Sailing Club. Both teams are purchasing ten boats respectively in order to have the necessary full fleet of twenty boats to host intercollegiate sailing regattas on City Island in New York, where both of our sailing teams practice. As dedicated sailors to the Columbia Sailing Club, our team has taken it upon itself to raise the necessary funds to see our new fleet aspirations come to fruition. In just the past couple of months, we have already raised $11,153.50 in this campaign. This combined with our previous gift account balance brings us to $14,924.70 or three boats already paid for. We need the supports of our families, alumni, friends of the team, companies, and sailing organization to raise the funds necessary to cover the remaining seven boats.
Recognized as a “club” sport at Columbia University, the Sailing Club only receives a small percentage of our operating budget from the school, even though we compete in two full seasons of competitive regattas and battle for both regional and national level championships each academic year. While varsity teams, which the vast majority of our competitors are, usually enjoy “fully funded” status, we have to cover costs such as dock fees, regatta entry fees, equipment, coaching, and travel through dues that we, as sailors, pay individually combined with contributions from our kind supporters. We are, monetarily speaking, largely on our own and, thereby, responsible for all of our club’s finances. Therefore, help from our supporters makes an incredible difference.
Our purchase from Zim Sailing is the first order of college Club 420s from this company. Previously, Laser Performance was the only manufacturer producing these boats in our area. With a comparable product and more competitive price, we chose Zim Sailing to make our boats. This fleet will be the fleet to watch then as other college team’s look to purchase new boats. Sponsorship by individuals or firms to help us afford this purchase will be greatly appreciated and worthy investment in this team for many years to come.
More information on the Crown Campaign can be found here.