Martin Donnelly ’51, one of the members of the College’s original sailing team, took to the waters off of the Rhode Island Yacht Club for the annual alumni regatta named in his honor on April 12.

That day, the club team held both its Martin Donnelly ’51 Annual Alumni Regatta and its Annual Banquet and Meeting. The events, along with other fund-raising efforts this academic year, helped push the team to within approximately $30,000 of its goal of $70,000.

Once the goal is met, the team will purchase 12 new dinghies to replace the eight boats currently in use. The sailors need the new fleet because of the aging condition of the boats and to accommodate the team’s growth in membership.

Founded in 1951, the Sailing Team is comprised of approximately 75 students—25 race team members and 50 club sailors. The team operates out of the Rhode Island Yacht Club on the Providence River in Cranston. Students sail four days week for almost six months of the academic year.

Last fall, the race team made a significant program leap, finishing 20th out of 38 teams in New England competition. This spring, it continued a full regatta schedule, including a trip to Ohio for the Buckeye Invitational on April 19-20. For more on the team, click here.

The club raised more than $5,000 during the Alumni Weekend, primarily through regatta and banquet registration fees, sales of regatta shirts and Vineyard Vines tote bags and belts, a raffle, and donations. After casual sailing on the Providence River, the team held its Annual Banquet and Meeting at the Federal Reserve Restaurant in Providence. Nearly 100 current and former team members, family members, and friends attended the dinner.

The team continues fundraising on two levels. The tote bags and belts, which feature the team’s logo, can be purchased for $75 and $35, respectively. To place an order, e-mail msmerig@providence.edu.

For direct donations, contact Felicia Greene, assistant director of annual giving in the Office of Institutional Advancement, at 401-865-2408 or at fgreene1@providence.edu. Donations also can be made at www.givetopc.org.

Enjoying the Sailing Team’s Annual Banquet and Meeting at the Federal Reserve restaurant in Providence on April 12 are, from left, Sailing Team alumnus John W. Switzer ’05 and team members Holly Ashton ’08 of Riverside, R.I., and Patrick Broome ’09 of Marshfield, Mass., who is the team’s commodore.