Oakcliff Sailing Center; A new and exciting challenge and opportunity!

January 14, 2010

Press Release:

OYSTER BAY, NY — Oakcliff Sailing Center is pleased to name world-class sailor and philanthropist Dawn Riley as its Executive Director.

The mission of the Oakcliff Sailing Center is to raise the level of sailors and sailing in the United States. Oyster Bay’s waters will be filled with sails as the Center offers clinics and regattas for match racers, coaching for individuals and teams, and team building opportunities for companies and other organizations.

As CEO and Captain of America True, Riley was the first woman to manage an America’s Cup sailing team. She raced on four America’s Cup and two Whitbread (now Volvo Ocean Race) teams. She is the former President of the Woman’s Sports Foundation, serves on the board of US Sailing, and is an advisor to several public service organizations.

“We are delighted to have attracted a leader of Dawn’s talents to the Oakcliff Sailing Center,” said David Halliwill, chairman of the Center’s board of trustees. “The board looks forward to working with Dawn to build a world class training program for American sailors in Oyster Bay.”

“The Lawrence family’s substantial commitments to the Center have made this vision possible, and they look forward to this next stage of growth,” continued Halliwill.

The Center is physically comprised of an America’s Cup-like campus in downtown Oyster Bay. The clubhouse, boat yard, and climate controlled buildings house boat and sail storage as well as rigging, composites, winch and hardware workshops. All of this is in close proximity to the commuter train station and a hundred yards from the Center’s deep-water docks and moorings.

Oakcliff will execute its mission using its unique collection of boats:

·     Six Swedish Match 40s

·     Six Shields

·     Six Melges 24s

·     Two Farr 40s

·     Three IRC racing boats – one Ker 50, and two Ker 38s

·     Three classic wooden yachts – Nautilus (1905), Dolphin (1914), and Anne Caie (1935)

Oakcliff Sailing Center’s signature offering will be the Acorn program. With scholarships offered to individuals between the age of 18 and 30, it is open to all who have shown potential as racing sailors. Acorns will be completely immersed in the world of competitive sailing: everything from the sponsorship and business side of sailing to high–level match racing skills, from proper wet sanding and team management to basics in budgeting and accounting. Graduating Acorns will manage race boats, sail in the America’s Cup, or start businesses having learned valuable and transferable lessons.

For all sailors who want advanced training for themselves or their crews, Oakcliff Sailing Center offer customizable programs and multiple levels of supporting membership.

“Oakcliff has an extraordinary fleet of boats, strong philanthropic backing, and an ideal location,” said Riley. “I look forward to combining the best of global and American practices and to training the next generation of competitive US sailors.”

For more information, call Oakcliff Sailing Center at 516 802 0368