PRESS RELEASE: ACADEMY DELIGHTED WITH DONATION Wednesday 18th July 2012
The National Sailing Academy is delighted to announce that it has received a donation in the amount of US $1,000 jointly on behalf of HIHO and Antigua Sailing Week. The Academy was adopted by Antigua Sailing Week as its official charity for 2012 and HIHO, the Official Exclusive Apparel Supplier to Antigua Sailing Week, is an active supporter of youth sailing throughout the Caribbean. It was therefore a natural choice for the two organisations to pair up to choose the National Sailing Academy for the donation.
Last May, organisers and members of the Academy actively participated in Lay Day swimming and sailing activities at Pigeon Beach in the middle of Antigua Sailing Week. Over the past couple of years, it has been the intention of the Sailing Week committee to not only return the event to its status as the premier sailing regatta in the Caribbean, but also to assist in as many ways as possible to get more Antiguans and Barbudans involved in the yachting industry. Antigua Sailing Week’s focus has therefore shifted from being all about the parties to providing opportunities to get more people involved ‘on the water’.
The National Sailing Academy was formed in 2010 and is a joint venture between the Government of Antigua and private enterprise. The purpose of the Academy is to offer students in Antigua from 8 to 18 years of age the opportunity to learn to swim and sail free of charge through a schools program which has been made possible by adding both swimming and sailing to the Government’s list of National Sports. The aim of the Sailing Academy is to not only enable students to learn a physically and intellectually challenging sport, but to expose them to future career opportunities that may be available to them in Antigua’s yachting industry. Opportunities both on and off the water are endless and the benefits to both the yachting industry and to the Antiguan community are manifold.
The National Sailing Academy has been operating at capacity at Antigua Yacht Club for some time now and plans are progressing for the installation and development of two satellite locations – one at Parham Fisheries and one at Jolly Harbour Marina. These satellite locations will enable the Academy to increase to 500 the number of children who are taught to sail each week.
As a charitable organisation, donations and fund raising continue to be the means by which lessons are funded and development plans are implemented. Should you wish to make a donation to the National Sailing Academy, please visit www.nationalsailingacademy.org.
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