Annual Reports
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The Foundation takes pride in the growth of junior sailing in Michigan, the fastest growing high school sport in the state. Close to home, University Liggett School now joins Grosse Pointe North and South high schools in varsity high school sailing competition.
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The Foundation works closely with the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club to provide a “home base” for the high schools sailing teams, that use Club facilities for practice and regattas, Spring and Fall.
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YNEF financial grants support teams and individual sailors with equipment, maintenance, travel and regatta expenses helping high school sailors develop their skills and hone their competitive edge.
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College scholarship applications continue to grow. For 2022, $2,000 scholarships are to be awarded to area student/sailors, based on academic and sailing accomplishments. Thankfully, the number of funded perpetual scholarships has grown.
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Funding for Challenge the Wind is anexample of the YNEF’s impact throughout the area sailing community.

From YNEF President Jim Morrow 2024 and BEYOND

2024 marks our 15th year as a 501(C)(3) Foundation, however our team has been raising funds to promote nautical education and youth sailing since 1986. Today we have 28 high school sailing teams in the Detroit Metropolitan area, very strong youth summer programs at all the DRYA clubs and a program in Detroit called the Detroit Community Sailing Center (DCSC). These programs present fantastic opportunities for young folks to learn a lifetime sport and have a safe competitive environment to enjoy our great lakes.

Following our major 2023 donation of 20 new 420e sailboats to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, they were able to host several major Tier 1 regattas drawing in High Schools from across the State of Michigan. In addition, they were able to host the Midwest College Qualifier in April, drawing sailors from colleges throughout the Midwest. We awarded 12 scholarships to local sailors this year bringing our total to 150 since the inception of the program. YNEF also sponsored several clinics and other events all contributing to a solid year for Sailors.
The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club sailing program alone had approximately 180 participants in 2024 The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club sailing program alone had approximately 180 participants in 2024 with the strongest participation in the Learn to Sail and Opti racers.  This speaks well for the future of the program as these younger sailors grow into higher levels of Optimist and 420 sailing.  The GPYC strengthened their program with the addition of David Perez a sailing professional and Optimist coach from Florida.

This was a significant boost to our younger sailors.  There was a general decline in participation at the 420 level, not only at GPYC but across the DRYA. We are working to try to understand what is happening and devise some new or different programs to bring these sailors back into the programs.  with the strongest participation in the Learn to Sail and Opti racers.  This speaks well for the future of the program as these younger sailors grow into higher levels of Optimist and 420 sailing.  The GPYC strengthened their program with the addition of David Perez a sailing professional and Optimist coach from Florida.

This was a significant boost to our younger sailors.  There was a general decline in participation at the 420 level, not only at GPYC but across the DRYA. We are working to try to understand what is happening and devise some new or different programs to bring these sailors back into the programs.  
The Challenge the Wind program changed its name to the Detroit Community Sailing program and has expanded their offerings and programs. With over 100 young sailors in the summer program, expanded educational STEM programs and 100 adults, this organization has gained significant momentum. Today, they operate out of the former Detroit Boat Club but a key focus with this program is to determine future facilities as the State will decide the fate of this historical facility. We are continuing to work with relocation efforts to support the growth of Junior sailing in our community.

For 2025, we plan to continue to grow these programs within our community and provide the best competitive landscape possible. We are adding younger members to our board to ensure that we continue to add value and are in tune with the ever-changing environment of youth sailing in our region. We will continue to host competitive events and encourage our sailors to travel to regional regattas to gain valuable experience. Our focus remains clearly on improving youth Sailing and providing a solid competitive landscape. We appreciate your support and contributions to help with this effort.