WindCheck Magazine VitaSea™ Sun Care Company Sponsors Sail for Hope Fundraising Race Around Jamestown to Benefit Maui Food Bank

California-based sun care company VitaSea has joined the sailing community in Newport for a fundraising event to benefit the Maui Food Bank. Sail For Hope is scheduled for Saturday, September 30, which starts outside Newport Harbor and races around Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay.

“It is wonderful Sail Newport is using its fundraising event to assist Maui families. From sea to shining sea―from the Atlantic to the Pacific, we are kindred hearts in providing aid in times of need. Joining Sail For Hope is an opportunity to continue our support in helping a community that is dear to our hearts,” says Christine Burger, co-founder of VitaSea.The catastrophic fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui are reported to be the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century. Many people are still unaccounted for, and the needs are immense. VitaSea will join sailors, donors, and local businesses to raise donations for the Maui Food Bank.

“We’re thankful for VitaSea joining our community because they want to expand their support for the many suffering in Maui. VitaSea coming forward to help with emergency funding for the basic food needs of the survivors shows a company with a wonderful social conscience,” says Brad Read, executive director of Sail Newport.

VitaSea will donate $2,000 to the fundraiser; the sustainable sun care company has also pledged 100% of its online profits between October 1 and October 15. While VitaSea has already donated to the Maui Strong Fund, joining Sail For Hope is another opportunity to expand their support of families in Maui who need basic supplies and food.

Sailboats 22′ and larger are invited to enter the race around Jamestown. Powerboats are also welcome to join the flotilla that starts outside Newport Harbor and makes an 18-mile circumnavigation of Conanicut Island. Racing begins at 11 a.m. Classes include multiple PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spinnaker, Multi-Hull, and the Sail Newport J/22 One-Design Class.

Racers and Non-Racing Vessels Encouraged to Participate  Sailors are busy raising funds to send to the Maui Food Bank from their friends, neighbors, families, and businesses to donate on behalf of their boat entry. Donations may be made online or delivered to Sail Newport via check and earmarked “Maui Food Bank.” Other funding will be derived from the net of entry fees, bar income, and merchandise sales.

A social will be held after racing at the Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard to continue fundraising. Sailors and crew are invited, and guests may purchase a ticket for $30, available online at sailnewport.org.

About Maui Food Bank  (MFB) was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1994. MFB is working round the clock to relieve hunger resulting from the catastrophic Maui wildfires. The Maui Food Bank is the only nonprofit in Maui County that collects, warehouses and distributes mass quantities of perishable and nonperishable food items to those in need.Maui Food Bank Website

About VitaSea™  Founded in 2023 as a mission-driven brand, VitaSea™ creates high-performance, reef-friendly sun care products for the whole family, all with sustainability at heart. In our world sunshine is goodness, and sunscreen is necessary. Every product is carefully formulated for those of us who love the outdoors and need protection from the harmful dangers of the sun. We are just a young brand, who dreams big and believes sunscreen can smell good, feel good and work great, all while advocating for the world we live in―sharing peace, love and sunshine. For more on us, please visit https://www.vitaseasuncare.com/.

About Sail for Hope  Over Two Decades of Helping OthersThe event was founded in 2001, following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and in the skies over Pennsylvania, when a few local sailing enthusiasts scrambled to organize a regatta to honor and support those affected. The first Sail for Pride Regatta rallied over 180 boats and raised $110,000 to support the NYFD firefighters, police, and the victims of the attacks and their families.

The display of patriotism and generosity on and off the water made a lasting impression on the sailing community. After the inaugural year, the organizers retired the name Sail for Pride but continued the event as Sail For Hope, reflecting the Rhode Island state motto of “Hope.” The mission then became an annual tradition to support the nonprofit community and those they serve.

Charities supported over the past 22 years include Seamen’s Church Institute, Newport Harbormaster’s Emergency Equipment Fund, The Rhode Island Red Cross, New Orleans Hurricane Katrina, Bahamas Hurricane Dorian, emergency assistance to active duty families, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (Newport), Wounded Warriors, R.I. Frontline Food for COVID medical workers, Seaman’s Church Institute, local public high school sailing teams, U.S. Olympic Sailing Trials, The Wounded Warriors Project, World Central Kitchen and Save the Children for Ukraine aid, the Warrior Sailing Program, The Timothy J. Mills Financial Aid Fund at Sail Newport, Sail Newport community programs and many others. https://sailnewport.org/calendar/2023-sail-for-hope/