news release

The Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County held the Tenth Annual “Rock The Boat” gala at the Quail Valley River Club on the evening, of March 10, 2025.   Guests arrived at 5 PM to enjoy cocktails while fifteen junior sailors mingled with patrons regaling them with sea stories about their adventures on water.  A silent auction provided multiple opportunities for patrons to make contributions while enjoying hors d’oeuvres.  The planned exhibition regatta had to be scrubbed due to lightning and thunderstorms in the area. 

Sailing Director, Clark Lewis, had the audience’s heartfelt attention as he introduced the sailors and asked them to tell the audience what they liked most about sailing.  Children aged 8 to 18 from across the socioeconomic spectrum related how sailing helped them gain confidence, develop decision-making skills, and foster teamwork.  YSF uses sailing as a medium to teach the basic building blocks for a successful life to over 350 children annually.  Sailors represent over thirty-five schools from across Indian River County. About 50% of the sailors come from underserved homes and sail free. 

Dinner was followed by a live auction with John Moore providing fun and entertainment while auctioning prizes ranging from an American Cruise Lines cruise; to stays at the New York Yacht Club’s Newport Rhode Island station and a luxury condo in Steamboat Springs Colorado.   The highlight of the auction came after volunteer Don Little introduced three of YSF’s special needs sailors and families.   Multiple donors raised their paddles to gift over $10,000 in support of the Adaptive Sailing Program.  There were misty eyes among the sailors and patrons alike.

Youth Sailing Foundations offers sailing free to any child in Indian River County and relies entirely on the generosity of donors from our community to fund its programs.  One patron summed up the evening.   “Chatting with the young sailors brought home the positive impact YSF is having on their lives and made me feel good about providing financial support for such important work.”

Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit nonprofit with a mission of offering free sailing instruction to the children of Indian River County.   Contributions can be made by mailing a check to YSF, P.O. Box 612, Vero Beach, FL 32961.  For online giving go to this link to our website:  https://youth-sailing-foundation-of-indian-river-county-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/235703-annual-appeal-2024