Oakcliff Sailing Center, the WaterFront Center and the Oyster Bay Marine Club are hosting this year’s Sail the Sound for Deafness regatta on Thursday, Aug. 18, to benefit the Mill Neck Family of Organizations. The organization serves people who are deaf or have other communication needs both locally and globally.
Everyone, from sailors to spectators, is invited to take part in the event’s fifth year running. Participants can enter their classic yacht, compete as a sailor in the race around Oyster Bay, Cold Spring Harbor and into the Long Island Sound or watch the regatta aboard the WaterFront Center’s Christeen, the oldest oyster sloop in North America, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Participants can also attend the cocktail party following the regatta at the Mill Neck Manor House, a Tudor revival mansion, from 8:30 to 11 p.m. You may also support the cause by donating goods or services to the raffle/silent auction or becoming a sponsor.
Local eateries like Rothman’s Steakhouse, Oyster Bay Brewing Company, Coach Grill & Tavern, Spinnakers, Christiana’s Epicure and Bonanza’s Italian Ices will be participating in the food showcase, where the restaurants prepare a meal and compete for the Golden Galley Award for the most delicious food and creative presentation judged by the guests during the cocktail party.
All proceeds from the event go to the Mill Neck Family Organizations, established in 1947, whose mission is to “enhance the quality of life for people who are deaf, or who have other special communication needs, through excellence in individually designed education, vocational or spiritual programs and services,” according to the organization.
Programs offered by the group include deaf education, early childhood education for children with speech and language delays, services for deaf adults as well as audiology and sign language interpreters. The organization heavily depends on this event to keep its doors open, as the state and county funding they receive is often subject to budget cuts, according to Michelle Yadoo, the organization’s marketing and communications coordinator.
Since the commencement of the event in 2012, the organization has seen a steady growth in the number of participants, both sailors and spectators. In addition to the increase in funds raised every year, the growth in awareness has been very beneficial to the organization.
“Despite our school for the deaf being in existence for the last 65 years and the crowds that return every October to our long-running fall festival, our campus is notable off the beaten path. Through events, our hope is to let people know we are here and ready to help,” said Yadoo.
Choosing to use sailing as an outlet for fundraising and awareness was a no-brainer for the Mill Neck Family.
“It just made sense seeing as we are part of the surrounding community in which sailing is a very large part of the culture. Also, the fact that there are several Oyster Bay businesses ‘in our backyard’, like Oakcliff and The WaterFront Center, as well as various yacht clubs, that support the boating/marine culture,” said Yadoo.
While the services that the Mill Neck Family of Organizations provides are only offered locally, the organization works for the development of programs and services with other partners throughout the country and the world.
For more information or to register for the event, visit www.millneck.org/community-events/sail-the-sound-for-deafness/ or call 516-922-4100.
