Spring Break
URI sailing team aided by senate to compete in World Cup
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: News
04/16/09 - The University of Rhode Island Student Senate awarded financial assistance to three student organizations last night totaling $9,900.
The URI Sailing Team received the majority of the funds with a $6,000 loan.
Junior captain Jesse Fielding, who spoke on behalf of the team, said the money would go to defray a portion of the cost of competing in the Student Yachting World Cup in Marseille, France.
The team qualified to compete in the October 2009 World Cup with its Nov. 9 victory at the United States Naval Academy's John F. Kennedy Memorial Regatta.
This is the 11th time in its history the club has qualified for the race, Fielding told the senate, more than any other team in the United States.
"We're now trying to take on the project of getting ourselves to that world cup and winning for URI there and representing the school and representing club sports and the student senate," he said.
The total cost to compete in the event will come to about $40,000, Fielding said. The cost includes housing, boat rental, docking and participation fees.
In order to make up the remaining $34,000 the club will be launching an extensive fundraising campaign with letter writing and on-campus events, Fielding said.
"We're in charge of raising that money and we're going to try to do whatever we can to get it," Fielding said following the meeting.
Planned fundraisers include two screenings of the Roy Disney sailing documentary "Morning Light." Fielding is one of two URI students featured in the film, which was released in October 2008.
Fielding was optimistic about the team's chances in France, citing his and other team members' racing experience at home and abroad.
"We know what we're getting into when we get on a plane and go to a foreign country and race for team USA," Fielding said following the meeting.
The club will be able to repay the $6,000 loan following the race when the regatta's organizing committee reimburses a number of the fees and associated costs.
The URI Sailing Team received the majority of the funds with a $6,000 loan.
Junior captain Jesse Fielding, who spoke on behalf of the team, said the money would go to defray a portion of the cost of competing in the Student Yachting World Cup in Marseille, France.
The team qualified to compete in the October 2009 World Cup with its Nov. 9 victory at the United States Naval Academy's John F. Kennedy Memorial Regatta.
This is the 11th time in its history the club has qualified for the race, Fielding told the senate, more than any other team in the United States.
"We're now trying to take on the project of getting ourselves to that world cup and winning for URI there and representing the school and representing club sports and the student senate," he said.
The total cost to compete in the event will come to about $40,000, Fielding said. The cost includes housing, boat rental, docking and participation fees.
In order to make up the remaining $34,000 the club will be launching an extensive fundraising campaign with letter writing and on-campus events, Fielding said.
"We're in charge of raising that money and we're going to try to do whatever we can to get it," Fielding said following the meeting.
Planned fundraisers include two screenings of the Roy Disney sailing documentary "Morning Light." Fielding is one of two URI students featured in the film, which was released in October 2008.
Fielding was optimistic about the team's chances in France, citing his and other team members' racing experience at home and abroad.
"We know what we're getting into when we get on a plane and go to a foreign country and race for team USA," Fielding said following the meeting.
The club will be able to repay the $6,000 loan following the race when the regatta's organizing committee reimburses a number of the fees and associated costs.
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