VENICE — Freedom Boat Club, with more than 10,000 members in 21 states and Canada, has given three sailboats to the New College of Florida‘s Sailing Team and Waterfront Programs. As a member of the Intercollegiate Sailing Association of North America, the New College Sailing Team regularly hosts regattas and competes in major competitions, taking home first place in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl Regatta in New Orleans, according to a press release.
Freedom Boat Club’s sailboat donations including two Hunters and a Catalina are now part of the college’s official sailing fleet and will have multiple uses as part of the school’s active waterfront and sailing team programs. The company’s Venice headquarters office supports dozens of organizations along the suncoast, where it operates 17 corporate-owned clubs from Bradenton to Marco Island.
“We deeply appreciate the generous gift from Freedom Boat Club President and CEO John Giglio and Freedom Boat Club,” New College of Florida President Donal O’Shea said in the release. “And New College’s highly competitive sailing team already is putting these boats to good use — the Catalina 250 was a committee boat in the last regatta New College hosted!”