Dear Members,

Today, it is my privilege to announce our club is returning to its original name - Manhattan Yacht Club.

When our club was founded in 1987, we were known as the "Manhattan Yacht Club." We used this name for 15 years. Then in 2002, following the terrorist attack of 2001, we changed to "Manhattan Sailing Club." The reason was to make our club seem more accessible and to emphasize our public mission with programs like our sailing school. The change helped us navigate a tumultuous period.

Since then, our Manhattan Sailing School has grown into one of the largest in the country. Our school is now known throughout the city for providing high quality education. Also, the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation has developed two fabulous junior programs, the Teen Sailing Camp which started in 2003 and Operation Optimist which started in 2007. Today, everyone knows North Cove is the center of sailing education in the harbor.

Our club has also evolved. Our fleet has grown and we have added many more programs. Last year, Arabella became our clubhouse at North Cove. The club will continue to try and improve quality as demonstrated by the addition of our new General Manager Lynn Sexton.

Returning to our original name, fits with our club's growing activities on the national and international scene. On June 1, we will start of the New York to Barcelona Race for Open Class 60 yachts. And in August, we will host the Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge with teams from all over the world coming to race in New York Harbor.

Our name will also provide a better distinction between "Manhattan Yacht Club" which is for members and provides special privileges and access and "Manhattan Sailing School" which is for the public.

The return to Manhattan Yacht Club was discussed with our club's Advisory Committee which is made up of committee chairs. The Advisors were unanimous in their support for the return.

Logistically, this announcement marks the official change. Please celebrate this announcement with your fellow members on Honorable William Wall this Wednesday or Thursday. Hoisting a toast to "Manhattan Yacht Club" will be a very appropriate thing to do! The change will then propagate through our systems and websites over the next few months.

I hope you will join me in wearing the Manhattan Yacht Club symbols and clothing. Every member is an ambassador for all the good we have already achieved here in Manhattan. And together, we will continue to imagine and create a great recreational waterfront for our city.

- Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh