Trophy-worthy cause

Lindsay Sandham

For the weeks leading up to the world’s largest international yacht

race -- the Newport to Ensenada race -- the Newport Harbor Nautical

Museum is hosting the race’s trophies.

The exhibit is the only time -- aside from the post-race awards

ceremony in Ensenada, Mexico -- that all the trophies can be seen

together at one time.

The Nautical Museum hosted a party Wednesday night where museum

members and sailors had the opportunity to meet, see the trophies,

taste food from some of Newport Beach’s local restaurants and bid on

more than 40 silent-auction items.

All proceeds from the event went to benefit the museum’s education

program, which fulfills California state fifth-grade curriculum

standards. The program teaches local schoolkids about history, art,

social studies and environmental science in an inventive and exciting

manner.

Children who visit the museum get to meet the sea animals in the

touch tank, learn about water testing by testing ocean water, and

also learn about rain cycles and how they affect the ocean.

According to Museum President and Chief Executive Glenn Zagoren,

the fundraiser brought in more than $20,000.

“It exceeded expectations,” he said. “To get that kind of return

on such a small auction is great.”

The goal was for the event to be a party first and a fundraiser

second, Zagoren said.

“First and foremost, it was a reception to honor the race, to

introduce new people to the museum and to introduce the exhibit,” he

said. “And if people can come down and participate in a cultural

experience, a local cultural experience, and at the same time you are

contributing to our educational program -- that is the perfect

win-win situation.”

The trophy exhibit offered an excuse for the museum to throw a

party, though it couldn’t have been done without the donation of the

trophies by the Newport Ocean Sailing Assn.

“As a way of creating a venue to have a party, we brought the

trophies,” said association Commodore Paul DeCapua. “We bring them

here and let them stay on display for about six weeks.”

Many local companies contributed by donating food, beverages and

prizes for the silent auction. Corum watches donated a $5,500

nautical watch.

“I got so excited about what he [Glenn] is doing,” said Knych

Keller, Corum’s director of communications for the U.S. “If we’re

going to put marketing money somewhere, why not put it somewhere

that’s for the education of children in the area?”

Many of the attendees were members of the Nautical Museum, who

support the educational programs year-round.

“Anything that raises money is wonderful,” said member Philip

Weinreich of Irvine. “It [the party] is a good way of putting it

together.”