From Jim Crabtree:

Many of our Flying Scot members have had the pleasure of participating in Midwinters or other regattas at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron over the years. We have fond memories of members bringing out homemade hot appetizers for the welcome parties. As many are aware, SSS suffered significant damage from both Hurricanes Helene and Hurricane Milton. While the membership, including the local Flying Scot Fleet 36, is actively involved in the clean-up and recovery, including three who serve on the Board of Directors, docks are not insurable assets. While the club is applying for grants to help offset the cost, we anticipate uninsured expenses to the club, including dock repair and replacement, to exceed $1 million. While basic docks to resume nominal club operation have been prioritized, SSS would welcome donations to help fund the docks needed for us to host large regattas, such as the 2026 Flying Scot Midwinters, most notably our wave fence, the floating dock extension near the hoist and the floating dock extensions near the boat ramp that enable many boats to tie up concurrently.

Toward this end, we are opening a “Flying Scots Support SSS Docks” fund. If you are interested and able, there are different ways you may contribute. In all cases, please put in the notes:”Flying Scots Support SSS Docks”  

Gifts to SSS, which is a 501(c)7 (not tax-deductible): checks made out to Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236 or through PayPal here

For those who have company matching, use pre-tax IRA deductions or itemize deductions, you may make tax-deductible donations to Sail Sarasota, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, at SailSarasota.info. Checks, which are preferred, may be made out to Sail Sarasota, Inc., 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236. Please put “Flying Scots Support SSS Docks” in the comment field and these funds will be directed accordingly.