Yachtsman Jim Clark (internet pioneer and co-founder of Netscape Communications, pictured helming Hanuman) is clearly a man of his word as demonstrated yesterday with a donation of $150,000 each to two Newport-based charitable organisations: Sail Newport and Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI). The donations are follow-throughs on Clark’s public promise to make contributions to marine charities if he were ever to hire professional sailors to race in pursuit of a trophy. Clark, who competes in regattas with his 137-foot J-Class yacht Hanuman, hopes to have other J-Class owners follow his lead. Read previous story here.
 
“I have made it quite public that if I spend money on professionals to try and win a sailing competition, I will donate a comparable amount to a marine- or sailing-based charity,” said Clark. “Some of us are fortunate to own J-Class yachts, and if we all give back in the spirit of friendship, dedication to the sport of sailing, and devotion to the oceans that we use, perhaps we can have an impact.”
 
Clark recently announced plans to integrate the Newport-based PUMA Ocean Racing Team and helmsman Ken Read into Clark’s amateur team aboard Hanuman in a series of upcoming Caribbean regattas.
 
“Jim Clark keeps his promise,” said Brad Read, executive director of Sail Newport. “All of us sailors have spent a lifetime enjoying the world’s oceans through the sport of sailing, and Jim’s enthusiastic leadership in contributing to the oceanic environment sets a tremendous example.”

Follow us on twitter.

Subscribe to Yachting World magazine for all the latest racing news and reviews