I have been helping to outfit and prepare a 60' steel trauler for the past 10 months to be used to deliver food, aid, and supplies to coastal communities in the Pacific affected by natural disasters. This will be the first vessel for International Rescue Group, an organization seeking to source the the 10,000 pleasure cruisers around the world to help in its mission. IRG aims to be a lean organization with no salaried positions or compensated directors so the majority of funds will go directly to providing emergency aid to populations. IRG will be able to fill a necessary void in aid delivery by being able to bring needed items within the fist days following a disaster before larger organizations can mobilize. 

IRG is celebrating it's formation and the launch of it's first vessel, T2, on March 31st with a fundraising party (advertized in this month's Latitude 38 issue). IRG hopes to raise funds to complete the outfitting of the vessel to travel to Thailand where it will base its mission's from. The event will be held in Alameda starting at 7PM and will have live music, dinner, comedy, silent auction, and dancing. Ray Thackeray, the captain and founder has worked with a number of startups and large companies over the years and is also active in theater and music circles so it will be a fun crowd attending. 

The event coordinator recently had a scheduling conflict so we are now in need of someone to help execute the event. We are also looking for silent auction items, if you have any items you no longer need. The painting of the boat will be taking place next Thursday and Friday (3/29-30) if you are interested in helping. You can also contribute by participating in discussion's on the site's forum to help source supplies or solve system installation issues. Donations can be easily made though the website if you would like to support IRG's mission.

You can connect with me if you are interested in helping with any of these needs or attending the launch party. All of the details can be found on IRG's website where you can join the member community to receive updates (the vessel will be hosting a number of cruises on the bay this summer to view America's Cup Sailing Trials).

I hope to see you there and feel free to pass the word along to anyone else you think may be interested. For those of you outside of the SF Bay Area, IRG is looking for individuals around the world to join their community and participate in it's mission.

Cheers,

 

 

Sean