At Siren Marine we often say, "By boaters, for boaters." As residents of Newport, RI and passionate boaters ourselves, we're incredibly excited to be partnering with Sail Newport and the Volvo Ocean Race. We believe that Sail Newport represents the perfect opportunity to give back to our local community in a way that is directly in line with our values as a company.
Siren Marine is donating 16 of its advanced MTC™ Connected Boat systems for installation on 14 of Sail Newport’s J-22 sailboats, as well as two support vessels. By using MTC along with Siren Marine’s new Fleet Management App, Sail Newport will be able to easily monitor a range of onboard conditions and accurately track the location of its rental vessels as they are used for sailing instruction, special events and introducing new people to the joy of sailing. By monitoring everything from battery status to position to security, the MTC will protect Sail Newport’s rental vessels and support a more efficient operation for Sail Newport, reducing downtime and ensuring a better sailing experience for the men, women and children who take advantage of its many programs.
“This partnership just made sense to us on many levels,” says Daniel Harper, Siren Marine CEO and founder. Harper is himself an avid sailor and racer with more than 150,000 sea miles under his belt, and knows from experience the many issues that can trouble boaters. “From winning the Rhode Island Business Plan competition back in 2012 to the recent successful launch of our MTC system, Siren has enjoyed great success by eliminating worry for boaters and ushering in the Connected Boat era. The Newport community, with its rich maritime history, sailing tradition and passion for the water, has played an important role in our success. We wanted to do something positive and give back to the community; and supporting Sail Newport was a logical choice. Our organizations share a passion for sailing, as well as a drive to make the sport we love more accessible and enjoyable for the public,” adds Harper.
Sail Newport is a 501 (c) 3 organization that promotes and operates affordable public sailing instruction and vessel rental programs, creating opportunities to attract new sailors to the sport. Located in scenic Fort Adams Park in Newport, Rhode Island, Sail Newport is New England’s largest public sailing center and offers dinghy docks, ramp launching, summer and winter storage and on-shore conveniences. It is also headquarters for the Dr. Robin Wallace Youth Sailing Center, where hundreds of children each season receive an introduction to the world of sailing and expert instruction tailored just for them.
“Our organization’s goal is to make sailing accessible, easy to learn and, most importantly, fun for families and people of all ages,” says Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport. “The ability to monitor our rental vessels and track their movement and location in real time translates to enhanced peace of mind for us, as well as the sailing public we serve. It’s important that our guests feel confident, so they can learn and enjoy the sailing experience. Siren Marine’s unique vessel monitoring and tracking technology is helping us create just such an atmosphere,” adds Read.
The timing for this new partnership is ideal, as Newport and the sailing world at large get ready for the Volvo Ocean Race’s Newport Stopover beginning around May 10. This will be the only North American stopover for this challenging 45,000-nautical-mile, round-the-world race. Its arrival will turn Fort Adams State Park into a 13-day sailing festival with a Race Village featuring music and entertainment, up-close viewing of the race boats and interactive exhibits, a theater, food and drink gardens and in-port racing. Siren Marine will act as a "community sponsor" of the event.
When the Volvo Ocean Race last stopped here in 2015, more than 130,000 visitors, sailing enthusiasts and racing fans passed through Newport’s Race Village. Sailing will certainly be on the hearts and minds of many Newporters during this special time, and both Siren Marine and Sail Newport expect this momentum will carry over into a busy spring and summer season.
To learn more about Sail Newport and its many top-notch programs and activities during the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover and all year long, contact the Rhode Island Public Sailing Center office at (401) 846-1983 or visit www.sailnewport.org.
Boaters local to the Newport area can find Siren Marine products at the following authorized dealers:
West Marine – Middletown
New England Boatworks – Portsmouth
Oldport Marine Services – Newport
Conanicut Marine – Jamestown
Maritime Solutions – Middletown