New Bedford Boating Center Helps 2,500 Kids, Needs Community Support

The Community Boating Center in New Bedford's South End is teaching boating and leadership skills to hundreds of young people every year. The center is holding its annual fundraiser on May 9 at Kilburn Mill to make sure all who want to take part can afford to do so.

Executive Director Andy Herlihy stopped by Townsquare Sunday along with two members of his Sailing and Leadership Training Program, Darren Navin and Feli Nogues.

The trio talked about some of the center's programs and the upcoming fundraiser "Opening of The Bay 2026."

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Teaching Life Skills Through Sailing

"Our mission is to teach positive life values to youth, ages five to 24, through boating," Herlihy said. "We're really focused on breaking down barriers and providing opportunities for kids to get positive mentorship around the water, which is such a special part of New Bedford."

"We serve about 550 kids during our Summer Youth Sailing program, and about 88 percent of those kids are receiving financial assistance. In total, we work with 2,500 kids year-round," Herlihy said.

Annual Fundraiser Supports Youth Access

The financial assistance part is where the annual fundraiser comes in. The money raised on May 9 will go directly to provide financial help for those students and families that otherwise would not be able to attend the CBC.

Guests will enjoy dinner, dancing, and a silent auction, and celebrate the start of the sailing season while enjoying a spectacular view of Clark's Cove from Kilburn Mill.  Tickets are available on the Community Boating Center website.

Students Share Their Experiences

For Darren Navin, the CBC has been a positive experience. "It taught me a lot of everyday skills that I can use in life," he said. "They taught me how to measure and use a drill, things that I can use at jobs that I'm hoping to get."

"It has given me a lot of social skills and friendships," Feli Nogues said. "The CBC has also taught me how to handle stressful situations, and knowing how to work through them is very important."

Connecting New Bedford to Its Waterfront

Herlihy believes the CBC is connecting residents to the waterfront. "It's amazing to see kids who grew up having not been around the water, are now windsurfing, sailing, driving motor boats and leading classes," he said. "It's impressive to see that."

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