Greenport Village accepts award as the Tall Ships ‘Port of the Year’

Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard Jr. accepted an award from Tall Ships America declaring Greenport as the ‘Port of the Year’ for 2015 at the Village Board’s meeting Thursday night, saying the award was won by all Greenporters who worked together to make the event a success last summer.

“Greenport shined really bright,” Mr. Hubbard said. “The whole community did this, so I want to thank everybody for that.”

Erin Short, manager of the Tall Ships Challenge, along with many who worked on the event’s planning committee attended the meeting and showered praise on the village’s efforts.

“You knew what you were getting into and yet you persevered,” she said to applause from the audience.

According to the village, the four-day event made almost $59,000 in profit, more than double the profit of the previous Tall Ships Challenge held in Greenport Village in 2012.

Ms. Short thanked the village staff volunteers and administrators like former mayor David Nyce and local captain Jeff Goubeaud,  and members of the Tall Ships Steering Committee, crediting them as “creative, resourceful and enthusiastic.”

Ms. Short also emphasized the cooperation of local groups like the Business Improvement District and the East End Seaport Museum as well as residents who supported the event. Mr. Hubbard joked that residents who put up with parking problems and trouble getting to the local supermarket were rewarded with a great event.

“Without all of us pulling together and working on this, it never would have happened,” he said.

Photo Caption: Greenport Mayor George Hubbard Jr. accepts the Tall Ships ‘Port of the Year’ award from Erin Short, manager of the Tall Ships Challenge. (Credit: Paul Squire)