What do windsurfing, fashion design and the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard have in common? Water. Nevin and Stina Sayre of Vineyard Haven have a lot of experience in and around the water, and their belief in its importance to the Island population has inspired them to host a fundraising party for the YMCA on Wednesday, August 6.

The new YMCA, scheduled to break ground later this year across from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, has as its centerpiece a community swimming pool. That was a big attraction to Nevin Sayre, a former world champion windsurfer-turned-kiteboarder, and his wife, Stina.

“We want to celebrate our Island’s connection to the water and help the Y move forward in its final stages of fundraising,” said Ms. Sayre, a former Swedish national women’s windsurfing champion and now a fashion designer. “We live here surrounded by water, and yet we don’t have an adequate place to teach our kids to feel comfortable and safe in it. Swimming is a great life skill and wonderful exercise, and the Y will make it accessible to people of all ages from all walks of life.”

To that end, the Sayres will host a cocktail and hors d’oeuvre party on their back porch on August 6 at 7 p.m. Ms. Sayre has offered a $500 gift certificate to her clothing design studio, located across from the Black Dog Tavern and at stinasayre.com, as a door prize to YMCA donors attending the event.

“My fashion work is very much inspired by the water,” she said. “I love the way it is constantly moving and changing, and my fabrics are like that, too. So it seemed appropriate that I thank those people who show their support for the YMCA by giving them an opportunity to have something that reflects my own love of the water in a practical, fun way.”

Tickets for a minimum donation of $100 for the event are available through the YMCA. For more information, please call the YMCA offices at 508-696-7171.