Milwaukee Community Sailing Center

Last updated
Milwaukee Community Sailing Center Sailboats off the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center (29 June 2005).jpg
Milwaukee Community Sailing Center

The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) agency. The Sailing Center provides educational and recreational sailing programs to those who wish to gain access to Lake Michigan and learn to sail; regardless of age, ability, or financial concerns. In 2004, MCSC celebrated its 25th year of sailing.

Contents

Much like a co-operative, the Sailing Center owns and maintains over 80 boats and provides members no-charge access to the fleet after they successfully demonstrate basic sailing skills and earn a rating. Membership is low cost, less than the cost of insurance on a privately owned sailboat, and works on a sliding scale based on age, experience and income. The Sailing Center also offers private boat owners 24-hour access to the lake, year-round boat and dinghy storage, mast stepping boat launching and haul out services.

Each summer the Sailing Center partners with local organizations to provide sailing opportunities to thousands of at-risk and economically disadvantaged youth, the physically challenged and others. The Sailing Center also provides social activities and volunteer opportunities to members.

Mission

The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center is a private, non-profit agency that works to strengthen the sport of sailing through an active and safe educational program and on-the-water experience.

Location/Sailing Area

The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center ( 43°02′42.76″N87°53′12.0″W / 43.0452111°N 87.886667°W / 43.0452111; -87.886667 ) is located north of downtown in Veterans Park at McKinley Marina. The sailing area includes the McKinley mooring basin, the harbor behind Milwaukee's break wall, and for sailors who demonstrate proficiency and earn appropriate ratings and endorsements, Milwaukee Bay to one mile off the breakwall.

Fleet

The fleet at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center includes 35 22-foot (6.7 m) Pearson Ensigns, 7 J-24s, 4 Solings and two larger cruising sailboats (a C&C 29 and a Catalina 27). Youth and adults aspiring to centerboard sailing will experience a fleet of 10 Catalina 14.2s, 5 Club 420s, 6 RS-Touras, and 10 ILCA (formerly Laser) sailing dinghies. The MCSC support staff use a large fleet of safely boats, mostly Boston Whalers.

History

Founded in 1977, the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center (MCSC) was created by a group of local sailors who sought to form a community organization to make sailing accessible to all in the Milwaukee area and dispel the myth that sailing is an elitist sport. With seed money from Ted Seaver, Doug Drake, and Milwaukee County, a maintenance facility was built. Completed in 1980, and the Sailing Center opened with lessons and boat rentals with a seasonal staff of 10 and a small fleet of Tech Dinghies, Volants and a safety boat.

Twelve students graduated from sailing courses in the first year and gained access to sail the shared fleet. In the summer of 2023, MCSC offered over 1200 instructional sessions and members sailed almost 7000 times. In 1985, MCSC began "Prams in the Park", a program designed to bring sailing and water safety kids from 8-11 years old in Milwaukee County Park lagoons.

Today, MCSC offers entry-level, intermediate and advanced sailing instruction, regattas, expeditions, volunteer instructor opportunities and open sailing seven days a week on a fleet of over 80 boats, one of the largest among sailing non-profits anywhere.

A four person full-time, year-round staff, expands to 40 during the sailing season, and serves a base of over 700 members and 600 youth participants annually.

Timeline

Membership

Members of the Milwaukee Community Sailing are able to participate in all programs the Sailing Center has to offer. Upon completion of appropriate courses and after successfully demonstrating basic sailing skills, individuals have no-charge access to the fleet during Open Sailing. Members are allowed to bring guests to sail and are able to participate in the Sailing Center's racing program. Members participate in social events, take advantage of the Sailing Center's grounds, which provide volleyball courts and a picnic area, meet new people and have a great time, which is what being a member of the Sailing Center is all about. For adults and youth, the Sailing Center offers three course levels; Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.

Outreach Programs

The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center has a variety of outreach programs that provide access to Lake Michigan through sailing and water safety training. Through coordinated efforts with many community service organizations, the Sailing Center is able to provide experiences to many individuals. The following are programs that the Sailing Center has put together to provide services for the needs of those interested in the joys and benefits of sailing.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinghy racing</span> Racing Dinghy boats as a sport.

Dinghy racing is a competitive sport using dinghies, which are small boats which may be rowboats, have an outboard motor, or be sailing dinghies. Dinghy racing has affected aspects of the modern sailing dinghy, including hull design, sail materials and sailplan, and techniques such as planing and trapezing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albacore (dinghy)</span> Two-person dinghy for competitive racing

The Albacore is a 4.57 m (15 ft) two-person planing dinghy with fractional sloop rig, for competitive racing and lake and near-inshore day sailing. Hulls are made of either wood or fiberglass. The basic shape was developed in 1954 from an Uffa Fox design, the Swordfish. Recent boats retain the same classic dimensions, and use modern materials and modern control systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topper (dinghy)</span> International racing sailing class

The Topper is an 11 foot 43 kg (95 lb) sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor. The Topper was a one-design boat until 2023 when a new version was produced, and is sailed mostly around the British Isles. It was recognised as a World Sailing Class. The boat previously constructed from polypropylene, and now roto moulded, is popular as a racing boat or for sail training. The class association (ITCA) organise racing events, which range from small travellers to major championships. The RYA run squads alongside the events; in these squads young sailors who are given specialist race coaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying Scot (dinghy)</span> Sailboat class

The Flying Scot is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Sandy Douglass as a one-design racer and first built in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yacht club</span> Sports club specifically related to yachting

A yacht club is a boat club specifically related to yachting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optimist (dinghy)</span> International racing sailing class

The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by young people up to the age of 15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunfish (sailboat)</span> Personal-size type of dinghy

The Sunfish is a personal-size, beach-launched sailing dinghy. It features a very flat, boardlike hull carrying an Oceanic lateen sail mounted to an un-stayed mast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OK (dinghy)</span> International racing sailing class

The OK Dinghy is an international class sailing dinghy, designed by Knud Olsen in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byte (dinghy)</span> Sailing dinghy for one person

The Byte is a small one-design sailing dinghy sailed by one person. It was designed by Canadian Ian Bruce, who also commissioned and marketed the Laser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redhouse Yacht Club</span>

The Redhouse Yacht Club (RYC), which is amongst the oldest yacht clubs in South Africa, hosts large dinghy races, and operates a training program that has produced international champion sailors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association</span>

The New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) is one of the seven conferences affiliated with the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) that schedule and administer regattas within their established geographic regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutineer 15</span> Sloop sailboat manufactured by Nickels Boat Works

The Mutineer 15 is a 15-foot (4.6 m) long fractional sloop sailboat currently manufactured by Nickels Boat Works. It has a dinghy centerboard hull, no ballast, and displaces 410 pounds. The Mutineer 15 has a 6-foot (1.8 m) beam, maximum draw of 4.08 feet (1.24 m), and has 150 square feet (14 m2) of sail area. The Mutineer 15 is commonly used for both day sailing and class racing. The Mutineer 15 can be comfortably sailed as a day sailer with a crew of four, but can also be raced with a crew of two, or even single-handed by semi-experienced to experienced sailors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spaulding Wooden Boat Center</span>

The Spaulding Marine Center, , in Sausalito, California, is a living museum where one can go back in time to experience the days when craftsmen and sailors used traditional skills to build, sail or row classic wooden boats on San Francisco Bay.

The Wisconsin Hoofers of the Wisconsin Union is a group of outdoor recreational clubs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, operated by the Wisconsin Union Directorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Vintage Yachting Games</span> Place in North Holland, Netherlands

The 2008 Vintage Yachting Games was the first post-Olympic multi-class sailing event for discontinued Olympic classes. The event took place on the IJsselmeer of Medemblik, the Netherlands, from 20 September to 27 September 2008. A total of 66 sailors in 47 boats from 17 countries showed up to compete in six Vintage Yachting Classes

The Naples Sabot is an 8-foot (2.4 m) sailing dinghy. The Naples Sabot was designed by Roy McCullough and R.A. Violette and the first two were built in Violette's garage during WW II, although official designs were not made available until 1946. The Naples Sabot is based on the Balboa Dinghy and on Charles MacGregor's Sabot as published in Rudder magazine, April 1939. It takes its name from Naples in Long Beach, California, where it was developed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britannia Yacht Club</span> Private social, yacht and tennis club in Britannia, Ontario, Canada

The Britannia Yacht Club (BYC) is a private social club, yacht club, and tennis club based in Britannia, a neighborhood in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1887 by a group of cottagers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balboa Yacht Club</span> Boating association located in Newport Beach, California

Balboa Yacht Club (BYC) is a yacht club located in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Orange County, California. It is located near the entrance of the Newport Harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nippa (dinghy)</span>

The Nippa is a small Australian dinghy designed by Iain Murray in 2004. The Nippa dinghy was designed for young sailors between five and fourteen years of age, or a young sailor and instructor. Its open back design was to provide easy movement as well as a self-bailing feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bosham Sailing Club</span> Building in Bosham, Chichester, West Sussex, UK

Bosham Sailing Club is the oldest sailing club in Chichester Harbour and was founded in 1907 It is located in the historic village of Bosham in West Sussex. Its clubhouse is the Old Mill on Bosham Quay.

References