US SAILING Knowledge Base

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

    The original publication (in 1987) of this definitive handbook on the development of community sailing programs would not have been possible without the dedication of a handful of volunteers who gave their time and talents to create it. Particular thanks is given to Timothea S. Larr who coordinated the entire project for the United States Sailing Association (US SAILING, formerly USYRU). Sincere thanks, too, to those who authored sections of the book: Robert G. Black, Dr. Richard Farkas, Tom Fisher, Robert F. Johnstone, Marion Percell, J. Richard Pfund, George R. Rounds, Don Strobel, Capt. Harold J. Sutphen, and Glo Webel.

    Editing of this revised edition was completed thanks to Robert G. Black and US SAILING staff and volunteers. Final editing by Sailing World Magazine's editors; art direction by Jan Goodland-Metz, Diane Cacase and Dianne Boiani; photos courtesy of various community sailing programs and Gall Scott Sleeman. Cover photo by Billy Black.

    Published in the United States of America in 1992 by the National Sailing Industry Association (NSIA) of The National Marine Manufacturers Association, 401 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1150 Chicago, IL 60611 and U.S. SAILING, P.O. Box 209 Newport, RI 02840. © 1992 by National Sailing Industry Association and U.S. SAILING. All rights reserved.

    The reproduction or utilization of this material in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, including xerography, photocopying~ recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system is forbidden without written permission from the National Sailing Industry Association and US SAILING.

I. Introduction
Creating Access to Sailing, the Lifelong Recreation
Gail Scott Sleemen

    Sailing is one of those rare activities whose inherent versatility makes it possible to enrapture everyone. It is a lifelong, wholesome sport with something for all those who try it. This special quality means it can bond generations, sexes, classes or even nations of people -- an asset desperately needed in our complex and fast-paced society. There is no sport which can so excite and thrill at just five or seven miles per hour.

    It can just as often be the relaxing, decompressing time that gears us down from our pressurized lives. No other recreation or sport can credibly claim it uses the forces of nature alone -- without the slightest damage to the environment. In these senses, it links man today with his heritage and with the world in which future generations must live.

    The challenge many perceive is how to share this opportunity with all those who would enjoy it. The uninitiated think that it is hard to do, costly and exclusive. Knowing, as we do, this does not have to be the case, programs and projects which know how to reach out to people should consider adding sailing to their list of activities.

    Park districts, foundations, community groups, schools and other governmental and private agencies and groups need to step forward and assess what sailing can do for their constituencies. Adding sailing to a menu of community accessible sporting activities is practical, viable and valuable.

    This manual is a constructive effort by many experienced sailors and leaders in the recreational field to share what has been learned and what can be achieved by those committed to public access sailing.

    Along with the annual conference of Community Sailing programs held each winter, it can (1) enable any organization to evaluate the costs and benefits of creating and supporting a sailing program and/or (2) bolster the ease with which any established program can optimize what it is doing.

    Our no-frills group represents what is known to, date about making it work! We include managers of on-going programs, instructors, marketing and fund-raising people, manufacturers, training experts, insurance and legal professionals and regulators whose common interest is to expand and nurture ACCESS to new publics.

    The Handbook is an on-going project reflecting the dedicated efforts of many individuals and organizations -- the U.S. Sailing Association, The National Sailing Industry Association (of the NMMA), Bob Black & Co. Inc., Sailing World Magazine's editors, and the managers of the programs who have contributed information on their facilities.

    Your feedback is especially important to us. We hope you will follow through on your interest in public access sailing and contact the various programs which seem most similar to yours. We are all enthusiastic about helping new programs develop. Sailing in this special mode is genuinely SAILING of the people, by the people and for the people...

    We look forward to having you join us.

Richard R Farkas Chairman
Community Sailing Committee