Milwaukee Community Sailing Center
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The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center is a private, non-profit 501c(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.
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.
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[edit] Mission
The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center is a private, not-for-profit agency that works to strengthen the sport of sailing through an active educational program and on-the-water sailing in a professional and safe manner. The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center strives to be the organization of choice for people who wish to sail, for both the enjoyment and thrill of competition.
[edit] Location/Sailing Area
The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center is located north of downtown in the heart of Veterans Park at McKinley Marina. The sailing area crosses the McKinley Mooring Basin as Light and Medium Air sailors remain inside the breakwater. Heavy air sailors may sail outside the breakwater; however, before leaving the docks, sailors must develop a sailing plan based on the wind direction, keeping the safest and shortest route in mind.
[edit] Fleet/Facilities
The fleet at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center makes up one of the largest of any community sailing program in the country. With a large variety of styles of boats in the fleet, the Sailing Center is able to provide boats for all skill levels and interests. Over the 27 year history of the Sailing Center, through generous donations and fundraising, the fleet is now over 80 boats.
The Sailing Center’s main adult teaching boat is the Pearson Ensign. The Ensign is a 22-foot keelboat with a large, roomy cockpit. To make sailing easier and more enjoyable, the Sailing Center has modified their Ensigns to make rigging the boat faster, including roller-furling jibs, lazy jacks and an easy-to-use mooring system. The Sailing Center dockmasters are readily available to answer questions and lend a hand. For higher performance boats, adults can turn their sights to J-24s, one of the world’s best-known racer/cruisers, and Solings. The Soling is a three-man Olympic-class racing boat which, like the J-24, offers speed and responsiveness.
The Sailing Center has youth begin sailing in a Hunter 146 or a DC Dinghy. Once skills have been mastered in this type of boat, the youth then moves into the 470, a two-person Olympic racer. For the nationally recognized “Prams in the Park,” the Sailing Center uses a JY Club Trainer that can easily be transported to area park lagoons.
[edit] History
Founded in 1977, the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center 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 offices and a maintenance facility were built. Completed in 1980, and the Sailing Center opened with lessons and boat rentals. With an enthusiastic staff of 10 and a humble fleet of Tech Dinghies, Volants and a safety boat, Milwaukee had a unique way to take advantage of the lake.
After the Sailing Center’s first year, twelve students graduated from the courses provided and the Sailing Center began to grow. Today, hundreds of new members are learning to sail through Sailing Center programs. The nationally renowned “Prams in the Park” program began in 1985 and continues to bring sailing and water safety to Milwaukee County Park lagoons, offering scholarships to economically disadvantaged youth and giving individuals the opportunity to participate, learn and have fun.
The Sailing Center’s education and recreational programs have seen success as well. The Sailing Center offers adult and youth members a full range of basic, intermediate and advanced sailing courses, as well as regattas, volunteer instructor opportunities and open sailing seven days a week on a variety if sailboats.
The Sailing Center now owns and maintains over 80 boats, one of the largest such fleets of any non-profit sailing organization in the U.S., including specifically designed Access Dinghies for physically challenged sailors. With four full-time, year-round staff, which expands to 40 during the sailing season, and a strong base of 700+ members, the Sailing Center provides great times and wonderful outings for all who want to enjoy the sport of sailing in the City of Milwaukee.
[edit] Timeline
• 1977 - Milwaukee Community Sailing Center officially launched. A group of dedicated volunteers file documents forming a governing board to create and manage the Sailing Center.
• 1979 - The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approves the plan for the Sailing Center office and maintenance facility and announces that it will be part of the overall McKinley Marina development.
• 1980 - Bill Mosher hired as the first executive director to oversee the development of brick and mortar construction, sailing instruction and programming. 10 Vanguard Volants were also purchased to form the nucleus of the fleet. Vanguard Boatworks in Pewaukee built an 18 foot centerboard for the Sailing Center which is the ideal teaching boat of the Sailing Center’s fleet. This was the first season that the Sailing Center was opened.
• 1981 & 1983 - In 1981, the first 12 students graduated from the beginning sailing course offered by the Sailing Center and in 1983 the Sailing Center hosted the prestigious National Finn Gold Cup Regatta.
• 1984 - The Sailing Center received Federal funding for “Prams in the Park,” an innovative program to teach children ages 8-12 in local neighborhood parks how to sail. The program connected the Sailing Center with the central city.
• 1988 - Board President Bill Ihlenfeld solicits donations of Ensigns, a 22’ keel boat, from owners across the country. Today, the Sailing Center uses the Ensign boat as its primary teaching boat and boasts the largest fleet of this stable, roomy boat in the country.
• 1990 - “Sailing is Fun Day” is created to bring multiple organizations to the Sailing Center for a special day with volunteers offering physically challenged sailors boat rides followed by a picnic.
• 1995 - With more programs opening up through the Sailing Center, the first Sailor’s Ball was introduced to raise funds to support the Sailing Center’s programs. Olympic and America’s Cup Sailor Buddy Melges was honored. Approximately $175,000 has been raised over the last 9 years.
• 2000 - The Sailing Center’s board of directors recognizes a need to expand to provide for Sailing Center’s programs. Authorizes building committee to begin strategic planning for the next 25 years.
• 2002 - $50,000 donated from an anonymous foundation funds program for at-risk kids. The Harley–Davidson Foundation funded an additional $10,000 for this important youth initiative allowing the Sailing Center to partner with key inner-city organizations. A campaign is set to raise $3 million for a new facility. Peter and Olaf Harken announce their $100,000 donation to the building fund at the annual Sailor’s Ball held March 2. The Harkens also agreed to serve as co-chairs of the building campaign. The board of directors and staff pledge $30,000 and the Sailing Center receives an additional pledge of $50,000 by an anonymous donor.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Adult Course Overview
The Sailing Center’s Basic Course is the best way to learn how to sail, gain access to Lake Michigan and meet other members. The class incorporates classroom theory and on-the-water practice in an eight-session, 24-hour course over two weeks to make learning safe, easy and fun.
From the class students will learn basic techniques such as tacking, jibing, docking and sail trim. Students become familiar with sailing terms, rigging and safety inspection as well as knot tying, right-of-way rules and the Quick Turn crew overboard maneuver. Experienced volunteers sail with the students for the first several sessions.
The Adult Basic Sailing Course meets Monday–Thursday for two weeks. Fridays may be make-up days in case of inclement weather. For sections, dates and times please refer to the brochure.
Those who have some sailing experience and want to raise their skill level another notch may take an Intermediate Class for adults. This course emphasizes effective sail trim, skipper technique, wind shifts, decision-making and the Quick Stop crew overboard maneuver. Classes fill up fast, so the Sailing Center encourages all to take advantage of this course offering early.
Once adults have enough experience, they can move on to the advanced courses. These courses offer advanced tips and techniques for steering, sail trim and spinnaker usage. Individuals build their sailing experience in the mooring area and both inside and outside the breakwater aboard Ensigns, Solings and J24s.
[edit] Youth Programs
All youth courses run Monday-Thursday for two consecutive weeks with parental or guardian permission. Class sizes are minimum of six and a maximum of 18. Cost for youth courses, level 1-4, are $75 each plus youth membership fee. Upon completion of the course, students receive a confirmation letter confirming their sailing skills. The youth have four different levels of courses to choose from.
The Level 1 course introduces the basics of sailing and water safety as students learn and practice tacking, jibing, docking, and sail theory. Rules of the road, capsize drills and crew overboards are also covered.
Level 2 refines the skills learned in Level 1. Level 2 is designed to increase a youth’s sailing skill through practice and additional on-the-water experience. Students are allowed to continue to repeat the course until desired level of skill is achieved.
Level 3 is designed for the experienced sailor aboard the 470, an Olympic-class race boat. Advanced tactics, spinnaker and trapeze use are also introduced. This class is recommended to those youth sailors with at least one season of experience.
Level 4 takes sailors dinghy sailing to a higher level by recovering the skills and tactics learned in level 3 and introduces racing concepts and other advanced boat handling techniques.
[edit] Private Lessons
Private lessons are available for those who wish to work one-on-one with a U.S. Sailing Certified Instructor. Those interested in scheduling a private lesson must call the office at least three days in advance to set up a private course. The cost of a private lesson is $35 per hour.
[edit] 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.
[edit] MAST Program (Milwaukee Area Sailing Teens)
The mission of the MAST program is to reach out to economically disadvantaged children via partnerships with community agencies. MAST strives to develop life skills in an enjoyable manner. An incredible outcome of this program is that children are taught respect for themselves, others and the marine environment. The focus of this program is to develop crucial life skills for the children, including leadership, problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, situational awareness, self reliance, self confidence and teamwork. It is the hope of the Sailing Center that some of these children will pursue their interest in sailing up into instructor positions in the coming years.
[edit] Prams in the Park
By taking boats directly into Milwaukee County Park lagoons, Prams in the Park introduces sailing to the youngest participants throughout Milwaukee. Introducing water safety and sailing skills, this program helps build self-confidence while learning to sail within the smaller confines of two local park lagoons. Students learn basic water safety, simple rigging, and sail theory, basic knot tying, tacking, jibing, docking and capsize recovery under the close supervision of Sailing Center instructors. The Prams In The Park program is also open for scholarships and sliding scale fees so that any child who would like to participate is given the opportunity regardless of financial means.
[edit] Boat Building Program
MCSC works with at risk youth and their mentors in a unique, hands-on and fun program. The children are guided through the construction of a boat over two weekends. These children learn basic construction techniques, simple naval architecture, teamwork and self-confidence. This program is modeled after several programs used in sailing schools and museums around the country. At the end of the program, the youth and mentors take their boats down to the docks, launch them and spend the rest of their time enjoying the boats they have created.
[edit] Programs for Individuals with Special Needs
IndependenceFirst, the Curative Workshop, Goodwill Industries, and other agencies work with the Sailing Center to make outings possible for the physically, emotionally and cognitively challenged. Providing this opportunity to these individuals allows them to leave their disabilities at the dock and lets them experience freedom of movement, peace and joy in a unique and wonderful setting. Often, this introduction to sailing includes a special event and picnic at the Sailing Center. Individuals that express an interest in a more comprehensive and structured program are guided into formal and often individualized sailing lessons.
The Sailing Center added 165 feet of new dock to provide access for physically challenged individuals. The Sailing Center’s specially trained staff is available to assist with embarking and disembarking disabled individuals to and from boats. Access to the dock is available to the public, whether utilizing powerboats or sailboats, during the Sailing Center’s hours of operation.
[edit] Youth Program
Reaching out to youth from all areas of the community regardless of economic status, bringing them to the Sailing Center and letting them discover sailing is MCSC’s goal. Once the children experience sailing, they begin to realize that they can steer not only the boat – but their lives as well. What better way to have your child spend the summer than learning how to sail? This exciting, fun program incorporates a hands-on approach to the basics of sailing and water safety. The Sailing Center teaches these youth boat handling skills, sail theory, rules of the road, crew overboard maneuvers and capsize drills. The Sailing Center encourages youth to continue to participate in additional programs to build their skill levels and confidence on the water.
[edit] Special Events and Community Groups
The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center welcomes Milwaukee-area schools, businesses and public or private organizations for special events. Groups can enjoy a picnic, informative talks on water safety and sailing, and sailboat rides on our site. Many individuals enjoy the wonderful thrill of sailing for the first time. With MCSC’s dedicated staff, your group’s special event will set sail to the horizon.
[edit] Setting Sail with Pier Wisconsin
In partnership with Pier Wisconsin, the Sailing Center is also providing unique experiences to hundreds of children from area community centers and schools. Children experience sailing aboard the Denis Sullivan – Milwaukee’s triple-masted schooner, and then they arrive at the Sailing Center for a sail aboard an MCSC sloop. MCSC has been instrumental in giving students an actual on-the-water experience complementing their course-work at Pier Wisconsin. This enables them to put into actual practice what they have learned in the classroom.
