In 2003, the Carolina Sailing Foundation (CSF) was charted by the Carolina Sailing Club following efforts by the late George Smart. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose mission has two objectives:
• 1. To promote sailing and the sport of sailboat racing in Central North Carolina at a reasonable cost
• 2. To sponsor sailing and sailboat racing classes and regattas for the general public in Central North Carolina at a reasonable cost
The Carolina Sailing Club is the Foundation’s sole member and many CSC members serve in volunteer positions with both groups. For more information on the Carolina Sailing Club and its fleet of Flying Scots, Isotope Catamarans, Lightning, Tanzer 16s, Thistles and boats for disabled sailors, visit their website at www.carolinasailingclub.org.
The Foundation’s Future
During the next five years, CSF is preparing for substantial growth with plans to become a comprehensive community sailing program. The goal is to be the foremost organization in Central North Carolina offering sailing instruction, sailing activities and racing events for beginners through advanced competitors young and old.
CSF’s Five-Year Growth Plan
• Expand affordable training programs through classes, workshops, seasonal camps and seminars on a variety of educational and racing topics
• Sponsor races for local sailors and annual regattas for larger, regional competition
• Own and maintain several classes of sailboats, motorboats and related equipment for educational use and for private charter at a reasonable cost (Private uses could include private classes, races, regattas and recreational day sailing.)
• Operate a lake-side facility that serves as the primary location for foundation activities and a central location for regional sailing
• Extend and coordinate sailing activities with other Central North Carolina agencies like the Boy and Girl Scouts, local municipality Parks and Recreation Departments, the American Red Cross and local high schools, colleges and universities
• Continue fundraising to help maintain existing programs, capital needs and future growth
• Encourage volunteerism in sailing activities including Foundation administrative needs
• Promote sailing as a fun, safe, life-long sport
2009 Fundraising
To move the CSF in this direction, the Board has approved an aggressive fundraising campaign to increase the Foundation’s ability to achieve growth-plan goals and promote sailing and sailboat racing in Central North Carolina.
The 2009 fundraising goal is $10,000. To date, $1,475 has been raised. CSF now accepts online donations through a secure, non-profit website.
If you have fundraising or grant writing experience and would like to help CSF, contact John Norton.
Long-Term Growth
One of CSF’s most ambitious goals is to obtain a physical site on a local lake suitable for indoor, on-shore and on-water instruction. The Foundation is actively seeking a land lease on Jordan Lake that would offer an educational building, sail and power boat storage, boat launch, recovery area and docks.
The CSF plans a major capital campaign to raise money for site development and to purchase additional boats when a site is identified. As the sailing center starts to materialize, the Foundation is counting on interested volunteers, competent contractors and salaried employees to grow Foundation programs into a sailing asset for all of Central North Carolina. Click here for ways you can get involved now.
Foundation History
2002: CSF is informally founded by the Carolina Sailing Club and an initial “Learn to Sail” weekend for young sailors is conducted. Spencer Wiberley, Sales Manager of McLaughlin Boat Works, brought six Optis from Chattanooga and helped teach the class.
2003: CSF officially begins and decides to focus on young sailors (age 8-12) adding older children and adults as the Foundation grew. An initial generous grant allowed the CSF to purchase four used Optis that were used to teach “Learn to Sail” classes on Lake Crabtree. Other Opti owners “loaned” their boats so that eight students could participate in the class. The CSF held coaching sessions and helped introduce students to racing during the Carolina Sailing Club’s race weekends at Kerr Lake. A local Opti Racing Team was created with several more experienced sailors attending out-of-town regattas. Three team members sailed in the Orange Bowl Regatta on Biscayne Bay near Miami, a regatta that typically attracts more than 500 sailors.
2004: CSF purchases its fifth Opti and continued expanding sailing activities as participation increased. The Foundation hosted its first local Opti regatta as part of the CSC’s Governor’s Cup Regatta and helped sponsor the Oriental Sailing Social in Oriental, North Carolina. The CSF founded a regional high school sailing team that still sails 420s. The team is an Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) member and participates in regattas throughout the southeast.
2005: CSF experienced is largest growth so far with significant expansion to the Junior Sailing program. Participation grew from 70 students in 2004 to 175 students in 2005. The high school sailing team added five new members, increased regatta participation and was able to conduct regular practice session. CSF purchased a sixth Opti and, due to private purchases, the local, Opti sailing fleet grew to 16. The CSC held the first Jolly Jordan Regatta, a one-day, Opti-only event.