April 4, 2001

TACS on the right tack

Sailing group awarded for community program

By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
       Traverse Area Community Sailing got a gust of wind in their sails after receiving the Outstanding Community Sailing Program Award.
      The United States Sailing Association, the national governing body for the sport of sailing, recently awarded their annual Community Sailing Award for Outstanding Seasonal Program for the year 2000 to Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS).
      The award is presented annually to a deserving organization that has made an outstanding and unselfish contribution to further public access sailing.
      "All of us at TACS are very pleased to receive such an honorable distinction and award from U.S. Sailing," said Jim Menzies, president of TACS. "It certainly tells us that our community sailing program is right up there with the best."
      The membership of the Grand Traverse Yacht Club, a U.S. Sailing affiliate club, nominated TACS for this award. "All to often we hear from people in the community that sailing is not accessible to them," said Eric Lind, Past Commodore of GTYC. "TACS has definitely earned this award as they have made sailing available to the youth in our community and is now offering an adult program as well."
      In 1993, a group of Grand Traverse Bay Area sailors decided to share their love of sailing with area youth by providing instructional and recreational opportunities. They also felt a need to encourage appreciation and respect for the natural bodies of water surrounding our area.
      After many informal meetings, Traverse Area Community Sailing, better known as TACS, became a reality. During the summer of 1994, thirty-four 12-16 year old girls and boys participated in a two-week hands-on sailing school with borrowed boats and an entirely volunteer staff.
      The following year the program was expanded after volunteers built 20 wooden Optimist Pram Dinghies financed and sponsored by local businesses. Since that time the camp enrollment has increased to 250 young sailors per summer.
      "Sailing camp was great, I learned a lot. I even learned how to use my new wind surfer," said 14-year-old Calvin Delo of Traverse City. "Sailing is a great sport but a lot of work. I liked it so much I am planning to be on the sailing team next fall."
      Traverse Area Community Sailing holds four, two-week Learn-To-Sail day camps for eight to 17-year-olds to learn the art of sailing each summer. Sailors can learn the basics and beyond as instruction is customized for each student. The camp is located at the north end of Boardman Lake behind the Traverse Area District Library.
      The Adult Learn-To-Sail Program will be held on Monday evenings at Bay Breeze Yacht Charters on West Grand Traverse Bay. Big Boat Handling teaches the skills and responsibilities of sailing larger boats. Instruction will be aboard a Colgate 26, on Grand Traverse Bay, and will cover docking and maneuvering, sail trim, reefing, spinnaker and other sail handling techniques.
      TACS has added a new racing team this year which will teach competitive and advanced sailing techniques.
      For information on TACS or to register for a TACS class, call 922-5922 or visit their website, www.tacsailing.com