Sail Salem

By Kristin D’Agostino/kdagosti@cnc.com
Wed Nov 21, 2007, 05:47 PM EST

Salem -  As birds fly south for the winter, some Salem seafarers are looking ahead to the warmer weather, when they plan to launch the city’s first community sailing program on Winter Island.

 Sail Salem Inc., the brainchild of local maritime attorney David Smith, would operate much like Community Boating Inc., its Boston relative, offering economical memberships for adults and providing children with weeklong sailing lessons for only $1.

The program is still in the early stages of development, having recently been approved by the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission and earned nonprofit status.

 A five-person board, headed by Smith, has worked to garner funds from local residents and businesses, and has raised $25,000 since September. Organizers are making the plans public now with the hope of attracting donations from the private sector. They are hoping to have $150,000 by spring, enough to purchase 20 boats and cover the cost of hiring sailing instructors.

 Sail Salem aspires to have 50 boats, a mixture of 12-foot Optis for children, and 19-foot crafts for adults. By the time the company gets running, it will ideally become self-sustaining with the $300 season-long adult memberships funding the children’s classes. The memberships will give sailors calling ahead to confirm availability first dibs on boats.

 Where on Winter Island will Sail Salem make their home? Winter Island is home to two historical buildings, once used by the Coast Guard and now standing empty, needing renovation. Could these be incorporated into Sail Salem’s facility? Smith says, yes, possibly, but in due time.

 “Renovating the [Coast Guard] hangar would take a lot of money,” Smith said, adding that a state-regulated sprinkler system would have to be added, among other upgrades. “It would be nice to grow into it five or 10 years from now.”

 Sail Salem, for now, will be stationed on the barracks side of Winter Island, with offices and classrooms housed inside a trailer. Boats will be attached to moorings during the warm weather and stored at a marina kept in the center of the harbor. During the winter, Smith said, he is hoping the boats can be stored on private property that several members of the community have already volunteered.

 Youth sailing will take place in protected enclosed areas where a string of children can safely follow their instructor, says Bob McCarthy, a member of Sail Salem’s advisory board and chairman of the city’s Open Space and Recreation Committee. Cat Cove is one example, and there are many other protected areas along Salem Sound. Here students can safely move from following the instructor to sailing on their own. The more advanced children will be able to sail out to “middle ground,” an area outside Salem Harbor where they won’t have to worry about competing with the city’s ferry.

 As the cold winds stir up the waves along Salem’s rocky coastline, Sail Salem’s board is working to gather funds and plan classes, which will begin the last week in June and are geared toward children age 8 to 12. They hope in the second year to have earned enough funds to open up lessons to older youths as well.

 “Because we’re limited by money we are starting with the youngest and building around them,” said Smith. “As they advance in age and ability we’ll adapt to their needs. If we raise enough money we’ll have enough boats to give older kids lessons.”

 Though smooth sailing is months away, excitement is already in the air.

 “We have eight miles of coastland and most people don’t get to go out on the water and see Salem Sound from a different perspective,” said McCarthy. “This is a great opportunity!”

To learn more about Sail Salem, or make donations, visit www.sailsalem.org.