Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center wins national award!

The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) has selected the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center (LCCSC) of Burlington, Vermont for its 1997 “Outstanding Seasonal Program Award”. On January 2, 1998, the US Sailing voted to award this prestigious honor to LCCSC in recognition of its contributions to community sailing in Burlington, Vermont.

The Center will be recognized at the US Sailing Community Sailing Conference in Kissimmee, Florida. Richard Fastiggi, LCCSC Board Vice President, will travel to receive the award on behalf of the Center.

Dock LCCSC was selected for this award by US Sailing from approximately 200 community sailing organizations nationwide. US Sailing is the governing organization for sailing activities throughout United States and oversees all facets of the sport of sailing, including: instructor certification, youth development, the US Olympic team, sailing racing rules, and community sailing.

LCCSC is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing community access to the sport of sailing and Lake Champlain. LCCSC’s mission is to provide affordable educational and recreational opportunities on the Burlington waterfront, especially for the economically disadvantaged and physically challenged in the community.

Marcel and Mayor Clavell Established in 1993 with the cooperation and support of the City of Burlington, the Center provides provides youth and adult instructional programs, community racing opportunities, specially-equipped boats for the disabled, and boat storage.
Marcel Beaudin and Mayor Peter Clavell

Storage Area The Summer of 1997 was LCCSC’s most successful season to date. Approximately 200 adults and youths learned to sail at the Center between June and October. A total of 21 instructional sessions were taught by the Center’s four US Sailing Certified instructors, including adult keelboat, adult dinghy, youth beginner, and youth advanced classes.

The Center’s partnership with the University of Vermont has become a national model for college-based learn-to-sail programs. For the second year in a row, the Center teamed-up with the University of Vermont Physical Education Department to provide a “Learn-to-Sail” curriculum as a UVM Physical Education class. The University’s Club Sailing program uses the Center’s facilities.

In addition to instructional programs, Burlington-area residents participated in the Center’s dinghy and keelboat rental programs through daily rentals and 30-, 60-, and 90-day unlimited use rental passes. Many of the Center’s successful graduates of one of the Center’s instructional programs actively participated in the Center’s rental programs. The Center also kicked off its first weekly racing program. Two seven week racing series were held using the Center’s six JY15 dinghy sailboats.
Zoe Kangas – Sailing Enthusiast

The Center also worked with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Association, an organization providing recreational opportunities for disabled Vermonters, to provide a disabled sailing program using the Center’s specially equipped keelboat. Designed by LCCSC Board President, Marcel Beaudin, this boat has become the prototype for disabled sailing programs around the country.

The Center was also selected by the Lake Champlain Basin Program of Grand Isle, Vermont as one of its annual grant recipients. The Basin Program is an organization that offers grants that support public access enhancements in Lake Champlain Communities.

For more information, please contact Tom Myers at (802) 828-3637 or Marcel Beaudin at (802) 862-9633.