About

Who we are

Key Facts

Founded in 1995
Training Center: Wenonah Park
Participants in the Saginaw Bay Racing Series
Opportunities for youth development, STEM education, community collaboration, and outdoor activities

And 2021 was one of our best seasons ever! Our Wenonah Park training center buzzed with activity as we rrestored programs post-pandemic shutdowns. Strangers became friends as they learned to sail together. Students climbed onboard local yachts and participated in the Saginaw Bay racing series. Our busy sailing hub, with its bright sails, proved to be the kind of vibrant scene not found in most other communities. On almost any day in the summer, you could see our boats darting across the river, and if you looked more closely, you might catch the beaming face of a new sailor.

Like many communities, the Great Lakes Bay Region needs to expand opportunities for youth development, STEM education, community collaboration, and outdoor activities. The Saginaw Bay and River is one of our greatest natural resources and the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association utilizes it to provide all the above.

Mission & History

The mission of the SBCSA is to provide affordable sailing lessons and affordable access to sailing for the youth and adults of the mid-Michigan area, to promote interest in sailing as a life-long sport, and to develop teamwork, sportsmanship, and self-confidence in our students through experiential learning.

Prior to 1995, affordable access to sailing was limited in the Great Lakes Bay Region. A group of local sailors, passionate about the sport, decided to change that. The following summer, the first sailing lessons were offered by the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association. Thanks to the hard work of dedicated members, volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors, the SBCSA has continued to grow and make sailing accessible to everyone.

Fleet & Facilities

Optimist

Youth lessons are given in our fleet of Optimist prams, an ideal training boat for children and youth under 16. It is 7’ 8” long with a single, 35 square foot sail. Used worldwide for training and racing, the Optimist is the world’s largest sailing class.

Catalina Capri 22

With a fixed keel and a roller furling genoa jib, the Capri 22 is a stable, easily sailed boat. It has a small cuddy cabin and is suitable for day sailing by 2-3 adults.

RS Feva

The RS FEVA is a favorite of our youth and adult sailors. This 12 ft, two-person, high-performance sailing dinghy is easy to rig and a blast to sail. It can be sailed with main only, with main and jib, or the asymmetric spinnaker can be launched for added fun. Our fleet of four RS FEVAs is used for the Intermediate Youth classes and is available for Open Sailing.

S2 7.3 “Brass Tack”

Brass Tack is an S2 7.3 (24’). Comfortable for 4-5 adults, this boat is the largest of the SBCSA fleet. Brass Tack and the Capri 22 are the boats used for Thursday night Open Sailing and our Independent Sailing programs.

Cape Cod Day Sailer 17

The Adult Introduction to Sailing and some of the Intermediate and Advanced Youth classes use our fleet of four DaySailer 17s. These sailboats are easy to rig and to sail, making them an ideal design for the SBCSA’s sail training programs. The boats are very responsive making them fun for even the most experienced sailor. The large cockpits can easily accommodate 3-4 adults.

our team

Board of directors

Wanda Dziwura

President

Roy Tuttle

Secretary

Grant Hilger

Vice President

Drew Hilger

Treasurer

Stan Dent

Jenna Briggs

Kathie Marchlewski

Brian Donaldson

Paul Nice

Joe Parker

For Sale

Jericho Bay Lobster Skiff

Hand-built by the SBCSA Boatbuilding class, this brand new skiff is built with strip planked cedar with WEST SYSTEM epoxy and fiberglass both inside and out. It features a mahogany transom, ash gunwales and cypress seats and trim.

Contact info@sbcsa.org or (989) 778-0139 for more information and to set up a showing.