Lake Champlain Burlington Sailing Center event news!

Teams from the Community Sailing Center, the City of Burlington and Plattsurgh competed in two Nineteenth Century "Sandbagger" sailboats brought to Burlington by the "Bull & Bear Sailing Team" on tour from the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia assisting charitable organizations with fund raising. Conditions were perfect for racing these powerful boats, which were extreme machines in their day, requiring many strong crewmen hefting sandbags from side to side to keep them from capsizing under over sized sails. The fastest crew overall was the "Camper" crew, kids and adults representing the groups learning to sail at the Community Sailing Center. They beat their mentors, the Center's "Staff" crew, who were slowest.

Burlington City Government's crew with Joan Shannon, Ward _ Councilor as its captain, beat a quickly assembled crew from Plattsburgh with Skipper Kjell Dahlen and Captain Bill Rowe at the helm. Captain Shannon said, "The Plattsburgh crew of seasoned competitors sailed an excellent race. Our crew on "Bull" gained the controlling position after the start, preventing Plattsburgh from tacking. This move put "Bull" ahead rounding the Burlington breakwater, and we were able to hold the lead across the finish line. The inexperienced "Burlington Baggers" crew was a hearty bunch willing to crowd on the windward side, get wet, and enjoy the sailing experience of a lifetime."

Others councilors onboard the winning boat were Councilors Clarence Davis, Ward 3, Barbara Perry, Ward 6, Nicole Losch, Britta Mainello, Erin Demers, and Donata Sikon-Amato.

The Sandbaggers have been in Burlington for a week giving free rides to almost 600 people of all ages, including those from the following area organizations and agencies:

• Barnes Summer World Academy – an ESL summer camp for Somali Bantu Refugees • Howard Center – organization to providing support to developmentally disabled • Baird Center – alternative educational facility • DREAM Mentoring Program – youth mentoring organization • Stormboarding – adrenalin watersport camp run by Rachael Miller • Apple Tree Learning Center • Greater Burlington YMCA • South Burlington Parks and Recreation • Burlington Parks and Recreation Summer Nutritional Program • Boys and Girls Club of Burlington • Spectrum Youth and Family Services

The Sandbaggers will leave Burlington for an event in Mallets Bay Wednesday. The Bull & Bear Sailing Team will haul the boats out at the Shelburne Shipyard Thursday and leave for Cape Cod, Nantucket and other ports of call in the Northeast to provide the public with this unique sailing opportunity and to raise funds for charitable causes.

Contact Fritz Horton at 985-8387, email me here, for more information.