Come Sail Away with The Auburn Sailing Club
The Auburn Sailing Club is a club sport at Auburn University.
The club has a faculty adviser, but the students do primarily everything for the club. There are generally about 20 members. Some examples of other club sports here at Auburn are cycling, rowing and rugby. To be a member of The Auburn Sailing Club you have to be an Auburn University student, sign an insurance waiver and pay dues every semester.
David Clark, a senior in biomedical sciences, is the commodore (president) of this club. Clark said, “I taught myself to sail from reading a book. I have been sailing for about five years now. I first learned to sail on a Prindle 16 in Wolf Bay and around Pirate’s Cove when I was sixteen. I now share the love of sailing with my dad. Now he loves the hobby as much as I do. I have been a part of the Auburn Sailing Club for about two years.�
The club is funded from dues and fundraisers. McAlister’s Deli helps the club buy matching customer’s contributions. They also sell T-shirts and sometimes have car washes.
The club currently owns six boats. It has four 420 collegiate racing boats, one 18 foot O’Day sailor and one 18 foot Prindle Catamaran. These boats are stored at the Dixie Sailing Club located on Lake Martin. These boats are mainly used for practice. When the club travels to regattas (races) they use the boats provided at that location.
The Auburn Sailors go to regattas in Mobile, Ala., Austin, Texas and at Lake Martin in Alexander City, Ala. When the club travels to Mobile and Austin, a member of the club has to notify a person at their destination that they are coming. That person then prepares the boats needed for the sailors from Auburn. Going to these regattas is usually a weekend event. There are dinners to attend and boats to be raced. When the sailors attend the regatta at Lake Martin, they are there to help. They go out on the boats and help people raise and lower flags. They are not there to race for themselves.
In the past, The Auburn Sailors have volunteered at Camp Smile-A-Mile. Camp Smile-A-Mile is a non-profit organization located on Lake Martin. It is for children who have previously had and are currently battling cancer. The club has hosted sail days for the children to experience sailing.
The Auburn Sailing Club is a club sport that many people probably never knew existed at Auburn University, but I now hope people have a better understanding and appreciation for the club.
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