The Sailing Club, Inc. members at a Rhode River raftup.
Early in the summer of 1983, several of the members of a NJ AT&T office ski club were discussing spring/summer activities and learned they were all sailors…of various skill levels. Jim Nixon volunteered to set up a sailing trip. Everyone agreed that it was worth a try.
Several had owned boats and found the idea of chartering more conducive to their budgets. Jim settled on the Chesapeake as the place to go….rarely foggy, easy driving distance from most places on the east coast, and great ports of call. One trip was run that year, then a second. As those who remember them recall, there were only two or three boats, but then again, everyone was just learning. Sailing books were referred to and authorities looked upon rafting as only daytime activity. The intrepid sailors rafted anyway. The key factor was location followed by skillful close quarter boat handling. Skippers and crew supported one another on the trips with advice and assistance. The trips turned out to be lots of fun!
Sailing Club, Inc. members in the Spanish Virgin Islands.
The club formally incorporated in 1994, with bylaws, a Board of Trustees and ten Members at Large. Meeting monthly, the Board manages the administrative work of the club and puts together the season schedule based upon suggestions from its members. Incorporation also led to a formal skipper qualification processes, as well as the US Sailing Instructor certification requirements. An annual all-members dinner meeting is held at the end of March each year to introduce the new year’s training and sailing trips.
On November 9, 2013 The Sailing Club, Inc. will celebrate 30 years of sailing on the principle that sailing should be open to anyone interested, it should be safe, educational and fun! Founders, Jim and Jan Nixon will be the honored guests of honor.
