The Middlebury College Sailing Club is a student-led organization that hosts weekday race team practices, recreational sailing opportunities, and even intercollegiate competition out of the Hopper Family Sailing Pavilion (Panton, VT) on Lake Champlain. The club is open to the entire student body and provides a pathway from beginner sailor to competitive racer for any interested Middlebury College student. We have over 30 members on the race team and nearly 75 total regular club members. Within the inclusive and supportive community of MCSC, Middlebury students have the opportunity to learn to sail, practice and advance their skills, and actively compete in the NEISA conference.

Many alumni sailors will remember the old floating docks used to berth our boats, which we still employ after more than a decade - a heavy, awkward and hazardous wooden arrangement. By upgrading to a lighter, safer, more modern set of floating platforms, the club will be able to greatly cut installation costs while also keeping boats and sailors safe. In addition to these upgraded docks, we hope to raise enough money to also replace our fleets well-used set of sails. Help us continue to train and compete at the level of other NEISA teams!

Our FJs on their current wooden platforms under a beautiful Adirondack sunset:

Currently, our fleet rests in cradles on floating wooden platforms which are accessed by an extensive fixed metal dock system, designed to withstand the variety of wind directions and wave conditions on the lake. Because the lake freezes over during winter, our heavy, custom-made docks must be installed and removed seasonally by professionals: an annual cost that we unfortunately cannot avoid. In particular, these heavy boat platforms contribute significantly to our installation costs each year. It is high time these are replaced for lighter, simpler, and safer alternatives, and this could cut our installation costs by more than half! Such an improvement will also save on repair and maintenance costs and even help to keep beautiful Lake Champlain free of microplastics from older-style flotation.

We have three goal-posts for this effort.

And we have already made progress!

By reaching $35,000, we will purchase 6 boat platforms.

By raising $50,000 we will replace 8 boat platforms.

And by raising a full $55,000, in addition to the boat platforms we will be able to invest in a full set of new sails for our fleet. Our aging mains and jibs are 15 years old and have endured daily use during the fall and spring.

Here's an example of the new modular types of floating platforms we hope to acquire for our fleet:

We've thoroughly researched replacement dock options, and that although they're expensive, they are incredibly safe, lightweight enough to move by ourselves, and will last a lifetime. By saving a minimum of $6500/year on installation, this investment will pay off in around 6 years and enable us to use our school budget more effectively. Besides the docks and sails, your donations will go directly towards ensuring the continuity and growth of the club!

MCSC appreciates your support, especially as we continue to grow as a racing team and expand our recreational sailing program. Our hope this season is to make a lasting investment in the club through new and improved infrastructure. Instead of spending the majority of our funding on dock maintenance, we can put the money towards necessary gear, repairs, and training. By allowing us to host more events and learn-to-sail days, this will also increase overall access to sailing at Middlebury. Thank you for helping us make MCSC more successful and more accessible to the wider campus community!

For more images from this season, visit @middsailing on Instagram. Click here for the Windward Panther, our newsletter full of updates on the team!