After two decades, the Michigan State University Sailing Center is getting brand new facilities.
MSU Trustee Brian Breslin helped secure new structures, which include classrooms, offices, storage, bathroom facilities and heat.
“This will help greatly with our educational and recreational programs during colder months, as well as improvements we needed to accommodate everyone,” said Rick McNeil, MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness director.
Everyone is familiar with the Sailing Center that was erected in 1973, but the original Sailing Center was built by the MSU Sailing Club in the 1940s.
“The original structure was a Quonset hut, which was replaced in 1973 by two garages donated by Jack Breslin,” McNeil said. “This past fall we had an assessment done on the quality of the structures, and the university decided to put forth the funding to replace the buildings so that the programming could continue.”
The Sailing Center offers “learn to sail” classes for adults and youth and a variety of affordable memberships that include use of the center’s sailboats. The center offers group events, private lessons, youth programs, special events, scouting programs, 4-H exploration days, local outreach programs, a “learn to kayak” class and “discover sailing” opportunities.
Through collaboration with Recreational Sports and Fitness and the former MSU canoe livery, the Sailing Center offers hourly canoe rental on Lake Lansing. It also supports the MSU sailing club, which is a registered student organization and a recreational sport club, by providing resources and opportunities for employment, instruction, practice and competition regattas.
“I think with the institutional commitment to the new structure, the long-term value of the Sailing Center has been affirmed,” McNeil said. “Clearly, MSU values the program and is committed to the classroom education and experiential opportunities that go on at our waterfront property. There is a huge variety of programming that goes on there.”