Club History

HISTORY OF THE VILLAGES SAILING CLUB

2022

The Villages Sailing Club was the idea of one man—Richard Mosher—who founded the club and held its first meeting on Wednesday November 16, 2005, at the Churchill Downs Recreation Center. The club started with 12 Villagers who joined the club at that first meeting. Rich became the club’s Commodore and, by the end of that first meeting, all the members were given responsibilities to help organize and run the club. After a few months the club’s meetings moved to the Lake Miona Recreation Center when Rich saw its sailing motif; it was the perfect location for our club.

Although starting with only one boat, Rich’s 19-ft O’Day Mariner, it was his intention to increase the number of sailboats to at least 6 in order to share boat rides with the members. The club does not own any sailboats; they are individually owned by members. Although the number of boats in the club has varied over the years, there are several long-time members who gladly bring their boats to club sails. We’ve had a variety of types of boats in the club including hand-built wooden boats; most of them trailerable while some are berthed at a marina on a local lake or on one of the Florida coasts. The club has encouraged members who want their own boat to purchase a Com-Pac 16. With at least four such boats, the club can race as its own class in the Mt Dora Yacht Club’s annual regatta. At this time (June 2022) we have 10 club members who have boats locally.

The club sails on a number of the local lakes, preferring the larger lakes such as Harris and Weir. Often the club outing will also include either a picnic or lunch at a restaurant to which the boats can sail. In recent years, a popular club event is chartering larger boats out of St Petersburg for a day sail. We typically get 30-32 folks out on 5 boats for the day.

The club began its 10^th year in 2015 with 85 members–all of whom have enjoyed sailing and picnics on several lakes in and around The Villages. Rich Mosher, after 10 years as the club’s Commodore, was able to step down and just enjoy attending meetings without the attendant work organizing them. The club members appointed him “Commodore Emeritus” and presented him with a plaque and a past Commodore flag for all the hard work he put into making the club a success.

The current membership count stands at more than 140 Villagers, a new club record. But none of The Villages clubs could exist without the help and hard work of club members who take time to organize, plan, and participate in the club’s activities. I want to thank all the current and past officers, and others, who have volunteered their time to make our club a success.

Steven Stein

Commodore