Below are transcripts of the Windham Sailing Club’s early history. Written by longtime club member Bob Strebi some time ago, who sadly has recently passed. This Historical document will be an installment feature throughout the summer. Once all portions are published I will create a new page with all of them in one document.
Windham Sailing Club
Wilmington, Vermont
A Short History of Sorts.
This year the Windham Sailing Club is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of it’s incorporation. It being a very respectable age for an organization of it’s kind, the Chronicler felt himself moved to author a short history. Because of the scant source material of the club’s early years much of it is the result of interviews with “old timers” and personal recollection.
In addition 1999 is the tenth anniversary year of NEPCO’s NO MOORING policy. What happened during the years of 1989, 1990 and 1991 is well documented. Jim Robinson and Alan Stewart were kind enough to lend me their files (2 inches and 1 1/4 inches respectively). I have tried to condense the events of those years for easy reading. I consider it important for us, the current members to know what effort had to be expended to regain mooring privileges at the cove.
1967 & 1968
A group of Vermonters, some of whom had boats moored at Ward’s Cove, decided it might be fum to race sailboats. Olin Stephens, Lee Sheridan and Peter Ash were some of the core members of the group. A few races were staged. At the time about 20 boats were moored at the Cove. Mooring was unregulated. Only few of the boat owners showed an interest in racing. On the other hand some people who owned no boats purchasing a number of used boats: Sunfishes as single-handers and Sprites as double-handers. The Sprite (a 10 foot Widgeon) was dismissed as being too small. Eventually Olin Stephens and Lee Sheridan bought a number of Blue Jays.
Stay tuned for the second installment in this series, the year 1969, to be released at whim.
