Let’s see. For $60, you can enjoy a mouth-watering steak dinner with all the trimmings. Or, you can take in a couple of movies, complete with a double-butter colossal popcorn and goliath-size drink duo and have enough left for a delicious side of Jujyfruits. Or, for $60 you can join the Lake Conroe Sailing Association and enjoy a season’s worth of activities and events offered by the club. The $60 fee covers an individual or a family, and boat ownership is not a requirement. Those not owning boats may sign up as crew members during certain events such as the Thursday night races.
For the past 30 years, Seven Coves Marina on beautiful Lake Conroe has supplied the setting for this family-friendly pastime, an activity that brings memories, new friendships and fun times, as well as opportunities for new challenges and the learning of new skills. As Commodore Gene Russo shared, “The purpose of this association is to provide sailing and social activities for its members in a manner conducive to water safety and responsible personal safety, and to introduce youth to the sport of sailing. We also seek to promote sailing on Lake Conroe.” As Vice Commodore Nici Esch states, “Lake Conroe is thought of as a recreational lake, not a sailing lake. We want to change that mindset.”
- April 7 – Open House
- May 19 – Cookout on the Lake
- June 16 – Luau
- July 3 – Walden Fireworks
- July 14 – Spinnaker Run
- August 18 – Parrothead Party
- October 20 – Chili Cook-Off
- December 6 – Christmas Party
- Commodore – Gene Russo
- Vice Commodore – Nici Esch
- Secretary – John Davis
- Treasurer – Sharon Lasseter
- Past Commodore – Charles Lasseter
- Race Committee – Jim Hall
- Education Chair – Dick Morton
As Nici says, “Sailing is a beautiful art, and it is not a spectator sport!” As anyone can guess, wind and weather play the all-important role, and weather conditions can change quickly. Constantly watching the wind strength and direction and using these current conditions to maximize the speed and ability of the boat promotes efficiency and drives competition within one’s self. Learning the skills needed to be safe on the water is vital. This knowledge includes, among other things, how to tack, how much sail to let out, and the wisdom on when to drop sails and motor back home. Lake Conroe can be challenging to sail on and a sailor must always err on the side of safety.
Seven Coves Marina has been a gracious host to the LCSA over the years. It is a well-maintained marina, with floating docks and security gates to give boat owners peace of mind. During Hurricane Harvey, the lake level rose 5 feet, with the floating docks doing the same. This feature provides a generous level of safety for the boats as they can rise with the water, preventing them major damage. And when the water level went down 9 feet on another occasion, the sailboats were able to operate due to the great depth of the marina. An additional benefit offered by the marina is a discount for LCSA members. Slip fees are reasonable, and with the additional savings and the low fee that membership in LCSA brings, it’s a whale of a deal!
Majestic. Peaceful. Ethereal. Exciting. Rewarding. These descriptive words came to mind from LCSA members when asked to describe the pleasures of sailing. The gentle wind in your face, the challenge of learning new skills, and the beauty of a glorious sunset rounded out the conversation. All of this and more for a mere $60 a year for you and your entire family. Again, another whale of a deal!
For information on the Lake Conroe Sailing Association, go to their website at www.lakeconroesailing.com. Time to get out and make some memories with a membership in LCSA!