Dear DSC Community:

Join us for our 5th Annual Sail for Kids Regatta and Fundraiser!  Sail for Kids is our largest fundraiser of the year and we need your help and participation to accomplish our goal of raising $20,000.

There are several ways you can get involved and have fun at the same time!

Race in the Regatta!

You do not have to be a race skipper to race in the regatta. Any DSC skipper can enter the regatta in the non-spinnaker class on either Saturday or Sunday.  If you are not a skipper but want to participate in the regatta, you can still register for available slots and be paired up with a skipper and get ready to have some fun!

Click here to register for Sail for Kids Regatta.

Fundraising!

Whether you are participating in the regatta or not, you can participate in our fundraising competition by being a fund racer. You can create your ownf undraising page and raise money for your boat or your fundraising team. Not only will there be awards for the winners of the regattas, but there will be awards for the top fundraisers too. To create your own fundraising page, Click FirstGiving Sail for Kids Registration Website and start fundraising now!  (When you launch the page, click the large green "REGISTER" button to start the process in setting up your account with FirstGiving.)

Event Sponsorship!

If you or your company would like to sponsor the Sail for Kids event, there are many levels of sponsorship available.  To access the sponsor opportunities and forms, visit here.

Your participation and contribution will help keep us keep our commitment to our community, where "Sailing is for Everyone!".

Attend the Barbecue on Sunday, July 29th!

Cheer on the all the regatta participants and fund racers from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Sunday afternoon family barbecue. We will have live music, games, including gutter races, the grinder competition, as well as kids games and activities; and there will be an awards ceremony with fantastic awards and prizes.  Clink here to register.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Lester and Shannon Darlington

Co-Chairs Sail for Kids 2012

Due to logistics and safety issues, we are suspending member's boating activities on June 16th and 17th based upon the navigation restrictions posted by the United States Coast Guard on these days, due to the air show between 1pm and 4pm.

The regulated area during the air show is from 11am to 5pm and is much larger than the restricted areas on any other day of the event for recreational vessels. In addition, given that these days fall on a weekend, the harbor traffic will be filled with novice boaters trying to get a look at the festivities.

Click Here to View Restricted Area Maps

At the DSC, in addition to our members and volunteers, our boats are our greatest asset, and to protect them we need to adhere to our decision to cancel boating activities on these two days. Please understand that this is not an easy decision for us to make, but we must make our decisions in the best interest of the organization as a whole.

All other DSC activities will go on as planned during the week. We do ask that if you go out during any restricted times (e.g. tall ship arrival and departure), please be mindful of the restrictions at all times. Maryland DNR and the US Coast Guard will be out en masse and will issue tickets. We trust that each skipper will take into consideration his/her skills and the skills of his/her crew prior to sailing during a restricted time.

Please visit the Sailabration FAQ Page for more information.  It is advised that skippers and crew become familiar with the guidelines for boating activities during the multi-day event.   

Please be advised that the BMI has issued parking restrictions at the DSC during the following time periods:

Friday, June 15 - 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Saturday, June 16, 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Tuesday, June 19 - 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Please plan accordingly.  Reminder: There will be congestion in the area with additional visitors for Sailabration.   Available parking may be difficult to locate.

Just added! POB Clinic next Wednesday, June 20th - You normally come down for an Open Sail, but next week come down for some skill building to save your friends (and yourself!) in a POB situation!  

The DSC is having an MS Sailing Day on Sunday June 24th from 1:00PM-4:00PM.  

Come down to help with this great event! We will need volunteers to fill all accessible roles including riggers, de-riggers, safety boat operators, sailing buddies, transfer aids, greeters and escorts.  To register, please click here.

Please arrive at 12:00PM to help with rigging. 

Thank you again for being a volunteer at the DSC. Without your continued help and support the DSC could not offer these types of programs.

If you have questions please feel free to email or call Lynn Handy.

Lynn@downtownsailing.org

410-727-0722

"Cheers for Children" Fundraiser is around the corner! Come out on Tuesday, June 26th at 5:00 to enjoy live music by members, John King with special guest, Chris Coletta. Chances to win a behind the bar spot as bartender, to sing a song with the band, DSC hats and t-shirts, sailing clinics, and more will all be raffled off. Bring some friends and come on down to support children's programming at the DSC!

Visit the DSC Blog page for inspiring stories and photos along with informational articles included as well. 

Click here to launch The DSC Blog!

Reminders about parking for DSC Members - your cooperation is very much appreciated:

1. Seek parking on the gravel area near the docks.  If no parking is available in that area, limited blacktop parking can be utilized, keeping as close to the docks as possible. 
2. The "Entrance" Gate is solely for the purpose of vehicular traffic entering the BMI/DSC parking lot.  Do not use this as a vehicle exit from the property at any time unless the "Exit" gate is locked.  The "Exit" Gate should be utilized to leave the property.  (This applies to moving vehicles only, not pedestrian or bicycle traffic.)
3. Skippers and Dock Masters performing end of day "securing the property" duties as the last remaining members on site will be required to close and lock both the Entrance and Exit Gates in the future. 
4. Please drive slowly and keep watch for pedestrians, especially children, and also wildlife in the parking area. 

"The Downtown Sailing Center provides quality educational and life enriching programs that promote self-esteem and teamwork through the joy of sailing.  The Downtown Sailing Center is committed to promoting an environment of inclusiveness and accessibility, especially to youth, persons with disabilities, and those with limited opportunity."