Many Accomplished Sailors Started Out in the “Learn to Sail” Programs at Cooper River Yacht Club

June 25, 2008 - PRLog -- Collingswood, New Jersey -- For over eighty-five years, the Star class of sailboat has remained at the forefront of sailing.  The boat offers the best in technology, and demands the best of racing skill, yet remains one of the most fun boats to sail anywhere.  Since 1932, the Star has been raced in every Olympic competition except one.  The Star class list of former World Champions reads like the Who’s Who of yachting, but the class is made up of a variety of sailors of all ages and skill levels.  One race on a Star has hooked many sailors for life.

These are the stories of sailors who originally learned to sail at Cooper River, and have gone on to sail in Star, America’s Cup, and Olympic competitions.

John MacCausland’s father thought that sailing would be a great way to spend some time together with his son, and he was right.  During those early years, he and John did indeed enjoy some great times out on the water together, and since then sailing has become a lifelong passion for John.

Over the last thirty years, John has competed in Olympic and America’s Cup competitions as a sailor, and even as a coach for the Bermuda team.

Today John continues to compete in Star Class competions world wide, and now enjoys sailing with his own children.  John’s company, Marine Spars, imports Star sailboats from Europe, and is also a premier supplier of replacement parts and supplies for Star saiboats.  John also provides a San Diego sailmaking company with Research and Development services, helping them to  continually improve their products.

After competing for the America’s Cup, in the Olympics, and in Star Class competitions world wide, what’s on John’s horizon?  “I would still love to win that Star World Cup!”

For Bob Oberg, sailing also started as a family activity.  Bob began sailing at a young age with his father and his uncles.  When he entered the Cooper River Yacht Club’s “Learn to Sail” program, he had some experience and a basic knowledge of sailing, so the program was his first formal step toward earning the more advanced US Sailing Small Boat Sailor Certificate.  Bob has been sailing ever since, and is now an accomplished Star class sailor.  Bob recently won the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) National Championship.  Bob was interviewed in the ESPN coverage of the regatta, and ESPN had an onboard camera on Bob’s boat during the final day of the regatta.  Bob also works full time in the maritime industry, installing electronic equipment at Annapolis Yacht Sales.

On his personal sailing experiences, Bob observes: “The biggest misconception about sailing is that it is only for wealthy people.  I believe the sport is open to everyone.  In fact, I would say that the great majority of people who I sail with could be described as normal, everyday people.”

Conveniently located on South Park Drive, in Collingswood along the Cooper River Park, the Cooper River Yacht Club (CRYC) provides a comfortable, safe, and friendly place to learn how to cruise and race, at a home away from home for like-minded boat lovers, where there is always ample free parking.

For over sixty years, the CRYC has been a vital part of the Camden County Parks system, providing a full season of activities for sailing enthusiasts.  The club hosts races on Sundays at 1:00pm, from April through November, as well as a summer series of Thursday evening handicap races.

CRYC is part of an association of fourteen sailing clubs located from the New Jersey Shore throughout the Delaware Valley: the Mid-Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (MAYRA).  MAYRA schedules regattas at the various member clubs throughout the summer, including CRYC.  For many sailing club members, MAYRA competitions are the highlight of their summer sailing experiences.

The CRYC also offers Community Sailing, which enables members to use any of the club’s fleet of sailboats.  Community Sailing is an excellent way to personally experience each of the different types of sailboats, helping members who may be considering the purchase of their own sailboats to make informed decisions based on hands-on experiences.

The exciting world of sailing is as close as the easy to reach Cooper River Yacht Club, on the Collingswood side of Cooper River Park.

For more information on the Cooper River Yacht Club, and all of their sailing instruction programs and summer sailing season activities, visit the club’s website at  http://www.CooperRiverYC.org or arrange to visit the club in person by calling the steward at 856-869-9145.

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