2002 marked the 20th summer that the Oswego High School Sailing Club has had a symbiotic relationship with the Oswego Maritime Foundation. It was twenty years ago that Joe Rotolo stopped by the waterfront center and talked with Dick Pfund as he was teaching a sailing class. At that time Dick asked Joe if he would like to advise a sailing club at the high school. It was also at a time when Ed Hawkins, a student at the high school, has asked Joe if he wanted to be the advisor of a sailing club. Joe left without answering, then called Dick later that night and informed him that it would be a great idea! Ed Hawkins became the charter HS club Commodore.

Ever since that day the club has maintained all the smaller sailing vessels, the many boat trailers, all the power boats and many mechanical items for the maritime foundation. The maintenance was extended to complete hull rebuilding, rigging repair, sail and rigging replacement and the purchase of winterizing materials, all paid for by fund raising from the club. The club members also cover and winterize the sailing vessels owned by the foundation as well as their own. The club members gain valuable real-life boat owning skills and are very grateful for the use of the facilities to carry out their own program and for the Oswego Middle School Sailing Club.

Another positive development has been the activation of a sailing club at SUNY Oswego when the high school club leaders were enrolled there and the utilization of many of the former high school club members as OMF sailing instructors. The relationship has stood the test of time.

Typically the club's membership is between 40 and 90 students. They sail and repair boats on Sundays in the spring and fall and sail during the summer on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. until dark. Special events include tall ship sails across Lake Ontario, three day sailing/camping trips to a island in Lake George and in the St. Lawrence River, as well as Whale Watches and wintertime cross country and down hill skiing trips. The club operates all year long.

Copyright © 2004 Oswego Maritime Foundation