WCSC, construction begins!

Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
As a coda to the post on next gen sailors, here is what is happening at WYC. Our Community sailing center (right next to the WYC clubhouse) has been housed in a 100-year old house that was on the property when we bought it. Filled with small rooms and lacking proper access to all sailors, it was a totally make-due home for the 1000s of the new, high school and collage sailors that called the place their sailing home every summer.

old.jpg


That's all over now. With the full $4 Million raised (for both land and developments), we are tearing down the building this week and starting construction on the new Mike Plant Community Boathouse. With it, the WCSC is ready to embark on building a center that will do the following:

Provide year-round public access to Lake Minnetonka through educational programs and special events, including a community space within the center

Offer boats for membership use, racing, as well as small boat launching capabilities

Offer programs that increase the understanding, and appreciation of sailing, the environment, and the importance of preserving the lake eco-system—a lakeshore learning center

Provide much needed handicap access to the building and accompanying facility for the existing adaptive sailing program and grow the numbers of individuals who can take part in the adaptive sailing program

Provide a safe and innovative facility for area high school and college teams to practice and race competitively

Allow WCSC to further hone its programs and offerings to become a nationally recognized center for sailing excellence

Represent Wayzata from the shores of Lake Minnetonka with an attractive, eco-friendly, building whose design adheres to the character and aesthetic of the original structure

new1.jpg


With open space with adaptable partitions in front, team rooms in the middle and heated workspace in the back, the kids are finally going to have as nice a place as us!
 
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Jul 7, 2004
8,402
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Impressive community effort! But how does that model adhere to the character of the original building? Is there more to it? :(
I live in a 100 year old neighborhood and none of the houses have that type of architecture.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Impressive community effort! But how does that model adhere to the character of the original building? Is there more to it? :(
I live in a 100 year old neighborhood and none of the houses have that type of architecture.
LOL I wondered the same thing. Maybe the color!
 
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Feb 3, 2015
299
Marlow Hunter 37 Reefpoint Marina Racine, WI
Impressive and and WYC should be proud of this. Hats off!
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Impressive and and WYC should be proud of this. Hats off!
Thanks, the work should look familiar to you; it's the same design+build team that did the Milwaukee CSC!
 
Oct 22, 2014
20,989
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Love the exposed wood beam design. Open, natural feel..
(And the secret benefit, having a place for kids to practice their varnishing skills. )​
Looks to be a wonderful addition.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Love the exposed wood beam design. Open, natural feel..
(And the secret benefit, having a place for kids to practice their varnishing skills. )​
Looks to be a wonderful addition.
Probably not of that going on! ;)
The center has 30 420s, 10 lasers, 10 optis, a sonar for adaptive sailing and a j/22 for keelboat work. The majority of the maintenance is keeping the rigging and sails in order, and dealing the minor fiberglass issues that come up.
 

TomY

Alden Forum Moderator
Jun 22, 2004
2,758
Alden 38' Challenger yawl Rockport Harbor
That's very impressive, Jack. I hope your club gets the community recognition it deserves. Teaching kids to sail is an American tradition and your club sounds like a model. WYC is gearing up the next gen. of sailors, the millennials are already off and running. Congrats!
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
That's very impressive, Jack. I hope your club gets the community recognition it deserves. Teaching kids to sail is an American tradition and your club sounds like a model. WYC is gearing up the next gen. of sailors, the millennials are already off and running. Congrats!
Funny you mention that... Wayzata the City was actually a bit slow to come around. in our early years they were wary of what we did, how much noise we might make, and what better use that land might go to. Now, they see us as an instrumental part of the community.

A big part of that (from the WCSC side) is the director, Matt Thompson. He has done an amazing job over there, not just running the program, but fundraising as well. This year he won the US Sailing award as Outstanding Program Director.
He's a hell of sailor as well. On a lark, he grabbed 2 friends and the entered the J/22 Nationals in Annapolis this summer. He rarely sails that boat. They came in 3rd.

39136201995_fcb37f5863_b.jpg


Matt Thompson – Outstanding Program Director

Matt Thompson (Wayzata, Minn.) has received the Outstanding Program Director Award for the positive impact he has had on the Wayzata Community Sailing Center by optimizing the quality of education, providing training and development opportunities for other instructors and educators, and providing strong leadership and mentorship.

Wayzata Community Sailing Center is known for creative programming that provides access to sailing on Lake Minnetonka to those who would not otherwise have it and for establishing mutually beneficial partnerships within their community. Their success in sailing and community engagement is largely in part due to their incredible and energetic leader.

With the support of his staff and board members, he has fostered a STEM class to provide a deeper connection between students and the natural surroundings at the sailing center. This year he is working tirelessly to create a program with the local school district and City Wide STEM program.

He has had a significant impact on the organization by optimizing the quality of education in their programs, providing training and development opportunities for other instructors and educators, and empowering individuals to reach their greatest potential.
 
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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Too bad. Looked like a teaching moment.
But teaching them what? Certainly not to sail. Brightwork may be beautiful, and some may enjoy its maintenance, but most that have lots of it find it the bane of sailboat ownership. I'd never want to burden a kid just getting into sailing with that. Sure - take care of the things that they understand make the boat go, they are all in for that. But varnish?
 
Jan 1, 2006
7,039
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Nice. Sorry about that 100 year old structure but the Future is Now! Maybe the best part of this is that you've changed the authorities mind from regarding the activity as a problem, to thinking of it as an asset. That really opens the door to the future.
Last summer I was in Newport to see the Volvo boats. I was so impressed with Sail Newport and their program. I think these kinds of community sailing programs can be effective. We now have a local high school sailing program which is good. It is dependent on basically one guy, which is bad. Local authorities have not yet seen the light. No hoist. No boat building program. They don't want boats on the hard spoiling the view of harbor.
 

Bob J.

.
Apr 14, 2009
773
Sabre 28 NH
[QUOTE="Jackdaw, post: 1498596, member: 100643", we are tearing down the building this week and starting construction on the new Mike Plant Community Boathouse[/QUOTE]

That is pretty friggin cool. What a tribute to a great sailor.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Nice. Sorry about that 100 year old structure but the Future is Now! Maybe the best part of this is that you've changed the authorities mind from regarding the activity as a problem, to thinking of it as an asset. That really opens the door to the future.
The building was kinda spooky. Modern design calls for lots of open space for groups. The old house was full of tiny rooms with structural walls.. rooms like drawing rooms, dens, waiting rooms, parlors, etc etc.
 
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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
[QUOTE="Jackdaw, post: 1498596, member: 100643", we are tearing down the building this week and starting construction on the new Mike Plant Community Boathouse
That is pretty friggin cool. What a tribute to a great sailor.[/QUOTE]

Mike grew up a few miles from the club and was a member of both WYC and the MYC. His sister will dedicate the new building in the spring.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
That is pretty friggin cool. What a tribute to a great sailor.
Right?? Mike grew up and grew up sailing a few miles from the club and was a member of both WYC and the MYC. His sister will dedicate the new building in the spring.[/QUOTE]
 
Oct 3, 2014
261
Marlow-Hunter MH37 Lake City, MN
You sound very proud of your club, and for good reason. Fantastic!
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Well we delayed tear-down until the week before actual construction is scheduled to begin. This way the WFD and WPD were able to use the shell of the building for live drills. Today at 11:00AM the digger bore down on the building, we had a tear-down party. Most cool; Mike Plant's mother and sister where there as VIP guests!

D48596FD-6803-410A-B2D5-ACCC48E4585E.jpeg
 
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