A recent report issued by the U.S. Sailing Association shows a considerable decline in participation in sailing.
The report detailed statistics showing 100,000 fewer sailors have enjoyed the sport every year since 1992.
In response, the national governing body of sailing in the United States is aiming to restructure itself in order to promote further involvement by the public.
However, the current decline in the public's interest in the sport does not especially concern MSU Sailing Center Director Ken Warshaw.
"The national decline in recreational sailing is due to the emphasis placed on racing," said Warshaw, who has been with the center since 1997. "We don't teach racing."
Instead, Warshaw said the center emphasizes education and recreation in their learning curriculum.
"The focus on racing in most 'learn-to-sail' programs has an alienating affect on people who are interested in simply learning how to sail recreationally," he said.
The center, located in Haslett on Lake Lansing, has an average membership of 50 to 100 and has not seen a decrease in recent years, Warshaw said.
From May to August, the center is open to the public from 4 -8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Membership fees range from $100 for MSU students to $150 for the public.
Sailing classes and private lessons are an additional cost to the membership and are offered on specific dates from June through September.
Furthermore, the center is completely self-supported based on generous donations by members and volunteers.
Warshaw attributes the center's success to its encouragement of people's participation at a purely educational and recreational level.
"We are not the stereotypical sailing program," Warshaw said. "We are not bolstering a racing program."
The center, which has been owned and controlled by MSU's Intramural Sports and Recreative Services Department since 1997, provides more than just sailing lessons, Warshaw said.
"We teach a lot of lifelong skills and a hands-on experience of something you wouldn't normally get a chance to do."
History senior and center employee Joshua Butler has plenty of hands-on experience, after working at the sailing center for three years.
"Sailing programs teach children and adults basic sailing skills, but they also teach confidence, control, and problem solving," Butler said.
The center exclusively employs MSU students.
"We try to engage the student employees in active learning by having them run all aspects of the program, including teaching classes," Warshaw said.
Zach Oppenheim, a summer independent-study student at the center and an education senior, will be teaching sailing classes in the fall to fulfill his student teaching requirement.
Oppenheim has been involved with sailing his whole life.
"Sharing my love of the sport with people who have the desire to learn is fun for me and I'm ready for the challenge," Oppenheim said.
