Year's End: 2020 Donor Report |
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The Downtown Sailing Center, with your financial support, successfully navigated a challenging year and is on course for the 2021 season.
More than 300 individuals and a dozen businesses donated over $200,000 to The DSC in our 2020 fiscal year. With gifts as large as $25,000 and as small as $25, our donors have kept our ship on course. Thank you.
This newsletter highlights some of the key joys and triumphs of our 2020 season. Again, Thank you. Donor support is critical to the success of our mission. And if you have not yet given but have means to give, please consider making a year-end contribution to The Downtown Sailing Center.
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The Sun Sets on a Surprisingly Spectacular 2020 for The DSC |
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Siebel Sailors work together using the new Dinghy Ramp to haul their boats at the end of practice this autumn. The Dinghy Ramp was built by volunteers and funded by donors like you. |
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Our COMMUNITY pulled together in 2020. The events that transpired in March caught me, and many among us, by surprise... but we adjusted, dug deep, charted a new course, and focused on SIMPLE, ACCESSIBLE SAILING.
You came to our aid in our Spring fund drive. Your donations enabled us to deliver honest, safe products that paved the way for a complete reopening. Once settled on our new tack, we were able to run our key community sailing initiatives: the S.I.T. Program (rebranded C.I.T. for 2021); our Adaptive-Accessible Program; and our new Siebel Sailors Program.
Our supporters answered the call with a powerful Ya Gotta Regatta that kept us on track through the fall season. With 2020 nearly behind us and 2021 ahead, we have much to celebrate and much to be thankful for. There must be a reason why we are listed as the "#14th Reason to Love Baltimore" by Baltimore Magazine this year.
From the depths of my heart, Thank you.
-Stuart T. Proctor, Executive Director
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Safety Protocol and Siebel Sailors |
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A Siebel Sailor washes his hands at one of the many hand washing stations built at The DSC this season. The hand washing stations and plumbing were made possible through generous support from the Duncuttin' Fund and other donors like you. Photo courtesy of US Sailing
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During the six weeks of shutdown that began in March, our new DSC team dug into the weeds of CDC protocol and rolled up our sleeves. Graham and Rena climbed aboard two weeks early and instantly delivered. With your funding support, we piped water to our docks; built hand washing stations; created industry-leading safety protocol; and implemented a "masks-on" policy that is now replicated across the country.
With these measures in place, we were able to launch camp, lessons, member opportunities like racing and cruising, and our new addition - The Siebel Sailors Program. Because of your support, we were even able to reignite our Adaptive-Accessible Program, enabling people with disabilities to experience the same joys and challenges as their able-bodied peers.
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Coach Hannah, Coach David, and Head Coach Janel did an amazing job this summer and fall. With generous support from US Sailing and the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation, The DSC is achieving a targeted goal of developing a small boat program for youth of all backgrounds. |
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Camp and Community Investment |
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Jaz enjoys the view from the bow of a J/22 at camp, summer 2020. Donor support in March enabled The DSC to focus on member retention and camp reopening. While other camps remained shuttered, The DSC was able to open on time, with industry-leading safety protocol in effect. |
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Camp is a big part of what The DSC does, and it makes lasting impact. Our summer staff are diverse. Our campers are, too, and we use summer camp as an incubator space for many of the ideas that we later implement in the general membership (like scholarships and new docking procedures).
Our summer staff continually teach me to be resilient and to discover the best in people. Camp integrates S.I.T. graduates, former campers, and sailors from afar. Collaboration is key, and our camp staff worked with us to redesign and implement creative solutions that were utilized across programs.
Thank you for entrusting your kids to us this summer, and thank you for supporting community sailing.
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Completing Projects that Build Capacity |
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John O' beds Stormy's toe rail. The Sonars are nearly 40 years old but we are taking the necessary steps to keep them safe and active for another 10, 20...
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In spite of the pandemic, we accomplished numerous projects that have been on the backburner for years. We relaunched our Safe Powerboat Course with the splashing of BoatyMcBoatFace and PopPop. We completed a small boat facility for the RS Fevas on 'B' dock, complete with awnings, storage boxes, and a dinghy ramp. We stopped the leaks in the Sonars. And, after five years of struggle, we are finally putting the finishing touches on our Hoist Pier.
It seems like progress is achieved at a snail's pace, but thanks to your generous financial support, we are making headway.
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Rena and John install one of the ladders on the hoist pier, Winter 2020. The finished hoist pier improves The DSC's operational efficiency. |
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Our facilities improvements create new opportunities for sailors of all backgrounds. The Dinghy ramp makes the launching and retrieval of the Fevas a breeze and also facilitates kayaking. The completion of the hoist pier enables us to quickly and safely haul our powerboats and day fleet sailboats without hazard and also opens doors for adaptive sailing support. Our tents, spread throughout campus, facilitate learning while reducing the risk of coronavirus spread. And our next project - refinishing our 'A' dock piers - will further enable sailors of all backgrounds to dock confidently and safely, even as beginners. |
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Sha'mar and Priscilla enjoy a spirited fun-race around the buoys on the final Accessible Saturday of the 2020 season. |
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With your financial support, we were able to relaunch our Adaptive-Accessible program in September of this year. In addition to the Ya Gotta Regatta, we continued sailing through October and hooked a new generation of sailors.
What's more, we made substantial progress in our efforts to make sailing inclusive. Beyond just providing sailing opportunities for people with disabilities, our 2020 Access-ability Saturdays made strides to include everyone in the fun. In a wheelchair? Go sailing. Mom, Grandma, Aide? Go sailing. Rigging Volunteer? Let's see what you've got. Once sailing in the Hansa-Access Dinghies, all are equal.
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Graham, Rena, and John enjoy a quiet paddle in front of Fells Point in the new DSC kayaks. |
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The DSC is looking forward to the 2021 season, and with good reason! Our member drive is on track to be the best in recent memory. Our new kayaks create fresh opportunities for sailors to enjoy the Inner Harbor. Lessons and Camp are filling up. And with member and event revenue in the bank, we are moving forward with clarity and purpose.
I wish you a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Thank you for your support. Our DSC team looks forward to sailing with you in 2021!
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Brothers "in arms" wrap up a day of camp and prepare for an evening of Siebel Sailors Programming, Summer 2020. Photo courtesy of Rena Kazmierski |
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