For the Long Run

Bottom: Junior camps run throughout the summer, offering programs for campers age 8-18.

Sixty Years of Sailing

The Lake Norman Yacht Club offers solace, solitude and sailing to members

by Lara Tumer Photography courtesy of Lake Norman Yacht Club

The Lake Norman Yacht Club has a rich history. Founded before the lake was even filled in, a group of local residents had a vision and worked to make it reality that is still providing recreational opportunities to LKN today.

Longtime member, Mike Robinson, details the history of the club. “This very special place was founded in September of 1961, before the lake was filled in,” he says. The land was complete wilderness at this point.” Stan Livingstone, along with his fellow 25 founding charter members from the surrounding areas, were the first to take advantage of the land, originally leased and eventually purchased, from Duke Energy.

Novice and skilled sailors alike will find solace, solitude, and a plethora of water and shoreside activities for the whole family at Lake Norman Yacht Club. The yacht club is not merely for local residents but attracts a regional draw. Initially, a tiny boat ramp was the only material structure, and a small clubhouse was added in 1972. Currently, two slip docks allow members to enjoy the club year round. Upwards of 60 sailboats can be stored on site, with mast and rigging up, allowing for easy entry into the water for a day on the lake. There are now over 200 member families. Providing education and sailing experience is at the forefront of the club’s mission. Junior camps are run throughout the summer months, allowing for 120-150 campers ages 8-18 to learn the ins and outs of sailing, while also enjoying evening activities like movie night, pizza parties, and more. The emphasis on youth sailing has also resulted in the sponsorship of a number of high school sailing teams. Discover Sailing is a weekend that appeals to all age groups and is meant for those who know nothing about the sport of sailing but who are interested in learning. Those who are already experienced can take advantage of the club’s competition series.

While supporting the pastime of sailing is the primary goal of the yacht club, it’s truly more than a club solely about watersports. Members can take advantage of an abundance of off-water activities like the annual New Year’s Day soup cookoff, summertime regattas, as well as holiday events around the 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Community involvement and giving back is also a priority. The community-minded yacht club also supports both hospice and the Special Olympics.

Lake Norman Yacht Club

297 Yacht Road, Mooresville www.lakenormanyc.org.