Sailors old and new team up at Lake Murray

It’s anchors away for a new partnership promoting sailboating on Lake Murray.

Members of the Columbia Sailing Club are helping University of South Carolina students interested in the sport polish their skills by supplying boats and advice.

“It’s been incredibly helpful,” said Kate O’Donnell, the outgoing leader of the student group. “With that advantage, we’ve been able to succeed.”

The arrangement launched during the past year allows the 80-member student group to train at club headquarters near Irmo as well as hold collegiate races there.

Before the partnership, student sailing at the lake was irregular, since boats weren’t always available.

Having them at hand allows training on a more advanced level, especially for college competitions, students say.

Student Ryan Lavisky of Lexington said the coaching helped him understand the teamwork needed in relying mainly on wind to travel the 47,500-acre lake.

“The challenges are intriguing,” he said. “I’ll definitely keep involved.”

Sailing on the lake requires different tactics and strategy than the ocean, student Jack Gonzales of Charleston said.

Wind at the lake constantly shifts and slacks off, requiring constant adjustments out the water, he said.

“I wasn’t sure how good the sailing would be,” he said. “It’s better than I expected.”

The warm, often breezeless days of summer that typically start around the Memorial Day weekend tend to force sailboaters ashore more often as power boats take over.

But club leaders are eager to continue developing a new generation of sailors when students return and winds increase this fall.

“It’s been a plus for both,” club leader Jan Jernigan of Lexington said of the partnership. “The students’ energy and enthusiasm has been a shot in the arm for our club.”

Students pay a $100 fee per semester for the opportunity to use eight boats set aside for them as well as to sail with club members upon invitation.

That’s a practical set-up for avid sailors on both sides.

“We’re always looking for crews,” said longtime club member Roger Dougal, who teaches electrical engineering at USC.

Sailing on the lake turned out to be beneficial as well as fun for recent graduate O’Donnell, who first sailed on the Connecticut oceanfront.

The experience gained led her to a job in the Lowcountry selling sailing equipment.

“For me, it was a whole new game,” she said. “I learned a lot.”