When the organizers of Gay Games 9 in Cleveland were in need of 12 boats to be used during the games, five members of Mansfield Sailing Club answered the call and volunteered their boats. The local group ultimately comprised the largest contingent from any single club in the state.
In December of 2013, organizers decided that one of the two classes of sailboats to be used in the sailing activities was to be the Lightning class. All Lightning class sailors in Ohio were contacted with requests to lend boats for the duration of the games. Some of those sailors responding are based in Mansfield.
Bill Buckles, from Edgewater Yacht Club, one of the volunteers responsible for readying the boats for racing, told the club that without Mansfield Sailing Club’s participation they would have been hard pressed to find enough boats.
The Mansfield Sailing Club stated that they were proud to have been able to support the event and make the sailing a success.
The Lightning class is a nineteen feet long sailboat with a crew of three, including the skipper. The class was originally designed in 1938 and is now one of the largest sailboat classes with more than 15,000 worldwide. Lightnings have been sailed at Mansfield since the club started in 1953.
The Mansfield Sailing Club is located near the intersection of Ohio Route 97 and Gass Road, where boaters and visitors can enjoy the club’s docks, shelter, picnic areas, and restrooms. The docks and their moorings may only be used by club members, though remaining facilities are open to the general public.
For more information go to www.mansfieldsailingclub.com.
