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PROMOTING PERSONAL FREEDOM THROUGH POSITIVE SELF EMPOWERMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING EASY AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THE WORLD OF SAILING
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Founded in 1978, Island Sailing started as a brokerage. Someone quickly came up with the club concept, in which we still follow a similar model to this day. There's never been a need to carry the heavy expenses of boat ownership and no special access is required. The club has always been a place that anyone can join to learn to sail and be welcomed into a community of like-minded people to share a love for sailing with.
Around fifteen years later, as I was settling into Portland, I took a drive up to the Glisan St. boat ramp on a Saturday. I was dumbfounded as I pulled into the parking lot to see boat-loads of masts in the water. I thought to myself, "They sail on this river?!..." Having grown up sailing on Lake Michigan, I was thrilled when I found Island Sailing under boat rentals in the yellow pages. When I called, someone was there to answer the phone and said to me, "You might actually be interested in our membership." That comment, that invitation to be included, that person picking up the phone, was part of a service that together, with a love of sailing, has informed all the years of my life up to today: they offered me a way to get out on the water and sail.
Thank goodness the club survived all those years. The owner back then (I had started working there shortly after joining) was, well... challenging to say the least and the general manager was even worse. It changed hands in the early 2000's, and the next owner was a nice enough guy, but a terrible business person.
It seems as though so much these days is about what can be extracted or taken away from somebody instead of focusing on what can be given or built. What can be made possible. The club was run with an "extraction" mindset for a short time, but the community of members has always been wonderful and held on through the years. Meanwhile, the river continued its ceaseless flow. Something that had surely been started with so much care really felt to many like nothing more than a transaction.
At Island Sailing, we believe altruism is a basic part of being human and that being in service to others brings us tremendous rewards. This service mindset is not a new idea here at this club. It's been essentially in place since 1978 - almost 50 years now. This place was built on being willing and able. And even though ISC almost lost it all (and was on the verge of bankruptcy) it is what we are choosing right now to embrace and protect.
Being in service to others always holds its own reward. As you continue reading, you'll hear stories of our community members who resemble our club character, and you will read about events that were organized with the help of our amazing sailing community. We wouldn't be successful without our crew and volunteers. - Stephen
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Now that June has rolled around and the summer sailing season is approaching, Island Sailing events are starting to pick up and sail towards new horizons!
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Below are some events that are happening at ISC this June: - Mondays in July - ISC club races for community members and prospective sailors who want to get practice on the boats. Evenings from 5:00 p.m. until sunset. First race is at 6:00 p.m.
- Thursdays July - SYSCO series competitive racing for sailors who have more experience. Evenings from 5:00 p.m. until sunset. First race is at 6: 00 p.m.
- July 8th, Wednesday - Community Sail - Sign up here. Departing between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and returning by 8:45 PM.
- July 12th, Sunday - SYSCO - Dual Bridge Duel Race at 1:00 p.m. Prepare for rigging at least 1 hour before.
- July 14th, Tuesday - Community Sail- Sign up here. Departing between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and returning by 8:40 p.m.
- July 14th, Tuesday -
All Sailors' BBQ at 6:00 p.m. Hosted at the Portland Yacht Club.
- July 16th, Thursday- SYSCO-Soaker at 6:30 p.m. Prepare for rigging at least 1 hour before.
- July 18th, Saturday - Day Sail to Sabor Del Rio - sign up here. Arrive at docks 9:00 a.m. Skippers meeting 9:40 a.m. Departing at 10:00 a.m. Estimated return by 5:00 p.m.
- July 19th, Sunday - PYC - Summer Sailing at 5:00 p.m. Prepare for rigging at least 1 hour before.
- July 25, Saturday - Overnight Sail (One Night) to Sand Island - sign up here. Arrive at docks on Saturday 7:00 a.m. Skippers meeting 7:40 a.m. Departing at 8:00 a.m. Estimated return on Sunday by 6:00 p.m. - July 26th, Sunday - PYC - Summer Sailing at 5:00 p.m. Prepare for rigging at least 1 hour before.
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Check out the full list of upcoming races on Team Cowboy. You can also learn more about racing at ISC below:
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Do you ever find yourself wondering how to properly flake and stow your mainsail after a day on the water? You're not alone. That's why we've put together a step-by-step YouTube tutorial that walks you through the process.
Click here to watch!
Be sure to check up on our YouTube channel regularly. We'll be sharing more how-to videos, sailing videos and boat-specific tutorials to help you get to know the unique quirks and personalities of our fleet so you can sail with confidence.
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How Johnathan Stehn embodies being of service to our community |
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Jonathan Stehn first joined the Island Sailing Club in early 2021. Later that fall, club owner Stephen Frankland asked him to take on the role of sailing commodore. Since then, Jonathan has become one of the club's most dependable members, contributing his time, knowledge, and leadership whenever it's needed.
He has become an example of what service looks like at ISC, and much of that willingness to help stems from his professional background. Jonathan is a medicine practitioner in Vancouver, but throughout his career, service and willingness have been at the center of his profession.
In the late 90’s, Jonathan served in the Coast Guard while he was in school, earning his PA certificate. He went from “ship to shore duty for four years,” and during that stretch of time, he was always on alert, ready to help in any way possible.
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Jonathan said that when he was assigned to his first small boat station in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, people had already been in the cold October water for several hours. “I was there about 35 minutes before I pulled the first person out of the water,” he said.
Later in his Coast Guard career, Jonathan became the regional practice manager and medical department head for a base in Seattle. In that role, he oversaw four clinics and coordinated medical support for traveling ships in the region. |
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Even while managing the clinics, he continued seeing patients by filling in for physicians who had gone years without taking time off. One doctor in North Bend, who had worked at the location for seven years, had never had enough time off to travel far outside of the area. Jonathan covered that doctor for two weeks and helped ensure they could finally take a vacation while patient care continued. |
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Because of his career, Jonathan has always had a mindset to help others and offer up service immediately. Jonathan has contributed to the club in many ways, from sharing his knowledge of boat maintenance to helping organize Monday and Thursday night races. He also spends time working with newer sailors, helping them become more comfortable and confident on the water, and is always willing to answer questions or offer advice when members need it.
"I like to do the right thing," Jonathan said. "I help people out when they're down, whatever it is."
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June was an exciting and eventful month at ISC, featuring both a major youth sailing regatta and a summer flotilla through the San Juan Islands.
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Sears Area Youth Qualifier
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On Saturday, June 20, ISC hosted the Sears Area Qualifier Regatta for high school sailors from across the area. Five teams competed, representing Willamette Sailing Club, South Sound Sailing Society, Olympia Community Sailing, and a combined Seattle-area team.
Competitors, volunteers, officials, and families arrived between 9 and 10 a.m., ready for an eventful race. Forecasts leading up to the event had been encouraging, with steady winds throughout the week. However, Saturday morning arrived with no wind
Throughout the day, sailors were stuck in a pocket of calm air between the bridges, with winds barely exceeding two knots. Boats remained anchored on the river for hours as racers, volunteers, and parents waited for conditions to improve. |
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Several attempts were made to start races when brief gusts appeared, but the wind never held long enough to complete a course. Finally, after 6:30 p.m. the wind picked up and the races started.
Congratulations to the Willamette Sailing Club team of Desmond Lathrop, Simon Carter, Angelo Fasulo, and Gus Stannard, who won the qualifier with three first-place finishes in the five-race series.
While the day tested everyone's patience, the sailors demonstrated remarkable dedication and sportsmanship, persevering through long hours of waiting to make the most of the racing opportunity.
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Summer Flotilla
ISC also hosted its annual Summer Flotilla from June 10–19, bringing together sailors for a cruise through the San Juan Islands and surrounding waters.
Participants explored a variety of destinations, including Sucia Island, Stuart Island, Ganges, Montague Harbor, Telegraph Harbor, Maple Bay, Saanich Inlet, Roche Harbor, Rosario Strait, Chuckanut Bay, and many other scenic locations along the route.
The flotilla provided a wonderful opportunity for members to enjoy the region's spectacular cruising grounds and the trip showcased some of the very best sailing destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
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Looking for fellow members to go out sailing? Our forum is a great way to find them! Check it out to join the online community!
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As the horizon draws near... |
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When I think about the future of what I want this club to be, I remember that it's the people that make this club so special. Every member, volunteer, instructor, committee member and staff member plays a part in creating the kind of club that people want to come back to year after year. The way we welcome others, offer a helping hand, and look out for one another has a bigger impact than we sometimes realize.
Whether it might be an enthusaistic phonecall, like it was for me, or the sense of belonging that a potential member hopefully feels on a boat during our Monday night races, or asking someone for help with tying knots and learning from them rather than feeling shamed, service is at the root of our club.
— Stephen
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Explore More - Learn More - Sail More And See Our Weather Links and - Check Out Our Youtube Channel! (Links on the bottom of our website) |
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