March 2021 Papoose Article

Sailing is a great sport and the LMYC not only provides the opportunity to enjoy sailing but also to be part of the great history of the sport on Lake Mohawk. Snipe sailing on our lake goes back to 1933 and on January 23, 1934 our Snipe Fleet was chartered as International Fleet #17 by the Snipe Class International Racing Association (SCIRA). We are now officially listed as Fleet #10 with SCIRA. This makes our Snipe Fleet one of the oldest chartered fleets in the world!

On April 10, 1935 six Snipe Fleet members organized the Lake Mohawk Yacht Club, and made a resolution to lease and eventually purchase land for the location of the club and for the construction of a dock at the facility. Until 1938 the LMYC raced Snipes from June through September and held “novelty events” and “moonlight” or “evening” sailing with boats in tow and decorated with lanterns.

The 1936 New Jersey State Snipe Championship races were held on our lake. We continued to host this event up until some time in the 1990’s. The LMYC was also homeport for the 1938 World Champion Snipe skipper, Charles Gabor, in whose memory we still hold our annual Gabor Cup Regatta.

The LMYC was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1938 and that same year the International Lightning Class Association (ILCA) was founded. We added a Lightning Fleet to our club and have proudly maintained the status as Fleet #25 out of the hundreds of Lightning fleets, worldwide.

As summer approaches, why not join us? The LMYC is open to any LMCC member who is interested in sailing. We also offer fun social events and sailing lessons. For more information, you can visit us on the web at www.lakemohawksailing.org. You can email us at lakemohawksailing@gmail.com, or write to us at PO Box 29, Sparta, NJ.

Until next month, smooth sailing and God bless America!

Don Okner