BURLINGTON, Vt. -
What a difference a year can make. Just 12 months ago, Lake Champlain was at its highest level since records were kept, and that impact was felt hard by Burlington's Community Sailing Center, which had to postpone its opening. The sailing center credits the community for helping to get it back up and running. Organizers say they're confident this year will be a huge success.
This year the Lake Champlain sailing center is ready to set sail on time, "We are opening Saturday, May 27th," said Nick Neverisky, Program Director, for the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center.
Last year's record spring flooding forced the sailing center to open a month later than usual, "We had to cancel weeks of programming in the spring, we had to spend a lot of money on repairing the facility, reinforcing the shore line from erosion and getting them back in operating condition," said Neverisky.
In all, the sailing center had to repair about 75,000 dollars worth of damage. Neverisky says it could have never re-opened without help, "Thanks to truly the support of the community we were able to pull through."
The sailing center offers lessons, rentals and summer camps but the main goal is to just get people out on the lake.
"Sometimes that's just providing equipment and sometimes that's just involving expertise and so in each case we provide whatever it takes," said Neverisky.
The community sailing center will open Memorial Day weekend and plans to stay open until mid October.
