Yellow Creek Sailing History
The sailing base at Yellow Creek begin operating in 1976 through a partnership between the park, Student Coop, and university. The lease expired in 2005, but in 2011 Friends of Yellow Creek and the park opened the base up again to sailing.
Now there are a hundred launches a year from the base, with members of the community program and participants in the IUP Sailing Club sharing the facility.
Timeline
Fall 1976
- IUP, DCNR, and Department of Education build Classroom in the Park (Sailing Base)
. . . .
Fall 1999
- Coop and Park develop agree to jointly operate boat rental
. . . .
Summer 2005
- Coop lease on sailing base allowed to expires
. . . .
Summer 2011
- FOYC launches Puddle Duck Racer sailboats
Fall 2011
- IUP Sailing Club formed
Spring 2012
- Student Coop provides funding
Summer 2012
- 6 JY 15 Sailboats acquired
- Park permits shoreline storage, south shore (under existing agreement with FOYC for rack storage of club Puddle Ducks)
- Park provides access and fuel for powered safety boat
Fall 2012
- IUP student volunteers sponsor Get-Out-Doors-PA program for public; this supports a statewide, DCNR initiative.
- IUP participates in park Septemberfest and hosts Pitt Sailing for informal regatta.
Spring 2013
- IUP student volunteers sponsor Get-Out-Doors-PA program for public; this supports a statewide, DCNR initiative.
- IUP student volunteers clear brush, rake-out sand, and install courtesey dock at south shore boat rental.
- FOYC, DCNR and IUP Sailing co-sponsor US Sailing Counselor training course at YC.
- MAISA accepts IUP Sailing as “associate member” of intercollegiate sailing.
Fall 2013
- IUP participates in park Septemberfest and hosts Pitt Sailing for informal regatta.
- IUP student volunteers sponsor Get-Out-Doors-PA program for public
- IUP students volunteer at FOYC/Appalachian Film Festival
- IUP students volunteer to clean up sailing base, clearing brush
- IUP Sailing wins “Letters to Driscoll” video contest
- Student Coop supplemental funds new sails
Spring 2014
- IUP Sailors participate in the first, sanctioned ISCA collegiate regatta at Annapolis, MD
- Park agrees to permit FOYC and IUP to relocate to north shore (parcel formerly known as IUP sailing base), accessing the cove and storage facility, anticipating completion of a formal agreement.
- Sailing club recognized for Excellence in the Classroom at IUP Student Leadership Banquet
- Club officer, Karl Richter, recognized with IUP Chacivity Award.
- IUP student volunteers sponsor Get-Out-Doors-PA program for public
Summer 2014
- FOYC assumes oversight of base and provides portalet on site
- FOYC accepts donation of 3 sailboats, announces sailing base access for public
- IUP Sailors participate in Three Rivers Regatta, Pittsburgh
Fall 2014
- IUP student volunteers participate in park Septemberfest
- IUP student volunteers sponsor Get-Out-Doors-PA program for public
- IUP student volunteers conduct work-day, demolish boat rack roof
- IUP Sailors travel to Erie, PA for innaugural Gannon U Regatta.
- Camp Seph Mack donates floating docks
- Park finalizes formal agreement with FOYC
- FOYC purchases materials for roof reconstruction ($1593.89)
Spring 2015
- Park rebuilds rack roof – donating labor and additional materials
- PA Fish and Game regrades launch area
Fall 2016
- FOYC collaborates with the university sailing club to host our second annual “Messabout” with visiting sailors from Pitt and Gannon.
Fall 2019
- FOYC volunteers sponsor a sailing club through Indiana Area High School
Fall 2020
- FOYC receives a $4000 grant to repair docks, construct a silt barrier, and deepen the sailing cove.
- Shadco construction contributes in-kind services to this project
Summer 2023
- FOYC community sailing begins collaborating with local scout organizers
- Volunteers offer three youth sailing open houses
Fall 2023
- Two adult sailors earn their US Sailing Instructor certifications
- The base acquires six, newer Club FJ sailboats for youth sailing, in partnership with the university sailing club.