A Perfect Sailing Day Every Day

Torch Lake Sailing School’s summer on the water

The Torch Lake Yacht and Country Club has sat on a point that juts out into the blue waters of Torch Lake, straddling the 45th parallel, for almost 100 years. The yacht club grounds are filled with cedars, white pine, mature flowering perennials, tennis courts, and an oversized chessboard near the waters edge.

The McCutcheon, Hibbard, and Bechtold families founded the TLYCC in 1928 with the idea that families could have a place to relax, gather, and sail. Each summer a new generation returns to the yacht club just like their parents and grandparents did for the same reason—sailing.

Over the years, the yacht club has undergone renovations and additions, but the original log cabin portion of the clubhouse is still in use. The wrap-around wooden porch gives regatta spectators and idlers a comfortable view of Torch Lake.

The private club has more than 200 member families, but being a member is not required to enjoy some of its amenities, like sailing lessons and regattas. For those looking to get on the water, Torch Lake Sailing School, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based out of the TLYCC, offers sailing lessons.

Community

The sailing school is also a family affair deeply rooted at TLYCC.

Casey Keller has been the director of the school for the past four years. She took over the position from her mother Amy, who founded the nonprofit in 2018 and opened it up to the public. The school has two instructors, including Keller’s brother Ben.

“My family has been coming to Torch Lake for generations on both sides, my mom’s and dad’s grandparents and great grandparents,” Keller says. “I grew up right here on the lake in the summer and went through this program myself. It has always been at the core of my family that everyone sails.”

She grew up competing in the butterfly fleet at TLYCC and continues to sail competitively against her cousins in the E scow fleet at the yacht club during the summer. Keller’s father is a professional sailor who competes on the Melges.

“We are very passionate about learning to sail,” Keller says.

The director says the sailing school is for both experienced and first-timer sailors.

“We’ve got kids who have been coming here for years, and their grandparents drop them off and they remember coming here to learn how to sail back in the day, but we also have kids who’ve never sailed before and are absolutely brand new to it,” Keller says. “Having both sides of the spectrum is just really, really magical.”

She says the lesson is the same for everyone.

“You will get something different out of it based on your experience,” she says. “But you’ll still be able to keep up and have fun and know what's going on.”

TLYCC’s location—both on the water and off—makes it a perfect spot for sailing. In the past, some sailing school students have been dropped off by boat for lessons. By the road, the club is not far from Bellaire. And on the water, almost any day is a great day for sailing.

“There’s so much history in this spot with sailing, and around a community that has valued it for generations,” Keller says. “I think we have a perfect location. When we send our classes out into the water, there is minimal boat traffic. If we want to get technical about it, the way that the point is situated means that we’re able to have a perfect sailing day every day. If it’s too windy to the south, then we launch from the north side of the point. If it’s too windy to the north, we launch from the south side of the point. So it is really versatile for our sailing needs. … It’s magical, and it’s really fun to get to be a part of it.”

Classes

There are a variety of lessons offered on a weekly basis, including private one-on-one lessons with an instructor. Classes are about 90 minutes long and are four days a week.

“We call it chalk talk, so before you go out on the water, and after you go out, you get that onshore education,” Keller says. “We talk about where’s the wind coming from? What do you do if you get stuck? And kind of prep them, and then we are out on the water.”

The sailing school has a variety of fleets and sailors from five to 70 years old.

“Our real big thing is that it is never too early or too late to learn how to sail, it is always the right time,” she says. “We will meet you where you are, and kind of cultivate a lesson that works best for the individual sailor.”

The sailing school provides the boat and all the necessary equipment.

“Our only requirement is that you feel comfortable in the water, and we do ask that you bring a life jacket,” Keller says.

Competition

TLYCC hosts several regattas throughout the summer, and sailors don’t have to be a member to participate.

Last year, the yacht club hosted the Western Michigan Yachting Association Regatta. The four-day competition attracted scores of sailors from around the state and farther. The regatta features various boats and fleets.

“We had two of our little Torch Lake Sailing School kids that participated in the Opti fleet, and they weren’t club members,” Keller says. “They’d just been through our program, so they were registered under Torch Lake Sailing School. They did a fantastic job and were able to be competitive.”

One of the school’s biggest success stories is Max Daly. He won the Western Michigan Regatta last year on his home lake in the butterfly fleet.

“He went through our program as a sailor, and he spent a few years as an instructor as well,” Keller says. “He was one of our assistant instructors. He was there every day, and came back to work for us.”

Daly will be competing in the Butterfly Nationals, which will be hosted by TLYCC on July 14-16. The one-design junior regatta will have an open event in the afternoon.

Torch Lake Sailing School also has a racing team that focuses on technique and tactics to be more competitive in regattas. The race team trains during the month of July. Some of the school’s sailors are expected to compete in the upcoming Butterfly Nationals regatta.

“We are excited to get some of our race team kids out there on the water this summer and have them compete,” Keller says.

For more information about Torch Lake Sailing School, visit torchlakesailingschool.com

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