More than 50 years ago, a group of sailing enthusiasts set out to create a place where anyone – regardless of their skill level – could experience the joys of sailing. Their efforts led to what is now Manchester Sailing Association—“MSA”—an industry-leading nonprofit and a fixture in the Manchester community.
Originally started in partnership with the Manchester Frost Biters Club and with support from the Manchester Yacht Club, the organization has grown into a program that emphasizes both excellence and accessibility.
“Bringing world-class coaches and instructors to Manchester is a top priority,” said Tommy McCormick, the association’s director.
That commitment is reflected in a program that prides itself on diversity and inclusion. About 45% of its sailors are female, and its staff includes collegiate sailors and competitors with high-level sailing experience. In addition to the collegiate sailors, MSA staff includes veterans of world championship regattas around the world as part of Team USA.
For McCormick, the growth of the program is personal.
“As a former youth sailor, watching the team progress over the season was awesome,” said McCormick. “But as program director, I was even more excited by what I saw in our younger instructors.”
The impact of sailing, organizers say, extends beyond the water.
According to Todd Cooper, president of the Manchester Sailing Association, the experience can be transformative for entire families.
“Nothing can prepare you for the pride of seeing your child confidently handling a boat in challenging weather, executing a perfect roll-tack, or celebrating their first race victory.”
Each outing offers something new, he added.
“Every time they cast off their lines and head out, an adventure begins,” said Cooper.
Cooper’s long-term goal is to ensure, “sailing remains a vibrant part of Manchester Harbor for the next 100 years and beyond.”
That sense of continuity is visible on the docks. Many parents now watching their children sail once stood in the same place themselves, preparing to launch for their very first time. Participants often return as instructors, volunteers, or supporters – a cycle that underscores the strength of the community.
As the new season approaches, that community continues to grow.
Registration fills up quickly, with the association projecting more than 300 participants this summer — continuing an annual growth rate of more than 33%. About 40% of those sailors will be new to the sport, collectively logging more than 15,000 hours on the water, according to the association.
With that growth comes an increased focus on safety.
The priority was underscored in summer 2025, when four students and an instructor were aboard keelboat near Great Misery Island when winds and waves triggered the boat to take on water. This became a real-life illustration of all the safety protocols they’d been taught. The boat was pumped, the water removed, everyone involved remained safe, and it became a big lesson in why all those protocols are important.
This year, MSA’s season will culminate in its annual Manchester Green Regatta, a favorite of all these young sailors, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30.
“Our regatta stands apart because it's specifically crafted to meet the needs of first-time racers and their families,” an association spokesperson said. “It's not just about podiums-it's about the joy of the first start, the thrill of learning, and the beginning of a lifelong love of sailing.”
Sustaining that experience, however, depends on more than filling classes. MSA’s director says the organization’s next chapter will be built by the same community that has carried sailing in Manchester for more than 50 years: families who sign up for programs, donors who support scholarships and fleet improvements, volunteers who help make events possible, and instructors and coaches who bring their talent and passion for sailing to Tuck’s Point.
As MSA looks ahead, the invitation is broad. Each form of support matters, and each helps MSA continue building a program defined by access, excellence, safety, and community. For McCormick, they are what turn momentum into something lasting.
“Great sailing programs aren’t built in a moment,” he said. “If there’s a secret ingredient to the momentum we’re seeing at MSA, it’s a lot of sailors leaving the dock with a smile, eager to come back the next day, the next season, and, someday, as parents, instructors, volunteers, and donors themselves.”
Tyler Walser is a student at Endicott studying journalism. This story was written in partnership with the Massachusetts News Service.
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