Join Us

Welcome

The Villages Sailing Club exists to promote and support the sport of sailing. While there are several remote-control sailing clubs in The Villages, ours is the only club dedicated to sailing full-size sailboats. We welcome all Villages residents and registered renters—whether or not you own a boat, and whether you’re an experienced sailor or brand new to sailing.

Our focus is simple: get people on the water, build skills and confidence, and enjoy sailing together in a friendly, social environment.

What we do

⛵ Monthly Lake Sails

From September through May, we organize monthly sails on local lakes using boats owned by club members. Participation for non-boat-owners is on a first-come, first-served basis, and the more members who bring boats, the more sailors we can get out on the water. See Sailing Club Sign Ups to review currently active sign-ups.

🧭 Charter Excursions

We occasionally organize excursions on larger boats by chartering out of ports such as St. Petersburg and St. Augustine, and recently Camden, Maine. These trips are scheduled based on member interest and volunteers willing to organize them .

📚 Education & Introductions to Sailing

From time to time, the club sponsors Introduction to Sailing classes and other educational opportunities designed to help new sailors learn the essentials.

🤝 Social Events

• Monthly meetings with sailing-related presentations.

• Lunch gatherings after meetings

• Monthly socials at local restaurants, country clubs, or recreation centers

Social events are informal and open to anyone—members and non-members alike—and are a great way to meet fellow sailors.

🌱 Community Support

The club raises funds to support the Lake Eustis Youth Sailing Foundation (LEYSF), helping pass our love of sailing on to the next generation. LEYSF is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching young people the lifelong sport of sailing, stressing safety, good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage, respect for authority, and respect for the environment and the community.

Our volunteers also donate time to help run youth sailing regattas.

Meetings

We meet on the second Thursday of each month, from September through May, at 10:00 AM. Meetings typically include a short sailing-related presentation such as a video, demonstration, or member talk. Afterward, members are invited to join us for lunch and socializing at Cane Garden Country Club.

Meeting Location: Lake Miona Recreation Center (1526 Buena Vista Blvd, The Villages)

Upcoming meeting dates are always posted on the home page of this website.

How to join

Eligibility

Membership is open to:

• Villages residents

• Registered renters

Boat ownership and prior sailing experience are not required.

Membership Dues

• First year: $25 per person (includes club name tag)

• Renewal years: $15 per person

Required Forms

To join, please complete:

• Membership Application – download here

• Club Activity Waiver (required annually) – download here

If a spouse or partner is also joining, both may be listed on one application; however, each person must submit a signed waiver.

Please print your first names clearly, as these are used when ordering club name tags.

How to Submit

You may join in either of the following ways:

Option 1: Join at a Meeting
Bring your completed forms and payment to any monthly meeting.

Option 2: Join by Email and Mail

• Email completed forms to: sailthevillages@gmail.com

• Mail a check payable to THE VILLAGES SAILING CLUB to:

Marsha Cooper

1862 Union Place

The Villages, FL 32162

Sailing Requirements

To participate in on-the-water club activities, members must:

1. Provide and wear a properly fitting personal flotation device (PFD) while sailing
   (See our PFD guidelines for acceptable types.)

2. Have a signed Club Activity Waiver on file for the current year.

After You Join

Once your membership is processed, you will receive:

• A Welcome email with helpful club information

• An invitation to join the club’s Google Group. The purpose of this group is to connect club boat owners with club members who wish to help crew and go sailing.

Questions?

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at: sailthevillages@gmail.com

We hope you’ll join us—and we look forward to seeing you on the water!

Fair winds,

The Villages Sailing Club