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'You, the wind and nature': Tradition sets sail in Wisconsin

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Sailboats

Sailboat race on Lake Geneva

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FONTANA — It's a family pastime, passed on from generation to generation, from year to year, from summer to summer.

It starts out as a trip to the lake, a day outside with family or an adventure with dad.

It becomes hours of lessons, weeks of classes and nights of racing and beers with friends.

In southern Wisconsin's lakes area, sailing is a way of life. The sport is rooted in families, lakeside clubs and schools. It has a deep tradition.

The Lake Geneva Yacht Club was founded in 1874. Three generations in one family often sail with the club. And most sailors grew up spending their summers together.

On a recent race night, dozens of sailors met at the club. They gathered on the piers. They then raced one another in a spirited competition.

Susie Pegel of Williams Bay has been sailing most of her life.

"My parents got me into it," she said. "I think that's the case with all of us."

Sailing is a great way to spend summer days, Pegel said, and sailors share camaraderie.

"It's just fun being out in the fresh air and sunshine," she said. "It's a challenge to try and figure out the wind."

Don Sheldon of Lake Geneva learned to sail as a kid. He later attended sailing school. He then went to racing school.

"By the time I was 16, I hated sailing so much," Sheldon said. "I swore to myself I'd never sail again."

Years later, though, Sheldon finds himself at the yacht club racing his boat on Wednesday nights. He competes against people he sailed with years ago.

"I got back into sailing, and I forgot these guys never quit," Sheldon said. "I'm sailing against some stiff competition."

Rich Morris of Lake Geneva has been sailing since he was 14. He has been racing since he was 16. He enjoys races because competitors are required to use the same boats, testing their sailing skills.

"It's really you against somebody else," he said. "Any mistake that you make will put you from first to last."

Sailing also has an element that suits adrenaline junkies, Morris said. Boats move pretty fast, often leaning heavily on one side while the sail fills with wind.

"I think that's what most people like," he said. "It's just you, the wind and nature."

And the sport seems to be growing in popularity, Morris said.

"People go all over Wisconsin to race each other," he said. "It's huge."

Rick Pappas of Fontana is on the crew of a friend's boat. He said sailing takes teamwork.

He has been racing five years, a newcomer by local standards. He said sailing is a great sport at any age.

"It's a good way to get a buzz as opposed to riding a motorcycle," Pappas said. "When these things go 20, you feel like you're flying out of control."