News last summer from the Corps Of Engineers that repairs to the Arkabutla Lake dam would likely take a decade or more forced members of Delta Sailing Association to make a hard decision. After much discussion and weighing of alternatives, a vote was taken at the Annual Meeting in November 2024 to dissolve DSA. We successfully navigated this past year with no water in the Lake by functioning as a sailboat storage yard when we thought the dam repairs may be done in three to five years. News that the timeline for repairs had to be greatly extended was just too much to bridge.
The target for fully closing DSA is June 30, 2025. All members with boats now on the lot have been informed they must be removed by March 31. An auction of abandoned and donated boats and other DSA property is planned for April 19, 2025. The Corps intends to keep the pavilion intact and use the grounds as a day-use area. The membership voted in favor of a Comprehensive Plan for Dissolution that was drafted by the Board. The Plan includes specified steps to be taken in the effort to dissolve. One key point was the desire to donate our two valuable and venerable Boston Whalers that served as ideal committee boats for over 50 years to sailing clubs in the region. The stipulation was that they had to have similar goals and purposes as DSA, that is small boat sailing, one-design racing, and sailing education. One Whaler has already gone to Muscle Shoals Sailing Club (pictured leaving the Pavilion) and the second is slated to go to Concord Yacht Club on Ft. Loudon Lake in Knoxville. Both groups are well qualified.
Efforts will be made to hold the annual DSA Banquet on February 20, 2025 and there was a lot of sentiment to have one last gathering at the Delta Sailing lot while we still hold the lease maybe sometime in May or June. More info as we know more. There is also talk of a web-based photo collection to try and preserve some of the great memories of sailboat racing, pleasure sailing, learning, and great camaraderie that we all enjoyed at Hernando Point. These are some sad steps we have to take in the next six months.
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