NIC purchases new sailboat
State-of-the-art vessel set to arrive in April
Paul Lash
Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: News
NIC's Outdoor Pursuits is buying a top-of-the-line, 26-foot Colgate sailboat. NIC will pay $46,458 for the boat. It will arrive in early April.
"We are trying to expand the program and provide high-level sailing instruction," said Jon Totten, Outdoor Pursuits coordinator. "We are the only institution offering full-time (sailing) courses in a college setting in the region, and we want to increase access to service the wide-variety of students at NIC."
Colgate 26 sailboats are designed by Steve Colgate, founder and owner of the Offshore Sailing School, and Jim Taylor, a Naval architect. The Offshore Sailing School has many locations on the East coast and is one of the largest sailing schools in the world. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, United Kingdom Sailing Academy and many others use the Colgate 26 for all levels of sailing instruction.
"They had the same frustrations that anybody who has ever taught sailing has had," Totten said, "and so they designed a boat, from the bottom up, for instruction."
According to the Colgate 26 website, a reinforced, foam-filled fiberglass hull provides the vessel with positive buoyancy, making it virtually unsinkable. Ergonomic seating for eight and rigid railings ensure comfort and safety while the boat is keeling. It has a designated place for the instructor, an overbuilt mast, extra-rough non-skid surfaces and is balanced well enough to be sailed by either the mainsail or the jibsail alone.
"We are hoping to eventually start a racing program," Totten said. "I learned a lot from racing and made a lot of connections in life from that activity. I would like to be able to offer students those same horizon-expanding opportunities."
Outdoor Pursuits' budget is allocated from the Student Activities budget, which is funded by student enrollment fees. Enrollment increased this semester by 20 percent, allowing Outdoor Pursuits, with contributions from the Student Activities budget and ASNIC, to afford the purchase.
Outdoor Pursuits put 20 percent down on Feb.8 and will pay the balance upon shipment notification from Precision Boat Works, where the boat is being built in Florida.
Once it arrives, Outdoor Pursuits will hold a naming competition where students can submit a name and one paragraph explaining why that name should be chosen. The best name goes on the boat.
"Instruction aside, it is a floating billboard for the college," said Jon Totten, Outdoor Pursuits coordinator.
For more information, visit www.Offshoresailing.com, www.nic.edu/op or contact Outdoor Pursuits at 769-7809.
"We are trying to expand the program and provide high-level sailing instruction," said Jon Totten, Outdoor Pursuits coordinator. "We are the only institution offering full-time (sailing) courses in a college setting in the region, and we want to increase access to service the wide-variety of students at NIC."
Colgate 26 sailboats are designed by Steve Colgate, founder and owner of the Offshore Sailing School, and Jim Taylor, a Naval architect. The Offshore Sailing School has many locations on the East coast and is one of the largest sailing schools in the world. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, United Kingdom Sailing Academy and many others use the Colgate 26 for all levels of sailing instruction.
"They had the same frustrations that anybody who has ever taught sailing has had," Totten said, "and so they designed a boat, from the bottom up, for instruction."
According to the Colgate 26 website, a reinforced, foam-filled fiberglass hull provides the vessel with positive buoyancy, making it virtually unsinkable. Ergonomic seating for eight and rigid railings ensure comfort and safety while the boat is keeling. It has a designated place for the instructor, an overbuilt mast, extra-rough non-skid surfaces and is balanced well enough to be sailed by either the mainsail or the jibsail alone.
"We are hoping to eventually start a racing program," Totten said. "I learned a lot from racing and made a lot of connections in life from that activity. I would like to be able to offer students those same horizon-expanding opportunities."
Outdoor Pursuits' budget is allocated from the Student Activities budget, which is funded by student enrollment fees. Enrollment increased this semester by 20 percent, allowing Outdoor Pursuits, with contributions from the Student Activities budget and ASNIC, to afford the purchase.
Outdoor Pursuits put 20 percent down on Feb.8 and will pay the balance upon shipment notification from Precision Boat Works, where the boat is being built in Florida.
Once it arrives, Outdoor Pursuits will hold a naming competition where students can submit a name and one paragraph explaining why that name should be chosen. The best name goes on the boat.
"Instruction aside, it is a floating billboard for the college," said Jon Totten, Outdoor Pursuits coordinator.
For more information, visit www.Offshoresailing.com, www.nic.edu/op or contact Outdoor Pursuits at 769-7809.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Effective Paper Writing
posted 8/19/10 @ 2:14 AM PST
Colgate 26 sailboats are great inventions.
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