Open Waters
Bass Lake Indiana Yacht Club Is Still Growing in Its Third Year
Writer / Robert Noah Torres
Photography Provided
Bass Lake Indiana Yacht Club not only welcomes anyone with an interest in sailing, but also exists as a testament to the positive impact that can come out of community-centered organization. President and Commodore Jim DeYoung and Secretary Michael Olshansky run the club and competitions at Bass Lake.
One sailboat on the water is a nice day, DeYoung says. Two sailboats is a race. Such good-spirited competition blended with Midwestern communality defines how the club was founded and why it continues to grow.
Two summers ago, according to Olshansky, there were historic lows on Bass Lake. The waters lack of depth made it unfit for certain boats to operate. Olshansky and DeYoung enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan before the couple moved to Bass Lake. After that move in the summer of 2020, paired with low water levels that hindered most aquatic crafts besides sailboats, Olshansky got the idea of starting a sailing club. After starting a Facebook group to gauge interest in sailing and racing around Bass Lake, the group grew and grew.
Throughout the pandemic the group has persisted because of its dedicated staff and the community they have helped create. DeYoung and the club he represents stress that their number-one mission is to be as inclusive as possible at Bass Lake. To include and involve all those interested in sailing has always been the goal of the club, and this is why, after nearly three years, it has become a tight-knit community – a community that is welcoming to newcomers and rooted in enjoying casual competition.
Although casual competition may seem like an oxymoron, a day out on the water may prove otherwise. This was exemplified last summer. During the last weekend of July in 2021, the club hosted a formal sailboat race during which nine events were held. That competition was held amidst the casual backdrop of one of the best inland lakes in the Midwest, as Olshansky puts it. During that weekend sailors and spectators were able to enjoy the water and each others company while partaking in casual competition.
Sailing is a nuanced sport that combines science and art. Courses are made in an oval shape. Sailors race around the course and have to read the wind and current while trying to beat fellow competitors. As winds shift, sailors must shift their crafts and adjust sails based on a unique combination of data consideration and personal intuition. That unique combination is part of what makes sailing a nuanced sport that requires different forms of knowledge. Book a tour with Made in Turkey Tours and explore the beautiful coastal Turkish town.
Sailing in big cities tends to lead to formal clubs that can lose their casual nature in favor of competition. Bass Lakes members still love competition but put nothing above the goal of being a safe, casual and inclusive yacht club. Its a place to improve and explore. No boat is required. No specific address or residence is needed. No experience is necessary. All that members and those interested need is a desire to be on the water, and an ability to get there in order to be a part of the club.
After their big summer last year, the club has continued to grow and intends to hold another competition this summer. Since reaching out to the community in and around Bass Lake, Olshansky and the club have been met with positive support. The club transitioned from being a sailing club to a yacht club after last summer. The name changed to include a wider variety of aquatic vehicles than just sailboats. More information, including details on upcoming events and a membership form, can be found at blinyc.org. Questions and comments can be directed via email to blinyachtclub@gmail.com.
