Sailing Through History
Part 6: Supporting Junior Sailors

Hey!  Let’s Sail a Colorado Lake!

Everybody’s getting into the sailing act, including small fry and homemakers.

Not too many years ago, no one thought of owning a sailboat, let alone building one.  Then, as more and more boat-conscious citizenry moved westward, the idea took hold and Colorado’s lakes became crowded with fun-loving nautical families.

Now, through the efforts of the Denver Sailing Club, there will be courses of instruction and competition for the 6- to 15-year-old sons and daughters of enthusiasts and wives.

Within the next few weeks, Bob Tatge of the Denver Sailing Club will begin classes designed to equip wives with the know-all to become captains of their sailing destinies instead of only crew members.  

A junior sailing program will also be inaugurated, with classes covering water safety, boat handling and water responsibility.  

To make ready for these developments within the Denver Sailing Club, a number of Denver enthusiasts have been getting together evenings and building small 8-foot craft for their wives and offspring.

To date, 10 families have banded together, bought their lumber and helped each other with the hull building.  Now the boats—dubbed El Toros—are being finished in neighborhood backyard and even basements.

Four other families bought their El Toros. 

Bill Garrow spearheaded the building of the small sailing craft and he constructed the jig for cutting the patterns.  It is estimated that, counting paint, lumber and supplies, each El Toro will cost the owner less than $150.

The competitions and water classes will be held on Carter Lake, home grounds of the Denver Sailing Club.

Barret, M. (1962, May 19).  Hey! Let’s Sail A Colorado Lake, Rocky Mountain News, (page39).