“This award is a tremendous recognition of the hard work our dedicated instructors do in introducing thousands of people every year to sailing and safe boating.”
The
Mission Bay Aquatic Center, a facility managed by the Associated Students of San Diego State University and the University of California San Diego Recreation, has been recognized for its sailing program. The MBAC recently received the Outstanding Community Sailing Program Award from the
U.S. Sailing Community Sailing Committee.
U.S. Sailing is the national governing body for sailing, and the Community Sailing Program Award is the highest honor it bestows. The award is given to programs that have made notable contributions to promote public access sailing. The criterion for the accolade include noticeable growth in membership, program offerings, and community involvement. The MBAC was one of 18 facilities throughout the country nominated for the award.
“We have always been proud of our sailing program at MBAC, and we are honored and humbled to receive this national award from U.S. Sailing,” said
Paul Lang, instructional coordinator at the MBAC. “This award is a tremendous recognition of the hard work our dedicated instructors do in introducing thousands of people every year to sailing and safe boating.”
The MBAC has been hosting watersport classes for SDSU students and San Diego community members since the 1970s. The center had more than 30,000 people participate in their sailing, paddle boarding, wakeboarding, wake surfing, waterskiing, rowing, kayaking, windsurfing, and surfing classes in 2015.
U.S. Sailing described the MBAC as the epitome of community sailing and lauded the center for its growing sailing program and expansive aquatics training and safety programs. The organization also called the MBAC a model of excellence for other programs to emulate in both community service and efficiency of operation.
U.S. Sailing credited MBAC Director
Kevin Straw for instituting policies and operational procedures that make for efficient operations and the highest level of excellence in teaching sailing and aquatics.
Thanks to Straw’s leadership, the center has increased the number of U.S. Sailing-certified instructors on staff. Each new instructor is required to complete an industry-leading training program to ensure the safety of those participating in water sports classes at the MBAC.