Home

Contact Us

FAQ's

Calendar

Results

About Us

Lake Tippy Sailing Club (LTSC) was formed by Jim & Mary Murray along with Herb Gawthrop, George Buckingham, Jack Thompson Harry Bishop, Howard Webb, Ken Zinzer and other good sailors who lived here on the lake.  

Jim & Mary Murray lived in Maracaibo, Venezuela from 1959 to 1962. While there, Jim crewed for a Dutch skipper, who was a member of a sail boat club owned by Shell Oil Company. Eventually Jim became a skipper and gained a lot experience while sailing there in Maracaibo.  

Jim Murray enjoyed sailing so much that the first thing he did when he returned to Lake Tippecanoe was to buy a Lightning sailboat. He enjoyed the challenge of sailboat racing so much that he rounded up other Lightning skippers and together they formed the LTSC.  

At first the racing was just among the local lightning skippers. As time went on LTSC begin a once a year two-day Labor Day Regatta. This was a invitational race for Lighting skippers throughout Indiana. As time went on LTSC open this Regatta up to all classes of sailboats. Wayne Noble used to bring a fleet of y-Flyers over from Winona Lake. There were usually 30 - 35 boats out for this affair.  

George Paton at Patona Bay was selling Super Porpoises and Bruce Pierce at Tippy Boat Co. was selling Hobie Cats. George & Bruce both took a active interest in LTSC, and in fact both are good sailors. They supported the club by providing trophies.  

In 1981, it was decided to encourage the youth to race sailboats. The Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners Assn. and The Women's Assn. took a interest in our youth program by providing trophies for the Junior sailors. In the late 1980's There wasn't enough Junior skippers to continue this program. However one of the junior skippers J.B. VanMeter, started the Junior program last year and he looks forward to continuing this program this year.  

Many sailors have joined our club since LTSC's inception. Most of the new members had very little knowledge or experience in racing, but they all had a great love for sailing. So don't be intimidated LTSC members are willing to teach you how to compete in a sailboat race. We also could use help on the committee boat, and other functions of our club. As Malcolm Case once said “How many sporting events can a Senior Citizen participate in, and Win? So come on and join the LTSC, there is always room for another class member!

About Us