LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) has done a marvelous job over the years in supporting youth and community sailing in Southern Maryland.
For the past several years, SMCM has invited high school sailors to practice at its waterfront on Friday afternoons during the spring and fall when the college varsity is traveling. This has been a great benefit to the varsity and junior varsity competitive sailors from three Southern Maryland high schools: Leonardtown, St. Mary’s Ryken, and Patuxent. Our local sailors receive valuable instruction from one of the best intercollegiate teams in the nation.
In 1999, SMCM rallied when the sailing portion of the Special Olympic World Games,
scheduled to be held in North Carolina, needed a new venue because the lake near Raleigh had dried up. SMCM and many local adult and junior sailors put on what was unquestionably the best World Games sailing event ever for Special Olympics.
The 1999 event was so successful that Special Olympics Maryland has held its statewide sailing competition at the college every year since. About three years ago, kayaking became a popular Special Olympic sport and this has been added to the yearly event. These annual state games attract over 200 athletes from all over the region.
We should be proud of the way SMCM uses its natural waterfront advantages and its talent to support our community sailing and the Special Olympics state events.
Stovy Brown
St. Leonard, Md.