It’s that time of year again, as the temperatures rise and boats begin to fill the slips along Lake Macatawa. The lakeshore, with its iridescent blue hues and rolling whitecaps, transforms into a vast canvas for boats to gloss over. The rays of the sun are warm, inviting, and provide the perfect weather for various summer activities on the water. And this marks yet another sailing season that is underway in West Michigan.

The Macatawa Bay Yacht Club thrives this time of year. The hustle and bustle of members, visitors, and onlookers relish in the many nautical activities. From taking a dip in the pool and perusing through the marina to stepping onto a sailboat after a few months off, it’s a dose of dopamine through one’s veins. 

But the most anticipated avocation lies not in the clubhouse—it lies along the docks where the sails are hoisted, the lines are cast off, and the wind once again takes the helm. It's the season for sailboats. 

This niche, yet deeply cherished pastime, awakens with the arrival of warm, summer days. For sailors, the first outing of the season is more than just a recreational pursuit; it’s a homecoming. Along the shores of Lake Macatawa, that anticipation is palpable, hinting at the return of a tradition that is as much about people as it is about sailing itself.

From five-year-old newbies learning the basics of boat etiquette to seasoned competitors racing 52-foot yachts across the lake, the local sailing community offers something for nearly every age, skill level, participant, or onlooker to relish in the art of sailing. 

At the center of that community is a culture built on tradition, mentorship, and a shared love of the water. And it takes place here, right in Holland, Michigan. 

To gain some insight into the very distinct sailing culture, we asked Pat Gort from Macatawa Bay Yacht Club what makes this lakeshore activity so special. 

From Floating Bathtubs to College Teams

While many recreational sailors stick to the warmer months, youth sailors often begin much earlier, not just in the year, but in life. Some of which learn the ropes before they’re old enough to drive a car. It’s something grandparents pass down to their children and to their grandchildren. It’s a generational sport. 

“It’s often multi-generational,” Gort said. “I can think of a few boats where three generations sail together at the same time.”

For those who start early in life, right around the age of five or six, lessons will introduce them to the waters. It’s exposure at its finest. Here, young sailors are exposed to being on the waters in a proper, safe environment. This allows them to learn various things: not jumping into the lake, making sure they have the proper equipment, and watching their mentors who lead by example. 

“It’s mostly a self-policing sport,” Gort said. “You need to learn the rules and follow them on the water. If you foul someone, you take a penalty right then and there because it’s the right thing to do.” 

“It builds a lot of confidence,” Gort explained. As young sailors advance their skills, they will upgrade their watercraft. They’ll upgrade to what’s called a “floating bathtub.” 

“We call them the floating bathtub because it’s very difficult to flip and sink,” Gort candidly explained. From there, young sailors typically choose between single-handed boats, such as Lasers, or two-person boats like 420s, which are commonly used by more experienced sailors either in high school or college. 

The lesson to sailing, she added, is simple: “It doesn’t really matter who’s watching. You just need to do the right thing.”

Go Ahead, Throw a Sock in the Fire

Like most long-standing sailing communities, folks have found and developed traditions over the years that mark the start of a new season, but also just for the fun of it. The start of each season, usually marked by Memorial Day weekend, features a time full of gathering, s’mores, and a blessing of the boats ceremony.

“A priest comes and everyone sails by to get a blessing for a safe boating season,” Gort described. “It really becomes a community… people are out here every week, getting to know each other and supporting one another at different stages of life.”

But before the upcoming season commences, sailors still have one thing to do to close the previous season. And this means… time to burn their socks. 

Surely, this doesn’t sound like the most sophisticated nautical tradition, but it’s one that sailors across the East Coast have embraced for decades. Known candidly as the “Burning of the Socks,” this act marks the arrival of the spring season after a long, cold winter spent off the water. Here, sailors gather around a fire, toss in an old pair of socks, and say goodbye to the bitter weather and months spent bundled up indoors and frostbitten sailboat outings. 

In return, they welcome warmer days, sun-soaked afternoons, and the return of bare feet on boat decks. It’s a tongue-in-cheek way of declaring that winter has finally loosened its grip and that another season on the water is officially underway. 

“It’s really just a fun way to celebrate that winter is over,” Gort said with a laugh. 

Mark Your Calendars, Every Wednesday 

For those who have never stepped foot on a sailboat (and likely don’t plan to any time soon), Wednesday evenings offer one of the best opportunities to experience the nautical sport without ever having to leave the lakeshore. 

Throughout the summer, local sailors gather for the club’s Wednesday Night Race Series, an annual event that brings together competitors from across Lake Michigan for an evening of friendly competition on Lake Macatawa. 

“The Wednesday night series is pretty local,” Gort explained. “There are a few people who drive from Kalamazoo or nearby areas because they keep their boats here, but otherwise it’s mostly West Michigan—pretty close-knit.” 

It depends on wind conditions, but race organizers often set the course roughly a mile offshore from Holland State Park. This places the action directly in view of spectators who can view from the beach. It’s easy to see the boats go out from Lake Macatawa, right past Big Red. The sight of brightly colored sails cutting across the water has become a postcard-esque summer scene. 

“The last few Wednesday’s we’ve been right in front of the state park,” Gort said. “People really enjoy watching the sails go by.”

Keep a Lookout This Fall

This fall, Holland's sailing community will welcome visitors from far beyond West Michigan when Macatawa Bay Yacht Club hosts both a Great Lakes Championship and a North American Championship for the VX One fleet.

“That could be 40 to 50 sailors coming from across the United States and potentially Canada,” Gort said.

The championship regattas are expected to bring dozens of competitors, support crews, and sailing enthusiasts to Holland's waterfront, transforming the lake into a showcase of some of the region's most competitive racing.

The VX One fleet itself has become one of the club's most active racing groups. According to Gort, nearly 15 boats gather regularly throughout the season, often meeting every Sunday to race together. While local sailors make up the core of the fleet, championship events provide an opportunity for Holland's sailing community to connect with racers from across North America.

For many participants, however, the appeal extends beyond competition.

“It really becomes a community,” Gort said. “People are out there every week, getting to know each other and supporting one another at different stages of life.”

That sense of camaraderie can be found throughout nearly every aspect of the sport. Experienced sailors mentor newcomers. College students join crews to gain experience. Families spend weekends together on the water. Even some of the largest and most prestigious racing programs maintain the close-knit atmosphere that defines sailing culture.

Among the most impressive vessels to visit West Michigan are the GL52 boats, sleek 52-foot racing yachts crewed by some of the most accomplished sailors on the Great Lakes. These boats spend summers competing throughout Michigan before heading south to Florida during the winter racing season.

“They are very skilled—some of the best,” Gort said.

Several local sailors also participate in long-distance races such as the Chicago-to-Mackinac and Bayview-to-Mackinac races, two of the most celebrated events in Great Lakes sailing. These races draw more than 100 boats each year and test sailors’ endurance over hundreds of miles of open water.

“One of our boats, Heartbreaker, won its distance division last year,” Gort said. Another local boat, Ragsy, also captured a divisional victory.

It’s a Close-Knit Collection of Sailors

After all, sailing may be about boats, but the community has always been about the people. And sometimes, all it takes to bring them together is a bonfire and an old pair of socks.

If you’re looking to get involved or simply want to watch sailing, there are plenty of opportunities in West Michigan. 

The Big Red Racing Series takes place all summer long (June through August) every Wednesday evening from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.