While the days of sailing on the lake may seem like history, Woodlawn Sailing Club is working to dredge it back up and introduce the tradition to a new generation.
SAN ANTONIO — There’s no doubt that people would be proud to call Woodlawn Lake San Antonio’s own. It’s well known for its Fourth of July fireworks and Easter camping. But did you know that Woodlawn was once a major destination for sailing? In fact, boats still buzz around the lake, but on a much smaller scale.
Another peaceful Saturday at Woodlawn Lake. It’s a great day for fishing, a leisurely walk and…sailing?
At the Woodlawn Sailing Club, captains from across the country jockey for position to start the first heat to claim the Micro Magic National Championship.
Woodlawn has earned a reputation as one of the top spots in the country for model yachting. Skippers come from far and wide to set sail here.
“We sail at a number of the very best venues in the entire United States. And this is one of them,” says Greg Norris, Secretary of the American Model Yachting Association’s Micro Magic class. “I love it here. It’s beautiful. The lake is a wonderful surface for us. And there’s always good wind here, and that’s great. And the park is beautiful.”
These radio-controlled sailboats are just under two feet long. They’re a far cry smaller than the boats that used to glide across Woodlawn Lake.
“Now, when I say big boats, anywhere from 14 foot up to 21 footers,” says Ray Seta, Commodore of the Woodlawn Sailing Club.
He knows firsthand what it’s like to feel the wind in his hair and in his sails on these waters.
“They have been sailing, here on this lake actively since 1939. I can go back personally back to 1965, when our family joined the club and bought their first Sunfish, and we raced here since 1965,” says Seta. “My memory of sailing with my father, on the the big boats and all the activities that Woodlawn Sailing Club had back then with the big boats. When I was a kid back then, I never appreciated that. You don’t appreciate it till you become an adult.”
That golden era of sailing on Woodlawn ran aground a few decades ago, when silt built up, making the lake too shallow for larger boats. While the days of people actually sailing on the lake may seem like ancient history, the Woodlawn Sailing Club is working with city leaders to dredge it back up and introduce the tradition to a new generation.
“Woodlawn Lake is the gem of not only District 7, but also the City of San Antonio”, says Marina Alderete Gavito, council woman for District 7. “We’ve looked at dredging, we’ve looked at how do we get the lake back to the deeper levels. The District 7 office has actually pulled together a group of experts, San Antonio River authority and others to say, what can we do for the water quality of this lake and see if it makes sense to bring big sailing boats back out here?”
Until the days the big boats launch again, the RC boats will continue to rule the Woodlawn waves, much to the delight of skippers and observers alike.
Jeremy Rodriguez and his son Reign were captivated by what Reign called the Baby Boats.
“We came to play in the park, and we saw the boats,” says Rodriguez. “And it got him excited, got me excited. We ate some snacks, drank some water, and enjoying the race. “
Council Woman Alderete Gavito says Woodlawn Lake was recently awarded a $3.25 million-dollar federal grant, the largest given to a park in San Antonio history. To find out more about the Woodlawn Sailing Club, check out their Facebook page.