Sail Salem fleet expands with donation of 34' vessel

By John Laidler, Globe Correspondent

Sail Salem, the nonprofit that runs a community sailing program in Salem, has gained a new addition to its fleet. Thomas G. Brown, Jr., of Gloucester, donated his 34' Webber Cove power boat valued at $45,000 to the organization. Mayor Kimberley L. Driscoll last Tuesday, Aug. 16  joined representatives of Sail Salem and Brown at a “christening” ceremony for the boat at Dion’s Yacht Yard on Glendale Street. 

The all-volunteer Sail Salem was organized in the summer of 2008 to offer sailing lessons to children eight and up based out of city-owned Winter Island Park.  Since 2009, it has also offered adult sailing classes. Children pay $1 each for the lessons. The cost for adult classes is $225, with the proceeds used to subsidize the classes for children.

The new boat, which has been renamed The Thomas Brown,  will be added to Sail Salem's existing fleet of about 19  sailboat and three small-sized power boats. The donated power boat will be used by Sail Salem to help local high schools and colleges run racing regattas, according to David Smith, president of Sail Salem. Brown, 89, is as member of the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead.  According to Sail Salem, he made the donation in order to help keep boating affordable.