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The name change fits the progression of the business as the company, owned by Dave and Kristen Conrad, also becomes a full-service brokerage for boat lines including Marlow-Hunter, Jeanneau and Gemini.
“My wife, Kristen, and I have owned the company since 2008 and the timing is right to upgrade the business name to one that reflects the scope of our marine services,” Dave says. “Not many locals realize that the largest American Sailing Association-certified sailing school and second largest yacht charter fleet on the Great Lakes is located right here in Traverse City. This expansion makes us one of the largest sailing centers on the Great Lakes.”
The company’s Learn – Sail – Own program gives clients greater options, says general manager Paul Davis. “We’re unique in that we are one of the few dealers in the country that offer new-model sailboats for sale and for charter,” he says. “You can schedule lessons or charter time on your dream yacht to really get a feel for whether owning it is right for you.”
With additional charter operations in Charlevoix and Cheboygan, Great Lakes Sailing offers more than 20 charter sailboats ranging in size from 30 to 45 feet, and a nationally recognized, award-winning sailing school that offers basic to advanced sailing courses on cruising monohulls and catamarans. In 2012, GLSC added the Boat Club, offering economical membership sailing with a fleet of smaller daysailers of 20 to 25 feet. The company also services and delivers boats to charter companies in the Caribbean.
For details, visit the company’s website.
