RAPID CITY - While South Dakota may not be thought of as a sailing hotbed there are still sailing enthusiasts that like to get on the water and enjoy a day in the sun.

The Black Hills Sailing Association has been around since the early 1990s and has given sailors the chance to meet each other, learn how to sail, race and most of all, just have fun.

"It really is a group of sailors that are more like a family through this group," said Holly Lemay, who along with her husband Michael has been a member of the association for five years. "It is an informal group that is a little more organized through this.

"People don't really think about sailing in South Dakota a lot, but it is not as expensive here as it might be other places."

Lemay said her reason for getting involved with the group was a chance to get back on the water after sailing when she was in college. This is the first year that the BHSA won't have a sailing class through community education, but the group is always looking for new members and it is open to anyone regardless of sailing experience.

"We are always willing to take someone out if they want to try it, and the members are very supportive and willing to help each other out. Whether it is just launching a boat or helping with a mast there is always help," Lemay said.

There are currently about 60 individuals that make up the BHSA which is about 30 monohull boats strong. The rest of the boats that the BHSA uses at Angostura Reservoir are Hobie Cat boats. The boats range from 15 to 27 feet long.

"Hobie Cats have a trampoline in the middle and don't have a cockpit," Lemay said of the difference between the two. "Hobies are a faster boat but they are only for two or three people and they are not as stable. Many of our members have gone from Hobie Cats to monohulls because they have families now, and they want to be able to take them out on the water."

With the return of some much needed moisture this year, sailors are seeing good water levels at Angostura for the first time in many years.

"There are sandbars that are six feet deep out there so safety is something we are always concerned about," Lemay said. "We did lose some people to Chamberlain a for a few years, but some of come back because it can get kind of long with the travel."

Some of the biggest safety issues for the sailors are presented by powerboats operators that are unaware of some of the rules.

"There is a lack of information on sailing and so there is not a great understanding," Lemay said. "You get buzzed and that leads to rough water or being capsized, and there isn't a lot of enforcement of the rules."

The group is always looking for new members, which does come with an annual fee of $25 for a single or $30 for a family.

"We just try to get together on weekends but it is not a set time, just whoever happens to be there," Lemay said. "We have dry dock parties and we have a Jimmy Buffett party at Breakers Beach on July 11-12. We are also doing something different this year with Survivor Angostura. It's a family event that has teams competing for flags and getting prizes."

The group will also have picnics on the water and encorporate other games to make sure everyone is having a good time when they are sailing.

The BHSA operates informally for the most part, but Brian Killion is the acting commodore, which is like the president of the association. There is also a vice commodore, port captain and race captain.

To learn more about the BHSA go to www.blackhillssailing.com.