
04/28/2025
Calling all boating enthusiasts! This feature article from the March/April issue of Michigan History—“Fair Winds and Following Seas: The NM Sloop”—is just for you! Have you raced an NM sloop or seen the fleet on Little Traverse Bay?
Designed to be affordable and versatile, the Northern Michigan (NM) Class of sloop—a one-masted sailboat—recently celebrated its ninetieth anniversary. Prompted by the economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s, the creators of the NM sloop wanted to design a sailboat that could function both as a competitive racing vessel and as a leisure craft that could be enjoyed by friends and family. After a brief lull in popularity, the NM sloop was revived in the 1960s thanks to passionate sailing enthusiasts who saw the value of the NM Class. Even after nine decades, the NM Sloop continues to be a vibrant and unique piece of Michigan history.
If you’re dreaming of summer and afternoons on the water, check out the full article in Michigan History at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history