Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Lake Naomi gained popularity, attracting families, religious groups, and campers, including young girls who participated in summer programs that included sailing lessons. Yet it wasn’t until 1963 that the lake’s future was truly transformed. That year, a visionary developer named Logan Steele acquired over 2,600 acres of land surrounding the lake. With a background in civil engineering and a deep respect for the natural environment, Steele began to design a community that blended thoughtful planning with outdoor recreation. His vision became the Lake Naomi Club—a private, residential retreat centered on activities such as tennis, swimming, and, most notably, sailing.
NOTE:
I’ve had to gather most of this information based on memory, research, newspapers, and social media. I’m still waiting to hear back from the Lake Naomi Club Association for additional details and to verify the accuracy of the story. Also included in the plan is a trip back to Lake Naomi to see all that has changed over the past 50 years. But I did add the Lake Naomi Club live webcam at the end, so we all can check in periodically. Great idea! Thanks for doing it. Love watching.
Early news clippings show that Lake Naomi had an official sailing association as early as 1965. The club announced that Commodore Joseph D. Pearson and the Naomi Lake Sailing Association would host the 21st Duster Class National Championship. The regatta took place August 27-28, 1966.
It was during this era that the Lake Naomi Sailing Association was formally established. As homes rose around the shoreline and families joined the club, the LNSA became the heartbeat of lake life during the summer months. The association offered sailing instruction to children and adults alike, hosted races for Sunfish and Duster-class sailboats, and organized social events and regattas that brought together the growing community. The lake remained intentionally free of gas-powered boats, preserving a peaceful, sail-friendly atmosphere.
Over time, the Lake Naomi Club Sailing Association (LNCSA) developed a structured racing program, including A, B, and C fleets, and welcomed innovations such as radio-controlled Laser racing—allowing the sport to continue even during the off-season. Annual events such as the Lake Naomi Sunfish Regatta began to draw attention from competitive sailors beyond the Poconos. Through it all, the association emphasized camaraderie, education, and respect for the lake—values that remain central today.
Following Steele’s death in the 1980s, the community transitioned to member ownership, ensuring the continuity of his vision. Today, the Lake Naomi Sailing Association remains a vital part of life on the lake. With hundreds of families now calling the community home, the spirit of sailing that first caught wind over a century ago continues to flourish, anchored in tradition, but always sailing forward.
The Lake Naomi Club Sailing Association breaks down its sailboat racing program based on the calendar, the sailboat class, age, and whether it is a series, a regularly occurring event, or a regatta, a special set of races dedicated to presenting a winner at the end of the regatta. Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends are typically reserved for special regattas for particular classes of sailboats. Lake Naomi sailing programs include fleets for Sunfish, full-size Lasers, Dusters, and a fleet of Laser remote control model boats
At Lake Naomi in Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania, the Duster became one of the earliest and most beloved sailboats on the water. It was particularly well-suited to the lake’s non-motorized, wind-reliant character. By the 1960s and 70s, the Duster fleet was a fixture in the Lake Naomi Sailing Association’s weekend races and summer regattas, often competing alongside the increasingly popular Sunfish fleet. Dusters were raced by both adults and juniors, passing down sailing skills across generations. Many were custom-painted or modified, lending the class a homespun charm.
The Duster class was formally reestablished in the 60s at Lake Naomi, where annual Duster National regattas began being held every August, continuing a tradition inherited from its roots in Riverton. So, the Dusters at Lake Naomi came directly from the Riverton-area community: club members built, sailed, and eventually sent some boats north, where the flourishing sailing scene in the Poconos embraced them. The lake loves the Duster so much that the club named its bar after it.
You can tell the age of a Duster by its number on the sail. The lower the number, the older the Duster. The three red chevrons indicate a champion. They’ll be holding their 79th Duster Nationals in 2025. The lowest boat number was boat #39.
The history of Sunfish racing on Lake Naomi is deeply intertwined with the legacy of the Betz family and the rise of the Pocono Boathouse as a sailing and recreational hub. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Frank Betz III played a pivotal role in establishing a strong sailing culture on the lake. As founder of the Pocono Boathouse in Pocono Pines, Betz helped bring modern small-boat sailing to the community, offering Sunfish and other popular designs of the era for sale and rental.
The Sunfish quickly became the most iconic class on Lake Naomi thanks to its simplicity, affordability, and wide appeal. Organized races emerged organically on weekend afternoons, often starting in front of the Lake Naomi Club and drawing large groups of residents and summer families. Frank Betz, along with his sons Brian and Brooks Betz, were regular competitors, easily recognized by their distinctive sail colors and tight race strategies. The Betz family not only raced but also helped grow the sport by instructing newcomers, organizing regattas, and promoting sailing through the Pocono Boathouse.
By the mid-1970s, Sunfish racing was a cornerstone of the Lake Naomi sailing program, with the Betz name often appearing on trophies and club newsletters. The Pocono Boathouse served as both a retailer and an informal clubhouse for many sailors, anchoring a vibrant and competitive Sunfish fleet that became one of the largest and most active on the lake. Today, the legacy of Frank Betz and his family endures as part of Lake Naomi’s proud sailing heritage, with the Sunfish class remembered fondly for its role in launching generations of local sailors.
The Commodore’s Trophy
The regatta likely dates back to at least the 1970s, coinciding with the rise of organized sailing and racing events at the Lake Naomi Club Sailing Association. The Commodores Regatta typically consists of five races. No races are dropped from scoring (“No Throw-outs”). Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place are presented immediately after the final race. Junior awards are determined based on registration, and a Team Championship may be awarded if applicable.
The Owaissa Cup – donated by Ned and Mike Skinner, awarded to the season’s top Junior Sunfish champion
Camp Owassia was founded on Lake Naomi in 1916. Over the ensuing five decades, the camp hosted generations of young campers, fostering a sense of community, immersion in nature, and timeless outdoor traditions in the Pocono Pines region. The trophy is given out annually to the top Sunfish sailor in the Junior fleet for ages 8-16 years old. You can only win the trophy once, and you receive a keepsake as your name is inscribed on the trophy, which is presented perpetually at the LNSA Labor Day reception.
The Laser fleet at Lake Naomi was likely established in the late 1970s or early 1980s, during the height of the Laser’s popularity boom across North America. The Laser class, introduced in 1971, quickly became a staple in one-design sailing due to its simplicity, performance, and international appeal, traits that would have made it an attractive addition to the Lake Naomi Sailing Association’s racing program.
While no single founder is universally credited, the early organizing efforts were spearheaded by members of the Lake Naomi Sailing Association who saw the RC Laser, a 1/4-scale replica of the full-size Laser, as the perfect fit for Lake Naomi’s protected coves and gentle breezes. The boats were easy to assemble, store, and transport, and they offered a high level of competition with surprisingly sophisticated controls.
The RC Laser fleet started small, with around 4–6 boats racing casually along the main beach shoreline or near the marina docks. As word spread, participation grew steadily, with numbers reaching into the teens by the late 2010s. Weekly regattas were soon scheduled, and sailors of all ages, including former full-scale racers, began competing again, often bringing their families to watch or join in.
Today, the RC Laser fleet continues to race during the summer season, complete with scoring systems, fleet rules, and year-end awards. It has become a cherished part of Lake Naomi’s sailing scene, blending competitive spirit with camaraderie and tradition, and extending the sailing legacy for a new generation—on a smaller, but no less spirited, scale.
The Lake Naomi Club Sailing Association boasts a diverse and creative collection of perpetual trophies, each celebrating excellence across various sailboat classes. Among the most historically rooted are those tied to the Duster fleet, a locally significant class with deep roots in the community. Trophies such as the J.D. “Bill” Person Memorial Trophy, Turner Cup, Thomas L. Callahan Memorial Trophy, and the whimsical Ancient Mariner Trophy all recognize outstanding performance within Duster Fleet #7. Additionally, awards such as the Dr. J.G. Beale Memorial Trophy and the Annual Ladies Day Race can be traced back to Duster sailing, honoring both competitive prowess and long-standing contributions.
I can hear my dad saying it right now, “go out there and win some hardware!”
Brooks Betz
The Sunfish class is equally prominent in Lake Naomi’s sailing tradition, with several major trophies designated specifically for Sunfish sailors. The Lake Naomi Club Sunfish Fleet trophy and the elegant Lake Naomi Club Bowl explicitly name the class, while the William Flaherty Derby Championship and Junior Champion Trophy have also typically been awarded within the Sunfish fleet, especially in youth or open racing divisions. These trophies highlight the accessibility and popularity of the Sunfish across generations of Lake Naomi sailors.
Laser-class sailors are celebrated through awards such as the Laser Beam Award and Iron Man Award. The latter is particularly unique, honoring the best combined performance across the Duster, Laser, and Sunfish classes—underscoring the spirit of versatility and all-around seamanship. Meanwhile, the Hot Hands Award pays tribute to the RC Laser Fleet #9, which features remote-controlled Laser sailboats and adds a modern twist to the club’s racing traditions.
Finally, some trophies, such as the Lake Naomi Handicap Trophy and the prestigious Commodore’s Trophy, are designed to span all fleets. These awards often use a handicap system or recognize overall excellence, regardless of class, making them a coveted prize among seasoned and multi-fleet sailors. Together, these trophies reflect the rich sailing culture at Lake Naomi, blending tradition, innovation, and a healthy dose of competitive fun. Thanks to the Lake Naomi Club Sailing Association for providing the photos of their beautiful sailboat trophy collection.
One of the biggest challenges in sailboat racing is winning. It takes skill, preparation, and sometimes a bit of luck. However, if you persevere and work diligently, sometimes it pays off. In the 60s and 70s, I also had my time on the regatta circuit. But it all started for me on Lake Naomi, and here are just a few of the sailors and competitors from Lake Naomi’s history.
Alan Rodriguez, Anne Eckerdt, Nancy Skinner, Bob Hackenberg, David Fenimore, Dennis Coughlin, Jeff Purnell, Brian Betz, Frank Betz, Bill Denton. Steve Jebbens, Don Sensenig, and John Lamberton were some of the special sailors I had the pleasure of sailing with, and against, over the years. Some I just watched, and others I competed with and learned from, which made me a better sailor and a better person.
However, I must admit that my favorite trophy was the one I won together with my father, Frank Betz, in our first race as a team. I think it was called a father/son or family regatta.
The beauty of a perpetual trophy lies in its history. The names I mentioned earlier are all winners of some of the trophies in the Lake Naomi Club Association trophy collection. A perpetual trophy is an award that is passed from winner to winner over time, with each recipient’s name and year engraved on it to preserve the history of the competition. Unlike standard trophies, it symbolizes ongoing achievement and tradition.
– Lake Naomi Club Sailing Association
Here’s what I knew about chevrons, those arrow-like insignia below a racer’s sail number. If someone came to your lake for a regatta and had them, WATCH OUT! #respect
What About Chevrons – Stripes on a Sail – Called Chevrons
Chevrons were typically applied to a sail after a podium finish in a major regatta or club championship, acting like a badge of honor for the skipper or boat. The color (red, black, etc.) may vary depending on the club or fleet tradition, but the number of chevrons consistently reflects placement, much like racing stripes or battle honors. If you see someone with them, be careful, they’re good!
This tradition was (and still might be) common in tight-knit sailing clubs and one-design fleets (like the Sunfish Class at Lake Naomi), where visual recognition of champions is part of the sailing culture. According to the ISCA, every member shall be entitled to apply to his sail the symbol earned by him racing in a sanctioned event, in accordance with the following schedule:
World Champion – Gold Class Insignia
Regional Champion – Silver Chevron
Continental Champion – Silver Class Insignia
Fleet Champion – Black Chevron
National Champion – Gold Chevron. Only one set of chevrons, of the highest event level, can be displayed. on the sail. So if you win at both local and regional events, you would display only the red chevrons (for regional), not the black (for local).
Feel free to post any comments in the comments section below.
Brooks founded Mr. Local History and the Mr. Local History project with his wife, Jill. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and raised in Westfield, Brooks graduated from Westfield High School in 1980 and later from Bryant University. For over two decades, Brooks, along with his brother Brian and younger sister Cee Cee, spent their summers on Lake Naomi with their parents, Frank and Caryolyn Betz, who had been living on Canoe Brook Road since the mid-1960s.
He and his family owned the Pocono Boathouse (Pocono Pines, PA) and the Cranford Boat & Canoe Company (Cranford, NJ) from the 1960s through the 1990s.
There are likely many gaps in the history of the Lake Naomi Club that I hope to fill once I hear back from the LNCSA and plan a return visit to Lake Naomi to reminisce and reflect on memories. This story is part of a series dedicated to the history of Lake Naomi, Pocono Pines, and the memories of my family spending time together. Thanks for reading.
On the Way to the Poconos, we had to use Route 22 to 611 to 940….ah the days!
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