From Desert to Community: Eric Miller on Launching Raid Erie 2025

Some sailors stumble into a community, and others create one. Eric Miller did the latter when he launched Raid Erie 2025, a brand-new small boat event on the waters of Lake Erie in northern Ohio.

Eric describes his local region as a “desert of small sailboats.” There weren’t many dinghy sailors around, but instead of giving up, he decided to build an oasis—a gathering that could draw out the hidden sailors and attract newcomers to the joys of small boat cruising.

In this episode of the podcast, Eric shares:

How he fell in love with sailing and why it has stuck with him.
What sparked the idea to organize Raid Erie in a place not known for dinghy sailing.
Behind-the-scenes of organizing the event—from planning to outreach to making it welcoming for all.
The results of Raid Erie 2025: who showed up, how it unfolded, and the sense of community it created.
Attracting new generations of sailors, and why this matters for the future of small boat cruising.
His future plans—including expanding the event and possibly adding a race/expedition component next year.

What shines through is Eric’s mix of practicality and passion. He’s not just an organizer—he’s someone who genuinely believes in building connections on the water and giving people access to sailing experiences they might not have otherwise found.

If you’ve ever dreamed about starting a sailing event in your own area, or wondered how to grow your local community, Eric’s story is packed with inspiration and lessons learned.

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Raid Erie

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