SAULT STE. MARIE -- The COVID-19 pandemic hasn't taken the wind out of the sails of the Algoma Sailing Club.

Despite having to cancel all races and events this year, the club says membership has actually risen throughout the summer.

"About 15 more people have joined the club," said Alan McLean, Commodore. "It's especially surprising. We expected numbers to go down, but nobody has left."

McLean says most of the newer members are also coming to the club with boats of their own already.

"That's a bit of an anomaly as well," he added. "But it shows people are wanting to pick this hobby up, for sure."

Normally, the biggest draw of the club are its sailing races on Wednesday nights, which have been cancelled this year.

"That's not great, obviously, but our members aren't too discouraged," McLean said. "In fact, they're holding their own races themselves, because the definition of a sailing race is just two boats on a body of water."

McLean said the club is at 50 members, but is hoping to capitalize on the interest and garner more in the future.