Economic growth at Port San Luis can happen with year-round sailboat regattas like the success of Morro Bay’s SLO CAL Open surfing events, which generated $110 million in local tax revenue in 2023, according to a KSBY news report from Dec. 6, 2024. This success stemmed from increased travel spending
Installing a safe, ADA-accessible small sailboat hoist launch facility at Port San Luis will enable us to host regattas year-round, benefiting both the sailing community and local businesses. Small-boat sailing, like surfing, is a social, community-driven sport, with participants supporting local restaurants, shops, and services. These events could stabilize and grow the port’s economy, especially given the continued turnover of businesses at Port San Luis, including the inability of Port San Luis to attract the services of a five-star restaurant to infill the vacated Olde Port Inn restaurant building that is located on the Harford Pier.
I urge you to prioritize our hoist launch facility project in the port’s master plan. It would attract a new clientele of small-boat sailors to revitalize the port’s economy and open up the sustainable sport of small-boat sailing for all ages. I’m happy to contribute design ideas at no cost to help bring this vision to life.
Doug Morris
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Year in Review 2024.