STONINGTON — Big things are happening at the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club.

The organization and its sailing foundation announced this week that it would once again host the Connecticut Special Olympics Sailing Regatta this September, with plans to keep the event in Stonington long-term.

The Stonington Harbor Yacht Club Sailing Foundation also gave a tour of improvements made to the former home of Garbo Lobster Company on Water Street. The club entered into a lease with an option to buy the property earlier this year, and has been working to transform it into a storage facility and junior yacht club since.

The improvements to that property include more dock space for the club’s sailing program and a floating ramp that will be essential for the Special Olympics athletes.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are to have the Special Olympics back in Stonington, one of the more picturesque places in the state,” said Beau Doherty, president of Special Olympics Connecticut.

Aside from hosting the regatta in the fall, the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club and the sailing foundation play a key role in training the athletes who will compete. Training for the September regatta began this week, and will continue throughout the summer, using the boats and instructors from the sailing foundation.

“The reaction of the community and club last year was overwhelming,” said Bob Fountain, president of the SHYC Sailing Foundation.

After the positive reaction from membership, Fountain said, the club decided to sponsor the fall games and the instruction required to compete, as well as sponsor an athlete to attend the world games and another to attend the national games.

A factor holding back more athletes from competing in sailing, Doherty said, was the lack of a sponsor, something that other Special Olympics events have. Now, with the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club stepping up to the plate, Doherty hopes to grow the program beyond the coast and to more urban areas.

What also helps is that within the Special Olympics community people are talking about how great the event was last year and how well they were treated, Doherty said.

“It was the best regatta ever,” he said.

The extra space now afforded the sailing foundation will also benefit their other sailing outreach programs, which are open to everyone, not just club members. Members of the club have also been active in making scholarship money available for sailing lessons, for interested youth who otherwise couldn’t afford the lessons.

When the Special Olympics regatta comes to Stonington in September it will also mark an important moment for the La Grua Center currently under construction on the grounds of Stonington Commons. The first event to be held at the center will be a dinner dance that accompanies the Special Olympics regatta, though it will not officially open until October.

“The second year ought to be so smooth it’s scary,” Doherty said.