Greetings from the Fleet Captain Sail

 

Welcome to SYC Sailing Activities for 2010. Whether your interests lean toward cruising or racing, or both, there is a broad spectrum of events that you may enjoy.

The cruising events will be under the leadership of Gordon Stoll, Cruising Activities Chair. Cruising events start in January with the first mini cruise to Port Madison. There are five such cruises (no racing) for those who simply like to be on the water with friends. However, if you prefer your boating after the weather gets a little warmer, you will not want to miss the weekend Cruise ‘n’ Snoozes and the Fall Equinox Regatta. For more extended cruising and adventure, the NorPac cruise is an excellent way to get yourself north in the month of July.

Sailboat Dinners are scheduled for the second Thursday every month. They feature speakers and topics of interest to sailors; this is a great place to meet other SYC sailors too.

Brian Watkins returns as Racing Activities Chair for 2010. Distance racers will want to participate in the Tri-Island/Tri-Point Series, and buoy racers will want to put both the National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta and the Star & Bar Regattas on their calendars. Remember, too, that the Mini-12 Fleet is now 21 boats strong and races on Sundays in the winter, and evenings in the summer.

2010 is the seventh year that SYC offers a gentler form of racing for the Cruiser/Racer Class. The C/R/C will appeal to owners of family-oriented boats that are not competitive for current PHRF racing, but whose owners and crews would like to test their skills with other similar, displacement-oriented boats (lightweight “hotrods” need not apply). Cruising class handicaps will include adjustments in many areas, i.e., less-than-optimal sails, roller furling equipment, bottom condition (etc), and the experience of the skipper; starts will be provided for this class in the Tri-Point Series, Mark Mayer, and Fall Equinox races.

Late in 2009 the Sailboat Committee adopted three areas of focus for the 2010 season geared toward building a strong sailing community.  Those areas of focus are education, participation and community.  We will be adjusting our program to encourage growth in each of these areas and look forward your support in exposing Seattle as the great region for sailing that it is.

Our Race Committee, headed by Roger Pawley, will continue working with other clubs in an effort to educate Race Committee members and interested sailors in some of the finer points of race administration. If you have ever wondered about what goes on on the upper deck of Portage Bay, please join us.

The Sailboat Committee Meetings are at 7 P.M. on the first Thursday of each month (except May, July, and August). Whatever your interest in sailing, we want you to come and join in. When you get involved, you will have more fun.

Dave Ferguson

Fleet Captain, Sail