C Sunday 74
Welcome to Shawnee Yacht Club

Since 1941, SYC has promoted sailing on Lake Shawnee for the recreational benefit of the local community. In addition to the opportunity to sail on beautiful Lake Shawnee, the club provides: free sailing lessons for those new to the sport, sailboats for members to use, a fenced boatyard with a boat ramp, several docks (provided by Parks and Rec), a storage shed for equipment, sailing activities, racing, and social gatherings.

Questions?  -  Come Join Us

Current News
Five-Year Master Plan
26 Aug 2025

SYC has presented Parks and Recreation with a new Five-Year Master Plan for 2025 to improve our sailing facilities.  It is intended to be a good balance of what we are both looking for and a path forward to a successful future for all of us. We hope to be meeting with P+R staff for their support in moving forward with individual items in the plan. SYC's costs for some of these improvements will be substantial. Please consider making a contribution to help us with these facility improvements.

Comments?

H.B.
08 Aug 2025

H.B. Marshall, who cherished his decades of sailing at SYC, passed away on July 27, 2025. H.B. loved to tell stories, often reminiscing about his years with friends at SYC.

Topeka, Forbes Field
45°F - Fair
Wind
Calm
Humidity
97%
At
04:53 AM
Coming Events

Group Sailing
Sundays, 2:00pm-5:30pm

  • 10/26, Last Sun Group Sailing, 2:30pm-5:30pm, SYC
  • 11/01, Fall Work Party , 11:00 am, SYC
  • 12/1, Boatyard Closed for Season, SYC
Mark's Racing Blog
Sailing Instruction for Zach B.
You can learn three important things from a simple "head to wind" at the starting line.  Here is the procedure.
Go head to wind at the starting line with your boom down the center line and your sails flapping.  First, as you coast to a stop, look left and right along your traveler.  One end should be aimed below the committee boat or the buoy.  That is the "favored" end of the line, and it is easy to see by how much.  Now, look straight forward along the center line of your boat.  You should notice two more important things.  One is, which side of the windward mark your boat is pointing to.  Say, for example, that it points to the left of the mark.  This tells you that the left (port) tack is the "long" tack.  Second, you should notice which side of the course has the stronger wind.  This tells you where you need to go for max power.  Now you know all the factors necessary to determine your race strategy.  Which end is favored,  which tack is the most favorable and which side is favored and.  Now all you have to do is make a plan and execute it. 
Simple!
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