Dick & Barb Meidinger '73
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:

  • sailing lessons for those new to the sport,
  • various sizes and classes of sailboats for members to use,
  • a fenced boatyard with a boat ramp where members can keep their boats year-round,
  • several docks (provided by Parks and Rec),
  • a storage shed for equipment,
  • various scheduled club sailing activities, like racing,
  • various scheduled club social gatherings throughout the year

Questions?  -  Come Join Us

Current News
Annual Business Meeting
28 Feb 2024

The SYC Annual Business Meeting was held via Zoom on February 25th, 2024. Here are some highlights:

  • Same board members as last year except Rocky is new:
    • Jim Tompkins, Commodore
    • Rocky Bartlow, Vice-Commodore
    • Mark Marling, Treasurer
    • Irene Haws, Secretary
    • Cheryl Basiotis, Governor at large
    • Eddie Penner, Governor-Legal
    • Mike Gorman, Governor-Grounds
    • Josh Harsch, Governor-Social media
  • Membership fees stay the same except for dropping the BoatShare+ category and extra fee.
  • Socials will be on Sundays instead of Fridays or Saturdays.
  • July 4th events and social like last year.
  • Club sponsoring Sea Scouts.
  • Lesson sign-up through Parks & Rec.

SYC members click HERE for the full meeting minutes, HERE for the Treasurer's Report, and HERE for the Boatyard Expense Details.

              Topeka Weather
              54.0°F - Fair
              Wind
              Southeast at 10.4 mph
              Wind Chill
              51°F
              Humidity
              64%
              Barometer
              29.80in
              At
              7:53am
              Coming Events
              • 5/5, Spring Work Party, 11:00am, SYC
              • 5/5, Spring Social, 5:30pm-10:00pm, SYC
              • 5/26, Spring Social Alternate?, 5:30pm-10:00pm, SYC
              • 6/2, First Sun Group Sailing, 2:30pm-5:30pm, SYC
              Mark's Racing Blog
              How to Properly Pass Thru a Puff
              The normal reaction to a puff while going upwind is to luff into it while keeping the sails strapped in tight. (It is what I have been practicing since I was 10 years old.) The theory is that you can make some distance to windward because you are pointing higher. The big downside of this is that (1)the boat looses speed as it turns, and (2)the sail loses power while operating at the much smaller angle of attack. Then you have to (3)regain the speed you lost by easing the sheet a little and bearing off a little after the puff passes. You can loose a lot of speed for little or no gain to windward.

              Here is a better way. You just skip the luffing up, then the heading down, Go straight to just easing the sheet. This works in both light and heavy winds.

              When a puff hits, do this:
              ■ The sheet hand moves to leeward. (To depower the top of the sail.)
              ■ The tiller hand moves very slightly to leeward. (Maybe 2") (Because all puffs lift slightly.)
              ■ The body moves to windward. (To balance the boat.)

              The boat will (1)not loose its speed by turning and (2)the sail will increase its drive while (3)reducing healing.

              The basic routine is that, to stop the boat's healing, your two hands will start moving in the same direction as the masthead is moving, while your body will start moving in the other direction. Don't be surprised that once you have the feel for it, only relatively small hand movements will be necessary to keep the boat moving steadily and upright through a puff.

              Try this in lighter winds to become used to it. Make the boat roll back and forth when you want it to. Move both hands simultaneously to leeward to make the boat roll more upright, and vice versa. Use small movements until you get the feel for it.

              When you encounter puffs in really strong winds, stay hiked out, but do not luff into the gusts. Maintain your heading, and ease the sheet to keep the boat upright. The biggest difference between sailing in light winds, and in strong winds, is that in the lighter winds, the body moves while the sheet movement needed is small, while in the stronger winds, the body is already at full hike and the sheet movement needed becomes much greater. Try it, you'll like it!
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