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
Learn to Sail
11 Apr 2024
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"Introduction to Sailing" sessions are held Wednesday evenings, June through September. Come join the fun. We provide the boats.
Dues are due
01 Apr 2024
It's time to think about the upcoming sailing season. Dues for this year are due.
Associate membership $50.
Sailing membership $100.
Boat storage in our yard $50 each summer and winter.
You can pay online HERE or send a check to: SYC, PO Box 221, Topeka, KS 66601.
Thanks if you have already sent it in.
Mark Marling
Treasurer
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
70.0°F - Fair
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
SYC on Facebook
Mark's Racing Blog
Wednesday Evening "Race" Report
With about 30 seconds until the start, Chuck and Doug were coming in on starboard. I tacked in front of Chuck hoping to slow him down and take the start. Couldn't do it so I was about 5 seconds early. The HUGE advantage of winning the start is that you have first choice of which tack to be on and where to go for the best wind. Chuck had first choice and chose well. Doug had second choice and chose to follow Chuck. I had third choice. The windward mark was sitting in a calm spot with the breeze on both sides of it. I gambled the right side was as good as the left and so went that way. Not only was I wrong, but I had both boards up and so made no progress at all. Increasing my deficit, I rounded a distant third.
Down wind. Usually in a dying wind the boats ahead just keep getting further ahead. I tried to stay in the "stronger" part of the wind and jibed back and forth from broad reach to broad reach. Somehow I managed to narrow the gap on the other two boats.
Doug passed Chuck and rounded first. He and Chuck took the longer tack first toward the finish line. Normally this is the smart move. I gambled with a short tack away from the finish line into the stronger wind and then tacked for the finish line. It actually paid off! I passed Chuck and crossed the line only a few seconds behind Doug.