John Grady Jul '82
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
Current News
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
Topeka Weather
80.0°F - Fair
Wind
Northwest at 12.7 gusting to 21.9 mph
Heat Index
80°F
Humidity
45%
Barometer
29.53in
At
1:53pm
Coming Events
- 5/26, Spring Social Alternate?, 5:30pm-10:00pm, SYC
- 6/2, First Sun Group Sailing, 2:30pm-5:30pm, SYC
- 6/2, June Social?, 5:30pm-10:00pm, SYC
- 6/5, First Wed Lessons, 5:30 pm-Sunset, SYC
SYC on Facebook
Mark's Racing Blog
Mark's MC Tuning Theory
Entering my third year of sailing the MC, I think I've deciphered how you are supposed to tune it up. I reserve the right to change my mind without notice. Here goes.
Low wind. That is not enough wind to bend the mast. The straight mast makes the sail have too much curve at the luff (you can't point) and too tight a leach (cupping to windward choking the boat). Here is how I try to overcome these defects. Slightly over tighten the outhaul to open the lower leach, and move the traveler out so the boom is on the aft corner. These adjustments will make the leach parallel to the centerline of the boat.
Medium wind. Any wind that lets the sail assume its designed shape. The mast will bend, and we can trim all the sail controls too much or too little. Here is what I do. Pull the outhaul and downhaul until there are no wrinkles coming of the spars. Trim the traveler and main sheet to make the leach parallel to the boat centerline. Too lose and you are not using all the power, too tight and you are choking the sail. You will be continually adjusting the leach tension with the main sheet.
Heavy wind. You are over powered. Now you are on the rail and having trouble keeping the angle of heel to less than 20 degrees. The sail has more wind than the boat can use. Reduce power by over stretching the controls. Outhaul to open the lower leach. Downhaul to open the upper leach. Vang to over bend the mast, flattening the lower front part of the sail. Ease the main sheet to twist off the top of the sail (controlling the angle of heel). The main sheet is now your primary control of the angle of heel.
In all conditions. Align the sail to the wind. (Your indication is the sail tell tails.)
Maintain 15-20 degrees of heel. (Leeward board should be nearly vertical.)
Balance the helm by raising/lowering the boards. (The indicator is the tiller position.)
Ease/Hike/Sheet in the puffs. Even little ones. (Accelerate the boat, don't point.)
Low wind. That is not enough wind to bend the mast. The straight mast makes the sail have too much curve at the luff (you can't point) and too tight a leach (cupping to windward choking the boat). Here is how I try to overcome these defects. Slightly over tighten the outhaul to open the lower leach, and move the traveler out so the boom is on the aft corner. These adjustments will make the leach parallel to the centerline of the boat.
Medium wind. Any wind that lets the sail assume its designed shape. The mast will bend, and we can trim all the sail controls too much or too little. Here is what I do. Pull the outhaul and downhaul until there are no wrinkles coming of the spars. Trim the traveler and main sheet to make the leach parallel to the boat centerline. Too lose and you are not using all the power, too tight and you are choking the sail. You will be continually adjusting the leach tension with the main sheet.
Heavy wind. You are over powered. Now you are on the rail and having trouble keeping the angle of heel to less than 20 degrees. The sail has more wind than the boat can use. Reduce power by over stretching the controls. Outhaul to open the lower leach. Downhaul to open the upper leach. Vang to over bend the mast, flattening the lower front part of the sail. Ease the main sheet to twist off the top of the sail (controlling the angle of heel). The main sheet is now your primary control of the angle of heel.
In all conditions. Align the sail to the wind. (Your indication is the sail tell tails.)
Maintain 15-20 degrees of heel. (Leeward board should be nearly vertical.)
Balance the helm by raising/lowering the boards. (The indicator is the tiller position.)
Ease/Hike/Sheet in the puffs. Even little ones. (Accelerate the boat, don't point.)