Don Towle 2013
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
Learn to Sail
11 Apr 2024

"Introduction to Sailing" sessions are held Wednesday evenings, June through September. Come join the fun. We provide the boats.

Read more...

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
              71.0°F - Overcast and Breezy
              Wind
              South at 20.7 gusting to 29.9 mph
              Humidity
              76%
              Barometer
              29.64in
              At
              1:53am
              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
              Don Was Right
              I've been thinking of a grabber headline for today's blog. I think this will be it. "Don Towle misses extreme wind forecast by 4 MPH." Remember when Don said that the wind seemed to be increasing exponentially and the next blow would be 75 MPH? Well, it happened! WIBW reported straight line winds of 60 MPH blowing down trees and snapping power lines. The newspaper reported semi trucks being blown over on highway 75. Forbes weather recorded gusts of 79 MPH!! DON MISSED HIS FORECAST BY 4 MPH. Of course the evening didn't start out that windy. The first and only race was in winds of about 5 MPH. Mark lead off the line but Tony drove over him to windward, winning the race. Don, with race committee of Adeline, granddaughter Marie, and my wife Linda, sounded the 3 minute horn for the second race. We didn't get to the 2 minute horn before the wind blew in. I saw that the wind was increasing but there were no white caps yet. Even so, I decided to put on my life jacket. Bam! The boat blew over throwing me into the water. Not even time to start climbing to the high side. I looked and Tony and Chuck had blown over too. This was not good. I was able to right the boat but it blew right back over. I got it up again, and again it blew over. The third time it just wasn't coming up. I looked up the lake and it was white. Tony turtled. Chuck turtled. I blew into the shore. The committee boat was rocking in 4 foot waves. Marie was crying and praying. Linda was having thoughts of being on the Whippoorwill at Lake Pomona. To cut this really short, everybody was rescued and boats were retrieved. Today's lesson? Listen to Don, and wear a life jacket.
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