Dave and Brooke @ Sunset
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
              55.0°F - Fair
              Wind
              South at 10.4 mph
              Wind Chill
              52°F
              Humidity
              53%
              Barometer
              29.91in
              At
              2:53am
              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
              Lotawana Fall Regatta Report
              Here is my race report from the Lake Lotawana Fall C Scow regatta. The wind forecast for Saturday was for winds building into the upper teens with gusts into the low twentys. We were sailing a boat we had never seen before and had only sailed a "C"scow one other time in the last dozen years. That is my excuse for going slow. Like I always say "sailboat races are a geometry game, but you have to go fast".

              We were late getting to the starting line for the first race (Saturday AM), arriving at the boat end as the one minute gun fired. We moved on down the line toward the pin, behind the second or third row of boats. The starting gun went and we still were behind the fleet and not yet at the pin. We continued on and then crossed the line on port at the pin, maybe 15 seconds late. The wind shifted left and we were suddenly in 1st place. Rounded the weather mark third and dropped nine more boats by the finish. The Lee's Summit airport reported winds over twenty, gusting to 33 MPH. Fred and I were a just a little light at 320 lbs.

              We were not able to find a third crew for the second and third races so we withdrew before the start. Five others chose not to race either. We decided we didn't need to beat ourselves up and risk breaking borrowed equipment so we joined the Lotawana Homes Tour in progress.

              Fourth race (Sunday AM) had a heavily favored right end with a predominately one tack (starboard) beat. The fleet set up early and we were able to sneak in next to the eventual regatta winner at the boat end. Lead off the starting line, rounded 3rd, dropped 3 more boat and finished 6th.

              Last race, Same set up as race 4. The fleet set up late and we got squeezed out at the boat end. Circled around and started last. Our choices were to follow the fleet or take a short tack away from the mark and hope for some leverage and a shift. We worked the right side and picked up a few boats upwind. Picked up a few more down wind. Picked up a few more upwind. Finished 9th.

              Saturday we never could get the helm to lighten up in the high winds even with the "hair cut" sail. When you are fighting the boat you are not making correct decisions.

              Sunday the boat felt much better with the light-medium sail. We over rotated the mast and the helm was much lighter. One major problem tho, the rudder was continually trailing a string of bubbles. Looked like a motor boats exhaust. If it was my boat I'd spend some major time finding out just what caused that and fix it. The rudder doesn't have as much effect in air as it does in water.

              Mark
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