Wind Surfing
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: free sailing lessons for those new to the sport, sailboats for members to use, a fenced boatyard with a boat ramp, several docks (provided by Parks and Rec), a storage shed for equipment, sailing activities, racing, and social gatherings.

Questions?  -  Come Join Us

Current News
Five-Year Master Plan
26 Aug 2025

SYC has presented Parks and Recreation with a new Five-Year Master Plan for 2025 to improve our sailing facilities.  It is intended to be a good balance of what we are both looking for and a path forward to a successful future for all of us. We hope to be meeting with P+R staff for their support in moving forward with individual items in the plan. SYC's costs for some of these improvements will be substantial. Please consider making a contribution to help us with these facility improvements.

Comments?

H.B.
08 Aug 2025

H.B. Marshall, who cherished his decades of sailing at SYC, passed away on July 27, 2025. H.B. loved to tell stories, often reminiscing about his years with friends at SYC.

Topeka, Forbes Field
66°F - Fair
Wind
Calm
Humidity
93%
At
11:53 PM
Coming Events

Group Sailing
Sundays, 2:00pm-5:30pm

  • 10/26, Last Sun Group Sailing, 2:30pm-5:30pm, SYC
  • 11/01, Fall Work Party , 11:00 am, SYC
  • 12/1, Boatyard Closed for Season, SYC
Mark's Racing Blog
Experience
Just yesterday I read that "experience is the best teacher only if it's somebody else's experience". Well here goes. In my never ending quest to improve my sailing skills, I've spent a lot of time this month improving my capsizing ability. I've been over four different ways so far this month, the previously mentioned "slow roll over" and the "79 MPH slam dunk". Now just this week I've added two more ways to get wet. First is the quick tack where you can't get the main sheet uncleated and you get stuck under the boom. You just sort of back into the water buns first. The second method, practiced last evening, is a little more complicated. One of the ways to go fast is the "ease-hike sheet" method for dealing with puffs. When a puff hits, you quickly ease the sheet, hike hard, and then pull the sheet back in. All done very quickly. The problem arises when some how you accidentally loop the main sheet and pull the loop thru a block. Then, when you go to "ease-hike-sheet", you can't ease. You just tip over. One other problem with both of these methods is that you can't right the boat with the sail sheeted in and "cleated". You've got to get wet. Come on out! The water is fine.
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