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.
One of Our Own in The Top 100
02 Mar 2025
Former Commodore and current SYC Resident Agent Eric Kjorlie was featured in the 2nd quarter 2023 Top 100 Lawyers publication.
SYC Annual Business Meeting
28 Jan 2025
The SYC annual business meeting was held February 2nd at 2:00pm over Zoom. Following are some highlights:
- Due to sparse attendance at this meeting, we decided to delay nominating and electing the 2025 Board of Governors. Instead, that will take place at a breakfast meeting for all club members at the clubhouse on Saturday, May 3rd. The Spring Work Party will follow that meeting.
- Sailing lessons will be the same as last year, monthly sessions of 4 lessons each on Wednesday evenings scheduled through Parks & Rec. There will be sessions in June, July and August, but not in September.
- There will be 3 socials over the sailing season: The Spring Breakfast on May 3rd, 4th of July, and a fall social on September 7th.
- We will be working with Parks & Rec to improve the dock at the launch ramp to make it longer and move it to deeper water and closer to the launch ramp.
- With the boatyard nearing capacity, we will be doing some reorganization of parking spots and possibly moving some boats to better utilize the space.
For SYC members only:
Five-Year Master Plan
20 Oct 2024
SYC has presented Parks and Recreation with a Five-Year Master Plan for improving our sailing facilities. The plan aims to increase sailing activity on Lake Shawnee and get SYC back on a more sustainable footing. We are currently negotiating 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.
Topeka, Forbes Field
55°F - A Few Clouds
Coming Events
- 5/3, Spring Social, Breakfast, Elections, 9:00am, SYC
- 5/3, Spring Work Day, 11:00am, SYC
- 6/1, First Sun Racing & Group Sailing, 2:00pm-5:30pm, SYC
- 6/4, First Wed Lessons & Group Sailing, 5:30 pm-Sunset, SYC
SYC on Facebook
Mark's Racing Blog
Mark's MC Tuning Theory
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.)