Sunfish Fleet
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Sunfish Fleet Captain's Report
Hello Sunfish Sailors!
What is it that we love about racing at Lake Wawasee? It could be the competition, or the endless tinkering with the rigging, or all the great people with whom we compete. Or maybe it’s the chop generated by a 30 ft motorboat driving directly through the race course on a light air day (okay, definitely not the last one). Regardless, there is a lot to love about Sunfish racing. So to get everyone psyched about the upcoming season, I humbly submit my top ten reasons to love the Sunfish racing, and doing it at WYC:
| 10. | The Sunfish can be rigged in as little as 5 minutes. |
| 9. | The Sunfish can also take as long as 35 minutes to rig your boat if you use Dick Tillman’s adjustable vang system (This is really great. See me or Dick if want to learn how to tie this.) |
| 8. | The Sunfish can be rigged with just about every ‘go-fast’ control found on larger boats (shy of a backstay and a few other gadgets). |
| 7. | The Sunfish sails differently on port and starboard tack. |
| 6. | The Sunfish can be sailed competitively by skippers of all ages. |
| 5. | The Sunfish offers the most bang for the buck in sailing. |
| 4. | The cargo area is the perfect size to store your favorite beverage (adult or otherwise – See Mert Wolfe if you have any questions). |
| 3. | The boat has won several design awards for its simplicity and longevity. |
| 2. | The fact that the WYC boat yard acts as a natural wind tunnel, always fooling us into thinking there is more wind than is really on the lake. |
| 1. | The Sunfish can be rigged in as little as 5 minutes. |
Now onto some important items: Last year was a landmark for Sunfish racing at WYC. Linda and Dick Tillman and a vast array of volunteers put on a great regatta in the Women’s North American Championship. Not to be outdone, Linda Leader and her crew presented a great regatta in the annual Wawasee Sunfish Open. Thanks to all who volunteered to make these events so special.
One recurring theme from last year was safety, and it has remained in my mind. While I will not go so far as to require life jackets at every Sunfish race, I will set the example by wearing mine at every race this year, and encourage everyone to do the same. There are a several reasons for this: First, accidents can happen at any time, in all conditions. Second, if one only wears a life jacket in heavy wind, the extra thickness can be cumbersome. Snagging the back of the life jacket during tacks becomes easier because we depower the rig by flexing the boom, bringing it closer to the deck. The last reason to always wear a life jacket is perhaps the best one: The Sunfish is often the class that bridges the gap between the Optis and larger boats. If we want to build our class by being the transition boat for youth sailing, let’s set the example by wearing life jackets during all races this year.
As always, have a great time on the water, and play by the rules. If you think you may have fouled someone, do your turns. Remember the best way to avoid breaking a rule is to not put yourself into that position in the first place. Be especially aware of other boats when approaching a mark, and plan your strategy well in advance based on the position of the other boats.
We’re going to have a great season of Sunfish racing this year, so please encourage your friends and family to join in the action. They’ll soon develop their own top ten reasons to love Sunfish racing at WYC.
All the best, and good sailing,
David
2008 Sunfish Fleet Captain