Racing
19th February, 2009 - Posted by club - Comments Off
TBYC offers a variety of racing activities for sailors of all skill levels and interests. People are always looking for crew, so if you don’t have your own boat, don’t let that hold you back. One of the best ways to improve your sailing skills is racing, and at TBYC we do our best to make it fun!
“Big Boat” Racing (PHRF handicap system): TBYC has two series.
Ladd McKay Series: this competitive series has both Spinnaker and Jib-and-Main (JAM) fleets. Races take place on Saturdays, with one out of town race each year as weather permits. The Spinnaker fleet typically races a windward-leeward course, while JAM races are usually a triangle with a windward leg, reach, and downwind. For each race flags are awarded to the top three finishers in each fleet, determined by corrected time. Series trophies are awarded at the end of the season. The Ladd McKay Series is open to any boat who wants to pay the nominal entry fee.
Cannon Series: the Cannon Series is family racing, sponsored by TBYC for TBYC members. Races take place on Sundays. Restricted to Jib-and-Main (no spinnakers allowed), race courses are designed to be fun for family and friends who gather to enjoy some friendly competition on Tawas Bay. Some races have a theme, such as Lady Skipper’s Day. For each race flags are awarded to the top five finishers, determined by corrected time. A series trophy is awarded at the end of the season.
Special Events for “big boats” include the Tawas Bay Invitational and the Offshore 40 (both LHYA sanctioned events), the Slammer Cup (a home-and-away annual event with our friends from the Huron Yacht Club in Caseville), and the Tawas Bay Challenge (a Labor Day Weekend JAM race with our friends across the bay at the Tawas Bay Marina, followed by a BBQ and prizes).
One Design Racing
TBYC is the home of J/22 Fleet 44, which includes several boats and some highly skilled sailors of all ages. This fleet races on several Saturdays from spring to fall. These boats are fast keelboats, exciting and a ton of fun to sail! The beauty of one-design racing is that when you cross the finish line, you know where you stand in the fleet, and this group mixes it up. All of the boats in Fleet 44 have pig-related names, and some years the fleet hosts a “Bay of Pigs” regatta on Tawas Bay. Crew spots are available, so check the schedule and show up on Saturday morning race days, or contact the fleet captain.
TBYC is also a vacation home for Lightning Fleet 216 from Bay City Yacht Club. Fleet 216, in cooperation with J/22 Fleet 44, hosts a regatta on Tawas Bay each summer. The Lightning class has a long and proud history on Tawas Bay, and this is a favorite racing venue for Lightning sailors.
The National One Design class often holds their World Championship on Tawas Bay. The folks in this historical class love TBYC and Tawas Bay, and we are always pleased to see them. They are the definition of family racing, with many boats being sailed by family teams who come back time after time.
The Laser class is also alive and well at TBYC. Several members sail Lasers, and on a few weekends each summer races take place in the bight of the bay, drawing boats from surrounding areas who love the conditions and competition. TBYC boasts some very skilled Laser sailors who are always generous with their knowledge, so anyone with a Laser is encouraged to join in the fun.
With all of these choices, there is opportunity for everyone to enjoy racing at TBYC. Check the schedules, grab your life jacket, and come on out!
