Truesdale Lake  

South Salem, New York

Sunfish Fleet #27

Standings for current season are here:

TRUESDALE LAKE SUNFISH RACING SUNFISH FLEET #27

OBJECTIVE

The prime objective of our racing series is to have fun and encourage us all to leave our lawn maintenance, desk work and other chores and spend some time out on our beautiful Truesdale Lake.

SCHEDULE

A summer Sunfish series will be held, with 2 races each Sunday, the first beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Practice & fun races are typically held in June. The regular series is usually during July and August (sometimes late June is first weekend), ending Labor Day weekend.

“Truesdale President’s Cup” race is held on Labor Day Monday weather permitting. The next Sunday will be the rain/weather date.

Since we only count your best 10 races, you can win the series, and still miss 1/2 the races. If sufficient boats participate- two fleets will compete allowing beginners an easier learning experience. Otherwise beginners will be given early starts and minimal rule enforcement.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Moonlight Regatta. All boats welcome. NOT A RACE!

Depends on the year, season, and day of the week. If the full moon falls on a weekday we usually try to get out the weekend BEFORE the full moon so we have a moon-lit regatta.

We encourage residents to get their boats ready during daylight. We meet at the lake’s widest point just east of the middle island after sunset. Light up your boat with glow sticks, LED’s, dimmable lanterns, etc. Put a lantern on your dock to aid navigation of others — and to help you return home!

TROPHY

The winner of the summer series gets the honor of being feted by fellow sailors at the end of the season. Winner also keeps the fleet trophy for a year.

SERIES RULES

Two official races will be run each Sunday. A race will be canceled if no boat finishes within one hour of the start. The winner of the series will be determined by adding up the scores for each boat’s best 10 races out of a possible 20 (Or 1/2 of the races run if season has fewer than 10 race Sundays). Ties will be broken by counting the number of firsts.

SCORING

RULES

“The Racing Rules of Sailing 2017-2020” and Sunfish Class (http://www.sunfishclass.org/) rules apply.
See Racing Rules of Sailing (updated every 4 years). If you want a good guide to racing rules, (I recommend “Understanding the racing Rules of Sailing” which is around $22 on Amazon. It discusses most of the typical situations and uses illustrations to explain right-of-way.

Summary of rules that apply most during our races:

DEFINITIONS

STARBOARD is the right side of the boat when you are looking forward
PORT is the opposite side of starboard – the left side.
STARBOARD TACK is when the wind is coming over the starboard side & the boom is on the port side.
WINDWARD is the side the wind is coming from; LEEWARD is the other side

Primary RIGHT OF WAY rules:
“Starboard”: A boat on starboard tack has right of way over a boat on port tack.

When Changing Tacks such that you will get right of way, the other boat must be given room to get out of the way and is not required to anticipate your getting right of way.

Windward keep clear”: When two boats are side by side on the same tack, the downwind (leeward) boat usually has right of way unless it overtook the windward boat from completely behind it or is too close to a race buoy. The leeward boat can come up into the wind. This applies at the start and a windward boat may not “barge” between a leeward boat and the windward starting buoy. The leeward boat can force the barging boat to take the wrong side of the starting buoy.

Mark room”(formerly “buoy room”) Is a special rule that applies when sailing around any race buoy except the starting line buoys. There is a zone around each mark with a radius of 3 boat lengths. A boat enters the zone when it crosses into the zone. If two or more boats are overlapped when either boats bow gets within three boats lengths of a race buoy, the outside boat must keep clear of any overlapped inside boats. A boat establishing an inside overlap after the lead boat is into the 3 boat length area, does not get any right of way rights and must keep clear. One exception to the buoy room rule is when boats are on opposite tacks and one boat has to tack (as op-posed to jibe) such as at the windward buoy; then the boat on starboard tack has right of way even within three boat lengths of the buoy.

Boats should avoid collisions. Rule 14 states: “A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room (a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and (b) shall not be penalized under this rule unless there is contact that causes damage or injury.”

Communicate: shout your intentions or ask questions to avoid a crash. It is not uncommon to have questions at a crowded and critical turn around a buoy. Remember we are in a friendly competition so make sure you ask before it’s too late to adjust. 

When in doubt, avoid collisions. Clarify later

Penalty Turns: if you foul another boat you must sail around in two complete circles (any size). If you hit a buoy you must make one circle (360 degrees). Turns should be done as soon as you are clear of other boats.

SAFETY Considerations:
Under NY law, one life jacket/person should be on board each boat and children under age 12 must wear them.

And as stated in the official racing rules:

Quote:

1.2 Life-Saving Equipment and Personal Flotation Devices
A boat shall carry adequate life-saving equipment for all persons on board, including one item ready for immediate use, unless her class rules make some other provision. Each competitor is individually responsible for wearing a personal flotation device adequate for the conditions.

DECISION TO RACE
The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.

Disclaimer of Liability:
Competitors participate in the sailing races or regatta entirely at their own risk. See “Decision to Race” above. The organizers of the races will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with, prior to, during, or after the races or regatta.

CREW: Adults may race with or without crew. Crews are highly recommended for children but are dependent on their experience.

Need Parts? Check http://www.sunfishsailboats.com/, sailaction.com; http://www.laserperformance.com/main/ For hints, other races etc join the International Sunfish Association -248 673-2750, check http://sunfishclass.org/

The regular weekend racers would be happy to help you learn to sail or to help you learn the racing rules. We can often provide a spare boat for those who would like to try out racing or for those who have weekend guests who know how to race and want to join in.

If you have any questions, please call Ira Sanchick 763-6515.

COME ON OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN!


Some historical articles on Sunfish Fleet #27:

Sunfish race buoy chart with islands and significant shallow water spots on the course noted. Buoy positions may vary slightly but these are approximately correct. We may place additional buoy south of the big island.