Friday Dinghy Night offers low pressure, friendly, small boat racing over the summer months at WCSC. Although several of the usual participants race regularly in the Centerboard or Keelboat Fleets, the majority do not. This is a testament to the relaxed atmosphere fostered at this event. Friday Dinghy Night is a great opportunity for non-racers and beginners to experience sailboat competition in a non-aggressive atmosphere. It's a great opportunity to learn!
The fleet usually has several Force Fives, a Hobie 16 or two, a Weta trimaran, often a Laser or two, Sunfish, a Wayfarer, and a Flying Scot. All dinghies are welcome. Are you a sailor but don't have a dinghy? There's a good chance Eric Seymour or Brian Hampton can find a suitable boat for you.
Usually, people show up around 4:30pm to rig their boats. There will be a brief skippers' meeting at 5:00. The first signal is at 6:00pm. We play until about 7:30 pm and typically conduct two races. The expected racecourse will be either a fixed course (around government buoys) or W/L sprints (1 lap) around an inflated buoy. The course chosen for each FDN will be shown on the event page (website calendar) for each individual date.
After we put our boats away, we gather for food and beverages on the clubhouse deck. For the after-race social, we expect to do burgers and dogs. Soft drinks and beer will be available. Everyone chips in so Eric can cover the cost.
Participation last summer was very good, with an average of 10 boats for every race. Join your fellow sailors every other Friday (check the club calendar for dates) for fun, low pressure sailing with lots of free pointers.
Parents of juniors, or if you are new to sailboat racing, please download and read the Sailing Instructions (a sort of how-to-participate guide). This will REALLY help you understand what is happening on the water. It is also helpful to race management if you attend the 5:00 skippers' meeting.
Sailing Instructions (with course diagrams) and race results can be found here.
We hope to see you on the water!