Advice on starting a Sunfish Fleet within our club (Arizona Yacht Club)

I enjoy racing a Catalina 22 in our local club C-22 one-design fleet. Now that I also have a Sunfish (1979 model year), I’m reaching out to other local Sunfish owners to gauge interest in starting a Sunfish Fleet within AYC. To establish our own fleet, we need a total of 5-boats to race ... mine plus 4-more.

What thoughts / advice / experience does anyone have regarding starting-up a new Sunfish fleet for club racing? It seems pretty simple; but, I’m anticipating potential issues around how rigorously we adhere to official class rules. On the one hand, ensuring everyone is “class legal” levels the playing field for one-design racing competition. On the other hand, being flexible and less rigorous will probably result in more people joining the fleet ... and in less expense for skippers with respect to equipment, sails, etc. To me, the Sunfish is all about sailing FUN, so I personally favor looser standards at the club level, with emphasis on “friendly” racing competition. I’ll be querying other interested boat owners regarding their preference; but, I’m leaning toward “more boats/members” with less emphasis on being “class legal.” I should note that we already have a large, very active, Laser fleet - I think anyone interested in pure one-design competitive dinghy racing will gravitate toward the Lasers ... and those looking for a more relaxed fun race and a fun fleet will look toward the Sunfish fleet.

Any thoughts, great ideas, or advice to share? And, if you happen to be a Phoenix- area Sunfish owner reading this posting, please let me know so I can follow-up with you. Thanks!

- Bob
 
Rest assured, at the club level nobody gives a d...
And thanks for giving this a try!

As an aside, Laser class rules aren’t enforced in club racing in many East coast fleets.
 
Because there are so many "clonefish", local rules could allow any 14-foot sailboat similar to Sunfish to participate. (They're unlikely to beat Sunfish anyway). ;)

Later, apply Portsmouth ratings, then narrow the rules as the class grows to an acceptable size. :)
 
Easy, inexpensive and attractive would seem to be the words. If things get going great, then discussions can happen if things need to tighten up. Otherwise keep Intensity Sails as your friend. No need to weed out people in the beginning, would be my thought. Arizona doesn't seem to me to be a gathering hub of hard core sailors trucking in from around the world, but rather those out to enjoy friendship and friendly racing....and who's buying dinner! ;-)
 
Thanks for the comments and ideas. I think you guys are correct ... keep it relaxed and open. Surprisingly for the Arizona desert, we do have a very active yacht club - membership of about 250-families, with boats ranging from BICs to Hobie 33s. At our big annual regatta, we fielded 70-boats across 10-classes ... that’s a pretty good turn-out for any regatta. Some of our club members keep boats in San Diego - a 5-hour drive - and participate in races there. So, we do get those members that are really passionate about racing; but, I think they tend to gravitate more toward the high-performance sport boats. Anyway, I’m going to try to get the Sunfish fleet launched ... I just need four (4) more people to agree to sign-up. And, per the feedback, we’ll keep it easy, inexpensive, and FUN. Thanks again!
 
Reminder:
Many Sunfish sailors just want to 'mess around' and aren't interested in racing. To spark the racing bug in them, I suggest you start out very gently by offering one or more clinics.
Discuss basic and 'racing' set ups.
On the water, practice starting, tacking, jibing, mark roundings, etc. Try a few short (10 min) 'fun' races without scoring. And lots of food and age-appropriate beverages before or after...
 
Excellent ideas, Wavedancer. Especially the “age appropriate” beverages. I am the wrong guy to be doing a clinic - I’m very new to the Sunfish! But, we’ll get there! Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Hey Bob I'm interested in getting a sunfish, I'm in the Phoenix area. This is Jeff Bryant, I'm in AYC as well. I'm looking for a inexpensive one right now.

We had 7 lasers and one sunfish Wednesday night beer can at TTL. I was in a laser. I actually just sold it today so I really want to pick up a sunfish, to do exactly as you mentioned. Playing and racing but not real serious.

I think we could get 5 because Lori ? usually shows up but sails in Portsmouth. She has a sunfish. Dave H. was in the sunfish Wednesday. There has to be a bunch in the valley. If you know of one let me know.

I do want to chat with you because I'm also in the market to setup a Catalina 22 to race at Lake Pleasant. Talk soon. Jeff.
 
Hey Bob I'm interested in getting a sunfish, I'm in the Phoenix area. This is Jeff Bryant, I'm in AYC as well. I'm looking for a inexpensive one right now.

We had 7 lasers and one sunfish Wednesday night beer can at TTL. I was in a laser. I actually just sold it today so I really want to pick up a sunfish, to do exactly as you mentioned. Playing and racing but not real serious.

I think we could get 5 because Lori ? usually shows up but sails in Portsmouth. She has a sunfish. Dave H. was in the sunfish Wednesday. There has to be a bunch in the valley. If you know of one let me know.

I do want to chat with you because I'm also in the market to setup a Catalina 22 to race at Lake Pleasant. Talk soon. Jeff.
Hi Jeff: Great to hear, and I think I can help you with both the Sunfish and the Catalina 22! I sent you an email to the address listed in the AYC Membership Directory with additional information and my phone number. With you onboard, we have our five (5) members and I will ask that we stand-up the Sunfish Fleet for this fall. More to follow. Talk to you soon! - Bob
 
I enjoy racing a Catalina 22 in our local club C-22 one-design fleet. Now that I also have a Sunfish (1979 model year), I’m reaching out to other local Sunfish owners to gauge interest in starting a Sunfish Fleet within AYC. To establish our own fleet, we need a total of 5-boats to race ... mine plus 4-more.

What thoughts / advice / experience does anyone have regarding starting-up a new Sunfish fleet for club racing? It seems pretty simple; but, I’m anticipating potential issues around how rigorously we adhere to official class rules. On the one hand, ensuring everyone is “class legal” levels the playing field for one-design racing competition. On the other hand, being flexible and less rigorous will probably result in more people joining the fleet ... and in less expense for skippers with respect to equipment, sails, etc. To me, the Sunfish is all about sailing FUN, so I personally favor looser standards at the club level, with emphasis on “friendly” racing competition. I’ll be querying other interested boat owners regarding their preference; but, I’m leaning toward “more boats/members” with less emphasis on being “class legal.” I should note that we already have a large, very active, Laser fleet - I think anyone interested in pure one-design competitive dinghy racing will gravitate toward the Lasers ... and those looking for a more relaxed fun race and a fun fleet will look toward the Sunfish fleet.

Any thoughts, great ideas, or advice to share? And, if you happen to be a Phoenix- area Sunfish owner reading this posting, please let me know so I can follow-up with you. Thanks!

- Bob
Hi Bob, I'm an intermediate Sunfish sailor who just arrived from Sarasota, FL. I'll be in the Phoenix/Glendale area for at least a year. I was unable to bring my sunfish w/me, but really really want to brush up on my basic skills, rent/purchase a sunfish and learn to race. I took a quick trip to Mount Pleasant about a month ago and was so impressed. Would appreciate any tips/advice on how to get into the Arizona sunfish world during this pandemic. Thanks so much.
 
Hi SRQSun, and thanks for reaching out! Let’s connect - I’m in Glendale too, and we have a pretty solid Sunfish Fleet within the Arizona Yacht Club. As you’ve no doubt already concluded, it’s HOT here right now - our organized racing events are suspended during the summer months, and we’re just ramping up for our Fall Series which will start in mid-September. We sail and race at a cool urban lake - Tempe Town Lake - and we hit Lake Pleasant regularly too. I am sending you a private message with my contact information. Let’s talk over the weekend. I look forward to meeting you and sailing with you soon.

- Bob
 
Yep, y'all are hotter down there in the Phoenix area, but it's still warm up here in Cochise County. When I banged up my knee in Show Low, riding my dirt bike insanely fast on Rim Road 300, I sold my Minifish to some hand who planned to sail on Saguaro Lake. If I stay in Arizona, I want to check out Roosevelt Lake, which looks pretty large, but I don't know whether it's too deeply ringed by mountains for there to be much wind. :confused:

Many folks don't associate Arizona with sailing, but there are actually some killer venues open to those willing to travel a bit: Lake Mead & Lake Powell, for starters, the two largest man-made reservoirs in the Lower 48, if I remember correctly. Maybe Alaska & Hawaii too, I've never been to either of those states. Not far from Mead & Powell, you have Mohave Lake & Lake Havasu, the latter being practically world-famous for its partying scene. :rolleyes:

Then there are some primo lakes up in the White Mountains... I had a good time sailing on Show Low Lake, not very large in surface area but plenty large enough to have fun, and the wind gusted up to 30 knots during one voyage. Had to dump the main a couple times to keep from being knocked down or capsized. Off to the east, Big Lake offers plenty of room for Lasers or 'Fish, mighty pretty too at 9000' elevation with all the beautiful tall pines around it. ;)

SO THERE'S SAILING TO BE HAD HERE IN ARIZONA, SOMETIMES YA JUST GOTTA COMBINE SAILING VOYAGES WITH CAMPING TRIPS... :cool:

P.S. During the summer, while sailing on Big Lake in the White Mountains, don't be surprised when ya see deer or elk in the tree line near shore, LOL. :D
 

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