ANNUAL SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
As part of its developmental mission, the West Michigan Youth Sailing Association conducts an annual Summer Championship Racing Series. This series consists of a total of four regattas that are held every other Friday throughout the summer. Since 2010, each of these Friday regattas have attracted an average of nearly 90 boats and collectively these events have created well over 3000 individual youth sailing experiences.
These regattas are open to sailors from WMYSA member clubs only. Registration for WMYSA regattas is done through each member club.
Sailors at these regattas compete in the following classes:
- Optimist Green (for beginner sailors who have proven themselves capable of tacking, gybing and navigating a prescribed course)
- Optimist Red/White/Blue
- Butterfly
- Laser 4.7 and Radial
- Laser Full
- Club 420 jib and main
- Club 420 with spinnaker
The WMYSA Championship Series schedule for 2021 will be as follows:
- June 25 at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club
- July 9 at White Lake Yacht Club
- July 23 at Spring Lake Yacht Club
- August 6 at Muskegon Yacht Club
CLUB 420 EVENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE SAILORS
Building upon an event held for the first time in 2017, the WMYSA also conducts an annual Club 420 regatta and clinic. This event is designed to give high school and middle school age sailors the opportunity to learn more about or gain more experience sailing jib-and-main or with spinnakers on Club 420 boats. This event is also an opportunity to learn more about the high school, collegiate and US National Championship competitive sailing formats.
For this regatta, Macatawa Bay Junior Sailing and the St Joseph Junior Foundation have approx 12-18 boats rigged for spinnaker & trapeze. Visiting clubs may need to bring or arrange additional boats and/or spinnaker equipment if demand requires. Sailors should bring trapeze harnesses if they own them.
This year’s Club 420 event will be held on June 18, 2021.
OPTIMIST GREEN FLEET “NO TEARS” EVENT FOR BEGINNERS
In addition to the Championship Series, the WMYSA also conducts an annual Optimist Green Fleet “No Tears” Regatta for beginner sailors. This regatta is not scored and offers our youngest and least experienced sailors a great opportunity to try racing for the first time with plentiful coaching and caring support.