Community Club Program - Members’ Page

This page is for members of the Community Club Program (CC), that they may be current about the program, and keep abreast of the events and activities planned for the season. This is your page, and if you have any suggestions we would be delighted to hear from you.

Members' Manual and Guidelines | History | Committee | The Shark Fleet | Reservation Procedure | Insurance |Guidelines for Use | Tips for Successful Day Cruising

Members' Manual and Guidelines

All returning and new members to the Community Club Program are required to
read the "Members' Manual and Guidelines" and, after each cruise, complete
a Skipper's Log report. Copies are available at the office or may be
downloaded by clicking here (updated May 2004).

History
The Community Club Program was the brain-child of Don Ruddy, a six-time Shark World Champion. Started as an extension to the Adult Learn to Sail program, the intent was to offer graduating members continuing access to the Club’s Shark fleet and to enhance the efforts to increase membership in the KYC. The Program began with two Shark boats owned by the club. Two additional boats were acquired that year, with one other being donated by the estate of a club member. In each of 2001 and 2002 one Shark was purchased, for a total in 2002 of seven. The program is basing its membership at approximately 10 members per boat. This is not a ridged rule, but one that will be monitored to ensure that there are sufficient boats available for membership demand. The CC has grown significantly since its inception in 2000, and by 2002 included 62 members.

The CC fleet of Sharks is shared with the Adult Learn to Sail Program, as are the maintenance, fuel and mooring costs (paid to the KYC.) A portion of the annual budget also goes to hiring a Fleet Bo’s’n’ to maintain and clean the boats. At the 2002 AGM, it was enacted that those wishing to enjoy the benefits of the CC must first be members of the KYC and also pay an additional annual contribution for the care and maintenance of the fleet.

Committee
The direction and activities of the CC are organized by the members, through a member elected committee. Due to the outstanding popularity of the program, in 2002 the KYC Board provide the CC with committee status and representation at the Board of Directors. A Steering Committee was formed to guide and complete this process for the 2003 season. Thereafter, the CC members will elect their committee and put forth a name for nomination to a Member at Large Board position to represent the CC.

If you have concerns, questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact any member of
the Committee. The Committee membership for 2003 will eventually be made known as the season progresses, but for the meantime includes:

Adult Learn to Sail

adultsailing@kingstonyachtclub.com

The Shark Fleet
Specifications:

The KYC has one of the largest fleet of Sharks on Lake Ontario, which includes the seven owned by the Club and several other member-owned vessels. There is much information about Sharks available on the web and one may wish to visit the following sites for additional information: www.shark24.org or http://sailquest.com/shark/. The following material about Sharks was obtained from the former:

“When George Hinterholler designed the Shark in 1959, he was looking for a boat that would "go like hell when the wind blew." Growing up sailing in Austria's Salzkammergut region, Hinterholler was used to light displacement fin-keelers; fast, responsive and exciting.

The few sailboats he found on Lake Ontario when he immigrated to Canada in 1952 had heavy displacement hulls. They were ponderous and had a bad habit of hoppy-horsing in the rough Lake Ontario chop.

The young boat builder/designer was bored by their performance. Announcing that he could build a boat that would sail circles around the rest, he retired to the shed behind his Niagara-on-the-Lake home and built Teeter T otter, a hard-chined 22-foot sloop made of plywood. It was the forerunner of the Shark. And when the wind blew, it did go like hell. Its designer loved it and so did his friends.

There was an immediate demand for the nimble little boat 35 years ago, so that winter Hinterholler increased the length to 24 feet and began building plywood Sharks in his shed. Hull number 5 was for a customer by the name of Bill O'Reilly who demanded that his boat be built of a substance relatively new to boat building; fiberglass. He even offered to teach Hinterholler how to use it. With fiberglass it took 18 man-hours to produce a hull instead of the 128 hours devoted to a wooden hull, and fiberglass was virtually maintenance free. That made his boat the affordable yacht and Hinterholler and Shark were on their way to International success.

Since then, more than 2,500 Sharks have taken their place in the fleet, both on the North American continent and in Europe. It rapidly became the biggest one-design keelboat fleet on the Great Lakes and today their are active groups on the east and west coasts and in the Montreal and Ottawa areas. About 500 Sharks sail the large lakes of Austria, Switzerland and Germany and the waters off the Swedish archipelago.

There have been changes since Hinterholler first designed it, but they have been cosmetic. The sleek hull, straight stem, and long flat run at the stern, fin keel and spade rudder made it a racer that climbs easily over its bow-wave to achieve speeds in excess of 10 knots. The six-foot beam and doghouse accommodate a V-berth, two quarter-berths with sink, stove and icebox, making it a pocket cruiser with sitting headroom. It draws less than four feet, making it an ideal boat to tuck into anchorages denied deeper draught boats.

The Shark's prompt success was due in no small part to its early racing record. In 1960, Hinterholler crewed for George Steffan, later President of Mirage Yachts, in the Freeman Cup. T hey cleaned up with three 1sts using brisk 18-knot winds to put a leg between them and their nearest competitor in the race. In the 1963 Freeman Cup the Shark did it again. For small boats, the course was from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Rochester NY, 80 nautical miles along the south shore of Lake Ontario. T here were no spinnakers and no genoas on Sharks in those days and the race was sailed with main and working jib only.

"We thought our biggest competition would be the "Thunderbirds," Hinterholler said "but after the first surf, we knew that there would be no contest. We barreled down the course in seven hours and 44 minutes."

In 1963, using a spinnaker on a close reach across Lake Ontario, Sid Dakin, one of the first to own a Shark, sailed the blockhouse Bay race from Toronto to Olcott, NY, with an adrenaline pumping average speed of 10.2 knots, beating the 56-footer Innisfree on a boat-for- boat basis. That sort of speed boggled the minds of sailors unaccustomed to semi displacement hulls.

Racing boats come and racing boats go, but the Shark remains. With its flexible rig and planing abilities, it is as up to date as anything on the market today. And, with its low aspect, 7/8ths rig and heavy keel, it has a sea-kindliness and seaworthiness to match its speed.

Hinterholler admits that the Shark's scantlings are better suited to a tank, but the proof of his wisdom in overbuilding the boat has been in its longevity. Virtually each of the 2,500 Sharks built in the last 35 years is still sailing and many of the first hulls off the line are still winning their share of races. The Shark is seen sailing happily in all major Canadian cruising waters, but some owners have taken them much further afield.”

Reservation Procedure
The list of reservations for any current week is posted on the bulletin-board outside the office. Boats may be reserved by adding your name to the list if a boat is available. A reservation may also be made by calling the KYC office at 548-3052 during business hours, Monday to Friday. In the event of a long weekend, the reservation sheet will be available on the Friday before.

For race-nights (Tuesdays and Thursdays), the reservation list is laid out such that,members wishing to crew and looking for a Skipper may insert their names in the spaces provided. Skippers looking for crew may leave the spaces blank, with the hope other members will sign on. On race nights, the Community Club fleet is not reserved exclusively for racing and members may signed out boats for just cruising.

During Adult Learn to Sail training evenings (Mondays and Wednesdays in June, July and August), the fleet is reserved for the exclusive use of this training program.

The time slots available are as follows:

Boats may be reserved up to seven days in advance, but members may only make one reservation at a time per time-slot. Another reservation may be made as soon as the first is completed.

A reservation will be held for one hour, after which time the boat will be available to any Community Club member wishing to sign it out.

At the moment, primarily since they lack navigation lights, boats may not be signed out beyond sunset or overnight. The suggestion for over-night, “bare-boat” use has been requested by many members and the possibility is currently being looked into by the Committee.

Insurance
The CC Program boats are insured by the KYC. It is a commercial policy carrying a $1,500.00 deductible. In the event of serious damage, the operator (Skipper) at fault is liable for up to $1,500.00 in damages.

Guidelines for Use
The Community Club boats are equipped with charts. Hazards to navigation (shoals) exist in these waters and skippers should familiarize themselves with these charts and shoals before departure. Range of operation of the CC boats is limited to the chart area.

Weather conditions in the Kingston area can be volatile. It is prudent to check forecasts prior to slipping your moorings and to “keep a weather eye out”, while on the water.

Should weather conditions be approaching “small craft” warnings, boats will be prohibited from leaving the dock – a sign to this effect will be prominently displayed on the Shark dock and is to be observed. Respect the wind.

The Community Club Member who books the boat must be on board.

Please wear proper deck shoes. Non-skid soles are best for safety. Do not wear black soles as they leave smudges that are difficult to remove.

Each boat is equipped with a main and jib only. Spinnakers, 150s and 180s are available
from the CC boat locker and if used are to be returned after the cruise.

Prior to departure:
• thoroughly check all lines, rigging, sails, etc;
• ensure all safety equipment is on board and operational;
• have you sufficient life-vests for all crew;
• check fuel level, and open fuel cock and tank vent;
• ensure the engine is running smoothly;
• check the anchor to ensure available and that it’s not foul.

If equipment is missing, ask dock attendant or staff. Do not borrow equipment from other boats.

Please leave and enter the harbour under power or paddle.

Bring fenders inboard after leaving the dock.

After use:
• please ensure that the boats are properly secured;
• place fenders to avoid damage to neighbouring boats;
• properly fold or roll the sails, and attach the mainsail cover;
• coil and tidy lines;
• tie off halyards to prevent noise;
• secure the engine, close the tank air-vent and close the fuel shut-off;
• tie down the tiller;
• remove all garbage and clean the boat;
• secure the hatch to avoid rain entering;
• please leave the boat in a condition that you yourself would wish to find it.

Complete the Skipper’s Log, noting any mechanical or rigging problems, and file at the office (if the office is closed, slide under the door.)

Tips for Successful Day Cruising
Before You Go
Check the weather forecast. Is the wind forecast to increase, decrease or switch direction? Check the engine. Are you familiar with this model? How do you lift if up? Is there enough fuel? Study the chart and know where the shoals are. What do the buoys mean? Going upstream or into harbour, you keep the red buoy on your right? “Red, right, returning.”

Leaving Harbour
Secure all sails and lines on deck so that they don’t fall overboard. A trailing line will ultimately become snagged in the prop and kill the engine. Watch for traffic. Cruise boats, sailboats, seadoos – there’s lost of traffic by the KYC. A collision is no way to start a cruise! Also give the floating-dock a wide berth and be watchful for swimmers. Get plenty of sea room offshore before yo attempt to raise the sail. How much? Enough to make mistakes in!

Bring your fenders inboard and stow in the cabin. Nothing distinguishes a novice or sloppy sailor like dangling fenders. It’s not pershippity!

Underway
Watch 360 degrees. Check the blind spot behind your foresail. A boat on the opposite track may have the same blind spot for you. The skipper must be eternally vigilant. If you have no destination in mind, first sail upwind. Then the course home will be pleasantly downwind. This is very good advice in cool weather. Watch for changes in the wind. The time to reef is when you are asking, “Should I reef?” Respect the wind. Think ahead.

Fun places to visit
Simcoe Island anchorage (where the other boats are.) Cedar Island, Government Island Park, General Wolfe Hotel dock, Wolfe Island, watch the buoys in and out. Brown’s Bay Inn is shallow late in the season. Milton Island Government Park.

Returning Home to KYC
Use lots of sea room to drop sails. Secure lines and sails on deck. Fenders out before going into the mooring. Approach the mooring dead slow. Leave the boat tidy. Book another cruise.