Sailfest 2026 — Friday Night Casual Racing (STYC / SSC / CYC Seattle)
Vessel: R/22 "Patriot X" — Sail #2201
Team: Team Patriot Sailing
Event: Sailfest 2026 — weekly Friday-night casual racing, no
official scoring. Three series:
June: 29 May, 5, 12, 19, 26 Jun
July: 3, 10, 17, 31 Jul (no race 24 Jul)
August: 7, 14, 21, 28 Aug
Reference: Sailfest 2026 NOR/SI; STYC GNOR/GSIs (course mark
descriptions); current RRS
Time Zone: All times local (America/Los_Angeles)
================================================================
1. SITUATION
================================================================
a. Area of Operations: Puget Sound near Shilshole Bay; start line
between the N Buoy and the white rock on the breakwater. The Ship
Canal Restricted Area is off-limits to sailboats, bounded by:
- South end of the Shilshole breakwater NW to Buoy C"1" (Green
Can #1)
- Buoy C"1" SW to Buoy N"2" (Red Nun #2)
- Buoy N"2" SE to Buoy N"4"
Exercise caution near the Ship Canal entrance — heavy traffic and
shallow water SW of the entrance buoys.
b. Friendly Forces: Joint STYC/SSC/CYC Seattle Race Committee, on
station at the start (not running a formal signaled sequence);
fellow cruisers, racers, liveaboards, and dinghies of all
abilities, with or without PHRF ratings.
c. Format Note: This is casual, unscored racing. No protesting, no
yelling, and no contact between boats. Boats of greater sailing
ability must go out of their way to avoid boats of lesser
ability — this is a rule, not just courtesy. Motors may not be
used while racing.
d. Dock Call: 1745 — one hour prior to the 1845 start.
================================================================
2. MISSION
================================================================
Team Patriot Sailing deploys R/22 "Patriot X" (Sail #2201) to join
Sailfest's Friday night casual racing, sailing an honest, low-
pressure race each week to build crew reps and enjoy the series,
with an emphasis on courtesy and fun over competitive scoring.
================================================================
3. EXECUTION
================================================================
a. Concept of Operations: Race per the current RRS as modified by
these Sailing Instructions toward a relaxed, cruiser-friendly
format. There is one start each night, at 1845, timed on GPS
rather than an RC-signaled sequence — Patriot X's own GPS clock
is the authority on start time, not the RC boat.
b. Schedule of Events:
SERIES DATES START TIME LIMIT ENDS
June 29 May, 5, 12, 19, 26 Jun 1845 1.25 hrs 2000
July 3, 10, 17, 31 Jul (skip 7/24) 1845 1.25 hrs 2000
August 7, 14, 21, 28 Aug 1845 1.25 hrs 2000
c. Course: Either N-B-M-N or N-M-B-N depending on wind conditions,
announced on VHF 69 at 1830 the night of the race and posted on
the STYC website at 1800 the same night. Refer to the 2026 STYC
GNOR/GSIs for mark descriptions and distances between marks.
d. Divisions: None — single fleet, single start, no official
scoring.
e. Coordinating Instructions:
(1) Turn Patriot X's GPS on at least 5 minutes before the 1845
start to make sure satellites are acquired — GPS time isn't
accurate until then, and it's the official start time.
(2) There is no skippers' meeting for this series. Check the
STYC website for any weekly changes, posted by 1800 the
Friday of the race (same day, not the night before).
(3) Time limit is 1.25 hours with no extensions — all racing
ends at 2000 regardless of finish status.
(4) Stay clear of the Ship Canal Restricted Area at all times —
treat it as a hard boundary, not a racing mark to round.
(5) Channel differs from STYC's scored series — this is VHF 69,
not 72. Confirm the right channel is dialed in before
heading out.
(6) No PHRF rating required to race — if Patriot X doesn't have
one on file for this purpose, that's not a barrier to
joining.
================================================================
4. SUSTAINMENT / SERVICE SUPPORT
================================================================
a. Parking: Not specified in this SI — use standard marina/venue
guidance.
b. Personal Equipment: Standard PFDs and weather-appropriate attire.
No motor use is permitted while racing, so plan maneuvers
(docking approach, retiring, etc.) with that in mind.
c. Weather: Course direction depends on wind — check conditions and
the VHF/website course announcement before heading out each
week.
d. Post-Race: No formal after-party. If the CYC Clubhouse is open,
crew is welcome to gather at the bar to debrief — no food will be
available.
================================================================
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
================================================================
a. Command: Team Skipper — Rick Meldrum. All crew and logistics
questions route through the Skipper first.
b. Signal:
(1) On-water: VHF channel 69 (course announced 1830) — different
from the VHF 72 used in STYC's scored series; don't mix
these up.
(2) Skipper contact — email: meldrum.rick@uspatriotsailing.org
| phone: 808-640-7013.
(3) Ratings/questions: STYC handicappers or race organizers via
www.styc.org.
----------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: This series is unscored and casual by design — no protests,
no contact, mandatory give-way courtesy to less experienced boats.
Double-check VHF 69 (not 72) before each race, watch the Ship Canal
Restricted Area boundary, and note the July series skips the week of
24 Jul.
----------------------------------------------------------------
