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SM Sailing Association

Bringing sailors together since 1929

Community Boating Inc. 21 David G Mugar Way, Boston MA 02114

Phone: (617) 523-1038

Email: [email protected]

Social & Competitive Sailing

Community Boating offers racing almost every day of the week! Racing is a fun and challenging way to get more out of the sport. It provides an opportunity to reinforce and build your sailing skills while becoming part of a friendly and competitive community. Hone your boat handling through competition and learn racing rules and strategies through classes. See our different racing opportunities below and learn how get involved, whether you’re a seasoned vet or completely new to sailboat racing.

CBI staff organize several short races most Fridays after work. Racing is informal, so boats can join at any point in the evening. A social atmosphere blending camaraderie, fun, sailing, and competition; meet new people and broaden your sailing horizons.

Who: All skill levels welcome; whether you’re a national champ or are just learning you’re encouraged to sail with us. When:  Rig anytime and head out to race as soon as a few boats are ready and a course is set — usually about 17:30. Racing ends at sunset, so come out even if you free up a bit later. Where:  Meet on the water. Look for a cluster of Mercuries, the nearby committee boat flying flags & sounding horns, and big red tetrahedrons. What: You can race mainsail, sloop or spinnaker, solo or with friends, keel or centerboard, as long as it’s a Mercury.

UPDATES, NEWS & TIPS

See our blog below for updates, rules & racing tips, watermelon announcements, and hilarity.  Sign up for email updates so you don’t miss a post; typically weekly or less or join by sending a blank email to  [email protected]

Unsubscribe by sending a blank email to  [email protected]

Tiller Club is a community of CBI sailors with the goal to promote racing at all levels.

What: We run seasonal racing series, trophy regattas, single-handed events, and races in keelboats and dinghies, in boats provided by CBI. Who : Skippers with knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing and the Tiller Club Sailing Instructions. Novice and experienced crews welcome. Come with a teammate, or connect with one at CBI (two sailors per boat unless specified). We ask regular skippers to get their Racing Skipper rating by taking a brief online test on the racing rules. Contact [email protected] to request the test. When : Sunday mornings. Rigging and registration 9:45-10:10am, skipper’s meeting 10:15, first race starts at 11am (you should be on the racing course at that time). Series days: no race starts after 1pm; no lunch break, no boat rotation. Regatta days: no race starts after 2:30; short break for lunch and boat rotation.  See schedule for details. Cost : $5 per boat to cover trophies and administrative expenses.

Getting Involved

Come down on race day with your teammate. Arrive by 9:45am, rig your boat and register before  the 10:15am Skippers Meeting. Racing starts promptly at 11am.

• Learn To Race class series for new racers, or those needing a refresher
• get your Tiller Club rating by completing a test on the racing rules of sailing (CBI membership required)
• regular, experienced participants are expected to assist with Race Committee occasionally; we’re volunteer driven
• Like our  Facebook page for weekly results, photos, etc.
• Sign up for our  Tiller Club Google Group for important updates or to connect with skipper/crew
• With questions or to request a link to the online Racing Skipper test, contact [email protected]
• intermediate & advanced racers: CBI hosts offer a series of practices to sharpen your skills

Tiller Club Executive Board 2023

Commodore: Robin Weatherill Vice Commodore: David Chudzicki Steward: Joshua Gahm

Members-at-Large: Nick Afshartous Trina Arpin Terry Duncan Max Kraft

Documents & Links

Tiller Club volunteers teach classes and clinics designed to introduce sailors to the competitive sport, and to expand the horizons of experienced racers.

Learn to Race Class Series

Our Learn To Race class series is designed to demystify sailboat racing for the intermediate sailor with little or no racing experience. The course is taught in three 90-minute chalk talks — Intro to Racing, Basic Racing Rules, and Basic Racing Strategy.

While all three lessons are on land, the instructor will also provide details on several opportunities to put your new skills to the test on the water, including those below and at community-boating.org/adult/racing

Who:  Members with Mercury Yellow rating (Jib class suggested) When: See schedule and sign up in advance through the Online Member Portal

Novice Racing Clinics

For first time racers, this companion clinic will help put new skills and knowledge from the Learn-to-Race classes into practice. Learn through practice starts, races with on-the-water support, and a debrief afterwards. Tiller Club members will help introduce first-time racers to the sport, directing them to understand the course, locate the marks, and comprehend the starting sequence in order to get around the course properly their first couple times.

Who:  Members with Mercury Yellow Rating who have taken LTR part 1 When: See schedule and sign up in advance through the Online Member Portal

Intermediate & Advanced Instruction

CBI volunteer instructors run  intermediate race practices geared towards regular CBI racers.

We’re a friendly group of CBI members interested in the speed and excitement of sailing and racing 420’s and Lasers. Our group is dedicated to improving our sailing skills, while having fun on the water through informal racing. Most weeks, we run several short races with no score-keeping, so boats may join at any point in the evening.

Who : Whether you were a college all-American or just learned the racing rules through CBI’s Learn To Race class series , you’re welcome to sail with us. A 420 or Laser rating is required to skipper. Crew may have any rating, but must match up with a skipper. When : Monday evenings starting after 17:00. We head out to race as soon as a few boats are rigged and a course is set. Racing ends 30 minutes before sunset. Where : CBI main dock, rain or shine. If arriving late, meet us on the racecourse.

Contact & Updates

To see important updates, ask questions, or match up with a crew/skipper,  join our CBI High Performance Racing google group . Or subscribe by sending a blank email to  [email protected] .

Note that Google Groups allows you to control the frequency of emails as there is often a high volume on summer Sundays/Mondays.

The mission of Women’s Sailing and Racing is to advance the sailing skills of women at CBI through racing and practice in a challenging, supportive, and social environment. We welcome women at all levels of experience interested in participating in recreational or competitive sailing and skill development.

Social Sailing on Tuesdays: Women of all skill levels are welcome Tuesdays. It’s an opportunity to meet friends, expand your sailing skills and share the joy of sailing.

Racing on Thursdays: Our racing is informal and focused on skill development. Experience with a jib and/or a yellow rating is ideal to start to crew. The first time you join us for racing, please select a day where you have the flag-rating. We either pair up on the dock or on Slack so you do not need to bring crew.

To stay up to date join our Google Group or our Slack channels (email front office for access, [email protected] ).

An inclusive group of CBI members interested in the teamwork and power of sailing and racing Sonars and Ideal 18’s. We’re dedicated to improving our sailing skills and building camaraderie, while having fun on the water through informal racing.

Co-able Keelboat Racing is organized by CBI staff every Wednesday Night starting in May, and will race on Sonars and Ideal 18s. Sailors include members from both the Adult Program and Universal Access Program. We hold a competitors’ meeting at 17:30 to brief sailors about the course, rules, and answer questions. We return to the dock approximately 30 minutes before sunset and hold a debrief on shore.

All are welcome to attend; UAP members should RSVP below:

Intermediate Racing Practices mailing list will be used to organize informal sessions where experienced racers can practice and improve their racing skills. While there is no regular schedule, anyone on the list can propose and organize a practice. These might involve a few boats or many boats and work on various skills depending on the interests of the organizers and participants. Advanced racers may sometimes volunteer to provide formal or informal coaching at these practices.

The general expectation is that skippers in the practices should:

• Know the racing rules
• Have skippered in at least a few Tiller Club, Women’s Racing, or Friday Night races
• Have Mercury red rating
• Crew should have some racing experience but need not have red ratings nor rules expertise

Organizers of particular sessions may tailor these requirements depending on the goals of the practice. Sign up for the email list: https://groups.google.com/g/cbi-intermediate-racing-practice

( briefing ,  debrief , a structured practice environment, and on-water feedback. Drills vary per attendance and wind conditions with focus on improving boat speed, boat-handling, tactics, and other  racing techniques  in Mercuries. Who:  Regular CBI racers with Mercury Red rating When:  Virtual for 2021, see blog posts below: See the  schedule post  on the blog Where:  Please be  dressed and rigging  on the front of the dock at the start of practice Sign up each week  after reading the day’s briefing in our blog below: -->The 2017-2020 blog can be seen below) Related Posts --> Upwind Mainsail Tuning Part of a wonderful series on mainsail tuning and shape. See more on SailZing’s YouTube page Upwind Mainsail Tuning Part of a wonderful series on mainsail tuning and shape. See more on SailZing’s YouTube page Wind on the Water “Where there is wind, there is speed, so the goal of the wind spotter is to look for clues on the water and above.” See more at Sailing… Read More   Wind on the Water “Where there is wind, there is speed, so the goal of the wind spotter is to look for clues on the water and above.” See more at Sailing… Read More  

The CBI Windsurfing Community is a diverse group of people, who share a love for water sports; world class windsurfers and beginners having fun and learning from each other. We race the BIC One Design 293 with a 7.8 rig, but you can go with a smaller sail if you feel more comfortable (or more competitive).

Who : All windsurfers with a yellow rating are welcome, whether you’re a pro or just learning the racing rules through CBI’s  Learn To Race class series . When : Every  Tuesday  at  17:30  (rigging starts earlier). We will run several races, and go until sunset Where : Meet at the windsurf shed. Don`t forget to check out at the dockhouse before rigging.

Stand Up Paddling and Windsurfing is a great combination to stay in shape ?

-One of many excellent quizzes to improve and test your knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing https://www.uksailmakers.com/animated-quiz-s2

-Part of a wonderful series on mainsail tuning and shape See more on SailZing’s YouTube page

-“Where there is wind, there is speed, so the goal of the wind spotter is to look for clues on the water and above.” See more at Sailing World

-Roll tacking timing and footwork. Finish on close-hauled and with the rudder straight! The best one for CBI members to emulate is at 1:53 (light wind) Really nice focus on initiation, patience, footwork, and tiller hand. See the heel of the aft foot at 3:59! (moderate wind) For the Mercury it’s more about patience and smoothness than the muscle and speed displayed on these small collegiate dinghies. Laser roll tacking requires quite a bit more physicality than the 420 or Mercury

• MEMBER LOGIN

Fall Racing

Join one of the largest one design racing programs in New England. We provide the boats, so all you have to do is provide the crew!  

Soling Racing is held in Boston’s Inner Harbor so teams can rig and be at the racing area in less than 30 minutes.

Soling Racing Fall Series

To purchase a boat (three spots), the skipper needs a Daysailing membership (7-day, weekend, or weekday) or greater and can fill the remaining two spots with members or non members.. Crew substitutions can be made week to week as needed. 

$960 per boat

The Fall Soling series is held on Saturdays from September 9th through October 14, 2023. The launch starts running at 9am to make the first race at 10:00. Boats are back on the mooring by 1:00. 

Contact the office at 617-227-4198 or [email protected] to sign up for a boat. 

Don't have a team? Join the crew list!

If you’re looking to get involved with racing but don’t have a team, we can add you to our Racing Crew List. You do not need to be a member to be on this list. Sailors who are looking to crew can add their names, contact information, a note about their sailing experience, and availability. Skippers have access to the crew list to contact anyone listed to fill permanent spots on their teams or just fill in here and there. Please email [email protected] to get involved.

2023 Rotation

*Rotation is finalized by 5pm on Fridays

Sailing Instructions

Racing rules of sailing, protest form, 2023 fall racing.

• Daily Scores

2022 Fall Racing

• Overall (Final)

2021 Fall Racing

2020 fall racing.

• 2019 Overall (Final)
• 2018 Overall (Final)
• 2017 Overall (Final)
• 2016 Overall (Final)

Video Recaps

Boston Harbor Sailing Club

Boston Sailing – Schools Lessons Certifications – Boston Harbor Sailing Club – Sailboat Racing Moorings Rentals Charters

DAYSAILING COURSE $699

Plus materials and 10% damage waver.

BOATHANDLING : The first 16 hours are dedicated to learning the sailing maneuvers on our new Boston 27’s, a boat the Club has adapted from Solings expressly for teaching. It has comfortable seating for 5 adults, a self-bailing cockpit, dry storage forward, a furling jib, and more than enough foam flotation to make the boat unsinkable. It provides good sailing feedback for learning with safety.

NAVIGATION:  The last 8 hours include navigating with charts in Boston Harbor and an orientation to small cruising boats. Class begins with a review of outboard operation, fueling, use of marine heads and VHF radio, then a 20 mile navigation tour of the Harbor with docking and anchoring practice at an island in Outer Harbor lunch break. Class is offered Saturdays 9-3.

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP : Daysailing students enjoy 35 days sailing privileges from the first onboard lesson to practice on the Boston 27, Soling and Pearson 26.

SCHEDULE:   Weekdays:  Friday – Sunday 9-6 each day ; Weeknights:  Monday-Friday 5-Sunset, Sunday 9-6;  Weekends:  Saturday/Sunday 9-6;  Holidays:   Memorial Day Weekend , May 28-30, 9-6,  Independence Day Weekend  July 2 – July 4, 9-6;  Labor Day Weekend,  Sept. 2-5, 9-6; Columbus Day Weekend Oct 8-10, 9-6;

Contact us: 617 720 0049     e-mail: [email protected]

• Member Portal

• Our Mission & Vision
• Mark Lindsay’s Vision
• Annual Report 2023
• Board of Directors
• Leadership Council
• Foundations & Corporate Sponsors
• Work for Us
• Charlestown
• Jamaica Pond
• Steps to Lead Summer Sailing
• Swim Sail Science
• High School Sailing
• Instructor in Training Program
• Youth at Jamaica Pond
• Registration Information
• Memberships
• Private Sails
• Adaptive Sailing
• Boating on Jamaica Pond
• Corporate & Group Sailing
• Weddings & Pier Rentals
• In-Kind & Boat Donations
• Courageous 36
• Corporate Challenge
• Richard B. Ross College Bowl

Laser Racing

Dinghy racing in boston harbor.

Sail one of our 12 Lasers, or race your own (rack storage for up to five boats is available). We’re looking to build our fleet in 2021 and welcome students and racers alike to join us on the line. Extensive racing and Laser sailing experience and an in-depth knowledge of the racing rules are required to participate.

No series or season fee required, see the NOR for more details. Current students and Courageous Members, ask us about our discounted drop-in fee!

All series are open to members at a discounted rate or non-members at full price.

• Thursday evenings May 25 through Aug 31
• First warning signal at 18:00 hours
• Notice of Race (NOR)
• Sailing Instructions (SI)

This year, our team thoughtfully constructed a program that would recreate in the virtual world the community that makes being on the pier so special. Our top priority was to support our kids emotionally and help them address the feelings of isolation, anxiety, and stress that many were experiencing. Our strategy:

• Daily check-ins with staff
• 2 social workers on staff and running programs
• Social-Emotional Learning lessons, or what students lovingly called “Feelings Classes,” for Swim Sail Science
• Community-building lessons for all students
• Lots of downtime for games, icebreakers, chatting, and general silliness

“I think every year with kids at Courageous you see relationships form. I think whether online or in person, I still had those relationships form with students and coworkers… One thing Courageous does well is unity. I have always found myself making new friends, connecting with old ones, and becoming friends with my instructor. Courageous to me is one big family and I think everyone is always there to support you.” —Jean, Swim Sail Science instructor and former Courageous kid

After our kids’ tough spring of remote learning in school, we knew that it would be critical to make the online Courageous Sailing experience hands-on and interesting, especially because many of our students—especially those already disproportionately affected by the upheaval of the pandemic—had lost so much ground academically. We needed to make learning fun!  Our strategy:

• Virtual sailboat races on Virtual Regatta, where students could practice their sailing skills on a surprisingly realistic simulator
• Weekly guest speakers including a member of the US Coast Guard, a Paralympic Sailing silver medalist, a marine biologist, the Commander of the USS Constitution, and a round-the-world racer
• Engineering challenges and science experiments — attempts to create lava lamps were especially memorable!
• Explorations of marine biology, including a vicarious scuba dive under the Charlestown docks
• Student-led lessons on topics ranging from buoyancy to knot-tying
• Swim Sail Science Academics:
• Teachers created opportunities for kids to build reading and math skills and engage thoughtfully with the environmental science theme. For example, in math, students practiced fractions while learning about the types of trash that end up in landfills unless we make more sustainable choices.
• Science classes included testing water quality, building wind turbines, and designing ways to reduce plastic waste.
• As part of our sustainability focus, ten families adopted worm composting bins.

“I was SO impressed at the job your team did. On the first day I walked by my Step 5 (somewhat sullen, quarantined) teenager hearing him laughing and happily engaging with his group. Then hearing what they were doing everyday was so amazing. Highlights I heard about (or watched): the sailing regatta app (so cool!); The underwater view of the sea under the dock; the interview with the Commander of the Constitution (that was really amazing)! I commented to my husband that the Courageous Team should be coaching the schools on how to run Zoom meetings.” —Kristin, Courageous parent

Youth are living in a world that can feel frightening, hostile, and unjust—a place where it’s difficult to feel safe, set worry aside, and just be a kid. Whether on Zoom or on the water, Courageous made sure that our students had plenty of opportunities for fun. Our strategy:

• Lots of free time to relax and hang out with peers and instructors
• Loads of game-based learning — including those virtual sailing races that spurred lots of good-natured competitiveness
• Swim Sail Science Olympics, including knot tying and a trivia quiz about instructors and team leaders
• Debates about the merits of different video games and movies
• Virtual dance parties
• Instructors vying to give the most professional weather report — and being comically unsuccessful
• Worm races (10 Swim Sail Science families adopted worm compost bins, and clearly a race was inevitable!)
• GOING SAILING! Our older students and Instructors-In-Training had a blast out on the water!

“I could have fun at home as much as outside.” —Ryhan, Courageous student “My favorite memory from Courageous is hanging out with instructors and friends and having fun with them!” —Zhencong, Courageous student

<< Return to Previous Page   ............   Help Courageous Support Young People >>

Courageous is committed to providing equitable access to high-quality learning programs for kids of all walks of life, regardless of financial means. Sailing has traditionally been a sport of the rich and the white, and that needs to change! We are proactive in our efforts to reach out to and include young people who might not otherwise get involved. Course fees are determined by financial need, and our Swim Sail Science academic summer program and new school-day programs are completely free for participants. To eliminate potential barriers to participation, Courageous provides Swim Sail Science students and alumni with school bus transportation throughout Boston, meals, and ongoing swimming lessons. In 2021, over half  of our intermediate-level sailors started their Courageous journey with Swim Sail Science!

<< Return to Previous Page   ............  Help Courageous Ensure Equity >>

Access to learning opportunities has never been more important. The academic disruption of the pandemic has impacted all students, but it has been worse for youth of color, who may have “lost” the cumulative equivalent of 6-12 months of learning. Summer learning programs like ours are critical to getting kids’ education back on track. Our free, five-week Swim Sail Science program, offered in partnership with Boston Public Schools, engages elementary students at risk of learning loss. Each summer, sixty kids reinforce reading, writing, and math basics and build high-level critical thinking skills through a hands-on, environmental science-based academic curriculum. Data confirm that year after year, Swim Sail Science students make impressive academic gains and become more confident, engaged learners.  But learning doesn’t stop with Swim Sail Science! After a school year in which many students felt left behind or uninspired, Courageous sailors at all levels were excited to jump into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities. Students waited breathlessly on the dock to see and learn about the animals our two marine biology instructors brought up from their dives. Kids learned about buoyancy, design, and how sailboats work by creating and testing “trash boats,” kites, and marine debris skimmers. From testing water quality to bouncing between squeamishness and curiosity while watching an up-close fish dissection, Courageous kids got caught up in the fun of learning, and they’re ready for more.

<< Return to Previous Page   ............  Help Courageous Turn Learning Loss Around >>

Supporting students as they recover emotionally and academically isn’t something that schools can do alone, and we are thrilled that two Boston Public schools have turned to Courageous to partner with them. In the fall of 2021, we  achieved a long-awaited goal: expanding our school-year programming so that we can be there for kids all year round during the school day, and can serve even more young people. Our school-day program combines STEM, social-emotional learning, and sailing, serving approximately 260 kids in two under-resourced schools. During weekly lessons with Courageous educators, 3rd and 4th graders are exploring ecosystems, climate, and marine biology, while 5th and 6th graders are building their understanding of aerodynamics, buoyancy, weather, engineering, and more through a series of hands-on challenges. Teachers and students alike have let us know how engaging and effective our lessons are.    This pilot program is so important that we are providing it at no cost to the participating schools and families, and we are asking for your help. We know that the Courageous approach works in a way that goes beyond summer, and we hope you will support this next step!

<< Return to Previous Page   ........   Help Courageous with New School-Year Programming >>