2026 Notice of Race
Western Michigan Yachting Association Championship Regatta
August 6, 7, 8, 2026
Spring Lake Yacht Club, Michigan
NOTICE OF RACE
The Organizing Authority (OA) is the Spring Lake Yacht Club
The notation ‘[NP]’ in a rule of the sailing instructions (SIs) means that a boat may not protest another boat for breaking that rule. This changes RRS 60.1(a).
1 RULES
1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS)
1.2 The Class Rules of the C scow class, the E scow class, the MC scow class, the M15 class, the Butterfly class, the Laser class and the Optimist Dinghy class will apply, except as any of these are changed by the sailing instructions.
1.3 Rule changes may be listed below. All rule changes will be listed in the Sailing Instructions
2 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2 .1 Sailing instructions will be available in the WMYA program, Clubspot and at wmya.org.
3 COMMUNICATION
3 .1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at Clubspot
3.2 An unofficial physical notice board will be located at Spring Lake Yacht Club.
3.3 On the water, the race committee will make courtesy broadcasts to competitors on VHF radio. The channel will be stated in the SIs.
3.4 Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats. [NP]
4 ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
4.1 Participants that are members of a WMYA club must have paid all event fees before becoming official competitors. Non-member skippers will be allowed to race by paying an additional $25.00 fee.
4.2 Boats may enter the event by registering online, following the link found at https://www.wmya.org
4.3 To be considered an entry in the event, a boat shall complete all registration requirements and pay all fees.
5 FEES
5.1 Entry fee (BEFORE JULY 23) is $70 for Butterflies or Optimist Prams and $165 for all other fleets.
5.2 Entry fee (July 23 or after) is $90 for Butterflies or Optimist Prams and $220 for all other fleets.
5.3 Early on-line registration is strongly encouraged and the link may be found at https://www.wmya.org
6 ADVERTISING
6.1 Advertising will be restricted to category A.
7 SCHEDULE
7.1 Online registration begins May 1, 2026
7.2 Daily Schedule
Wednesday 8/5/2026
Registration 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm – On site registration, sailing info, and meal ticket pick-up Lean-In / Welcome Party at SLYC
Annual Meeting 7:00pm
Thursday 8/6/2026
Registration – 8:30am to 12:00pm
Competitors Briefing – All Fleets 8:30am
Racing Schedule – Posted times are for the warning signal.
10:00am – MC / M-15; Opti – Second race immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 11:30am
12:20pm – C; Laser and Butterfly – Second race for both immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 1:50pm
2:30pm – E- Second race immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 4:30
Social Schedule –
Commodore’s Cocktail Party (invite only)
Family/Kids night at SLYC
Friday 8/7/2026
Racing Schedule – Posted times are for the warning signal.
10:00am – E – Second race immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 11:30
12:20 – MC / M-15; Opti – Second race immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 1:50pm
2:30pm – C ; Laser and Butterfly – Second race for all immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 4:30pm
Social Schedule –
Commodore’s Ball at Spring Lake Country Club
Saturday 8/8/2026
All Fleet schedules for Saturday 8/8/26 will be determined by the Race Committee. The Race Committee will post the days schedule no later than 8:30 PM the prior day on the Official Notice Board. If all prior scheduled races for all fleets have been sailed the tentative schedule will be:
10:00am – C; Laser and 10:05am – Butterfly – Second race immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 11:30
12:20 – E – Second race immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 1:50
2:30 – MC / M-15; Opti – Second race for all immediately to follow. The warning signal may not be after 4:30pm
8 EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
8.1 Boat Weight Compliance Forms must be signed by the owner prior to racing (part of registration). Boats may be weighed at the discretion of the Race Committee.
9 COURSES
9.1 Courses will be sailed on the waters of Spring Lake, MI.
10 PENALTY SYSTEM
10.1 – After a race, a boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 or Rule 31 while racing may take a post-race penalty for that incident.
10.2 – Post Race Penalties shall be: a. 20% if taken before protest time limit. [Minimum 2 places] b. 30% if taken after protest time limit but before the beginning of a hearing involving the incident. [Min. 3 places]
10.3 – Secured Positions – If the Race Committee deems it necessary in order to maintain the regatta schedule, and at the sole discretion of the Race Committee, the Race Committee may “secure” the position of any boat in the race and will score that boat in that position as if they have actually finished the race in that position. This modifies Rule 35, A4, A5 and changes the definition of Finish.
11 SCORING
11.1 – The low point scoring system in Appendix A of the RRS will apply.
11.2 – There will be one throw out race allowed per fleet after that fleet has completed at least six races.
11.3 – 2 races must be completed for a class to constitute a regatta.
12 RISK STATEMENT
12.1 – RRS 3 states: ‘The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone.’ By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma, hypothermia or other causes. The Torch Yacht Club, Race Committee, Protest Committee, sponsors, volunteers, or any other affiliated organization or official accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death or inconvenience incurred, in conjunction with the regatta, however caused. By participating in this event, each competitor, or in the case of minors, each competitor’s parent or guardian, agrees to release the Regatta Organizers from any and all liability associated with such competitor’s participation in this event to the fullest extent permitted by law.
13 PRIZES
13.1 – Prizes will be given as follows:
E Scow – 1st through 3rd place
C Scow – 1st through 3rd place
MC Scow – 1st through 5th place, 1 Junior, 1 Grand Master, 1 Master, 1 Women
Melges 15 – 1st through 3rd place
Butterfly (Jr.) – 1st through 7th place, Skipper and Crew
Laser – 1st through 2nd place
Optimist Pram – 1st through 5th place
13.2 – Participants must notify registration for inclusion in the Master, Grand Master, Mega Master, Old Salt, Women, and Junior Divisions. Participants in these classes are eligible to compete for both regular and perpetual trophies.
14 CLASS DIVISIONS/REQUIREMENTS
14.1 – Butterfly Division – There must be two [2] people on board each yacht, neither of whom have reached age 17 prior to the first day of the regatta. Crews may be changed at any time during the regatta. No Minimum weight restrictions. A USCG approved Life Jacket must be worn by each sailor completely zipped or buckled. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
14.2 – Optimist Pram: There may be one [1] or two [2] people on board each yacht, neither of whom has reached age 16 prior to the first day of the regatta. Crews may be changed at any time during the regatta. A USCG approved Life Jacket must be worn by each sailor completely zipped or buckled. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Valid measurement certificates are not required.
14.3 – Laser Division: A USCG approved Life Jacket must be worn by each sailor completely zipped or buckled. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Participants may sail with either a Standard or Radial Rig but will be scored as a single fleet. Rigs are not interchangeable and competitors must sail with the same rig for the entire Regatta.
14.4 – MC Junior Division: Not yet 25 years of age on the first day of the regatta.
14.5 – MC Master Division: 50 years of age by the first day of the regatta.
14.6 – MC Grand Master Division: 60 years of age by the first day of the regatta
15 LAUNCHING, BOAT STORAGE AND PARKING
15.1 – Vehicular access will be restricted on August 6, 7th and 8th. Parking will be in designated areas located in the upper lots. Access to the lower parking areas will be reserved for WMYA race committee, lifetime members, EMT and those needing handicapped access
16 HOUSING
16.1 – Limited housing will be available and will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Scott Harestad, 616-844-8434. sharestad@greenridge.com
16.2 – RV parking and tent access will be available in the upper lot near the volleyball court
For more information:
| WMYA Commodore | Kyle Verplank | verplank@shapecorp.com |
| WMYA Executive Secretary | Brett Hatton | bre6cha6on@gmail.com |
Revised – 3/23/2026 Steve Schiller – US Sailing CRO ID#218413Q
