The Fleets at SSYC

From Cruising Classes to many one-designs, SSYC is your home for sailing and racing at many levels. In the one-design category we have many club owned one-design boats. These are used by members for pleasure or competition and by our adult sailing programs. Below is a quick information guide to our racing fleets with links to the national associations.

One-design boats include the C420, Comets, Flying Scots, Lasers, Melges 15s, Optimists, Sanderlings & WoodPussys. These fleets compete nearly every Sunday from April through October in our various series (Spring, Summer & Fall). Many in the WoodPussy fleet race into November, even after the finger docks are hoisted out & the club is closed for winter. Our Cruising Class & Sanderlings gather on Thursday evenings for friendly competition & sunset deck time.

SSYC also has a very healthy & vibrant kayak and paddle board population. We have storage capabilities and easy beach launching.

CLUB 420

The Club 420 is a two person dinghy which forms the base of many local, high school and collegiate programs in North America. Simple for beginning sailors and yet challenging enough for collegiate champions. The Club 420 offers more learning opportunities than any other double-handed boat. Over 5,000 Club 420s are sailed in youth, high school and collegiate programs all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

As part of our club-owned fleet, SSYC has Club 420s available for member usage and summer instructional charter. For more information on the Club 420, visit the C420 Class Association.

THE COMET

The Comet is a classic 16-foot, two-person racing dinghy designed in 1932 by C. Lowndes Johnson of Easton, Maryland. Originally conceived as a smaller, trailerable version of the Star keelboat, the Comet was designed to be affordable, fast, and accessible to sailors of all skill levels. Its hard-chine hull, generous sail area, and lightweight construction make it a nimble and exciting boat to sail.

For more information, visit The Comet Class Association.

CRUISING CLASS

Cruising sailboats come in a variety of sizes and are designed for versatility, comfort & fun. From day sailing to weekending, these boats will vary from length overall, beam, number of sails, and more. These boats are fun but also competitive. Handicaps can be used to create a level field of competition.

FLYING SCOT

The Flying Scot is a welcoming and affordable class, that aims to grow the sport of sailing and its diversity. She is easy to sail, store, rig and transport. SSYC has several Flying Scots in its fleet. Flying Scots compete on Sundays and the club boats are also used to teach adult sailing. It is an excellent boat to learn sailing as a novice or to improve your sailing and racing skills.

For more information, visit the Flying Scot Sailing Association.

LASER

The Laser is a single-handed sailboat. It is fast, fun and challenging. The Laser adapts to its owners size by allowing competition in three different rig (sail) sizes: Full Rig, Radial Rig and 4.7 Rig. Used in both Junior Sailing, Collegiate sailing and highly competitive international competition, the Laser is quite versatile.

For more information, visit the ILCA (International Laser Class Association).

MELGES 15

New to the SSYC racing fleet, the Melges 15 is versatile, fast & fun! This boat was designed to check a lot of boxes. “The Melges 15 creates a clear pathway for junior sailors to get started and stay excited about sailing while also being comfortable and accessible enough for adults to learn, race, or cross-train,” said Harry Melges III. 

For more information on the Melges 15, visit the Melges 15 website.

OPTIMIST DINGHY

The perfect starter boat for children, the Opti is found worldwide. From beginners to international racers, this little boat teaches more than sailing. Juniors, ages 8 to 14, learn important boat handling skills, the rules of racing, decision making, preparedness, and more. 

For more information on the Opti, visit the USODA's website.

For more information on SSYC's Junior Sailing Program, click on the Jr Sailing tab at the top right of this page.

SANDERLING

The Sanderling is a favorite boat on the Shrewsbury River. She is great for cruising with family and friends, but the fleet is also competive on the race course. This beamy boat is very stable and features a large, comfortable cockpit. 

For more information on the Sanderling, visit the Sanderling Class Association.

WOODPUSSY

The WoodPussy is another Shrewsbury River favorite. A single-handed boat, WoodPussy sailors will race until November. She is a stable, fun boat. In 2026, the WoodPussy will be celebrating its 80th National Championship!

For more information, visit the United States WoodPussy Class Association.