ON THE WATER 6
YACHTING INFORMATION COMMITTEE by Donna Sue Marks, Yachting Information Chair
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S Sailing has an expectation of a few of the US Sailing Adult and Youth Championships happening this summer in and around the country. Please continue to check the US Sailing event website for updates throughout the year. The following Youth Championships planned include a brief description and some of our SPYC past winners at those Championships. The US Youth Match Racing Championship, in June at Rochester YC (Rochester, NY) is a resume submission event with a deadline fast approaching. This event is an outstanding training ground for young sailors who are passionate about match racing and focused on competing at the next level. S PYC hosted this event in 2012. The Chubb US Junior Championships for junior sailors ages 13-18, is in August at Eastern Yacht Club - Marblehead, MA. The Championship is comprised of three fleets; single, double, and triple handed. The Area D Qualifier for this event is June 24th-26th hosted by Fairhope YC, Alabama. Several sailors from SPYC have won these national championships and various sportsmanship awards.
The Smythe Singlehanded Trophy has been won by Nic Baird 2013, Addison Hackstaff 2012 and Richard Merriman 1978. The Sears Trophy which is a triple and sometimes quadruple handed boat has seen SPYC winners as well; Liam McCarthy, Josh Dochoda and Greiner Hobbs in 2014, Rick Korab, Ryan Druyor and Kevin Reali 2000, Sean Doyle, Nick Hartney and Andrew Nelson 1997, Royce Rarik, Marty Kullman, Michelle Profant, and Chris Bardes 1985. The Cox Sportsmanship Award at this event was awarded to Liam McCarthy, Noah Blacker, Nevin Avila, and Emily Wright 2013. The Bemis Trophy was awarded to Commodore David Mendelblatt and Caj Flynn in 1987 and again in 1981 and 1980 back-to-back years to Mike Funsch and Mark Shepard. The US Youth Championships is being held in October at Camp Sea Gull in Arapahoe, NC. This is where the top youth sailors from around the country will gather and compete in six high performance classes. Some of the past winners from SPYC include; JJ Smith won the Nacra 15 Fleet in 2019, Nic Baird won the Radial Fleet in 2015, John Wallace won the Laser Fleet in 2010 and Chris Vetter and Kelsee Connon won the 29er Fleet in 2006. Congratulations to our previous winners and to our future SPYC Champions!
US Coast Guard Announces New Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-Off Switches Submitted by: Captain John C. Timmel FCYC Vice Commodore & Government Affairs Committee Chairman
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he ECOS and ECOSL prevent runaway vessels and the threats they pose. The ECOSL attaches the vessel operator to a switch that shuts off the engine if the operator is displaced from the helm. The ECOSL is usually a lanyard style cord that attaches to an ECOS either in close proximity to the helm or on the outboard motor itself if the vessel is operated by a tiller. When enough tension is applied, the ECOSL disengages from the ECOS and the motor is automatically shut down. Wireless ECOS have recently been developed and are also approved for use. These devices use an electronic “fob” that is carried by the operator and senses when it is submerged in water, activating the ECOS and turning the engine off. Wireless devices are available on the aftermarket and are beginning to become available as manufacturer-installed options. Each year the Coast Guard receives reports of recreational vessel operators who fall or are suddenly and unexpectedly thrown out of their boat. These events have led to injuries and deaths. During these incidents the boat continues APRIL 2021 | SMOOTH SAILING
to operate with no one in control of the vessel, leaving the operator stranded in the water as the boat continues on course, or the boat begins to circle the person in the water eventually striking them, often with the propeller. These dangerous runaway vessel situations put the ejected operator, other users of the waterway, and marine law enforcement officers and other first responders in serious danger. Section 503 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 required manufacturers of covered recreational boats (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. of static thrust) to equip the vessel with an ECOS installed as of December 2019. Owners of recreational vessels produced after December 2019 are required to maintain the ECOS on their vessel in a serviceable condition. It is recommended that recreational vessel owners regularly check their existing ECOS system to ensure it works, following manufacturer’s instructions. (continued on next page)
