2023 DCYRA President's Letter
Greetings,
The 2023 sailing season provides us the opportunity to enjoy Deep Creek Lake and friendly
sailing competition. I am pleased to update you about DCYRA activities and highlights.
Deep Creek Yacht Racing Association sponsors a competitive sailing program for Flying Scot
and ILCA (Lasers) boats. It supports the successful Deep Creek Sailing School, and is
independent of the two local yacht clubs. DCYRA encourages all sailors to register and
participate this season.
The leadership team is looking forward to the 2023 season. The Association is fiscally sound
due to a slight increase in registrations last season. The boat registration fees will remain the
same despite another annual increase in insurance costs. The 2023 registration forms allow
the captain to register their boat and for active sailors to register as supporting members.
Regular patrol, and race committee volunteers are encouraged to become DCYRA supporting
members. All registered members qualify to hold Board positions and vote at the annual
meeting. There is no fee for being a supporting member. DCYRA members are also
encouraged to join the Flying Scot Sailing Association (FSSA) to support the class.
The Board approved a boat registration change for the upcoming season. Flying Scot skippers
can register a Laser without additional cost. The additional change includes an understanding
that only one of the boats would be raced at any time using an honor system. This change
could encourage larger number of Lasers racing on the lake.
The racing schedule includes the traditional Steiding Cup race on May 27, the Becker Cup
Regatta (May 27-29), the Firecracker Regatta (July 1-2), the ILCA (Laser) Regatta (July 8-9,
Charles Graham chair), the Commodores Cup (September 2-4), the Fairwinds Regatta
(September 9-10, Mark Shaefer chair), and the Magellan Race (September 16).
The Sandy Douglass Regatta on July 29 and 30 will be chaired by Chris Drury and Meredith
Hillyer. This FSSA sanctioned event is the highlight of our sailing season and will include a top
gun discussion after the Saturday racing.
Jen Meehan will chair the Women’s Regatta on July 23rd. The new format will include a
Championship division (female crew), a Challenger division (mixed gender crew), and a Junior
division with youth sailors. The new format is more inclusive and promotes opportunities for
more women and junior sailors.
The 2023 starting sequence for races, the fleet flag designs and colors, and starting times will
remain the same as last year. All participants, including race committee and patrol, must wear
coast Guard approved PFDs while racing. In addition, DCYRA continues to emphasize the
importance of starting races on time. Pros should only delay a race due to wind conditions or
adjusting the course, not due to tardy sailors who arrive late due to light wind. Sailors should
leave the dock in sufficient time to reach the starting line.
DCYRA has many dedicated volunteers who help to provide an active racing program and a
thriving Sailing School at Deep Creek. I welcome new Board of Directors members Chris
Drury, Nabeel Alsalam, and Emme Haraway to the leadership team.
I will be completing my fifth year as President, and Andy Carrier will be serving his seventh year
as Treasurer. The Association will be seeking replacement volunteers for these leadership
positions and to provide new direction to the DCL racing program.
The 2023 season will provide many pleasant sailing opportunities. I hope to see you onshore,
as well as on the water.
Spencer Deakin
President, DCYRA
The 2023 sailing season provides us the opportunity to enjoy Deep Creek Lake and friendly
sailing competition. I am pleased to update you about DCYRA activities and highlights.
Deep Creek Yacht Racing Association sponsors a competitive sailing program for Flying Scot
and ILCA (Lasers) boats. It supports the successful Deep Creek Sailing School, and is
independent of the two local yacht clubs. DCYRA encourages all sailors to register and
participate this season.
The leadership team is looking forward to the 2023 season. The Association is fiscally sound
due to a slight increase in registrations last season. The boat registration fees will remain the
same despite another annual increase in insurance costs. The 2023 registration forms allow
the captain to register their boat and for active sailors to register as supporting members.
Regular patrol, and race committee volunteers are encouraged to become DCYRA supporting
members. All registered members qualify to hold Board positions and vote at the annual
meeting. There is no fee for being a supporting member. DCYRA members are also
encouraged to join the Flying Scot Sailing Association (FSSA) to support the class.
The Board approved a boat registration change for the upcoming season. Flying Scot skippers
can register a Laser without additional cost. The additional change includes an understanding
that only one of the boats would be raced at any time using an honor system. This change
could encourage larger number of Lasers racing on the lake.
The racing schedule includes the traditional Steiding Cup race on May 27, the Becker Cup
Regatta (May 27-29), the Firecracker Regatta (July 1-2), the ILCA (Laser) Regatta (July 8-9,
Charles Graham chair), the Commodores Cup (September 2-4), the Fairwinds Regatta
(September 9-10, Mark Shaefer chair), and the Magellan Race (September 16).
The Sandy Douglass Regatta on July 29 and 30 will be chaired by Chris Drury and Meredith
Hillyer. This FSSA sanctioned event is the highlight of our sailing season and will include a top
gun discussion after the Saturday racing.
Jen Meehan will chair the Women’s Regatta on July 23rd. The new format will include a
Championship division (female crew), a Challenger division (mixed gender crew), and a Junior
division with youth sailors. The new format is more inclusive and promotes opportunities for
more women and junior sailors.
The 2023 starting sequence for races, the fleet flag designs and colors, and starting times will
remain the same as last year. All participants, including race committee and patrol, must wear
coast Guard approved PFDs while racing. In addition, DCYRA continues to emphasize the
importance of starting races on time. Pros should only delay a race due to wind conditions or
adjusting the course, not due to tardy sailors who arrive late due to light wind. Sailors should
leave the dock in sufficient time to reach the starting line.
DCYRA has many dedicated volunteers who help to provide an active racing program and a
thriving Sailing School at Deep Creek. I welcome new Board of Directors members Chris
Drury, Nabeel Alsalam, and Emme Haraway to the leadership team.
I will be completing my fifth year as President, and Andy Carrier will be serving his seventh year
as Treasurer. The Association will be seeking replacement volunteers for these leadership
positions and to provide new direction to the DCL racing program.
The 2023 season will provide many pleasant sailing opportunities. I hope to see you onshore,
as well as on the water.
Spencer Deakin
President, DCYRA