An article about a Clark Mills Design Heritage Museum called McKay Creek Boat Shop, designed to mimic Clark Mills’ shop in St. Pete.

It features a Snipe, a Windmill, and Clark Mills’ greatest creation, the original Sun Cat.

Getting together once a year with the Sun Cat Class for our races was the most fun we had with that boat and I really appreciate everyone coming and joining the fun.

If there is to be a 2015 Sun Cat National Championship Regatta, someone else will have to host it. If anyone wishes to carry on this prestigious sailing tradition, let me know. We’ll transfer the suncatnationals.com domain to you.

Libby wanted to play frisbee and was very frustrated that I was paying so much attention to that darn boat again!

Preparing a Sun Cat for a class racing event is grueling work. In addition to checking for wasps, I tightened the shrouds a bit, since they have been looking a bit loose for the past couple of years. Such is the intensity of Sun Cat Class competition.

Putting out snacks and Wish Key on the porch prior to our skippers’ meeting was another activity that did not involve enough frisbee playing for Libby’s taste. For those who can’t translate doggy looks, that one means, “Why would you even have a big, stinky, frisbee-obsessed dog if not to play with her?”

At the skippers’ meeting, previous National Champion Scott agreed to sail with Nationals newbie Chris aboard his green 2003 Sun Cat, Second Wind. When I walked out into the driveway Saturday morning, I thought we might see the big sail that Scott used in his past victories.

There was not a sail big enough for the winds we encountered as the Sun Cat Class gathered for racing. By tradition, we have wind for the Sun Cat Nationals only every other year, and we’re pretty big on sailing traditions in the Sun Cat Class, so we were drifting around on the glassy harbor.

Scott was using his weight to try to ease Second Wind along in the light winds. Being a lake sailor, he knows that getting the stern out of the water and inducing a bit of heel will make these boats move at least a little bit, when otherwise the boat would just sit.

It was not working. The best tricks don’t work if there is no wind. I was starting to worry that we would not get to race at all. I expected a mid-day calm and was hoping we could race before it arrived. It arrived early and we would have to wait for it to end, if it did.

While we were drifting about, a friend of Jack’s showed up in his homebuilt kayak-trimaran sailing rig. It looks like it might sail pretty fast if we had wind, but even this boat was barely moving.

In previous no-wind years, we had Sun Cats drifting around the race course, sometimes doing unintended 360 degree turns, but we at least managed to complete one race. It looked like that tradition might be broken.

Meanwhile, back in Alligator Bay, I could see the race committee coming out the channel with a fleet of Sunfish attempting to follow. They had about the same wind we did and were lucky the tide was going out. My phone rang and it was Dennis, our race committee head. I was pretty sure I knew what was coming.

He asked if we could race in Alligator Bay, as the Sunfish were having trouble making it out into the harbor. I told him that was fine if he could keep us in 4.5 feet of water. With low tide approaching, we both knew this was impossible. I could almost see the grimace over the phone. He said they’d be out as soon as possible. A little discussion between the head of a racing class and the race committee is another good sailing tradition.

Soon, a tiny bit of wind came up and I started leading the Sun Cat Class north into the mouth of Alligator Bay, trying to make it as easy as possible for the Sunfish to reach the racing area. I have hit all of the shallow water in the area enough times to know how close we could race.

In the distance, we could see Dale approaching in Zeke, flying his spinnaker. Adding sails or changing underwater foils is completely legal under the Sun Cat Class racing rule, which says only that you must sail a hull that is arguably a Sun Cat hull. He had a canvas sock and some way of launching it solo, so I was hoping to see it during the races, but it did not come out.

The race committee anchored in the mouth of Alligator Bay and started sending out marks using the inflatable safety boat. I thought about putting away our bow line before taking this picture, but decided leaving it there was more in the spirit of Sun Cat Class racing.

The first of the Portsmouth racing fleet to arrive at the course was this Martin 16, being sailed by two sailors whose wheelchairs are back on the dock. Dennis Peck and the Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center work hard to make this kind of thing happen as often as possible. On the water, their movement is restricted only by the wind and their skill, just like any other sailor.

The race course was set and the Sun Cat Class was milling around in the area of the starting line. In the background are Jack in About Time and a Precision 185 that is racing in the Portsmouth fleet, with Larry in Indy Anna off to the right. I noted that Scott was at the helm of Second Wind, a situation that might bear watching…

Oh NO! Attempted McLemore! I knew he should be watched! I thought that with the absence of any Horizon Cat Class boats, outboards dangling off transoms would be safe this year!

(Sorry, CM, had to do it. Get well soon! Missed you!)

We got off to a pretty good start, by Sun Cat Class standards, in Wily Conch, but Dale passed us in Zeek and kept his lead the rest of the race. I took the picture at right just after we rounded the windward mark. Zeek is approaching the finish line. Meanwhile, Indy Anna, having a tough time, has just rounded the leeward mark. The Class was so spread out that the race committee wound up calling Indy Anna in and scoring them DNF in the first race. This may have had something to do with Larry’s decision to purchase Scott’s big sail.

At the start of the second race, the current from the incoming tide had started to pick up and I realized that this would mean the left side of the race course would be heavily favored, as the current is weaker out there. None of our other Sun Cat Class racers knew how much the current would affect us in such light winds, nor where it flowed the strongest. As a result, we quickly completed the race in Wily Conch then sailed around the starting area for quite a while as the rest of the fleet struggled.

Through dogged determination, Jack managed to get around the right side of the course in About Time despite the opposing current and took second place in race two. I took the picture at left in part because I could not believe he made it!

The rest of the Sun Cat Class was still out on the course with the wind slowly dying as the current increased in speed. I sailed over to the race committee and asked whether they had a calendar, since an ordinary stopwatch was looking insufficient to time this race.

That got a good laugh out of committee and spectators and signaled my agreement as head of the Sun Cat Class that this race was over and we should find a way to end it gracefully. Dennis promptly pulled anchor, shortened the race course, and finished all the boats. Great job, and just what needed to happen at that point! I had wanted to sail at least three races, but it was just not possible.

Dale brought us hand-made stained glass Sun Cat racing trophies for the awards dinner. They look great and I love having one, but I hope they don’t destroy the spirit of Sun Cat Class racing. Fancy trophies are not the goal, fun is! For my part, I have to say that the Sun Cat Nationals once again succeeded brilliantly in the primary goal: amusing me. I hope everyone else had as much fun!

At right are the official Sun Cat National Championship results for 2014. Once again, we have proven that the blue ones are fastest. Or something.

With three out of five National Championships going to the mostly unmodified Wily Conch, perhaps we have proven that standard factory boats are fastest.

OK, OK, those are silly theories and it’s time for me to admit the truth. The previous owner of Wily Conch carefully cultivated a speed reef composed of tubeworms and barnacles on the centerboard. Although some of it has since been worn off in grounding incidents, I have maintained it since buying the boat in 2009. For those wishing to push the competitive edge on their Sun Cats, I have included the helpful photo at left.

The usual Sun Cat Class rules apply: you must sail a hull that is arguably a Sun Cat Hull and you must not scratch any other boats. All participants must have fun. If you don’t appear to be enjoying yourself, or if you’re making others not enjoy themselves, you will be asked to leave.

Other than that, sail over to the pontoon boat with the 18′ yellow Bimini top anchored off the Port Charlotte Beach Complex and Dennis will tell you the course and stuff.

On Saturday, we will be racing with the Portsmouth Winter Series fleet from the Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center. Dennis Peck, who runs the Center, has agreed to give us a separate start for the Sun Cat Class, and we may run a different race course as well. Racing will start around 10:30-11 am, or whenever all boats and some wind show up.

Saturday evening, we will have the Awards Ceremony at our neighbor’s restaurant around 7 pm. They will have wings, meatballs, veggies and dip for us.

Costs: $10 per boat entry fee to the Sailing Center for running the races, $10 per person to the restaurant for the munchies. You can pay me in advance and I will pass the money along, or just pay on-site at the Beach Complex and restaurant.

Dale mentioned on the Com-Pac Yacht Owners’ Forum that he has made three stained glass Sun Cat trophies for the Awards Ceremony, so we have something better than a plastic cup with my handwritten scrawl on it.

I don’t know if the registration form on this site is currently working and don’t plan to ask Sonja. She’s busy right now. If you want to register, do it on the Sailing Center site, but it’s not required. Please do something to let me know whether you are coming, just so I can tell Dennis how many to expect for racing and Necole how many to expect at her restaurant. Do it via the contact form on this site or by posting on one of the forums, the sooner the better! Thanks, and looking forward to seeing everyone again!

I’m happy to report that two-time Sun Cat Class National Champion Scott will be joining us for the 2014 Sun Cat National Championship!

Unfortunately, he has sold his Sun Cat and will be arriving in his capacity as spare crew or spectator, but that cloud has a silver lining. I received this message today:

“I am wanting to sell the larger sail, boom extension, and gaff extension I used on my Suncat.  The boat balanced beautifully and was able to keep up with at least the Catalina 22’s in my sailing club with the bigger sail.  Sail was reconditioned by sailcare.  Will bring it along to Suncat Nationals but also wanted to see if I could contact people in advance just in case they wanted to use the sail during Suncat Nationals.”

The sail is pictured above. It is 180 square feet with a reef point to take it down to about 150 sq ft. It is a proven performer, with Scott taking the National Championship both years that he sailed with it. It is completely class legal, as the class rules say nothing about the size nor the nature of sail(s) that Sun Cats may fly during a race.

If anyone is interested in this sail who does not already have Scott’s contact information, just use the form on this site and I will see to it that he gets your message. I am considering buying the sail myself, but buying a winning sail at my own joke regatta seems to me to send the wrong message about the seriousness (or lack thereof) of Sun Cat Class competition.

-the HJTIC

After much dithering and procrastinating, the decision has finally been made! The 2014 Sun Cat Nationals will be held November 8 in Charlotte Harbor, with a skipper’s meeting to be held the evening of the 7th and an awards dinner following the races. As usual, we will hold three short races, or possibly just drift aimlessly in circles in a dead calm. Either way, a fleet of Sun Cats on the water is great fun and we can usually dodge the occasional errant Horizon Cat.

The normal class rules for Sun Cat racing apply: any boat that is arguably a Sun Cat hull will be scored with the fleet. Other random catboats and sloops that audit the race are welcome, but we encourage you to abide by the Sun Cat Class prohibition on scratching boats.

Further details will dribble out as soon as I get a round tuit, but for now, mark your calendars and plan to come have fun with us!

I took a few pictures while sailing in the Sun Cat Nationals, but almost all of these pictures come from our race committee, Tom, Don, and Fred aboard Don’s PDQ 34 catamaran. Thanks guys!

After sorting through Don’s pictures, Tom’s pictures, and my pictures, I narrowed it down to my favorites. There were 98 of them! I’m just a catboat jib trimmer and I’m not posting that many pictures, so here are my favorite favorites!

There were some great pictures of the boats arriving and checking in, but let’s get right to the racing! Catnip got the best start in race one, clearing the line a boatlength ahead of Wily Conch and Zeek. We were all late enough to give Tom Scott plenty of time to put down the air horn and pick up his camera.

Indy Anna and About Time did not quite make it into this shot of the first upwind leg. From right to left, we have Frisky coming across the line, Zeek out beyond Cattail, and Wily Conch sailing over the top of Catnip. As we overtook Catnip, Zeek tacked and attempted to cross our bows on port tack, but seeing he could not make it, ducked instead.

Great picture by Tom Scott showing Wily Conch and Zeek at the upwind mark!

Panoramic shot of the lead boats on the first reaching leg, again thanks to Tom S.

Sun Cats love reaching so our race committee thoughtfully provided a reach mark about a quarter mile off the starboard side of the committee boat. Heading to the reach mark at left are Wily Conch, Zeek, and Catnip.

Here are the three lead boats approaching the reach mark. Shots like this one were not possible in years past. Thanks again, Don, for bringing your nice, stable boat with a flybridge and your long lenses!

Here’s a shot of Wily Conch heading upwind as Zeek and Catnip approach the downwind mark.

The finish line pictures from race 1:

Wily Conch finishing first in race one.

Catnip finishing second in race one.

Zeek finishing third in race one.

Cattail finishing fourth in race one.

Frisky finishing fifth in race one.

Indy Anna finishing sixth in race one.

About Time finishing seventh in race one. They could not get those speed wrinkles out of that sail, but finished about ten minutes behind Wily Conch and had a good time doing it!

Tip for newbies: after finishing a race, head straight to the committee boat and make a close pass if you want some good pictures of your boat under sail!

Pete and I were both wearing grins all day!

There were so many great shots of our boats between races that I had to reject most of them, but Don got a couple of great action shots as Zeek tacked toward the starting line for race two.

Dale aboard Zeke completing his tack and reaching behind to sheet in for the start, helm still hard over. High Sun Cat drama!

Catnip and Zeke once again got the best starts in race two, but the fleet got across the line together in a tight enough pack to all fit in this picture.

In a replay of race one, Wily Conch caught Catnip and held off Zeek to take the lead around the upwind mark.

We kept our lead around the course, but the pack was always right behind. At right is Wily Conch tacking across the fleet toward the finish line to win in race two.

There was heated action in the fight for second place, as Zeek attempted to perform a McLemore on Catnip. He missed, possibly observing the Sun Cat Class rule against scratching boats, or possibly because hitting an outboard on a moving boat is not that easy!

With Catnip duly intimidated by the near-miss, Zeek was able to power-tack away toward the finish line.

Zeek nosed out Catnip to take second place in race two. It’s the Sun Cat Nationals. We don’t care if someone is able to pull off a roll tack and exit the tack going faster than he entered it.

The rest of the fleet beating upwind toward the finish line in race two. From left to right are Frisky (7th place), Indy Anna (5th place), About Time (6th place), and Cattail (4th place).

Pete and I took another victory pass by the committee boat after race two. I’m mainly posting this one for the fans of the Trailer Sailor forum because it’s a good picture of our TSBB burgee.

The first two races were one lap, but for the third one we did two laps around the course. Indy Anna was a bit eager and crossed the line before the horn. The picture at right shows part of Indy Anna sticking out in front of Catnip’s mast. Zeek and Cattail also got very good starts in race three.

The Sun Cat fleet on the upwind leg just after starting race three.

The race went about like the previous two, with Wily Conch clawing into the lead on the first leg and Zeek and Catnip battling it out for second and third. Those positions were held to the finish and I have posted enough pictures of the blue Sun Cats, but here’s a nice shot of Catnip making a splash as she goes across the line to take third place in race three.

The real action happened further back in the fleet, as Don brought out the orange drifter sail on Frisky to try to close the gap on Cattail.

The strategy appears to have worked, because here they are beating their way up the last leg to the finish line.

Cattail tried to tack away and make a run for the finish line.

The finish looks too close to call in this shot taken from the bridge of the committee boat by Don.

But Tom Scott enhanced this shot he took looking straight down the finish line by painting in the line across the water. Clearly, Frisky edged out Cattail to take fourth place by an extremely long nose.

That’s all the racing action I have to report. Indy Anna sailed a good race in race three, but was scored DNS (Did Not Start) due to the false start. About Time was scored DNF (Did Not Finish) in race three. I did not notice them dropping out.

A few more pictures just for fun. First, a rare shot showing the crew on Indy Anna, who reported spending most of her time relaxing below and snacking during the races. The life of a catboat jib trimmer can be rough.

A nice picture of Tom and Else sailing Cattail by the committee boat.

I took quite a few pictures using my iPhone during the races, but they have mostly served to make me happy we had Don on hand with a good camera. Here are a couple that I found worth publishing. First, a shot of the rest of the fleet as seen looking over the stern of Wily Conch. It is surprisingly difficult to get all of the boats in one picture! They are a bit hard to see, but between Zeek and Cattail are Frisky, Indy Anna, and About Time. Catnip is on the far right.

Here is a shot of the start/finish line and a few catboats. I’m including this one because it’s a pretty good shot of Don’s boat.

In closing, a couple of panoramic shots courtesy of Race Committee Chairman Tom Scott. First, the four lead boats sailing upwind toward the finish line in race one.

And finally, a panoramic shot of the 2013 Sun Cat Nationals fleet shortly after the start of race two (I think).

It was great fun having 7 Sun Cats together on the water, so thanks to the newbies and the repeat offenders for coming out! And once again a big thank you to our Race Committee for all your work and all the pictures!

For those who have not seen one, here is the best picture I have of the PDQ 34.