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ISCA Class Updates

• Central America and Caribbean Games - Santo Domingo 2026 

Regatta News & Sailing Reports

• Southeast Regional Championship - Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club
• 55th Around Shelter Island, World's Longest ISCA/Sunfish Race
• Racer's View of the Worlds' Longest ISCA/Sunfish Race
• Savannah Yacht Club - Firecracker Regatta 
• 25th Annual Round Harkers Island Race, North Carolina
• Midwest Regional Championship at Leland YC
• New England Regional Championship at Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club 

Meet the editor - Alix Biel

Upcoming Events

• Southwest Regional #1 - Rockport Yacht Club - August 15-16
• Midwest Regional #2 - Lake Bluff Yacht Club - August 22-23
• 6th Annual Megabowl Regatta - Saratoga Springs Lake Sailing Club - August 22-23
• Southwest Regional #2 - Lake Worth Sailing Club - September 12-13
• Mid-Atlantic Regional #2 - Lake Naomi Club, PA - September 19-20 

Thank you to the BAH Class Representative Tamara Knowles for taking such fantastic photos!

Click on the images below for more details on each event. Remember USSCA membership is required for each Major & Regional Championships.

Cheap Thrill Wins 2026 SE Regional Championship at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club

Submitted by Steve Honour 

I wasn’t going to attend the 2026 Southeast Regional Championship at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. I thought it would be sailing on a muddy river with big tides, strong currents and the potential for June thunderstorms – which would be the only respite from the relentless South Carolina heat. 

I also had decided not to compete in the World’s in St. Croix or the Nationals. Despite how affordable a new ISCA or used Sunfish can be, some major regattas are not. Too bad, because it’s important to keep sailing priced for all budgets if we wish to keep the true spirit of the ISCA Class as a boat anyone can sail. My boat, 22-year-old Cheap Thrill, is what every ISCA® / legacy (pre-ISCA) Sunfish® should be: the most sailing fun for the fewest dollars.  

But I changed my mind about the SE Regionals when I read the NOR. It became clear that Beaufort (pronounced “Byew-fert,” like the beautiful location) was putting on a very affordable and spectacular low country regatta, nestled in the marsh-lined coast of South Carolina, just north of the Georgia border. The Southern hospitality drew me in: the enticing registration fee priced to make the regatta irresistible; RV or tent camping with power in a Spanish moss-draped riverfront setting; a bonafide 'low country boil' and live band on the aft deck of the clubhouse. The quality of the racing was not the only reason to go. Any good racing would be like icing on the cake. 

It turns out, sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too! Racing in strong current and light air was challenging, but with nine races there were plenty of chances to make up for getting stuck by the cantankerous wind and strong tide. The wind varied from 3 to 15 kts all day with 90-degree shifts. (Oh boy! That will keep your attention!) I took to standing up in the boat sometimes to look up course. If I spotted pressure I headed for it. I also paid particular attention to the current because when the puffs went away, the relentless tide current took over. Many skippers thought they had the windward mark laid, only to find out they had misjudged the current and had to tack again, often several times. It paid to go extraordinarily high of a normal lay line and let the current sweep the boat around the windward mark. 

The Saturday evening party was spectacular. The three-piece Cluster Shucks Band put on a bluegrass show tinged with shades of rock, covering a myriad of popular tunes. Three-part harmonies and vision-blurring fast picking on guitar, banjo and mandolin accentuated the gorgeous setting on the back deck of the clubhouse under an aged oak tree with so much Spanish moss swaying in the gentle breeze it even hung from strings of party lights. The low country boil was delectable. What a fine time! 

Twenty one ISCA sailors joined the other classes for a marvelous event. The ISCA/Sunfish were given an exclusive course, resulting in a demanding test of skill. I burned one throwout race early in the regatta so I was determined to sail smart and clean on Sunday, but it wasn't to be. A horrible OCS start had me coming off the line last in the first race of the day. I split tacks with the fleet, which didn't pay at all when the wind filled on the other side, turning the race into a reaching parade with few chances to pass. I figured that took me out of the running to win, so I simply settled into enjoying the challenge of each subsequent race. I often split with the fleet, not typically a good strategy but I figured it was me against the tide, and why cover other boats when I can find a puff to take me up current? I never won a race, but peeling off a series of two's and three's was apparently the winning formula with so many races for others to find their own ways of adding points. 

Eduardo Cordero told me he sometimes adjusts his gooseneck while racing. I realized my gooseneck was too far back to point well during one race so I tried it. It's done on port tack and requires a long hiking stick, but I was able to pull it off. Thanks, Eduardo! Good trick. I have deck cleats, which helped for that and other times when an extra hand is needed for a moment. 

Another good habit is turning off the ratchet in light air. Boatspeed is king. Pointing is worthless if you're not moving. Feeling the pressure in the sail enables keeping the boat moving, which leads to finding that next chance to point where you want to go. It's easy to get hung up watching others. It's better to sail your own boat and stay fast. 

If you get the chance, sail at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club. You'll thank yourself. It's a great place to whisk an ISCA® around some marks and relax later. 

Thank you to Mark Jump Photography for capturing the fun on the water with his lens!  For more photos please CLICK HERE. 

In 1970 the intrepid Sunfish sailors of Fleet #307 at Southold Yacht Club looked across Southold Bay to the mysterious island across the water. They wondered: Could we sail our 14-foot sailboats that best resemble surfboards with sails around that large island? Fifty-six years* later the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”

The Race Around Shelter Island, NY, is indeed the longest Sunfish (now ISCA) class race in the world. It’s not hyperbole. Boats and sailors that usually sail races that last an hour at most commit themselves to the arduous task of racing non-stop for an average of four to five hours. The course is a brain-teaser: Buffeted by current racing through water that runs up to 90 feet deep, unmarked sand bars, ferry traffic, winds affected by land squeezes, the open Atlantic, dips and heights. This is no simple windward-leeward course. All points of sail, and all wave conditions, can be expected over the length of the course. 

There are two big questions that the Race Committee fields every year: Will there be wind? And, which way ‘round will we go? Race Committee chair and PRO Beth Fleisher told sailors on Friday evening, “Wind predictions are just that. Predictions. We’ll sail what we get, and we’ll know what that is Saturday at 1200 when the race starts.” As to which way to circumnavigate Shelter Island? That is always the last piece of information given at the Skippers’ Meeting the morning of the race. The tradition keeps the sailors on their toes. 

Wind that had been predicted to be 3-4 knots was double that on race day, July 11, as the skippers gathered to hear the course. The Race Committee announced that although both clock-wise and counter-clockwise sails presented interesting options, the RC had chosen counter-clockwise: South Ferry and Sag Harbor first. 

The race started at 12 noon sharp with sixty boats on the line. Sailors ranged from their teens to age 78, from the hyper-competitive sailors at the top of the fleet to those out to enjoy a beautiful day of sailing. Sailors came from as far away as Minnesota and Florida to race. Griffin Sisk placed first at 3:56:20 elapsed time. George Prieto placed second at 3:56:41. Caitlin Cummings, the first female, placed third at 3:56:49. First Master John Condon placed sixth at 3:57:39. Only 1:25 separated first through seventh place. Quite an exhilarating finish for the Race Committee! Remember, this is over more than 22 miles and almost four hours of non-stop racing.

There are many reasons to enter this unique race. It’s a bucket-list race for some, a test of endurance for others. For Jeff Anderson, Jim Cornacchia and Joe Crosedale it’s a day each summer to reconnect with friends met at sailing lessons fifty years ago – the first year of sailing lessons at Southold Yacht Club, started by ICSA class icon Joe Sullivan.  At the end of the day it’s all about the camaraderie found in this remarkable class, and the satisfaction of a day well spent on the water and on the beach with friends old and new. 

It would be remiss not to give a tremendous shout-out to those volunteers on the water and on land. There were fourteen safety boats on the water shepherding our fleet around the course. Celeste Flick and Susan Honig were RC on land, making sure all sailors were accounted for and scored. Shannon Beaver organized the breakfast crew. SYC Commodore Sean Cleary headed up the beach party committee, providing a most excellent BBQ for hungry sailors, safety boats, and many guests. That’s about 125 people, folks! Never forget to thank those who make these races possible for us sailors!

Beth Fleisher, Race Committee Chair, Southold Yacht Club, ISCA fleet #307

*We didn’t sail in 2020 due to Covid restrictions

Left - Caitlin Cummings, 3rd place/first female, Menantic Yacht Club (Merchant Marine who shipped out to the Middle East 2 days later - thank you for your service)

Right - Griffin Sisk , 1st place, Westhampton Yacht Squadron

Submitted by Peter Beardsley

Registration opened on April Fool's Day for the World’s Longest Sunfish Race, filled up the same day, and a long wait list started forming. Moving off of the wait list usually hinges on the number of safety boats, but this year there were some late cancellations due to a bleak forecast earlier in the week. The forecast slowly improved closer to race time, and ended up being slightly better than the most optimistic computer models, proving that if you don't show up, you never know.  

Thanks to a 10-12 knot easterly and a strong ebb tide that hung on until around 4pm, we were on near record pace for this year’s race, with the lead pack making it to Big Ram Island in around two hours. Then it was a lighter air run against the tide until Greenport when the wind clocked more to the right, allowing for faster close reaching conditions from Conkling Point until the finish.

Lots of Menantic YC direct and indirect representation for honors. Highlights: Griffin Sisk of Westhampton defended his 2025 title; MYC member Rick Prieto's sons took 2nd and 4th, although the 4th place boat led for the first half of the race before Griffin passed him in Gardiner's Bay; Caitlin Cummings motored past me downwind around the Rams and was only 29 seconds from the win, placing 3rd overall and top woman; and I was 5th after passing back six-time winner John Condon and five-time winner John Eckart in the final half mile (more on that later).

The top seven boats were separated by 85 seconds and all finished in under four hours, which is the fastest I've ever done the race and 44 minutes faster than when I won in 2023. Paul Zinger and Lee Montes were both up there early but at some point gambled and lost, with Rick Prieto beating them both, and Alicia, Rachel, John Colby and Joan also made it around.

Start:

No one was sure what the race would be like in an easterly. It’s an uncommon wind direction for this race, and even folks who had done the race more than thirty times claimed that they'd never seen an easterly before. My pre-race thought was that the hardest part would be getting to South Ferry, since the ebb tide would be strong and the island would create a sizable windward shore that altered the breeze.

One important wind concept that people often overlook is how the land affects the breeze. My performance has improved a lot in races like these once I changed the way I thought about it. Remember that wind, as an invisible mass of air, cannot move through objects. In approaching an object -- whether it be a shoreline where there are houses or trees, or a large pack of boats clustered together -- wind tends to move up and over those masses earlier than you'd expect. (Imagine a car in a wind tunnel and how the air behaves as it approaches the car.)  And when the wind is leaving a mass of objects, as it does when it passes over land, it takes a while for it to touch back down to the water and reconnect. So I didn't want to get too close to Shelter Island on the way out (as the easterly passed over the Island and down across Nostrand Parkway), nor did I want to get too close to Paradise Point (since eventually the wind would lift back off the water to pass over Great Hog Neck). This concept was super important multiple times during the race: position yourself in a way to maximize wind velocity.

Many of the boats in the lead pack started toward the pin, since it was favored, and tacked immediately to port.  As a reminder about how you should never give up, George Prieto sailed a 1970s Alcort Sunfish, had his tiller extension fall off at the start (and float away from him), was over the line early as a result, had to sail backward to clear himself and reattach the tiller extension, and still ended up second overall. From there, most boats – although not Griffin, interestingly – stayed underneath Great Hog Neck in search of relief from the ebb to avoid being flushed back toward Greenport, and then skirted over Paradise Point with boards up and some leeward heel, although many still ran aground. 

Griffin stayed closer to Shelter Island while most of the other boats in the lead pack stayed to the right and footed a bit to get into deeper water faster and onto the conveyor belt to be swept toward South Ferry. I think Griffin and a couple of other boats inside of me benefited from a geographic left shift off of Shell Beach; wind likes to move perpendicular over land regardless of the "true" wind direction, and even though they had less tide advantage, they sailed a bit less distance by being lifted inside of the fleet. Otherwise, we were on port tack and hiking in a decent breeze until South Ferry, where we had to tack a dozen or so times to get through South Ferry Channel.  

Close Reaching on the Course:

Through Sag Harbor and the back side of North Haven it was more close reaching on port tack and I finally was able to drink some water. It was pretty hard to hydrate in the first 75 minutes or so with the hiking and upwind sailing so I had some catchup. Rachel and I have started putting electrolyte powders and creatine powder into our water bottles for windier and hotter days, and we've felt some improvements staying fresh as the day goes on.  I stayed inside John Condon, who hugged North Haven a bit more, but I think the wind started lifting over North Haven peninsula and he had less wind than I did, and I sailed a tiny bit less distance. He made up for it with a smarter, earlier tack to call the layline for Mashomack Point to pass me back.  

In Gardiner's Bay, it was a close reach on starboard with A LOT of chop – the easterly wind had kicked up some light waves that reverberated off the Shelter Island shore, creating quite the washing machine for a little Sunfish. Gary Prieto gave up his lead and part of his dad's daggerboard (really grateful that he didn't borrow that part of my kit) when he found the rock at Nicoll Point, and Griffin and George both legged out. I passed John C. back and was in 4th at Big Ram, but John Eckart and Caitlin had made up some distance on me now that the upwind part of the race was over.  

From Big Ram to Hay Beach, Condon, Eckart and Caitlin all stayed inside of me in true running conditions, with a bit less wind. I thought the tide would be even since although I was windward, we were all well inside of MOA / C3.  I figured wrong. Whether it was a combination of them being in less tide, being better downwind sailors or being lighter than me in most cases, Eckart and Caitlin passed me quickly, and even Condon legged out, which was a bummer since we are around the same size. I was constantly pulling my daggerboard up to check for eel grass since there was plenty out there – good for the health of the bay but bad for dinghy sailing, so stay vigilant.  

After Hay Beach Point, I stayed close to Shelter Island. Gary stayed in the middle of the channel in adverse tide, but made it to the Greenport shore quicker than most, got some relief from the jetty, and ultimately made some gains at the end. I followed Gary in shortly after Hay Beach since Christiaan Honig was gaining on me – and had actually passed me putting me in 8th – but passed him back when he stayed in the tide and I stayed close to Greenport.  

The Leg to the Finish:

The leg from Greenport to the finish was a lot like the start from a land-avoidance standpoint. The wind shifted more to the south-southeast, and sailors who positioned themselves underneath Shelter Island Heights / Crescent Beach / Jennings Point parked up due to lack of wind, including Griffin and George at Jennings Point, resulting in a near-race reset two miles from the finish. Folks who stayed closer to Greenport / Pipes Cove had steadier pressure. That dynamic flipped once we were in Southold Bay, where the wind funneled up the bay from the south. This allowed boats who sailed a bit higher to get the pressure earlier, and like a boat with a spinnaker, slowly take that pressure down to keep the speed. I did this and was able to sail around Condon and Eckart in the final half mile to sail back into 5th place – after having been in 8th with a large pack chasing me down a few miles previously. I felt like that was a big win since I was concerned about falling out of the top ten entirely for a while.  

As usual, Southold YC put on a lovely post-race BBQ and we were all able to get home with plenty of time to spare before the fireworks.  

Registration for the 2027 race opens on April 1, 2027 – mark your calendar!  

Submitted by Hal Gilreath & Charlie Usher

Saturday, July 18^th dawned warm and humid in Savannah for the annual Firecracker Regatta at Savannah Yacht Club. This year two sailors from Florida joined the Sunfish fleet, along with a fleet of local Opti sailors. The 10-15 knot breeze wafted through the large oaks surrounding the club and down the river, making for a great day for sailing. 

The competitive ISCA/Sunfish fleet launched from Savannah Yacht Club out onto the Wilmington River with the help of SYC staff.  The Race Committee set up the races near the confluence of the Wilmington and Skidaway Rivers.  A strong outgoing tide and passing motor boats created short, steep chop to add a challenge to the shifty breeze.  Over the course of the day, the fleet enjoyed four competitive races with positions changing throughout.  Many sailors had a turn leading a race.  

After the four races the fleet retired to SYC where the staff rolled out drinks for everyone to cool off.  Racers enjoyed relaxing in the rockers on the Dock House porch knocking back a cool drink or taking a dip on the pool.  SYC does it up well for sailors.  

Sunday morning dawned clear and sunny.  The wind had abated over the evening as the fleet set sail in a light southerly.  Two light air races followed an on-time start.  The breeze built and shifted east. The RC quickly shifted the course for a third race.  Payton Brown got off to a great start in the flat water and shifty breeze to lead the race until the second upwind leg.  

Hal Gilreath won the race and the regatta.  The battle for second and third place was between Shane McCarthy and Payton Brown with Shane prevailing.  Of note, Danny Smith from Melbourne YC consistently improved throughout the regatta to be in the mix for the final few races. Danny is a testament to a new class member putting in the time and effort to enjoy learning and improving each race.  

The fleet retired to the Dock House to enjoy a great lunch spread and air conditioning as the World Cup final was starting.  As usual, SYC had perfect timing for a great regatta. Thanks to everyone at SYC and for a great regatta.  

Final results: Firecracker Regatta : Savannah Yacht Club

SYC plans to host the Youth North Americans in August.  Another well run and fun event is expected.

Submitted by Elaine Parshall

This year's Harkers Island Regatta July 17-19 was another outstanding event, bringing together 63 boats across two classes – 51 ISCA/Sunfish – for a memorable day of racing around Harkers Island, North Carolina. The 25th annual regatta was hosted by Harkers Island Sailing Club and organized by the Oriental Dinghy Club.

A special thank you goes to Scott Olson, who loves sharing the fun of sailing with fellow sailors. Scott made it possible for 19 sailors from Lake Norman Yacht Club to participate by organizing boats and dollies for the entire group. His commitment to growing our sport and helping others experience events like the Harkers Island Regatta is truly appreciated and is a perfect example of what makes the sailing community so special.

The event brought back Camp Seagull and Camp Seafarer for the second consecutive year with even more sailors than last year’s delegation. Their participation has quickly become a special part of the regatta, introducing young sailors to one of the most unique and challenging races on our schedule.

The youth sailors were especially impressive. With southwest winds building well beyond the forecast throughout the day, I offered a shorter course before the start. Their response was immediate: "No – we're sailing all the way around the island!" Their confidence, determination, and courage were inspiring. Watching these young sailors take on the full course in those conditions was one of the most memorable moments of the regatta.

The race started on a short reach to the first mark in 10–12 knot southwest winds. The starboard mark rounding proved challenging, requiring competitors to tack onto port to round the mark while avoiding approaching starboard-tack boats that were often already on a plane. Gatlin Mattox jumped into the lead shortly after the committee boat start, followed closely by Martin Willard. Most of the fleet rounded safely before heading upwind toward the far end of the island.

Early in the race, sailors who found favorable positioning relative to the north-flowing current along the island gained an advantage. Midway down the island, however, the current reversed, rewarding those who adjusted their course accordingly.

Mattox and Willard continued to lead the fleet as they rounded the southwest tip of the island, followed by Jamie Deale, John Butine, Dylan Barbour, Elaine Parshall, and the remainder of the fleet. During this leg, Dylan moved past both Rickie Evans and John as the breeze steadily increased.

The rounding at the southern tip of the island created several passing opportunities. The gusty conditions allowed some boats to plane while others found themselves stuck in lighter air. Several positions changed hands during this stretch, and a capsize by one competitor opened the door for additional gains before reaching the eastern shoreline.

Once around the point, staying close to shore and out of the stronger outgoing current paid dividends, especially for sailors who could capitalize on the passing puffs.

The fleet passed beneath the bridge in roughly the same order. Through the "S" curves north of the bridge, Jamie took the direct route through the marsh grass and oyster beds, only briefly dragging his daggerboard. While he didn't catch the leaders, he gained nearly 300 yards on them and strengthened his advantage over Dylan. Behind them, the battle between John and the chasing boats remained close, although the strong winds made passing on the close reach nearly impossible.

As the fleet rounded the southern end of the island, the wind continued to build, making close-hauled sailing increasingly difficult. Despite several tacks toward shore, the order remained largely unchanged.  At the finish, Mattox crossed first but finished on the incorrect side of the signal boat, allowing Willard to slip ahead for the win. Jamie held off Dylan to secure his position.

One of the aspects that makes the Harkers Island race so enjoyable is the abundance of reaching legs, where sailors can get their boats up on a plane. For many Sunfish sailors, reaching in fresh breeze is one of the purest joys of sailing, yet it's something we rarely experience in today's typical windward-leeward race formats. The Harkers Island course offers a refreshing change and reminds us why distance races remain so popular.

The racing was outstanding, but what truly set this regatta apart was the atmosphere ashore. Volunteers worked tirelessly helping sailors launch, recover, and navigate the challenging shoreline in the strengthening breeze. Their efforts ensured everyone could focus on enjoying the day on the water.

I will definitely return to next year‘s Harkers Island regatta. I had great fun sailing, and the hospitality on-shore was exceptional.  I don’t think I would have managed to leave the shore without the assistance I received, and I was relieved to see the volunteers there to help us get back on shore.

Between the exciting racing, the outstanding volunteers, and the inspiring participation of youth sailors, this year's Harkers Island Regatta was a tremendous success.

Many more photos can be found on the Harker’s Island Sailing Club Facebook page, and from Matthew Cohen, who took many photos! 

Thank you to Matthew Cohen for the excellent photos, see more at https://cohenphotography.com/. 

32 sailors made it to the start line in Leland, Michigan for the first Midwest regional championship on July 25^th and 26^th.  The Leland Yacht Club pulled out all the stops to host a fabulous regatta.  The Saturday produced winds of 12 – 15 knots and perfect conditions to get in four races on Lake Leelanau.  Sunday dawned with little wind but after an hour’s postponement things picked up to 4 – 6 knots.  This allowed another two races before the fleet had lunch, awards and packed up.  After six races, Richard Chapman (Libertyville, IL) came out on top with a net score of 6 points.  Second place went to Mark Kastel with 14 points.  Third was Josh Kerst with 16 points. Many thanks to the Leland Yacht Club for running a great regatta.

 Phil Dutton (Regatta Organizer), Dan Norton (5th), Chad Coberly (4th), Josh Kerst (3rd), Mark Kastel (2nd), Rich Chapman (1st) 

The breeze was on for the New England Regional Championship at Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club in Centerville, MA on July 22-23. Saturday featured easterly and north-easterly winds for six races, followed by an even breezier Sunday -- nearby Sailflow stations showed steady 12-15 kts from the north and northeast with gusts into the 20s. 

Amanda Callahan won, finishing strong on Sunday with 3 bullets in 3 races. Doug Kaukeinen was 2nd and Bill Brangiforte 3rd.  Amanda recruited two current woman college sailors to race, and they finished 11th and 12th in their ISCA debut. 

Thanks to Chris Williams and Lee Parks for lending their boats to ensure these talented sailors got on the water.  Special thank you to Wequaquet for hosting the Regional again this year. 

MORE Photos (Thanks to Don Stucke for the pictures!)

Full Results

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