Fort Worth Boat Club is gearing up for an action-packed season! Read below for the latest updates from our Junior racing team, upcoming youth regattas, the 2024 Summer Sailing and Adventure camps, The Annual Regatta, Club Racing, and the highly anticipated return of the Annual Sailing Awards.
Youth Sailing
In Pursuit of Endless Summer: Junior Sailing Ventures to Warmer Climates!
Winter is upon us!
So what do we do when it is too cold to sail in North Texas? We head south chasing the Endless Summer. While North Texas entered a deep freeze in January our Jr. Sailing Team headed down to Houston Yacht Club for a few days of great sailing on Galveston Bay.
The team enjoyed a fresh sea breeze of 14-16 knots and ambient air temp of 55-65 degrees. Houston Yacht Club’s new Sailing Director, Paul Barnes, was a gracious host and allowed us to hold a joint practice with the HYC junior team. Our team enjoyed the extra competition, gulf breeze, and surfing waves as we prepared for the St. Petersburg regattas in early February. Special thank you to Coach Val and her family for letting our team stay at their family's place right on Galveston Bay. It was a perfect location to stage our “Blow on the Bay” practice.
The next adventure for our junior team will take us to St. Petersburg, Florida, where we will be participating in the ILCA Midwinters East and USODA Valentine's Day events.
Both regattas will be the largest fleets our sailors have ever competed in, providing them with a valuable opportunity to learn and grow. Additionally, they will have the chance to enjoy the warmer Gulf weather, adding to the overall experience.
As we kick off our 2024 season, it's important to take a moment to reflect on the dedication and effort our sailors have shown throughout the year. Last year, our Junior Race Team proudly represented FWBC in over 16 regattas, spending more than 120 days honing their skills on the water and exploring 13 different bodies of water.
To honor their hard work, we hosted an awards dinner for the Junior Race Team on January 21st. It was a special occasion to celebrate their achievements and acknowledge their commitment to the sport.
Congratulations to the 2023 FWBC Junior Sailing Awards recipients!
Marc Nilsson – Devotion Award: Sarah Hyland
Ed Hebert – Junior Achievement Award Laser: Shiloh Mabry
Ed Hebert – Junior Achievement Award Opti: Evie Hyland
Frank Darden – International / National Sailor Award: Reid Johnson
John Star – Best Opti Sailor: Colby Cox
Golden Bailer Award: Ashlyn Josephson
Bob Yarbrough Laser Award: Isla Mrstik
High school girls racing in NOLA
The Nolan Catholic Sailing Club is excited to announce its participation in the All-Girls Catholic Regatta hosted by the historic Ursuline Academy in New Orleans on February 3-4. This prestigious event brings together teams from across the country, including:
Archbishop Riordan HS from San Francisco
Aquinas HS from Augusta, GA
Peninsula HS from Newport News, VA
Bellarmine Prep. HS from Tacoma, WA
Notre Dame Prep. from Towson, MD
Maryvale Prep. from Lutherville, MD
Representing Nolan Catholic and FWBC will be Lilly Moody and Gentry Schneider. It is an honor for them to join Ursuline, the oldest Catholic school in the United States, dating back to 1727. Let's cheer them on as they showcase their sailing skills and represent their schools with pride!
Go Vikings and Go FWBC!
Upcoming Junior Regattas
Dates | Regatta | Location |
|---|---|---|
February 1-4 | ILCA Midwinter's East | St. Petersburg Yacht Club |
February 3-4 | All Girls Catholic High School | Community Sailing New Orleans |
February 10-11 | USODA Valentine's Day | St. Petersburg Yacht Club |
March 23-24 | TSA Roadrunner | Austin Yacht Club |
April 6-7 | TSA Chocopalooza | Rush Creek Yacht Club |
FWBC Camps
NEW!! FWBC Spring Break Adventure Camp
Join us for our new Spring Break Camp at FWBC!
From March 11-15, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm, kids aged 8 to 15 can spend the week experiencing all that is offered on Eagle Mountain Lake. Campers will get to participate in paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and sailing while creating lasting memories and fostering that sense of adventure.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to introduce your kids to a variety of water sports and activities while enjoying the refreshing waters of Eagle Mountain Lake. Join us for a week filled with adventure and fun!
Register now for FWBC Spring Break Camp!
Registration, Information, and FAQs can be found here.
FWBC Summer Sailing and Adventure Camps
Registration for FWBC Summer Sailing and Adventure Camps opens March 1st!
Camps will run weekly from June 3rd through August 9th.
What type of summer camps does FWBC offer?
Sailing Camps (Ages 8-15) Join our Sailing Camps (ages 8-15) for an exciting nautical adventure! Learn sailing, from beginners to skill enhancement. Enjoy Eagle Mountain Lake's wide offerings while gaining hands-on instruction, teamwork building, and developing a love of the water. Experienced instructors guide you through sailing basics, navigation, and safety, creating lasting memories.
Adventure Camps (Ages 8-15) Join our Adventure Camps, open for ages 8-15. Experience a diverse range of activities against the stunning backdrop of Eagle Mountain Lake. From kayaking to team-building exercises, discover the endless adventures on the lake. Our goal is to foster camaraderie, instill confidence, and create unforgettable moments through outdoor activities. Get ready for an action-packed week of exploration and excitement!
Race Camp (TSA Sailors) Attention all Junior TSA Sailors! Join our Race Camp at the Rockport Yacht Club, specifically designed for TSA junior sailors. Get ready for the TSA Rockin' Rockport Regatta with our comprehensive Race Clinic with high-performance coaches. Gain expert guidance, learn advanced racing strategies, and enhance your skills before the regatta.
Little Dogies (Ages 4-7) Introduce the youngest community members to sailing and nautical activities with our Little Dogies camp (ages 4-7). Our program offers a safe and enjoyable introduction to sailing, with age-appropriate activities like crafts, kid-friendly boat rides, and kayaking. Our experienced staff fosters a nurturing environment, building confidence and cultivating a love for the water from an early age. Little Dogies promises a week of fun and exploration for our youngest sailors!
Don't miss out on securing a spot for your child. Mark your calendars for March 1st and be the first to register.
Club Racing and Regattas
Club Hosted Regattas
FWBC has a busy spring regatta schedule. Below are the regattas that the club will be hosting in the coming months. Interested in seeing some of the action? Come visit on regatta weekends to watch the action from our patio looking out onto Eagle Mountain Lake.
Dates | Regatta | Location |
|---|---|---|
March 2-3 | Bob Gough TSA Race of Champions | Fort Worth Boat Club |
April 20-21 | 95th Annual Regatta Cowtown Stampede | Fort Worth Boat Club |
April 27-28 | ILCA No Coast Championships | Fort Worth Boat Club |
For more information visit our Regattas Page.
Embracing Year-Round Racing: The Marigail Weekend Series
The Marigail Weekend Series was established in the 1970s, when winter races were rare. Don Williamson and his brother established the series in January and it became the first of its kind at the club. Today, members continue to race the Marigail series, embracing year-round racing in challenging winter conditions. January weather caused the cancellation of two races so far and there are two races left in this series.
Here is the race schedule and the PRO assigned to each race:
Roadie Race Schedule and Principal Race Officer (PRO) Assignments
After the Marigail series, next up will be the Roadie Series, comprising six races with two discards. Mark your calendars for these upcoming Roadie races:
Club racing and PRO schedules can be found on our Club Racing Page.
Bob Gough Memorial TSA Race of Champions - March 2-3, 2024
The Texas Sailing Association has a long tradition of producing champion racers who have bested the best at events all over the globe. None of that would have been possible without the support of many selfless Texans who volunteered to run world-class events in our home waters. This event honors Bob Gough, who for many decades of dedication to this sport, has set the gold standard in race management.
The Bob Gough TSA Race of Champions (ROC) will be hosted at the Fort Worth Boat Club on March 2-3, 2024. The ROC is an invitational event with a format designed to bring multiple generations of champions together for a weekend of competition, learning, and stories! The regatta will be sailed in FWBC’s J22 Fleet.
The 9 Invitees have been selected from recent TSA junior champions, TSA award winners, and other Texas championship winners. The juniors will be paired with a Texas Legend to gain valuable keel boat seamanship to further promote lifelong sailing. The event organizers are seeking donations to help support this worthy experience for our Junior sailors. Please contact either Michael or Nettie Younger about your donation interest. Fair winds ahead!
For regatta info, visit our Regattas page
FWBC Annual Sailing Awards - February 10
Champions & Chalices, Where the Wind meets the Wheat.
Join us at Fort Worth Boat Club on Saturday, February 10th for the Annual Sailing Awards! This special evening celebrates the achievements of our sailors and supporters throughout the year.
Bring your quirkiest cup, grandest goblet, or most outlandish urn. Fill them up with complimentary beer or your favorite fountain drink - no questions asked! We'll be toasting the Boat, Crew, and Skipper of the Year. Maybe your chosen vessel will steal the spotlight.
Don't miss this event that brings together the FWBC Racing Community, including the FWBC Weekend Racing Series, Wednesday Evening J22 Racing, and our Annual Regattas.
More event information is listed here.
To learn more about sailing at Fort Worth Boat Club, contact our dedicated staff:
Ryan Shubin - Sailing Director - Ryan@fwbc.com
Val Herrscher - Lead Coach - Coach@fwbc.com