On the Water: April
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
On the Water: April Contents
Summer Camp: Register now!!!
J22 Learn to Sail Course: April/May Course Info
Club Racing: Hub Issaks PHRF Series and J22 Wednesday Night Series
Youth Sailing: Juniors Start Season Strong!
Upcoming Regattas: Annual Regatta
Starboard Foundation's: A Night with Robert Youens
Coaches' Chalktalk: Racing Signal Flags
Summer Camp 2026
Summer Camp season is right around the corner at Fort Worth Boat Club, and we’re gearing up for another great summer on Eagle Mountain Lake. Registration is open, and spots are already filling as we prepare to welcome sailors of all ages back to the water.
FWBC offers programs for ages 4–15, with options for every experience level. Little Dogies Camp (ages 4–7) provides a fun, half-day introduction to sailing and lake life, while our full-day camps for ages 8–15 include Learn to Sail, Adventure Camp, and our two-week Beginner and Intermediate Race Team Camps for those ready to build skills and get into racing.
Whether it’s a camper’s first time on the water or they’re continuing to grow as a sailor, our programs are designed to build confidence, develop skills, and create a lifelong love of sailing. We’re looking forward to another exciting and memorable summer at FWBC!
To see the camp schedule, FAQs, and registration info, visit our website!
Learn to Sail J22 Course
Our Adult Learn-to-Sail course is back this Spring, offering a fun and approachable way to get out on the water. Sailors will learn the fundamentals aboard our J/22s in a relaxed, hands-on environment, no prior experience needed. The course is on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for three weeks, giving participants consistent time on the water to build confidence, develop skills, and enjoy the process of learning to sail. Whether you’re brand new or looking to refresh your skills, this is a great opportunity to get involved!
Registration can be found on the FWBC website on the Sailing Lessons and Clinics page.
Club Racing
PHRF Weekend Racing Series
The Roadie Series wrapped up with seven scored races and competitive racing across the fleet. Of the five boats that raced consistently throughout the series, each managed to secure at least one race win, a great reflection of the depth of competition and the variety of conditions we saw week to week. Great job to all the skippers and crew for getting out on the water, staying consistent, and making it such a fun and competitive series.
Sunday PHRF racing has now transitioned into the Hub Isaaks Series, keeping the momentum going as we move further into the spring season. With a busy club calendar that includes events like Easter Sunday and the Annual Regatta, there will be a few adjustments to the normal racing schedule. Be sure to check the schedule regularly or add the shared Google Calendar to your personal calendar to stay up to date.
We’re looking forward to another strong stretch of racing. Whether you’ve been out every weekend or are looking to jump in as the season continues, it’s a great time to get out on the water as things warm up!
PHRF Sunday Series Dates
Date | Race Series | PRO |
|---|---|---|
April 12 | Hub Issaks 2 | Craig Johnson |
April 26 | Hub Issaks 3 | Martin Peacey |
May 3 | Hub Issaks 4 | Michael Younger |
May 17 | Hub Issaks 5 | David Thornton |
May 31 | Hub Issaks 6 | Marc Nilsson |
Plan ahead for a great season on the water by checking out the 2026 club racing calendar on the Club Racing Page. Save the dates and don’t miss a weekend of racing.
You'll also find series registration, the Notice of Race (NOR), and Sailing Instructions (SIs).
Wednesday Night J/22 Series
The J/22 fleet is off to a strong start this racing season at Fort Worth Boat Club. Four races have been scored in the Spring Series so far, and the competition is already tight, with just six points separating the top four boats. With GPS trackers available each week, teams have a great opportunity to break down their performance, learn from each race, and continue improving, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
The Spring Series will run through April 22, after which the fleet will roll right into the Late Spring Series, keeping the momentum going with plenty more racing on the schedule.
As always, be sure to keep an eye on the weather and come prepared each week. While temperatures are starting to warm up, this is Texas afterall, another cold front is never out of the question. Being ready for a range of conditions will help you make the most of every race day.
Wednesday Night J22
Spring Series Dates
April 1 - Races 7 & 8
April 8 - Races 9 & 10
April 15 - Races 11 & 12
April 22 - Races 13 & 14
Late Spring Series
April 29 - Races 1 & 2
May 6 - Races 3 & 4
May 13 - Races 5 & 6
May 20 - Races 7 & 8
Youth Sailing
FWBC Junior Team starts the Youth TSA Season off Strong!!
The FWBC Junior Team traveled to Austin this past weekend to compete in the first Youth TSA Regatta of the 2026 season!!
We had 10 sailors representing FWBC on Lake Travis out of the Austin Yacht Club.
Evie Hyland placed 1st overall in the RWB Optimist fleet with Sloan Schollhorn, Ashlyn Josephson, and Nicolas Gras also representing well in the RWB Fleet.
For the ILCA Fleets, FWBC had 3 sailors racing. Sarah Hyland placed 3rd in the ILCA 4 fleet with only 1 point behind 2nd place. We also had Finn Messner placing 3rd in the ILCA 6 fleet, followed by Isla Mrstik in 6th.
Great job to all our junior sailors for starting the season with some podium finishes, as well as Everett Bailey, Carson Johnson, and Jordan Schollhorn, all in the Opti Green fleet, who got 9 races in for the weekend.
The next TSA regatta for the juniors will be at the beginning of May. The team will be practicing through April particiaping in the Annual Regatta so come out and see our sailors in action on the water.
Upcoming Junior Race Team Events
Date | Regatta/Clinic | Location |
Apr. 18-19 | FWBC Annual Regatta | Fort Worth, TX |
Apr. 25-26 | Performance Clinic - Minth | Fort Worth, TX |
May 2-3 | TSA Grapevine Grand Prix Regatta | Grapevine, TX |
May 22-24 | ILCA US Championships | Corpus Christi, TX |
High Performance ILCA Training Clinics
In addition to the spring practices and regattas, Fort Worth Boat Club will host an ILCA High Performance Clinic on April 25–26. This session will feature guest coach Ryan Minth, providing sailors with advanced technical instruction, race strategy development, and focused on-the-water training. The clinics offer a valuable opportunity for ILCA sailors to sharpen their skills and continue building speed and consistency heading into the heart of the season. These weekends are open to all ILCA sailors. Email Juan Carlos Romero (sailingdirector@fwbc.com) to secure your spot!
Check out the Junior Race Team page to see the latest program info and calendar. Reach out to the coaches for more info.
Want to stay up to date with what the FWBC Junior Sailing Team is up to?
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Upcoming Regattas
Annual Regatta &Cowtown Stampede - April 17, 18, & 19
The FWBC Annual Regatta & Cowtown Stampede is just around the corner, and excitement is building for one of the best weekends of racing on Eagle Mountain Lake. This year’s event promises a true showcase of the club’s racing community, with a wide variety of fleets taking to the water, including J/105s, J/24s, and J/22s, alongside dinghy classes like Sunfish, FJs, ILCAs, and Optis. From seasoned keelboat teams to our youngest Opti sailors, the regatta brings together competitors of all ages and experience levels for a full weekend of great racing.
With so many classes on the course, spectators and sailors alike can expect an exciting atmosphere both on and off the water. Whether you’re racing, volunteering, or cheering from shore, the Annual Regatta and Cowtown Stampede is a highlight of the season and a great opportunity to be part of the action at FWBC.
We also want to extend a sincere thank you to our event sponsors, Lakeview Boating Center, U.S. Boat Haulers, American National Bank & Trust, Whitley Penn, and State Farm - Linda Allen. Their continued support plays a vital role in making this event possible and helps strengthen the sailing community here at Fort Worth Boat Club.
Starboard Foundation's: A Night with Robert Youens
at the Fort Worth Boat Club
Coaches’ Chalktalk
Simple tips to sail smarter and sail faster
Racing Signal Flags and what they are telling sailors
If you’ve ever looked at the race committee boat and thought, “What do all those flags mean?” well, now is your chance to learn! Racing flags are how race officials communicate important information to sailors and sailing fleets out on the water and on shore.
Each flag has a specific meaning. Some tell you when a race is about to start, while others let you know if the race has been postponed or if you need to restart. Learning just a few of the most common flags can help take the confusion out of race day.
Flags going up or down are paired with a certain horn or whistle signal to draw sailors' attention to the flag being displayed or removed.
Starting Sequence Signal Flags
The first flag you will see raised to indicate a start sequence in progress will be a Class Flag. This flag will typically show the fleet logo or be a number pennant to indicate which sailing class will be starting that race.
After the class flag is raised, a Preparatory Signal will be raised one minute later. This flag indicates the starting rules. This tells the sailors what to do if they start too early and how to clear themselves and start again. It could be as simple as ducking back below the line (P flag) or could mean being disqualified from the race (U and Black Flags). Read the specific rules associated with each preparatory flag in the sailing rule book or ask a sailing coach. The Preperatory Signal is removed at one minute to the start followed by the Class Flag being removed as the starting signal.
If there is a boat or multiple boats over the start line at the end of the starting sequence, the race committee will raise a Recall Signal. It may be an individual recall (X flag), or it could be a general recall (First Substitute) resulting in the whole start sequence being reset and run again.
Other Race Signal Flags
Other race signal flags help the Race Committee provide info to the sailors before, during, or after the race. If sailors need to check in on the water, the race committee needs to share info with the fleet, or give other directions, they will fly the L flag. If the committee has to make changes to the course mid-race, the signals used to indicate a change (C flag) for the next mark or a shortened course (S flag) are shown below.
If races need to be postponed (AP flag) or abandoned (N flag), either on shore or on the water, the following signal flags are used by the committee.
The more you sail, the more familiar these flags will become. Before long, you’ll be able to look at the committee boat and immediately understand what’s happening, helping you feel more confident and prepared every time you race.
If you ever have any questions about the signal flags, ask the race committee, reference the rule book, or ask a sailing coach. Understanding the flags can make or break a race if you or a competitor misunderstands a signal being given.
Chalktalk Quiz: Can you identify the signal flags shown here on Ranger?
What fleet is racing?
What rules apply to the start?
Where is the boat end of the start line?
What safety information is the race committee giving to the fleet?
HARD: What will be the next signal given by race committee?
The On the Water monthly update is produced by the sailing coaches at Fort Worth Boat Club. We love highlighting the achievements, adventures, and community moments that make our program special. If you have a story to share or news to celebrate, please send your content and photos to Coach Val at coach@fwbc.com
Missed last month's update? Check it out here.
FWBC Sailing Staff
Juan Carlos Romero - Sailing Director sailingdirector@fwbc.com
Val Herrscher - Head Coach
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