Fall 2025-Winter 2026 Racer Interest Form

Welcome!

Welcome to the Fall 2025-Winter 2026 racing season! We hope you are excited to further your develop your racing skills or get started with upcoming weekend regattas. If you've not already, be sure to dive into our Racer Handbook (required reading). The handbook is your reference for all things racing related. 

1. Review the 2025 Racer Handbook
   1. Racer key principles and expectations
   2. Racing rules, positions, and a glossary of terms
   3. Recommended activities & education
   4. Crew/Skipper Qualifications
   5. Race, practice, and preparation dates
   6. Team assignment schedule 
   7. Race fees
   8. Policies and procedures
   9. Yacht Club information
   10. Volunteer opportunities
   11. and much more!
2. Submit Racer Interest Forms
   1. Spring/Summer Racer Interest Form - available January 26th (done!)
   2. Fall Racer Interest Form - available July 12th
3. Eligibility & Certifications:
   1. SSC Membership required for participation
   2. Minimum Certifications: ASA 101 or equivalent
   3. Completion of the Crew-Level or Skipper-Level Quiz, depending on your position onboard
   4. New Racers (less than 15 races with SSC) - Completion of Crew Level Racing Clinc
   5. See Racer Handbook for further info.
4. Racer Release & Indemnity Waiver

Racer Levels:

Please use this guide to answer the following 'Racer Experience Level' and '2024 Racer Goal' questions. 

Crew Levels

Crew 0 = 0-12 Ballard Cup races or other beer can series

Crew 1 = 1 season (12+ races) of Ballard Cup

Crew 2 = 1-2 seasons of Ballard Cup and sub (6+ races) in CYC Sound Wednesdays or other competitive series

Crew 3 = 3 seasons of Ballard Cup or 1 season (16-20 races) in CYC Sound Wednesdays

Crew 4 = 4+ seasons of Ballard Cup or 2 seasons of CYC Sound Wed. or 3 coached weekend regattas

Crew 5 = Swiftsure or Round the County

Skipper Levels

Skipper 1 = 1 season skippering a Member Skippered team (BC or CYC) and/or skipper in 1-2 Member Skippered weekend races. 

Skipper 2 = 2+ seasons skippering Member Skippered team (BC or CYC) and/or 3+ Member Skippered weekend races

Skipper RYOB = RYOB Skipper in Ballard Cup or Weekend races

Coached Weekend Regatta Programs

The Coached Regatta Program offers competitive racing with a strategic and technical focus. It's a dynamic and challenging experience that introduces racers to long-distance, buoy, and one-design racing in a variety of PNW regattas. Participants from Sound Wednesdays or consistent teams, displaying a focused and fast-paced approach, have priority access to these races. This program is educational and rewarding, transforming dedicated sailors into ocean-racing aficionados. Commitment to all races in a regatta is highly encouraged. Racers who commit to all races in a multi-day regatta will have priority team placement. Review the Skipper and Crew requirements for more information on how to participate.

View pricing here, on page 17.

SSC Participation in Sloop Tavern Yacht Club Regattas provides members the opportunity to skipper their own team through various PNW regattas year-round, as well as build skills with coaches in an enivornment that generally favors education over competition (but values both!) These opportunites are available based on boat availability and racing experience. Racers who have achieved the Skipper level are invited to either create their own team of Club members for the Member Skippered team or assemble their team of non-club members through the RYOB program. RYOB skippers are responsible for registering the boat for the race and finding substitutes for their team. Review the Skipper and Crew requirements for more information on how to participate.

View pricing here, on page 18.

Round the County - November 8 - 9
Long-Distance Race

All-Crew Meeting: October 2nd

Boat Prep Meeting: October 29th

Boat Prep: November 3rd - 6th

Delivery to Anacortes: November 7th (optional/recommended)

Meet at the boat: 6:00 am, November 8th

First Warning Signal: 8:35 am, November 8th

Delivery to Shilshole: November 10th (optional/recommended)

Seattle Sailing Club is sending a coached race team up to the annual Round the County Regatta! The Orcas Island Yacht Club and the Friday Harbor Sailing Club are putting on the Round the County sailboat race. The event will be held in the beautiful and challenging waters of San Juan County Washington. The long-distance race is approximately 76 miles with an overnight stop in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. Due to the great venue, the better winds of November, and the overnight stop in Roche Harbor, the race has become one of the more popular sailing events in the Pacific Northwest.

Deliveries:

We’ll need help delivering the boat to Anacortes (11/7) and back to Shilshole (11/10). Please specify if you’re available to help with these on your Racer Interest Form.

Crew Requirements

• Crewed (or currently crewing) in 1 series of CYC Sound Wednesdays
• Crewed in 3 long-distance races
• Safety At Sea Training (The Sailing Foundation, Seattle Area) (Vic Maui, Vancouver BC) (recommended)
• Available to race in both days
• Purchase all required equipment 
  • Life jacket with a harness
  • Leg Straps
  • Tether
  • Whistle
  • Waterproof light/strobe
• Book hotel accommodations. Often times, the team will book together (i.e Air BnB or VRBO)
  • Anacortes, November 7th
  • Roche Harbor, November 8th
  • Anacortes, November 9th
• Reliable transportation to and from Anacortes 
• Available for pre-racing meetings and practices (TBD)
• Provision for yourself for the weekend

By the end of January, the Spring/Summer 2026 Racer Interest Form will go out for the new season, containing evening racing series, weekend regattas from April through September, and the signature races Swiftsure and Race Week Bellinghim.