MARBLEHEAD'S FLEET 14 and the SONAR CLASS
The Sonar class has been boat-owner managed from its inception. The start of the class resulted from a survey done by potential owners. Boat owners wrote the class constitution, by-laws and boat specifications, grew fleets in their local areas, and funded class activities from annual dues. The class executive committee, newsletter editor, and regatta chairpersons were all volunteers from the boat owning membership and have demonstrated their skills initially at the local fleet level. The officers of the national class association rotate every two years and only one member has served as President for two terms (four years). The success of the Sonar class has been cited in national sailing magazines and the class association newsletter, the Echo, has been recognized as a model for other classes.
Fleet 14, started in 1985 with three boats, is now, 2004, one of the largest fleets in the national association. More than 30 boats are expected to register for the 2004 summer season. Ten boats compete in the Boston Yacht Club Frostbite Series. In addition, a number of Fleet 14 members compete in Boston Yacht Club Wednesday night summer PHRF series. Several boats that competed for the positions on the US Para-Olympic Sailing Team also compete in Fleet 14.
Fleet 14 rotates its officer positions throughout the fleet. With most members having jobs, families and other responsibilities, the fleet changes officers regularly to prevent leadership burnout. Running major regattas requires the energy and work of many volunteers.
The SONAR is a nice boat to sail. Part of the boat's challenge is that even though it has a 900lb keel, the boat sails as if it was a centerboard dinghy. Many crews roll-tack the boat; and some roll-jibe the boat. The SONAR rewards good sailors with exhilarating performance. The boat is very responsive in a racing mode but can be toned down for daysailing with non-racing (familiy) crews.Fleet 14 was the host of the 1998 Atlantic Coast Championship and the 1999 North Americians. In 2004, Fleet 14 will host a Team Racing Clinic taught by Ken Legler, Tufts University Sailing Team Coach and team racing Guru. In 2005, Fleet 14 will host the 2005 Sonar North Americans. Fleet 14 has a very high rate of participation in out-of-town Sonar class regattas, including Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Rochester, New York; and St. Petersburg, Florida. One of our members, along with some crew, has participated in Cowes Week in the UK.
Fleet 14 members, like the majority of class association members, are amateur sailors with jobs, families, and lives outside of sailing. Nevertheless, the quality of the local competition is high. Individuals who race in the Marblehead fleet have been top performers in other world and national one-design classes including E-22, IOD, J-22, J-24, Fireball, 505, Soling, and 110. At least seven Marblehead fleet members have placed fifth or better in Sonar class championship regattas. Fleet 14 includes three winners of the US Sailing Adams Cup (the women's national keelboat racing championship) and a women's match racing team ranked in the top ten internationally.
Fleet 14 members are active sailing organization volunteers, participating as US Sailing, Sonar class association, and Marblehead Racing Association officers and committee members. Local fleet members have generously loaned their boats for US Sailing ladder, regional, and national championship events, including the Paralympics.
Fleet 14 members are distributed across all five Marblehead yacht clubs: Boston YC, Corinthian YC, Dolphin YC, Eastern YC, and Marblehead YC. A portion of Fleet 14 members are non-yacht club members and represent sailing associations such as the Boston Sailing Center, Community Boating, and the Marblehead Boating Center.
updated May 21, 2004