Frostbiting
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Our winter sailing has a long tradition of cooler temperatures, great racing, great people and a lot of fun. We welcome sailors of all skill sets. We sail a boat traditional to American YC known as a Cook 11 and Lasers. The frostbiting program usually begins in October or November with a practice day and then regular racing continues every Sunday through early April. We generally sail right off the docks in Milton Harbor and do short course racing in the afternoons. Throughout the winter we mix up the formats a few times with some special weekend events such the annual Turkey Distance Race over Thanksgiving weekend, New Year’s Regatta on January 1st, the annual Women's Cook 11 Championship and others. The first warning signal each Sunday is at 1:30 p.m. and we usually run between 6 and 9 quick races by 3:30 p.m. Depending how long you decide to stay at the bar after sailing, you can even be home at a reasonable time.
Historically our racing is done in Cook 11 dinghies which were specifically designed for single-handed winter sailing. The boats are inexpensive, durable, simple to rig, and self-bailing in the event of a capsize. They can be sailed competitively by a wide range of people of different height, weight, and ability. The class is a strict one-design and lightweight sailors need to carry weight in their boats to further equalize the fleet. We usually have about 10 to 20 boats on the starting line on any given day.
In 2020 we added Lasers to our fleet and it's been great having both types of boats sharing the racecourse (separate starts). In the beginning of the season we have standards, radials and 4.7s but as the season gets deeper most of the competition happens in radial rigs. Our Laser fleet continues its fun to see so many people out on the water.
After sailing we occasionally have informal presentations on boatspeed, technique, tactics, and rules. We try to run a few different clinics and learning opportunities throughout the season. Private lessons are also available by request. Whether you're relatively new to racing or just looking to sharpen your skills, frostbiting is a great way to enjoy friendly competition, grow your skills, and maintain your edge for the following summer racing season.
Frostbiting is really a lot of fun. We have both men and women out there of all ages and skill levels, and everyone who comes out frostbiting is guaranteed to become a better sailor. We normally complete 100 or more races throughout the season which gives you a tremendous amount of practice with starting and mark rounding, not to mention the countless tactical situations that arise. The best part, however, is the camaraderie within the fleet. We are all out there together racing as hard as we can, often in challenging conditions, and then we carry on with friendly conversation over a drink after racing.
We do have a club Cook 11 and a club Laser available for charter that you can reserve to try frostbiting on a first come, first served basis. We can also put you in touch with other charter options for the season. Please contact the frostbiting fleet captain if you would like to get more information about the frostbiting program, or if you know of someone else who would like to get involved.