Getting sailors out racing and cruising together on Southern Puget Sound since 1971.
Spring sailboat racing occurs from April to June each year and is open to all PHRF-rated sailboats (or SSSS Club rating) whose skippers are members of the SSSS Club or some other recognized yacht club, provided the race fee is paid. The races are run on designated Saturdays in Budd Inlet and are typically short buoy races determined by the Race Committee. The 1st leg of each race is usually upwind.
The Island Series of SSSS sailboat races features 4 different courses designed to circumnavigate some of the numerous islands in the south Puget Sound. These races are held on Saturdays, with the 1st start at 9:35 am. Be prepared for almost any weather condition- light wind, strong wind, wet, and/or cold (sometimes even a warm sunny day with good winds).
For sailing instructions, please see Appendix A, Buoy Races, in 2021-24 PHRF Sailing Instructions (pdf)
The Island Series of SSSS sailboat races features 4 different courses designed to circumnavigate some of the numerous islands in the south Puget Sound. These races are held on Saturdays, with the 1st start at 9:35 am. Be prepared for almost any weather condition- light wind, strong wind, wet, and/or cold (sometimes even a warm sunny day with good winds).
For sailing instructions, please see Appendix A, Buoy Races, in 2021-24 PHRF Sailing Instructions (pdf)
Fall Series Races are longer buoy races in Budd Inlet. The first race starts at 12:00pm. All Skippers must be current members of a recognized yacht club and have paid their racing fees to the SSSS Club. All sailboats participating must have a PHRF rating or a temporary Club rating. All racers must check in before the race with the Race Committee and must call in to the RC Boat if they withdraw before the finish line.
March 2025
A copy of this document is included with the RC gear onboard.
Courses
You may set course 1, 2 or 3 for regular racing. Course #4 is to only be used for crew races and should be the last race of the day. The fleet would like the RC to run a crew race at the end of the day’s racing whenever possible so try to leave enough time for this race.
Setting Windward Leg
Observe the average wind direction, the first leg should be to windward of the starting line. You do not need to be exact with the position of the windward mark because you can adjust the direction when you set the starting line. The windward leg should be between 0.5 and 0.75 nm. To give you a reference, it is about 1 nm from Channel Marker 5 to the shoal marker. We will have a GPS on the Committee boat if you know how to use it to help with the distances, or you can estimate when the committee boat is just up on step. It takes about 2 minutes to go 0.5 nm and 3 minutes to go 0.75 nm.
Setting the Line
After the windward Mark is set, continue to observe the average wind direction, the first leg should be to windward, they should spend almost as much time on both tacks and the starting line should be at a right angle, square, to the wind or slightly favored toward the pin. You may well have to watch for half an hour or more to figure out exactly where the wind is coming from. Fill out the wind log form and use the committee anemometer to record the speed. We want to start getting a database of wind direction and speed for our racing.
The line should be from 100 to150 ft for every 5 boats participating. At 5 knots, this is the speed the RC boat is going when the wake begins to get larger but before going up on step, you will run the line 15 to 20 seconds for every 5 boats participating.
Individual Recalls:
1. After the starting signal make one sound signal, that’s 2 audible signals total including the start signal, and display code flag X. If you can recall by bow number, but it is not required. A sample hail is, “Over early 01, 17, 20.”
2. Clearing: As each boat crosses completely behind the Starting Line, you can hail by Bow number, eg; “22 clear”. Note that clearing yachts as they return is not required. It is a courtesy. Lower the X flag after all the boats that were over clear the line, or 4 minutes after the start whichever is sooner. Any boat failing to return and restart should be noted on the finish form as On Course Side, OCS.
Signal a General Recall as follows:
1. Make one audible signal immediately after the Starting Signal: that’s three audible signals in total, including the starting signal.
2. Fly the First Substitute, the general recall flag, and you can hail general recall to the fleet.
3. Make new Attention Signal: begin new sequence approximately 1 min after the attention signal is given.
To Abandon:
Hail the competitors that the race is abandoned it is not necessary to fly any flags.
Shortening the Course
Set a Finish Line by the Mark of your choice and make two sound signals and raise the S flag. You may shorten the Course at any rounding Mark you can get to before the racers. Sometimes it can save the race, particularly when the wind is light. If you want to shorten the course to 1 lap before the start display the S flag.
Setting the Finish Line
If you haven’t moved, the starting line becomes the Finish Line. The Courses are set up so that you do not have to move if you don’t want to, but you can if you wish to shorten the finish line. Just remember that moving takes time.
If you have moved for any reason you will need to set the Finish Line. The Line should be at right angles to the wind if finishing a windward or a leeward leg, and must be oriented so that it is clear which direction you must cross from the last mark.
Finishing
Before the first finisher returns, set the blue flag. This means “We are ready to accept finishers.”
A yacht has finished when any part of her hull, gear, or crew in a normal operating position crosses the Finish Line. It is not necessary for a yacht to pass completely through the Finish Line. However, they do need to get clear of the line without hitting a Mark or fouling another boat: if they foul without clearing, they have to do their penalty turns and then re-cross the line and Finish otherwise they must be protested and disqualified. But, the committee should record them as Finished when they first cross the line.
If you have photos you’d like to share with the club, please email the Fleet with either a link to where the photos are stored (such as OneDrive, Flickr, etc.), or, if you have only a few photos, you can attach them to your email, either one by one, or as a .zip archive. Please be sure to tell us what event or race was photographed, the date, and who should be given credit for the photos.
2025
2024
2017-2018
Black Star Regatta 2018 by Thera Black
2016-2017
Black Star Regatta 2017 by Thera Black
Black Star Regatta 2017 by Jonathan Halling
Black Star Regatta 2016 by Thera Black
Star Races July 5 2016 by Carlow Alden
Evening Star Racing: first start at 1815 There will be several races each day. Star Series May
Practice Night Monday, May 5
Race Night #1 Monday, May 12 Race Night #2 Monday, May 19 Race Night #3 Monday, May 27 (Due to Memorial Day) June
Race Night #4 Monday, June 2 Race Night #6 Monday, June 9 Race Night #7 Monday, June 16
Race Night #8 Monday, June 23
Race Night #9 Monday, June 30 July Race Night #10 Monday, July 7 Race Night #11 Monday, July 14 Race Night #12 Monday, July 21 Race Night #13 Monday, July 28 August
Race Night #14 Monday, August 4 Race Night #15 Monday, August 11 Race Night #16 Monday, August 18 Race Night #17 Monday, August 25 Fall Regatta, TBA
Fleet Captain – Patrick McLaughlin
Executive Officer – Jim Findley
Secretary – David Geeraerts
(SSSS Club) Treasurer – Matthew Peterson
Race Chair – Chris Reitz
ARTICLE I: NAME
The organization shall be known as the Budd Inlet Star Fleet, hereinafter referred to as “BISF.”
ARTICLE II: PPOSE
The Budd Inlet Star Fleet (BISF) was established to create an enjoyable and affordable sailing environment for participants. The organization aims to prevent the typical “arms race” where competitors seek advantages through boat and equipment enhancements. BISF is dedicated to promoting safe, fun, cost-effective, and competitive sailboat racing.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership to BISF is open to any individual interested in the art and science of sailing and racing Stars. Including, but not limited to Star owners, Crew, Someone who is interested in Stars, and people who like sailors. Voting on fleet business is limited to one vote per member.
It is suggested that at least one member of the crew or the owner of a Star boat be a member of the South Sound Sailing Society (SSSS). While it is encouraged for BISF members to join the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA), it is not mandatory for participation in fleet racing. To maintain fleet status with ISCYRA, a minimum of three boats must be registered with the association.
Section 1– Skipper membership dues shall be set at the first meeting of the year and paid by the second race night.
Section 2– Crew membership dues shall be set at the first meeting of the year and paid by the second race night.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Section 1 – The elected officers shall be Fleet Captain, Executive Officer (XO), Secretary, Treasurer, and Race Chair. A member may be elected to, and hold one or more of the offices during a given year, but shall have only one vote on fleet business.
Section 2 – The term of office shall be from November 1 through October 31.
Section 3 – Duties:
A. Fleet Captain: Shall preside at all meetings of the organization, casting a vote only in case of a tie, and shall be responsible for the efficient operation and good order of the organization. In the case of absence the Fleet Captain, the Executive Officer will preside over meetings.
B. Executive Officer: Shall preside at all meetings of the organization, cast a vote, Assist Captain with the efficient operation of the organization, and shall take the place of the Captain and perform the Captain’s duties whenever the Captain is absent or unable to act.
C. Treasurer: Shall keep all financial and property records in coordination with SSSS; shall account for, receive and dispense all monies; shall submit two financial statements to the Star-Board per annum.
D. Secretary: Shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall maintain and preserve all records, reports and documents of the organization, and shall be responsible for gathering nominations and publicizing the slate of officers for election.
E. Race Chair: Shall be responsible for organizing and conducting the annual racing program of the organization.
ARTICLE V: STAR-BOARD
Section 1 – Officers: The Star-Board shall consist of the elected officers.
Section 2 – Duties:
The control and conduct of the business of BISF shall be vested in its Star-Board, which shall:
A. Set and publish the dates of meetings.
B. Approve all expenditures made by the Treasurer on behalf of BISF.
C. Act on a request of the membership to recall a member of the Star-Board. The request shall be made by petition signed by twenty percent or more of the membership. An affirmative vote of all the other board members shall serve as recommendation to the membership for its action. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership is required to recall a board member.
ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES
Section 1 – The Fleet Captain shall nominate the Chair and any other members of the Technical Committee and any special committees with the approval of the Star-Board. All committees shall serve at the pleasure of the Star-Board.
Section 2 – The Technical Committee shall decide all questions of the interpretation of the Fleet Rules of Part II. The decisions of the Technical Committee are final.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section 1 – Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the conduct of all meetings. Email serves as notice as required in these bylaws
Section 2 – The annual meeting shall be held by the end March, notice of which shall be sent at least ten days prior thereto.
Section 3 – Other meetings may be called by the Star-Board provided that at least ten days notice of the purpose and date of such meeting is made to the members.
Section 4 – A petition to the Star-Board of twenty percent or more of the members to hold a special meeting shall be recognized by the Star-Board and a meeting shall be called in a timely manner.
Section 5 – Quorum:
A. The members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum.
B. A quorum at a special meeting shall be as in Article VII, Section 5A except that in addition, the presence of at least one Star-Board member shall be required.
ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1 – Elections shall be held at the annual meeting.
Section 2 – Nominations for office may be made any member and publicized by the Secretary to the fleet at least 5 days prior to the annual meeting.
Section 3 – No person may be nominated without their consent.
Section 4 – Voting shall be by voice vote unless an office is contested, in which case voting shall be by paper ballot for the contested office.
Section 5 – In the event that there is no nominee for an office, a majority of the Star-Board may appoint a member to serve in that position, provided, however, that the member has given their consent.
Section 6 – If an officer is unable to fulfill their term, a majority of the Star-Board may appoint a successor to complete the term.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
These bylaws shall be adopted and may be amended by two-third affirmative vote of the members present at any meeting, provided that proposed amendments hereto have been sent, together with notice of the meeting, to each member at least ten days prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION
Section 1 – BSIF may be dissolved by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership by written ballot following thirty days notice of such action.
Section 2 – Any and all assets shall be distributed according to the discretion of the Star-Board.
Racing is open to any “Star boat”, meaning a boat assigned a hull number by the I.S.C.Y.R.A. and deemed by the BISF Technical Committee not to have been significantly modified.
Section 1 – BISF Star Definition
BISF Stars are defined as follows:
1. Shall have a hull number at least 20 years old.
2. Sails shall have at least one season of use before they are used in a BISF sanctioned event. The Technical Committee shall be the sole judge of the acceptability of all sails.
3. A boat shall not be hauled out during the racing season, except for needed repair or to race in another location.
Section 2 – Requirements
Each vessel shall carry the following:
1. Bow numbers are required to race in BISF races. The numbers are assigned by the Technical Committee, which shall be the sole judge of the size and placement. Sail numbers are not required to match the hull number. The boats will be identified by bow number only.
2. Coast Guard approved life jackets for each member of the crew. Inflatable life jackets will be permitted if they are worn on the outside of all clothing including foul weather gear.
3. A tow line of 60 feet in length.
4. Sound Signaling device (whistle or horn)
5. Paddle
6. Bailing bucket or pump
Section 3 – BISF Season Championship
The fleet will award a Season Championship yearly. It will be based on scores from a wide sampling of the year’s races and scored as described in the sailing instructions and approved at the annual meeting by the fleet members.
Section 4 – Fleet Representative to the Worlds
The Worlds are currently open. If that changes, then the most recent season championship will provide the representative as the top skipper willing to attend.
Section 5 – Sailing Instructions
The sailing instructions for the conduct of BISF racing are contained in Appendix 1. They may be modified as required by the Race Chair. The Sailing Instructions will be updated yearly and posted on our web site at least a week before the first race of the year. The most current version of our Sailing Instructions will be posted on BISF website at least two days before any race; this supersedes all earlier versions, including those published in the SSSS Handbook.
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