Whatever you sail, we have a fleet for you.
One-design racing in the MC Scow, Flying Scot, Ensign and Sunfish, plus an active Portsmouth handicap fleet.
MC Scow
The largest and most competitive fleet at CYC. Sail it solo or with a crew — the scow design maximizes speed with unmatched stability, and you can step the mast on your own. Home to national champions, MC Fleet 86 travels to class regattas across the Southeast and races every club series.
Flying Scot
CYC is home to Flying Scot Fleet 217. A stable, family-friendly 19-foot centerboard sloop inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame, raced with two or three aboard under main, jib and spinnaker. Very popular with senior sailors and welcoming to crew of every experience level.
Ensign
The classic Pearson Ensign keelboat — forgiving, comfortable and quick enough to keep it interesting. Ensigns start with the Portsmouth boats.
Sunfish
Where most CYC sailors start. Club-owned Sunfish race in the club series, travel to regional and national regattas, and are the boat of choice for our Learn to Sail clinics.
Portsmouth Fleet
Whatever you sail, we have a start for you. Wayfarers, Solings, Ideal 18s, Ensigns and cruisers race together and finishes are corrected by Portsmouth rating.
The Jim Cook One Design Center
Home to our one-design fleets, the Jim Cook One Design Center is where our MC Scows, Flying Scots, Sunfish and other boats are stored under cover and worked on between races.
Jim sailed a Wayfarer, and his old boat still sits at the center today.
The club built it as a tribute to Jim Cook after his tragic passing. For the sailors at Catawba, it is more than a boat yard. It is where we keep his spirit and his love of one-design racing alive every time we step a mast, tune a rig or head down to the water.
Other classes at CYC
Beyond our organized fleets, these classes are on active duty at the club and most race in the Portsmouth start.
Wayfarer
A stable double-hander that planes in the right breeze, with a deep cockpit and high boom. CYC hosts the Southeastern Wayfarer Championship at the Jim Cook Regatta.
Hobie Catamarans
The beach-launched Hobie 16 with its dual-trapeze rig — fly a hull and you’ll understand. CYC also has an active Hobie Wave sailor.
Lightning
A 19-foot Sparkman & Stephens centerboard sloop and one of the most competitive one-design classes in the world.
Capri 22
A comfortable, easy-to-maintain trailerable keelboat with a full racing package including a symmetrical spinnaker.
Catalina 22
One of the most popular small cruiser-racers ever built — a great boat for evening races and weekend cruising.
Ensign 22
The Pearson Ensign — a full-keel daysailer that is comfortable, forgiving and quietly competitive.
Soling
The former Olympic three-person keelboat. CYC’s Joe Brase won the 2023 US National Soling Championship.
Ideal 18
A modern, sit-in keelboat that is easy to sail and races in the Portsmouth start.
Renken 18
A classic small keelboat that finds a home in our Portsmouth fleet.