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Join us for the 2008 ACCs (formerly MidAtlantics) May 17-18! more info
Vanguard 15 (V15) Fleet 59 is based at Severn
Sailing Association (SSA) in picturesque Annapolis, Maryland,
and began in 1994 with 3 boats. Today we have an extremely
active and rapidly growing fleet with over 20 boats
and that number continues to swell season by season.
The V15 is a double-handed, one-design
dinghy that was designed by Bob Ames, one of our own fleet members
here in Annapolis. V15's are lighter, faster, cheaper and easier
to transport than many other comparable dinghies. Despite its
light weight and good performance characteristics, V15 construction
has proven to be extremely tough and durable, making
for an investment that should provide years of fun and excitement
on the water.
Racing in V15's is always a closely
fought affair. The one-design nature of the boats ensures
that everyone has the same equipment and hence goes pretty much
the same speed. Therefore, the difference between winning and
losing is sailing skill and not the size of one's checkbook
or an intricate knowledge of boat tuning. V15 sailors range from
top-level All-American types (of which their are quite a few in
our fleet!), to novice sailors who enjoy the relative simplicity
of V15's, to families who find the V15 is an ideal platform to
teach their kids the skills of sailing. If you fit into any of
these descriptions, then the V15 is the boat for you.
During the summer, SSA runs 6 or 7 weekend races
for the V15 fleet. Fleet members also participate regularly in
TESOD (Tuesday Evening Sailing One Design). The TESOD series
is informal, fun, short-course racing happening every Tuesday
evening in the summer. We also have just initiated a fortnightly
team-racing practice session on Friday evenings during
the summer. There are numerous other active V15 fleets on the
East Coast and throughout the US, and Fleet 59 members regularly
attend 'out-of-town' regattas to test their skills against the
best double-handed sailors in the country. Fleet 59 and SSA are
the hosts of the annual V15 Mid Atlantic Championships, which
takes place in the spring. This year we had a record entry
of 40 boats - proving beyond doubt that V15 sailing is alive and
well in the Chesapeake Bay.
Besides the numerous sailing opportunities,
we organize numerous social activities and events, including
our annual potluck dinner held during the winter. We hold a fully
coached clinic every year to encourage skill development as
well as a demo day for prospective boat owners to take
a test drive. Come out and try a V15; you won't be disappointed!
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