A fleet is a group of people who enjoy sailing their boats together. Most fleets are one-design based, but not all. A fleet of boats might simply have something in common, like all board boats, or cats, or boats under 16′.

Who runs a fleet?

Fleets are almost always run by volunteers who donate their time, and it's a labor of love. Small boat sailing clubs often have several one-design fleets within them. Each one has a contact person.

What do fleets do?

They might travel, picnic, camp— and they race. Someone sets buoys on the water, marking a course that everyone sails. Depending on the wind, you'll sail the course several times each race day.

Why sail with a fleet?

To make friends. Meet new people. Get tips—on everything. And when sailing a course, you'll exercise different skills and become a better sailor. The better you get at anything, the more you enjoy it. You'll likely sail more often too. You'll be missed if you're not at the lake. You can cut the grass tomorrow.

It's not about winning

Especially in a local fleet. You won't be in anybody's way, and everyone wants you there. There's almost always someone who'll show you what to do and help you participate. If you're not noticed, ask who's in charge and ask for help.

No fleet? No problem!

Try racing in a mixed fleet at Pontiac Yacht Club on Monday nights. GDSC opens its race course to fledglings too. You don't have to be an experienced racer nor even a skillful sailor. You can even start your own fleet.

Metro-Detroit One-design fleets

Laser

Lasers sail out of private club facilities.
Cass Lake from Pontiac Yacht Club
Lake Fenton from Lake Fenton Sailing Club
Lake St. Clair from Crescent Sail Yacht Club
Lake Lansing from Lake Lansing Sailing Club.

All hold regattas open to any Laser sailor. You do not have to be a club member. For a list of all Laser racing in Michigan
visit Laser District 19.

Sunfish

The Greater Detroit Sunfish Club (GDSC) welcomes everyone, and is family oriented. Sunfish sail at Kent Lake and Stony Creek, and various other locations.

Hobie

Hobie Fleet 276 welcomes all Hobie Cat sailors, seasoned or novice. They sail off Metro Beach on Lake St. Clair, Portage Lake near Ann Arbor, and travel to meet with other fleets as well.For more information visit Hobie Fleet 276.

CRAM

The Catamaran Association of Michigan allows any catamaran to sail at their regattas, though their focus is Nacra Catamarans, with separate starts for various Nacra models. Other-than-Nacra cats usually combine to form a mixed-group, which starts separately, and is scored with a handicap system based on Portsmouth Yardstick. For more information visit the CRAM website .