harbor 20 sailboat review

Published on July 29th, 2015 | by Editor

Harbor 20: Hitting the Target

Published on July 29th, 2015 by Editor -->

Like any good yachting story, the Harbor 20 was conceived in a bar, where a brainstorming session at Newport Harbor Yacht Club would result in the first launch by 1997, with now 416 boats delivered (and rising).

This group in Southern California desired a day sailing/racing boat that was suitable for a very broad range sailors, a target which has found its mark out east too. In 2012, Howard Brooks started Harbor 20 Fleet 5, which is located in Annapolis, MD. With numbers in the mid-teens a year ago, the fleet now boasts two dozen boats.

“The selection of the Harbor 20 sailboat is a growing phenomenon at Annapolis Yacht Club,” Brooks notes. “The boat’s design, style and performance have compelled a number of members to get back into sailing. This is true of not only past sailors, but also current sailors who want a simpler boat that provides both racing and social sailing opportunities.”

The format of the races caters to more mature sailors that like to race but prefer shorter races limited to few hours during the day. Weekday evening or Frostbite type race formats are preferred, though on occasion there are weekend races.

“The membership is engaged in the racing and typically we see more than ten boats turnout,” said Fleet Captain Marino DiMarzo. “At the Leukemia Cup in May we had all 24 boats on the starting line. There is a lot of interest since the boat and the activities cater to racers who may not be active in more traditional classes or in PHRF.”

DiMarzo sees their steady growth a result of what that initial brainstorming session was after.

“The boat is particularly comfortable and easy to maintain, and you can race very competitively single handed or with two or three people,” observes DiMarzo. “But it is not just about the racing. There are social activities on land during the winter and on the water during the season. These events attract a large portion of the membership. Most important of all, the people are very nice and it is a highly welcoming group.”

Keeping everyone moving in the same direction is the key to success at the fleet level.

“The fleet membership receives a weekly update via email and issues are discussed and addressed promptly,” reports DiMarzo. “We try to assist the various members with tips or fixes on their respective boats. We have a fleet sailmaker and we work closely with him to insure that the sails are consistently performing. We have developed tuning guides and we hold seminars on sail trimming, rules, and tactics on a yearly basis.”

Brooks notes how the creation of Harbor 20 fleet has resulted in new members joining Annapolis Yacht Club. “The unique aspect of the Harbor 20 owners is a common desire to get together socially and enjoy company of fellow Fleet 5 members.”

Plans are underway for the first national championship to be held in 2016 in Newport Beach, CA and with the Annapolis fleet to host the event in 2017.

Class details – Fleet 5 details – Builder information

Tags: Harbor 20 , Keeping it real

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About the Harbor 20

Built by the w. d. schock corporation.

www.wdschock.com

CLASSIC GOOD LOOKS – The W.D. Schock Corp. design team has deftly blended the beauty of traditional topsides with the efficiency of a high performance, modern rig and underbody to create an up-to-date day sailer. The graceful and distinctive lines of this Harbor 20 stand out in contrast to the many “look-alike” sloops on the market. The nice thing about classic is that it always looks right and never goes out of style. Modeled after the famous Herreshoff design, this new classic will turn heads in any harbor or yacht club, and provide each owner the permanent reward of a boat that’s always a pleasure to view.

COCKPIT COMFORT – The cockpit is where you live on a day sailer, and special attention has been devoted to maximizing this cockpit’s space, comfort and convenience. The seat and backrests are curved and angled to follow natural body contours. The two ice chests are within easy reach, secured by chocks and shaded by the cuddy. The seat lockers are cavernous, and the engine well doubles as an enclosed storage space. Small children are protected by the cuddy and the cockpit coaming, and there’s enough length and width to the seats to allow adults room to stretch out for a nap. Six plus adults, or the whole family can relax in comfort and electric motor can be easily deployed.

STABILITY & SINGLEHANDED EASE – By placing a significant amount (900 lbs.) of lead ballast down low, in a bulb, on a seaworthy hull, Shock has achieved an unusually steady craft with no bad habits. All lines are set up to lead to the cockpit so that one person can handle everything. The furling jib is self tacking and self vanging with the patented Hoyt Free Standing Boom. The fully battened mainsail is non flapping and powerful, and stacks itself safely between the lazy jacks. A special reefing set up allows one person to reef the main in less than 20 seconds – without leaving the cockpit. The Harbor 20 can handle a crowd comfortably – but it can also be a very satisfying single hander, so you don’t have to line up crew for what should be the simple matter of “going sailing.” These features are incorporated in one design class which is ideal for yacht club use because the need for skilled crew (or any crew) will be minimized.

PERFORMANCE UPWIND & DOWNWIND – You’d expect a modern sloop to sail well to windward, and the HARBOR 20 does not disappoint, pointing high and footing as fast as any similar sized day sailer on the market, without any need for hiking. This boat has a beautifully balanced feel that makes it pleasurably responsive and supremely easy to steer and maneuver. Downwind – where most sloops suffer the slows from non-functioning jibs – is where this boat comes alive. The jib boom keeps the jib out on all courses, and acts as an automatic whisker pole to wing out the jib. So while other jibs slat uselessly about off wind, the HARBOR 20 jib is an easily controlled, fully active drive unit on all courses – giving you full sail power, on all points of sail. You’ll be surprised how making the jib work full time adds to sailing pleasure and performance, and obviates any need for genoa or spinnaker.

TOP QUALITY CONSTRUCTION by W.D. Schock

For over 55 years the W.D Schock Corp. has set the standard for quality high performance sailboats. During their long history in the boat business, Schock has built over 70 different designs, including the Santanas Schocks, Thistles and numerous other popular one design sailboats. Like all Schock sailboats, the Harbor 20 is 100% hand laid up fiberglass and are engineered and built to yield maximum strength and rigidity. Their reputation for quality and service is well established.

A SMALLER BOAT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY – Today, most families can’t afford a large, one purpose racing boat that only one member really enjoys. And many older couples find they no longer need the trouble and expense of a large cruiser that sits idly at the mooring most of the summer for lack of crew. So here’s a boat that’s ready to go in minutes, suitable for one person or six, and it doesn’t require a major commitment of time or money. After all, the fun of sailing is more related to the ease and frequency of use than the size or expense of the boat. The Harbor 20 represents a new alternative, a classy day sailer that allows sailing to fit sensibly into modern lifestyles. Here is a boat whose stability and responsiveness will encourage you and your family to sail more often, and the One Design feature opens up simple, friendly, class competition on the race course. Safe enough to take along the kids, and simple enough to teach them to sail, the nimble Harbor 20 will please all ages.

LOA 20′ BEAM 7′ LWL DRAFT 3’6″ DISPL. 1800 LBS. BALLAST 900 LBS. SAIL AREA 232 S.F.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF THE HARBOR 20

Sailing Characteristics – The bow of the Harbor 20 has a fine entry for slicing through waves. The stern carries enough beam that the boat rides down waves nicely. The lead in the keel is concentrated in the lower half of the keel. The low center of gravity, with a 50% ballast-to-displacement ratio, combines with the ample beam to make an incredibly stiff and stable boat.

Construction – The hull is hand laid up mat and roving fiberglass. The resin is applied by brushes, rollers, and squeegees and is carried through hoses. Schock does not use a wet-out system, which sprays the resin into the fiberglass. They feel this system opens the door to potential osmotic blistering.

All bulkheads are tabbed into the hull for maximum strength. The bow is strengthened by a liner that is bonded to the hull on all surfaces. The bow structural support system includes an air tank, two bulkheads, and two platforms for ice chests. The keel grid is made of fiberglass and is bonded on all surfaces to the hull, spreading loads evenly. The keel grid incorporates two platforms for battery storage. This provides a place, both port and starboard, that is low and out to the sides, to strap down batteries, making the best use of their weight.

The hand laid up balsa-cored deck is bonded to the hull with a “shoebox” hull-to-deck joint. The deck is light and all one piece.

Cockpit – In the cockpit, at the forward end of each bench seat are two hatches that provide access to the batteries for the electrical system and extra storage. The cockpit floor holds three hatches to allow access to the sump, the electric bilge pump, the keel bolts, and the lifting eyes. The motor control panel for the electric motor is located halfway aft in the cockpit on the starboard side. This is the perfect location to reach the throttle while sitting at the tiller. The seat backs meet the seat bottoms, closing off the gap that is often found between the coaming and the seat. The seats are deep and wrap all the way around the aft section of the cockpit. The cockpit easily seats seven adults, while actually sailing . . . not just while tied to the dock. The aft lazarette contains the electric motor. The motor is mounted on an arm that rotates out and over the starboard gunwale. The deployment and retraction is assisted by blocks and line. Stowing the motor in this way keeps the prop from dragging in the water. The motor will push the Harbor 20 at about five knots without noise or smelly fumes. A charger is built into the cuddy on the port side. Just plug the boat in when done for the day. No more fuel docks, no noise, and no more rocking the boat when the wind dies.

Rig – The Harbor 20 rig comes with a roller furler for the jib, a Hoyt self-tacking jib boom, and lazy jacks for the main. The self-tacking jib makes single-handed sailing much easier, especially in tight quarters. It also allows for a much less experienced crew.

The sails that have been designed for the Harbor 20 are made of durable 6 oz. sailcloth. The main is equipped with full battens to further extend its life. The roller furling system on the jib and the lazy jacks make rigging and sail stowage a snap. Most owners leave their sails rigged and ready to go for the duration of the sailing season. Additionally, the lazy jacks prevent the boom and sails from falling all over everyone in the cockpit. When the sails can be put away so quickly, docking is amazingly easy.

The shrouds and stays are “Rigger’s Choice” 1 x 19, the highest quality stainless available. The running rigging is color-coded New England Rope Sta-Set. All hardware is Harken. The sail controls are led under deck to a shelf located on the aft edge of the cuddy and are labeled for easy identification. The contents of the shelf include the following: jib sheets, jib sock halyard, jib furling line, jib winger, jib outhaul, cunningham, main halyard, reef, and lazy jacks. Above the shelf is an 8:1 boom vang. The boom contains an internal outhaul. The backstay adjuster is lead under deck and into the cockpit. The mainsheet is adjusted from a cam swivel with a ratchet block located on a barney post. This leaves the access fore and aft in the cockpit clear. The traveler is located on the aft coaming of the cockpit. The mast is deck-stepped and can be equipped with a mast hinge. The rig is extremely simple, yet at the same time gives the trimmers a great deal of control over sail shape.

Strictly One-Design – When the Harbor 20 was used for the Championship of Champions, the competitors remarked over and over again that they had never competed in a round-robin with such undeniably equal boats. The competitors ranged in age from14 to 70. Class rules do not allow hiking, or even sitting on the rail. Greg Fisher, chairman of the event, called the Harbor 20 “a strict one-design that is both well balanced and simple to sail.” This places the emphasis on good boat handling and superior tactics rather than on athletic ability.

How the Harbor 20 came to be…..

On a beautiful Thursday evening about fifteen years ago, a group of seven salty sailors at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club in Southern California were sitting in the bar wondering why so few of the yacht club members were sailing. This got them to dreaming about the perfect boat. One that would get husbands and wives, families and friends back on the water.

After many more discussions on this topic, the salty seven came up with the perfect solution. A brand new 20-foot keel boat now known as the Harbor 20.

Each of the guys in the group had been an extremely competitive sailor in his day, but found himself sailing less each season. They had raced boats like the International 14, Star, Thistle, Etchells, Santana 20, Snipe, and Lido 14 but at 50+, they were no longer up to the physical requirements of these boats. And the hassle of racing larger boats had become a huge obstacle. The whole scenario of making twelve calls to get a crew of eight or nine together for a weekend race had definitely lost its appeal.

The more the guys talked, the more they realized how much they missed sailing and one-design racing. Surely there was a sailboat out there that could get the older sailors back on the water racing competitively and also get sailors of all ages out sailing with their families.

In the “good old days”, sailing had been a lifestyle. Generations of families had focused their summertime activities around yacht club events. But all of this had changed as dozens of new leisure-time activities emerged to divert their attention. The number of entries in the racing events was dwindling, and many of the boats in the boatyard sat idle for most of the year.

The group that met at the bar that day set out to change this. The man with the vision was Arthur Strock, a renowned architect with a passion for detail. He had a beautiful power boat but hadn’t entered a sailboat race in years. Recognizing that there were a lot of other sailors just like him, he set out to find a sailboat that would get Newport Harbor Yacht Club members back into sailing. He spent two years going from builder to builder, and he looked at daysailers and small racing sailboats all over the world.

In the end, he decided that the perfect boat simply did not exist. He kept detailed records of his search and compiled a 30-page document describing the boat that would be perfect for the job.

As Arthur did his homework, he continued to meet with the guys from that casual meeting at the bar. They were all staff commodores with outstanding racing credentials who definitely understood the importance of getting the members back into sailboats.

One of the members of that group was Tom Schock, past NHYC commodore, avid sailor, and owner of W. D. Schock Corp. Tom recognized the challenge faced by the yacht club, and he knew that it was a problem being faced by many other yacht clubs. He also knew that the future of sailing depended on finding new ways of making the sport more attractive. Junior programs were being enhanced to attract children to the sport, and exciting new high performance racing sailboats were being designed to entice young athletes, but nothing was being done to keep older sailors and busy young executives from abandoning the sport.

Based on Arthur’s study, the group zeroed in on the Criteria for their new design. They knew that the boat would need to be . . .

• A beautiful, timeless design
• Comfortable & efficient
• Easy to sail whether sailing single-handed, double-handed, or with the whole family
• Hassle-free
• Fast & competitive
• Fun for one-design racing
• Perfect for daysailing with the family
• And really easy to maintain

The Answer –The Harbor 20 – A 20-foot keel boat with a large cockpit and a self-tacking jib.

Another important member of the group was Steven Schock, a professional Engineer and Naval Architect with a lifetime of sailing experience. Steve designed the boat, focusing completely on the Criteria.

As a result, the Harbor 20 has a thoroughly modern and fast hull shape. The cockpit is huge. And the boat is equipped with things like cushions and the roller furling self-tacking Hoyt jib boom that makes it comfortable, efficient, and easy to sail.

The first Harbor 20 was launched in April of 1998. Within twelve years there were about 150 Harbor 20s sailing in Newport Beach. About 35 of these Harbor 20 owners actively race their boats, which means 115 Newport sailors love to daysail. Most of these daysailers join the class association so they can enjoy the parties, seminars, and lots of other special non-race sailing events. And the racers find the competition exciting enough to entice them onto the racecourse for Twilight racing five evenings a week during the spring and summer months.

There are now over 325 Harbor 20s sailing throughout the United States, Canada, Chile, and Australia. The Harbor 20 has definitely put families back on the water. It has also gotten husbands and wives back into the same boat. Young dads are racing with their children, and grandparents are sailing with their grandchildren. During this year’s annual Baldwin Cup Team Race at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Jon Pinckney, one of Newport Harbor’s finest sailors, commented that “the Harbor 20 saved sailing at Newport. It has brought hundreds of sailors back into sailing.” Though certainly not in the 50+ category, Jon and his wife Gale are regulars on the Harbor 20 racecourse.

The boat is fun and easy to sail but definitely competitive. The design eliminates any advantage where crew weight and strength are concerned. Winning a Harbor 20 regatta depends entirely on the skill of the skipper. The Harbor 20 is perfect for teaching our children to sail. It is also perfect for taking friends for a delightful afternoon sail. All of the sail control lines are lead under deck to a console in the cockpit, so the lines are within easy reach for the skipper and crew. There isn’t a winch on the boat – there is no need for one.

The cockpit is 9 feet long, and you sit inside the cockpit – not on the deck. The boat comes equipped with two ice chests, and the class rules require that you race with cockpit cushions. It takes just five minutes to get the boat ready to sail. You just remove the cover and jib sock, raise the main, and unfurl the jib. At the end of the day, a clever custom-built electric motor will get you back to the dock. The motor pushes the boat along at about 4 knots. It is clean and quiet and is mounted on a special bracket that rotates out of the lazarette.

Plenty of options are provided to make the Harbor 20 fit any sailing style, and the boat is definitely easy maintenance. The Harbor 20s are generally kept in the water, and the only piece of wood is the tiller. The forepeak is a one-piece fiberglass liner. The floorboards, hatches, etc. are fiberglass. Even the floor timbers are fiberglass – no wood to decay over time. The keel is a fiberglass shell with lead and epoxy poured into the shell.

At the end of a day of sailing, you just roll up the jib, fold the main onto the boom, plug in the electrical power, and put the covers on. The boat sits ready and waiting for the next time you have a few minutes to spend sailing.

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• Sailboat Guide

Harbor 20 is a 20 ′ 0 ″ / 6.1 m monohull sailboat designed by Steven Schock and built by Schock W.D. and One Design Composites starting in 1997.

• 2 / 8 Newport Beach, CA, US 2001 Harbor 20 $28,000 USD View
• 3 / 8 Punta Gorda, FL, US 2003 Harbor 20 $18,500 USD View
• 4 / 8 Newport Beach, CA, US 2001 Harbor 20 $28,000 USD View
• 5 / 8 Punta Gorda, FL, US 2003 Harbor 20 $18,500 USD View
• 6 / 8 Newport Beach, CA, US 2001 Harbor 20 $28,000 USD View
• 7 / 8 Punta Gorda, FL, US 2003 Harbor 20 $18,500 USD View
• 8 / 8 Punta Gorda, FL, US 2003 Harbor 20 $18,500 USD View

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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• Thread starter Sawyers Island
• Start date Jun 27, 2023
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Sawyers Island

Hi-I'm looking at a 1998 Harbor 20 in a couple of days. Can anyone offer any advice on what to look for specifically? Thanks in advance.  

I googled Harbor 20 reviews and got a fair number of hits. It is a smart looking boat. Should be really fun for a day sail or race around the marks.  

• old sails (need too be replace - this is the boat's power source),
• aged rigging (another consumable),
• possible blemishes on the deck/hull (inspect for water intrusion - repair issue),
• hardware that my not have been serviced (inspect, repair/replace).

Sailfanatic

Our sailing club had a few Harbor 20s for a few years. She is a nice sailing boat, and pretty comfortable, but with a very low freeboard, the boat was very wet. Miss seeing or mis-judge a powerboat wake, and you routinely would get white water down decks and into the cockpit. I'd consider one only for enclosed sailing areas without a lot of powerboat traffic. After two years, they were sold off...  

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Review of Harbor 20

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Harbor 20 is 2.30, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 5.5 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Harbor 20 is about 73 kg/cm, alternatively 413 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 73 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 413 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Harbor 20 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

Harbor 20 Class Association

Alyc hosts harbor 20 “c’s the day” race and seminar, saturday april 27th, 2024 11:00am.

For those of you new to Harbor 20 racing or if you need just a little refresher, this is for you. Come bring you own, borrowed or rented Harbor 20 for a fun-filled day of racing in Newport Bay.

We will meet at the American Legion Yacht Club for basic review of the “Racing Rules of Sailing” and an overview of how to manage your way around a race course, then out to the water for some straightforward races around the buoys in Newport Harbor. Put your boat away and it’s back to ALYC for some photos, food, prizes and conversation.

Getting started in sailboat racing is fun and exciting, but can be a little intimidating, so as an added benefit we have a limited number of Mentors available to help you gain the skills and confidence needed to enjoy the competition. Mentors will be available on a first come first served basis.

For the event page on Regatta Network click here .

Cost is $30.00 per boat.

Each attendee will receive a complementary copy of US Sailing’s “Sailors Guide to the Racing Rules of Sailing” as well as a handy decal guide to the Signal Flags used in conducting a sailboat race.

To reserve dock space, a Mentor or for further questions, please contact Scott Barnes at [email protected]

Hope to see you out on the water!

Story by Gary Thorne

Congratulations to Puzant Ozbag Zorayan for advancing to the B fleet recently, and to Bill Symes and Mike Kennedy for advancing to the A fleet!  Puzant won the C division in the BYC Nov. Sunkist and the NHYC Feb. Winter Series.  Bill won the B division in the Feb. 17-18 WD Schock Memorial Regatta at NHYC, while Mike won the BYC January Sunkist and a 2023 regatta in B.

Want to move up?  Just win two days of racing in your division, with at least five boats racing in the division.  In the Weiss Series, each of the three days counts as a day of racing, as does each Sunkist and Winter Series day.  If you win a two-day event like the WD Schock Memorial Regatta, you move up immediately, as Bill Symes did.

One secret to success is to race regularly in weekend regattas, such as Weiss #2-3 on 4/7 and 5/19, and Midsummer on 8/4.  (Sorry, summer evenings and Friday Frolics don’t count.  Look for high-point races in red or green font on the fleet calendar at  harbor20.org/fleet-1-newport-beach/calendar/ .)  Another secret is to encourage fellow sailors to come out so we have at least five boats in each division.

Once you’ve moved up, you have a year to place in a regatta in order to stay in your new division.  For instance, if you win the B division in the WD Schock Memorial Regatta, a 2-day event, you have until next year’s WD Schock Memorial Regatta to place in A, or you’ll go back to B after that regatta.  (To see what it means to “place,” see Appendix A of the fleet bylaws at  harbor20.org/fleet-1-newport-beach/organization/bylaws/ .  By the way, once you move up to A, you never go back to C, even if you don’t race for a while.  Also, you can stay in A forever by winning the fleet championship.)

Even if you don’t win two regattas during the year, keep racing–you may win one of the season high-point trophies!  (See  harbor20.org/fleet-1-newport-beach/awards/high-point-series/  for the standings.)

Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing for 2021-2024, Sunday March 24, BCYC

EVERYONE WELCOME – H20, other one designs, PHRF sailors

Whether you are just learning the racing rules or are already an expert racer, this seminar will improve and update your understanding of the complex rules of our sport. This course covers all the rules which govern the behavior of boats in close proximity when starting, meeting, encountering obstructions, rounding marks, and finishing. Animated PowerPoint and videos bring the rules to life. Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and course materials. Great for skipper and crew because two heads are better than one!

Sunday, March 24

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

8:15  Registration / Continental Breakfast

9:00 Seminar begins

12:00 Lunch

5:00 Seminar ends

Please bring a  Racing Rules of Sailing for 2021-2024  book. It is free to members of US Sailing.

$119.00 if registered before March 20

$144.00 if registered after March 20

To register click  here .

Also, SAVE THE DATE: A companion on-the water clinic will he held at Balboa Yacht Club on April 6.

On-the-water Clinic – Saturday March 9 – LIYC

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT. If you would like to participate, you can bring your own boat and crew and pay at the door (check or cash) . BUT, A MENTOR WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO SAIL WITH YOU.

Phil Thompson will be hosting the H20 on-the-water clinic on Saturday, March 9 at LIYC. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the top racers in Fleet 1! There will be two on-the water sessions. Phil will start by sharing tips on starting and race course analysis followed by practice starts and short races. After a break for lunch, he will do an on-the dock demonstration with sails up talking about mast, rigging dynamics, shroud tensions and sail trim and demonstrating the proper use of the backstay, boom vang, cunningham, main outhaul, jib outhaul, jib downhaul and how to set the jib height using the jib halyard. Then back on the water for longer races with emphasis on boat speed, sail shape and sail trim.

One of the things that makes these clinics successful is that they provide an opportunity to practice elements of sailboat racing with experienced “mentors” aboard each boat. This can greatly accelerate the learning curve, and provides a great opportunity to meet and sail with others!

The clinic will begin at 10:00. Sailing will end at 4:00 when Happy Hour begins!

The registration fee is $49.00 and includes Lunch and Happy Hour.

When you register, please answer the question on the “Checkout” page as to whether you will be bringing a boat, crewing on a boat that someone else is bringing, or are requesting a spot on a boat that we provide. It is very important that we have this information in advance so that we can assure the everyone has a spot on a boat, and that mentors are available to sail on each boat.

To register click here .

We hope to see you there!

2024 Class Board Election Results

Here are the results of the election of Harbor 20 Class directors that concluded in January. Class owner-members voted for the following directors:

On-the-water Clinic – February 10 – LIYC

To register click here.

Fleet 1 – friday frolics for 2024.

Posted on behalf of Frolic Meister Bob Yates:

Harbor 20 sailors are welcome to a new season of Frolicking.

Frolics will be sailed from the Dick Sweet RC boat starting at 2 pm in the Turning Basin just north of NHYC.  The Race Committee will announce the course and provide sailing information verbally from the boat before the first warning. They will continue until the Race Committee gets tired or thirsty, whichever comes first.  Sportsmanship is of paramount importance. Don’t foul or hit other boats. If you make a mistake, do a turn. If you hit a boat (and possibly cause damage), sailors must report to the Race Committee on the NHYC patio after the race. Scores will not be recorded, and trophies will NOT be awarded.

All participants are invited to join us afterwards on the NHYC Deck for friendship, drinks and a lively discussion.

Our planned schedule is shown below. An email will go out the week before to remind all Fleet 1 sailors of the event and telling of any changes.

January 12 and 26

February 9 and 23

March 8 and 15

April 12 and 26

May 10 and 24

June 7 and 21

July 12 and 19

August 9 and 16

September 13 and 27

October 4 and 18

November 8 and 22

December 13

You can also find each Frolic in the Fleet 1 2024 Calendar .

2024 Fleet 1 Learning Opportunities!

The learning program for Fleet 1 is being enhanced this year by combining class room education with on-the-water exercises. This makes sense because classroom knowledge is of no value unless put into practice and sailboat racing is complex enough as to require classroom education in order understand the game.

Program Overview

There are three large but essentially separate bodies on knowledge required to be a proficient sailboat racer each of which will be covered in detail in a day-long seminar in a classroom setting. Each will be followed up 2 – 3 weeks later with an on the water clinic. Bring your own boat and crew to the clinic, and as in the past, experienced mentors will be available to sail with you.

Seminars are day-long events that include a continental breakfast and lunch. Clinics will start later in the day with an on-the dock “chalk talk” starting at 11:00, lunch at 12:00, and sailing from 1:00 until 4:00 with break halfway through. Happy hour will commence at 4:00!

The schedule of events is:

January 21       Seminar            “Strategy & Tactics”       BCYC    All day  Click here for the event page

February 10    On-the-water Clinic       LIYC      11-4 Click here to register

March 24         Seminar            “Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing”       BCYC    All day

April 6              On-the-water Clinic       BYC      11-4

June 2              Seminar            “Boat Handling & Sail Trim”        BCYC    All day

June 15            On-the-water Clinic       LIYC      11-4

Registration Fees:

Seminars. $119.99 per event

Clinics $50.00 per person per event

Events such as these are scheduled far in advance so don’t miss these opportunities to up your game in 2024!

If you have any questions about this program, please feel free to contact me:

[email protected]

Online Learning now Available

I have often been asked whether my classroom seminars are videoed. The answer is yes, but not for the purpose of releasing unedited footage, Rather the intent has always been to edit the raw video and use it as content for self-paced online courses. Two are now available:

Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing    6 hours 8 minutes

INTRODUCTION – HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED          31 minutes

RIGHT OF WAY                                                            34 minutes

GENERAL LIMITATIONS          `                                   1 hour 40 minutes

AT OBSTRUCTIONS                                                    55 minutes

AT MARKS                                                                   1 hour 50 minutes

THE START                                                                  29 minutes

SUMMARY                                                                  9 minutes

Boat Handling & Sail Trim          5 hours 29 minutes

AERODYNAMICS         20 minutes

SAILING THEORY         1 hour

SAIL SHAPE                  1 hour 40 minutes

DEMONSTRATION      51 minutes

SAIL TRIM                    38 minutes

BOAT HANDLING        1 hour

The courses include a PDF copy of the course book.

To access the online courses, click here .

The upcoming Strategy & Tactics seminar on January 21 at BCYC will also be recorded, and an online course will be released in the future. If you are in the Fleet 1 area and plan to attend this event, please note that this is NOT a rules seminar. “Strategy” is about getting around a course as quickly as possible, and “Tactics” is about how to implement your strategy in the company of all the other boats, i.e. it is about boat-on-boat interactions – which are dependent on the rules. If you do not have a good working knowledge of the rules, completing the online course in advance would greatly enhance your enjoyment and ability to understand the information presented in “Strategy & Tactics”.

I you avail yourself of these learning resources, I would be very interested in your feedback. Please see free to contact me:

Peter Haynes

Strategy & Tactics, Sunday January 21, BCYC

Open to all sailors h20, phrf, other one designs….

While “Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing” and “Boat Handling and Sail Trim” are essential topics to understand in order to be competitive, neither will teach you how and why a sailboat race is actually won. “Strategy” is a plan you make before the start as to how you would sail the course as fast as possible in the absence of other boats. “Tactics” is about boat-to-boat maneuvers that help you to sail to your strategic plan. Great for skipper and crew because two heads are better than one!

Sunday January 21

Registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch and course materials.

$119.00 if you register by January 17

$144.00 if you register after January 17

To register click her e .

Join us also for the on-the-water companion clinic for Harbor 20’s on February 10 at LIYC! Bring your own boat and crew and put into practice what you learned at the seminar. Experienced mentors will also be available to sail with you. For information and registration click here .

If you have any questions about this seminar, please feel free to contact me:

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The Harbor 20 is a great alternative to the Lido 14 for beginning students who prefer the stability and comfort of a keelboat. The Harbor 20’s cockpit easily accommodates three students and an instructor and no one needs to sit on the rail to balance the boat, or duck under the boom when tacking. Deep coamings provide comfortable back support.

All halyards and lines are let below the deck where they lead to hardware mounted on a shelf at the aft edge of the cuddy cabin. This design keeps everyone in the cockpit, the deck clean, simplifies sail control, and allows sailing to become second nature.

The Harbor 20 was designed with simplicity in mind and a competitive spirit at heart, whether you’re sailing upwind or downwind.

  Layout & Specifications

LOA: 20′ Waterline length: 17′ Beam: 7′ Draft – fin keel: 3’6″ Displacement: 1,800 lbs Ballast: 900 lbs Main Sail Area: 151 sq. ft. Jib Sail Area: 81 sq. ft. Safety Gear: All USCG required safety gear

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Welcome to W.D. Schock Corp., building sailboats for 70+ years!

--setting the standard, building boats since 1946 --.

Welcome to W.D. Schock Corp.

Thank you for your interest in W.D. Schock Corp. boat builders,   

We manufacture new sailboats, and offer parts/support for new and legacy boats.

We can't wait to build your next sailboat!

W.D. Schock has been building boats for more than 70 years, and more than 70 different design builds. One of our favorite boats, the Harbor 20 is a perfect option for clubs wanting to start a race series with fun, comfortable, convenient racing sailboats. The Harbor 20 is a perfect choice for first time or seasoned sailors. 

We look forward to making your sailing dreams come true!

 Be a part of our continued legacy, call today and let us customize your next sailboat! 

(951) 277-3377

W.D. Schock Corp. Highlights

• W.D. Schock has been designing & producing boats for over 70 years
•  SAIL Best Boat Award Winner for the Harbor 30 
• We have built more than 15,000  boats that are sailing all over the world
• Our sailboats are still proudly made in the USA in Southern  California, call us for a tour- we pride ourselves in our boat building  process! 
• We have built over 70 different boat designs and continue to grow

Genuine Schock Parts are available from our national network of stocking dealers or direct from the factory via telephone sale at  (951) 277-3377. 

W.D. Schock is one of the last sailboat builders in Southern California.

Ready to purchase your next sailboat?

 Be a part of our legacy, call today  and let us build your next sailboat.  (951) 277-3377

Copyright © 2024 WD Schock - All Rights Reserved.

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Nearly two dozen suspected migrants seen sprinting off boat as it arrives in luxe California marina

N early two dozen suspected illegal migrants docked a boat at a luxurious California marina Thursday morning before vanishing into a nearby neighborhood as officials scramble to find a way to “do better.” 

A video posted online Thursday shows at least 20 migrants abandoning the white boat and jumping fenced-off areas at Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, Calif.

“I’m aware of a video showing a mass of people offloading from a boat in our Harbor,” Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill posted on X. “I’ve been in touch with the O.C. Sheriff’s Department who patrols our Harbor to find out how we can do better.”

California’s sanctuary state measure prohibits law enforcement from arresting or detaining migrants who enter the US illegally.

Maritime smuggling in California has risen from 308 in 2020 to 736 in 2024, a 140 percent increase, according to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes , citing the US Customs and Border Protection. 

“Our nation’s border crisis is serious, lawless, and dangerous,” O’Neill added. “The approaches taken by the administrations in D.C. and Sacramento have made it significantly worse. As it has been said, every city is now a border city. We must expect better from people in charge of enforcing our laws.”

The situation comes two weeks after a speedboat carrying dozens of migrants landed ashore in Carlsbad, 58 miles south of Newport Beach.

The group narrowly missed a surfer before piling into a black SUV and speeding off.

“It looked like it was a planned deal,” resident Susan Hargis  told KUSI.

A beachgoer who filmed the migrants said it “looked like a military exercise.”

“To see it live like that, I mean even police and border patrol said they never caught it live like I did,” the unidentified resident told KGTV .

In December, two dozen migrants scattered onto shore on a Malibu beach near singer Barbra Streisand’s $100 million mansion.