Introducing Flying Scot Fleet #163

Flying Scots have been Racing and Cruising at Lake Nockamixon since 1974, and the Nockamixon Flying Scot Fleet # 163 was chartered by the Flying Scot Sailing Association in 1987. Our Constitution and Bylaws are HERE.  Several of the original Charter Members are still sailing with the Fleet -- which currently has close to 50 Members. The Flying Scot is the most popular sailboat at the Lake with many boats in the Marina, and many more in the Dry Storage area – other boats are trailered in to the Lake to sail. The Flying Scot Fleet is also the largest One-Design Fleet at the Lake with almost 30 Flying Scot sailors as Racing Members of NSC and 10 as Cruising Members of NSC. The oldest boat in the Fleet, # 520, was built in 1960 and is still competitive in Fleet racing with the newest boats, which are now approaching boat # 6000. The Flying Scot was designed in 1957 and has been in continuous production from the same molds in the factory established by the Designer, Sandy Douglass. Flying Scots are equally at home Cruising or Racing on the Lake, and the 8 foot long cockpit allows entire families to sail in comfort. The 19 foot Flying Scot is a strict one-design sailboat and it was inducted into the Sailboat Hall of Fame in 1998.

NEW FLASH: Fleet #163 Wins Fleet of the Year

Most Flying Scots at Lake Nockamixon are sailed by families, and the Fleet emphasis is on family and fun sailing. Fleet Members are major participants in the NSC Wednesday Night Sailing and NSC Social events. The Fleet participates in both Racing and Cruising activities at the Lake, and is also regularly represented at Flying Scot National events. Four boats from Fleet # 163 competed in the 2005 FSSA "Wife-Husband" National Championships held on the Chesapeake Bay. At the time, this was the highest participation ever from Fleet # 163 in a National event. In 2009, five Fleet boats attended the Wife-Husband Regatta in Massachusetts. Four Fleet boats also attended the 2007 FSSA North American Championships in Deltaville, VA, and then a new record was set when 7 Fleet boats attended the 2008 NAC’s in Toms River, NJ.

A special Flying Scot Fleet # 163 Trophy, the “Sterling Travel Trophy” is designed to encourage members to travel to Regional and National events sponsored by the Flying Scot Sailing Association, or to sail with other distant Flying Scot Fleets. The Fleet has been represented at the FSSA National Championships, the Midwinter’s Championships, and the Wife-Husband Championships, the Sandy Douglass Memorial Regatta, Atlantic Coast Championships, as well as at many other Regional events.

Three Flying Scot Fleet “Racing Series” are held each year at Lake Nockamixon - "Saturday", "Regatta", and "Sunday" with five dates in each Series. The Fleet Champion is determined by the best 20 race results of the entire season. The Fleet also cooperates with Flying Scot Fleet # 184 at Hunterdon Sail Club, Spruce Run, NJ, in organizing the Annual “Challenge of the Lakes” Racing Series between the two Clubs. The Flying Scot races under a Supplement to NSC Sailing Instructions for Flying Scot Fleet Racing (PDF)

The Flying Scot "Cruising Activities" are designed to support the NSC Cruising Fleet program which encourages all cruising sailors at the Lake to enjoy their fun time on the water while also improving their sailing skills. The Fleet participates in fun Cruises around the Lake, sail training Seminars, as well as joining the Racing Fleet members for Picnics and other social activities at the Lake and at other local venues.

The Flying Scot Fleet issues a weekly e-mail “Report” to all members, both racers and cruisers, during the sailing Season, and periodically during the winter. To join the distribution group, or obtain any other information about Flying Scot sailing at Lake Nockamixon, contact: Mike Noone, Fleet Secretary.

• Fleet #163 Captains
• Flying Scot Fitting Guide
• Flying Scot Tuning Guide
• The Flying Scot
• The FSSA - Flying Scot Sailing Association
• Flying Scot Inc.

2007 was the 50th Anniversary of the Flying Scot Sailboat.

The Flying Scot is the most popular one-design sailboat at Lake Nockamixon, and the boat celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007!! The local Flying Scot Fleet # 163, celebrated the boat’s 50th Anniversary during its events at the Lake during that year. The celebrations at Lake Nockamixon have continued ever since and the Fleet continues to set new records in participation in local events and in attendance at National and Regional regattas.

When Gordon (Sandy) Douglass designed the Flying Scot in 1957, it was the first production sailboat built from fiberglass with balsa core and aluminum spars. Sandy Douglass had previously designed and built the Thistle and the Highlander (both originally built of wood) and he employed the best features of both of these designs when he optimized the design for the Flying Scot.

Sandy clearly got it right, and the Flying Scot has far outsold his earlier designs. The Flying Scot has been in continuous production for all of those 50+ years, from the same molds, and in the factory near Deep Creek Lake in MD. In fact, the HIN of all Flying Scots begins with the letters “GDB....” out of respect for the original Gordon Douglass Boat Co. Production has exceeded 100 boats for every year since 1957, and 2007 was a record year with the introduction of a “50th Anniversary Edition” Flying Scot with special “Gold” trim. Sales are now approaching boat # 6000. Sandy Douglass was not only a great designer and builder of sailboats, he was also a great racing sailor. He was the North American Champion in several different classes including the Flying Scot -- 7 times between 1959 and 1971. Stories of “Sandy” are always heard at Flying Scot Regattas, and there is almost always a bagpiper playing at those events in his honor.

There are many good reasons for the success of the Flying Scot. First, the solid, almost indestructible, construction; the large open and comfortable cockpit, which can easily seat 8 in cruising mode (I have seen more on family holiday weekend sails at the Lake); the great sailing stability from the lead-ballasted centerboard; and the total support that Flying Scot owners get from their local Fleet, the Factory and from the Flying Scot Sailing Association (FSSA). Most Flying Scots are sailed by families in Cruising mode, but there are almost 2000 sailors who race their Flying Scots at the Local, Regional, and National level. The Flying Scot has frequently been used for the US Sailing “Champion of Champion” races and many other US Sailing Championship events.

Anyone who would like to experience sailing in a Flying Scot should contact MIKE NOONE. Because of their great popularity, Flying Scots have a high resale value and sell very quickly -- Fleet # 163 maintains a list of used boats on the local market. Check out more details of the Flying Scot using the links on these pages to get more information about the builder, Flying Scot Inc., the Flying Scot Sailing Association, and the great Flying Scot sailboat.