In 1933 a small group from the Sandusky Sailing Club, with a desire to have boats of a common class, began talking about having a boat designed which would be as swift as a family boat could be, uncomplicated of rig, simple to build, and above all easy on the pocketbook. Mutual consent of this group authorized a letter to Francis Sweisguth, naval architect of Rochester, New York, to develop a boat for the waters of Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay. Sweisguth was already famous for designing what is arguably the first, and one of the most popular one-designs, the Star. The craft was to be tactical with a good turn of speed, raced by two to three people and also accommodate four or more adults for a comfortable daysail. It needed to be easily trailerable and easy to sail, and most importantly it needed to be 18 feet or under. (The length at which dockage rates increased from 25 cents a foot to 60 cents a foot!) The result was the SC2 (Sandusky Sailing Club Class - squared), a graceful 18 foot, V-bottom, centerboard sloop of light displacement and excellent all weather performance. The V-bottom eliminated most of the pounding found in many other light displacement hulls. The simple 3 stay mast support eliminated expensive elaborate rigging while the all-around deck made it dry, seaworthy and comfortable in high side sailing or for carefree sunbathing. It was responsive and sensitive in light breezes, yet stiff and buoyant in heavy air and high waves. In short the design was a better than average compromise between the uncomfortable light racing machines and the slower heavier displacement boats.
Construction of the boats began immediately. Carl Schrenk built his at home to display at the Sandusky Boat Show. Harry Darst Boat Co. built boat #2 for John McLeod at a price of $90. Bob Judson, Glenn Detro, and Norm Mantey built theirs at home. By the summer of 1935, these five new SC2 boats were sailing, and all participated in the Inter-Lake Yachting Association Regatta that summer at Put-In-Bay. Over the next 6 months 8 more boats were built. SSC controlled the class until early in 1936 when a seperate class association was formed, and the name was changed to the Interlake Sailing Class due to its close association with I-LYA.
When examining the Interlake the graceful similarities with the Star's lines are immediately noticeable. This accounts for the incredible feel. Further investigation reveals a sail plan that is simple to rig, simple to sail, and full of performance. In fact, today's hottest new designs (the expensive sport boats) have rigs remarkably similar to the Interlake's. Details such as: a large roachy main, smaller 110% jib, fractional rigging, and no backstay are similarities to both designs. This simple rigging not only produces turnkey speed, but also makes trailering a breeze. The Interlake is also built to last. Twenty plus year old boats still win the Nationals. They just keep going and going . . .
First Fiberglass #160 1955
By 1964 number 475 was built and there were 25 organized fleets throughout Ohio and Michigan and stray ones in Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas; and Long Island, New York! The class was growing at a very nice rate. Growth in the class continued well through the 60's and into the 70's, although interest at Sandusky Sailing Club had switched to newer and hotter designs that had developed.
In 1982, boat 1275 went into the water and the National Championships were held at SSC as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the club. Through the 80's with the help of Commodores like Mike Muhn, Brad Huntley, and Fritz Everson, Interlake racing once again took center stage.
It was fitting that in 1985 the many active fleets of the Interlake Sailing Class returned to Sandusky Sailing Club to help Fleet No. 1 celebrate, in grand style, the 50th birthday of the Interlake racing sloop at her birthplace: Sandusky, Ohio.
Brand New October 2000 #1369
P/C John Heilman
Now in 2000 the Interlake has sailed as a class in I-LYA Regattas for 65 years; longer than any other centerboard class.
