News - NH Boat Museum

Model Yachting News • Week Ending July 25, 2026

Posted on July 25, 2026July 25, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead, Diane Guerriere
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

A One-Race Regatta

We tried! It was just one of those days when meteorologists didn’t have a clue. The rain was predicted to be later in the afternoon, but it started right at race time. Two skippers checked weather reports on their phones – one said there would be a “hole” of clear before showers returned; the other claimed it was clear. Which only demonstrates how difficult it is to schedule regattas! Since raindrops continued to fall, we called it quits. As you might have guessed, the rain stopped right after everyone loaded up — along with the wind.

Top Five One-Race Scores
1 – Al Posnack
2 – Denis Boisvert
3 – Rick Gates
4 – Jeff Witzel
5 – Tim Wright

Hurrah! The US12s Sailed!

On Thursday, July 23, the US12 fleet held its first regatta of the summer session. It was the first regatta in four weeks due to inclement weather, waterskiing competitions, and too much wind! We were treated to a wonderfully sunny day with good winds, though shifty and sometimes gusty. In all, it was a great day of sailing that challenged the sailors and the boats. Of the nine boats that started the day, there were only six at the end, and only five boats sailed in every race. Water in the bilge slowed down two boats, while a weak sail winch made pulling in the sails impossible on another. Still, after waiting so long, everyone was glad for the chance to get out on the water again. The sailors who pulled their boats stayed after the sailing. The sailors appreciated the scorekeepers, B. B. Wright and Diane Guerriere, for keeping us moving so we could complete twelve races. B. B. had to leave after the first hour, so Diane filled in for her. Thank you to both of you!

On the water, Tim Wright led the way with eleven wins and an average score of 1.0. Finishing strong, Bill Malay had six second-place finishes in the last eight races. His 2.80 average earned him a second-place finish overall.

Now comes the very competitive part of the fleet. Only six-tenths of a point separated the third-place finisher from the eighth-place finisher. Bruce Wilhelm finished in third with a 3.60 average and had the other first-place finish as well as two seconds. In fourth, and battling electrical issues, was Chuck Rudinsky. His score was two-hundredths behind Bruce at 3.62. Despite the issues, Chuck had a second-place finish and a number of thirds. Jim Opie finished with a 3.90 in fifth, having five thirds, and easily resisted the temptation to sail his boat to the dock so he could throw it on the ground after a particularly frustrating mark rounding.

In a non-scored sixth, John Simms (4.0) finished only one race, after discovering that a large section of hull-to-deck joint had opened, causing his boat to take on water at a very fast clip. Hopefully we will see him back next week. In seventh, Bob Strodel sailed a strong regatta. His final average was 4.12 and would have been higher, but he got tangled at the third mark with Tim while leading the race.

In non-scored eighth-place, Lin Davis (4.20) sailed in only five races, coming in second in two of them, but his sail winch didn’t seem up to the task in the windy conditions. Kevin Bennett just added a new boat to the fleet. It was his first time sailing the boat, and the wind brought out several issues that need attention. He hopes to sail the boat again next week.

Overall, the sailing was competitive, the winds challenging, the weather delightful, but the best part was the friendship between the sailors, scorekeepers, and the trail walkers. Thanks to all who were there, whether sailing or not.

Back Bay Sailing

The sailing season is well underway so join us on Tuesday or Thursday at 1 PM, weather permitting, to enjoy the fun. Wednesday is set aside if conditions on Tuesday or Thursday aren’t suitable. We welcome you to just watch the spectacle or ask to give it a try – we love to share.

2026-07-23 US12 Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	10/1 (91%)	10	1.00	1
Malay, Bill	10/2 (100%)	28	2.80	2
Wilhelm, Bruce	10/2 (100%)	36	3.60	3
Rudinsky, Chuck	8/1 (73%)	29	3.62	4
Opie, Jim	10/2 (100%)	39	3.90	5
Simms, John	1/0 (8%)	4	4.00	6
Strodel, Robert	8/1 (73%)	33	4.12	7
Davis, Lin	5/0 (42%)	21	4.20	8
Bennett, Kevin	2/0 (17%)	16	8.00	9

2026 Season US12 Scores
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Bennett, Kevin		0%	0.00
Davis, Lin		0%	0.00	2.00	-2.00
Wright, Tim	Sailor	80%	1.00	1.00	0.00
Laird, Rick	Sailor	20%	2.00	3.80	-1.80
Malay, Bill	Sailor	20%	2.00
Simms, John	Sailor	80%	2.75	3.08	-0.33
Tonks, Phil	Sailor	20%	3.00
Quinn, Anthony		40%	4.00	4.22	-0.22
Wilhelm, Bruce	Sailor	100%	4.00	5.38	-1.38
Rudinsky, Chuck	Sailor	80%	4.50
Leker, Steve	Sailor	20%	5.00
Opie, Jim	Sailor	80%	5.50	6.00	-0.50
McBride, Donald	Sailor	20%	7.00	3.50	3.50
Strodel, Robert	Sailor	20%	7.00	4.60	2.40
McBride, Paul	Sailor	20%	9.00

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

June 25, 2026 AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship
September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Links: American Model Yachting Association, MinuteMan Model Yacht Club, Nashua Model Yacht Club, Marblehead Model Yacht Club, Greater Worcester Model Yacht Club, Sarasota Model Yacht Club, Space Coast Model Sailing Club, Sun Coast Model Sailing Club, Stowe Yacht Club, USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild, Vac-U-Soling, 3D Printed Radio Yachts, US Vintage Model Yacht Group, Raritan Yacht Club RC Laser Fleet, Racing Rules of Sailing 2021-2024, Western Reserve Model Yacht Club, Joe SanAntonio Fleet Donation , SailFlow, US12 Plans

Model Yachting News • Week Ending July 18, 2026

Posted on July 18, 2026July 18, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Beat-the-Heat Regatta

The forecast for the July 14 Soling regatta predicted temperatures in the mid-nineties. For safety, this week’s no-score regatta started at 11:00 before the “oven” was turned on, and we suggested that scorekeepers stay home by the air-conditioner. It was a truly no-score regatta — absolutely no statistics were kept. Just a relaxed fun sailing day.

Skippers that we don’t see often who came Tuesday were Al Stevens delivering the new skipper name tags and our “official” statistician, the recently retired Wes Matchett. We look forward to both rejoining our weekly get-togethers in the near future.

Launch Day for New Skippers

Because of the water ski tournament this past weekend, we delayed launching new boats built at the recent workshop until the 14th. Participating in the launch were Lisa Lotter, Gary Dehnel, Jeff Hathaway, Carol Waghorne, Michael York, and Austin Parent.

Ted Monetta, Al Posnack, Tim Wright, Wes Matchett, and Bob Pacini jumped right in to help the group get off on the right foot, taking the new skippers under their wings. The newbies did a spectacular job, placing well in the rankings during the races.

A Regatta for New Skippers

There were just too many conflicts to call the regatta for new skippers a success. Only Jeff Hathaway was able to make the event, but thanks to capable mentors he was able to have a productive day of sailing.

US12 Regatta

The US12s don’t seem to have any luck at all. The fleet was looking forward to finishing the spring series, but instead they had no parking spots, very high winds, as well as showers. With heads hung low, they headed home.

Back Bay Sailing

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

June 25, 2026 AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship
September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending July 11, 2026

Posted on July 10, 2026July 11, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yacht Building Week

Starting July 6, eight new skippers embarked on the adventure of building their own world-class Soling yacht. The one-meter Soling is an Olympic-Class design in miniature, and it’s well suited for most conditions that lakes offer. The boats were built from a kit, and the skilled instructors provided a fun and rewarding experience that will last for years to come.

Anthony Quinn made sails for each of the participants, and our dedicated instructors this year were team leader Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright, Bruce Wilhelm, Linwood Davis, Doug Griggs, Don McBride, and Henry Clare. Thank you all for a job well done!

Soling Regatta

The Soling skippers had a few challenges on July 7. First, we used a different course because the wind was coming down Back Bay from right to left. Second, the waterskiing practice seemed to bring some of the weeds up from the bottom, which slowed down sailors occasionally. Third, since the starts were left to right, it made the port/starboard meetings at the start further away and hard to judge.

The rain was threatening for most of the afternoon, and by 2:30 PM, it finally arrived. We managed to complete eight races, and the scorekeepers had to keep their score sheets dry for the last race. As the afternoon wore on, the wind increased and sailing was good, except, of course, for the weeds and the port/starboard issues. On a positive note, there were more 360° penalty turns done, which means people were taking ownership of their mistakes.

Solings on the Water

In the Sailor Class, Dave Hogenson had five wins in eight races and finished first with a score of 1.29. In second place, Jim Opie had a first and sailed consistently well to finish with a score of 2.50. Clint Wolcott is getting back to form and had the other two firsts, finishing just behind Jim with a 2.71 average. Rounding out the top five were Bruce Wilhelm and Charlie Lincoln.

The Master Class had the closest regatta finish of the year so far. Although Tim Wright won the day, it was very close. After five races, Lin Davis was leading, having won three races in a row. Tim won the next three and finished less than 5/10 ahead. Tim’s average was 1.86 while Lin’s was 2.29. In third place was Rick Gates, with one win and a score of 3.86. Bob Pacini was in fourth with a 4.57, and Al Posnack won the first race and finished in fifth with a 5.00 average.

Two other items to mention. Wes Matchett, our offsite scorekeeper, was sighted at the Nick’s Farmers Market. He reported that he is now officially retired from Brewster Academy. He was thanked for his diligence in keeping the online scoring up-to-date. We’re wishing Wes a happy retirement and hope to see him sail before the end of the summer.

Secondly, I was witness to some kindness that should be mentioned. Ted Monetta came up to me, Tim Wright, at the end of sailing as the rain was starting to fall. He said I should put my boats away and he would cover the rowboat. I thanked him but told him that due to the waterskiing competition this weekend I had hoped to bring in the outer buoys so they didn’t get lost or moved during the event. The next thing I knew, Ted and Lin Davis were rowing out to get the buoys. It was above and beyond the call of duty and greatly appreciated, although very typical for those two helpful sailors.

Again, thanks to the scorekeepers for their diligence and putting up with rain when the sailors wanted to race just one more. This was the final race of the spring season, and next week will be a no-score regatta.

US12 Sailing

The Wolfeboro Water Ski Club practice sessions for this weekend’s tournament postponed the July 9 US12 regatta. The Back Bay Skippers have an amicable working relationship with the ski club and share the bay.

Back Bay Sailing

Scores

2026-07-07 Soling Sailor Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Hogenson, Dave	7/1 (100%)	9	1.29	1
Opie, Jim	6/1 (86%)	15	2.50	2
Wolcott, Clint	7/1 (100%)	19	2.71	3
Wilhelm, Bruce	7/1 (100%)	22	3.14	4
Lincoln, Charlie	6/1 (86%)	28	4.67	5
Claire, Henry	3/0 (38%)	15	5.00	6
Corbett, Dave	6/1 (86%)	35	5.83	7
Butler, Jeanne	2/0 (25%)	12	6.00	8

2026-07-07 Soling Master Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	7/1 (100%)	13	1.86	1
Davis, Linwood	7/1 (100%)	16	2.29	2
Gates, Rick	7/1 (100%)	27	3.86	3
Pacini, Bob	7/1 (100%)	32	4.57	4
Posnack, Al	7/1 (100%)	35	5.00	5
Gerber, Ken	7/1 (100%)	38	5.43	6
Monetta, Ted	7/1 (100%)	39	5.57	7
Quinn, Anthony	7/1 (100%)	41	5.86	8
Barstow, Tom	6/1 (86%)	43	7.17	9
Rudinsky, Chuck	7/1 (100%)	54	7.71	10

2026 Soling Sailor Class Season Scores
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Butler, Jeanne	Sailor	0%	0.00	6.12	-6.12
Clare, Henry	Guest	0%	0.00
Cundy, Don	Sailor	17%	1.00
Hogenson, Dave	Sailor	83%	1.40	2.17	-0.77
Opie, Jim	Sailor	67%	1.75	3.12	-1.38
Malay, Bill	Sailor	17%	3.00
Lincoln, Charlie	Sailor	50%	3.33
Ware, Genie	Sailor	33%	3.50
Wolcott, Clint	Sailor	33%	3.50	5.00	-1.50
Barstow, John	Sailor	50%	4.00	3.33	0.67
Wilhelm, Bruce	Sailor	83%	4.00
Corbett, Dave	Sailor	17%	7.00	4.71	2.29

2026 Season Soling Master Class Scores
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Wright, Tim	Master	100%	1.00	1.07	-0.07
Boisvert, Denis	Master	33%	3.50	7.58	-4.08
Gates, Rick	Guest	67%	3.75	3.50	0.25
Davis, Linwood	Master	100%	4.00	5.07	-1.07
Witzel, Jeff	Master	83%	4.40	4.64	-0.24
Posnack, Al	Master	100%	4.83	5.38	-0.55
Rudinsky, Chuck	Master	100%	4.83	8.80	-3.97
Monetta, Ted	Master	100%	6.83	4.67	2.17
Barstow, Tom	Master	50%	7.67	7.55	0.12
Gerber, Ken	Master	50%	9.00	7.30	1.70
Whitehead, Mark	Master	67%	9.00	7.40	1.60
Quinn, Anthony	Master	67%	9.25	7.21	2.04
Pacini, Bob	Master	50%	9.33	9.00	0.33
Griggs, Doug	Master	83%	9.80
Bennett, Kevin	Master	67%	10.50

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

June 25, 2026 AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship
September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending July 4, 2026

Posted on July 3, 2026July 3, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Hot – Hot – Hot!

When we were pulling out of the parking lot after the regatta the thermometer read 90 degrees. Luckily there was a little bit of a breeze by the bay, but it was still hot. Prior to the regatta the skippers were warned to bring water and stay hydrated.

The June 30 Soling regatta signed up seventeen skippers, and we managed to complete six races. They weren’t the fastest races we’ve ever had, but for the most part the boats were at least able to keep moving. After all, this is Back Bay. You never know which way the wind will go, but you have to wait only a minute before it changes.

A huge – and warm – thank-you goes out to Karen Enos and B. B. Wright for braving the heat to keep score.

Out on the Water

For the Sailor Class this week it was Jim Opie who topped the leader board, earning three wins and three seconds for a score of 1.40. Dave Hogenson had some boat issues but managed to clinch the second spot with one win and a second at 2.60. Charlie Lincoln and Bill Malay were tied for third with one win each and a score of 3.00. With a score of 3.80, Bruce Wilhelm sailed to the fifth position.

Tim Wright cruised to first place in the Master Class, this time tallying a perfect score of 1.00. Rick Gates didn’t sail enough races last year to maintain his Master Class status, but this year he’s been a regular guest. Because he’s such a good sailor, we’ve listed him as a Master. His three second-place finishes proved that he’s a Master as he earned second place overall this week with a score of 3.20. Linwood Davis had a second-place finish of his own to earn the third place on our podium with a score of 3.40. Tying for fourth with scores of 4.80 were the commodore, Mark Whitehead, and Al Posnack.

US12 Sailing

To maintain safety for the US12 skippers, this week’s regatta was canceled because of extreme heat. The forecast was for temperatures near 100 degrees accompanied by a very high dew point – not safe no matter how much water is sipped.

Back Bay Sailing

Scores

2026-06-30 Soling Sailor Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Opie, Jim	5/1 (100%)	7	1.40	1
Hogenson, Dave	5/1 (100%)	13	2.60	2
Malay, Bill	5/1 (100%)	15	3.00	3
Lincoln, Charlie	5/0 (83%)	15	3.00	3
Wilhelm, Bruce	5/0 (83%)	19	3.80	5

2026 Soling Sailor Class Season Scores
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Butler, Jeanne	Sailor	0%	0.00	6.12	-6.12
Corbett, Dave	Sailor	0%	0.00	4.71	-4.71
Cundy, Don	Sailor	20%	1.00
Hogenson, Dave	Sailor	80%	1.50	2.17	-0.67
Opie, Jim	Sailor	60%	1.67	3.12	-1.46
Lincoln, Charlie	Sailor	40%	2.50
Malay, Bill	Sailor	20%	3.00
Ware, Genie	Sailor	40%	3.50
Barstow, John	Sailor	60%	4.00	3.33	0.67
Wilhelm, Bruce	Sailor	80%	4.00
Wolcott, Clint	Sailor	20%	4.00	5.00	-1.00

2026-06-30 Soling Master Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	5/1 (100%)	5	1.00	1
Gates, Rick	5/1 (100%)	16	3.20	2
Davis, Linwood	5/1 (100%)	17	3.40	3
Posnack, Al	5/0 (83%)	24	4.80	4
Whitehead, Mark	5/1 (100%)	24	4.80	4
Monetta, Ted	5/1 (100%)	27	5.40	6
Witzel, Jeff	5/1 (100%)	32	6.40	7
Quinn, Anthony	5/0 (83%)	41	8.20	8
Rudinsky, Chuck	5/1 (100%)	41	8.20	8
Gerber, Ken	5/1 (100%)	42	8.40	10
Bennett, Kevin	5/1 (100%)	43	8.60	11
Griggs, Doug	5/1 (100%)	43	8.60	11

2026 Season Soling Master Class Scores
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Wright, Tim	Master	100%	1.00	1.07	-0.07
Boisvert, Denis	Master	40%	3.50	7.58	-4.08
Rudinsky, Chuck	Master	100%	3.80	8.80	-5.00
Gates, Rick	Guest	60%	4.00	3.50	0.50
Davis, Linwood	Master	100%	4.40	5.07	-0.67
Witzel, Jeff	Master	100%	4.40	4.64	-0.24
Posnack, Al	Master	100%	4.80	5.38	-0.58
Monetta, Ted	Master	100%	6.80	4.67	2.13
Barstow, Tom	Master	40%	7.00	7.55	-0.55
Whitehead, Mark	Master	80%	9.00	7.40	1.60
Quinn, Anthony	Master	60%	9.67	7.21	2.45
Griggs, Doug	Master	100%	9.80
Bennett, Kevin	Master	80%	10.50
Gerber, Ken	Master	40%	10.50	7.30	3.20
Pacini, Bob	Master	40%	12.00	9.00	3.00

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
July, 2026 Model Yachting Day has been postponed until 2027.
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

June 25, 2026 AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship
September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending June 27, 2026

Posted on June 27, 2026June 27, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

A Day Without Our Socks Blown Off

We have proof — the wind at one point was actually the five miles per hour that was predicted. Of course, this is Back Bay so it varied from zero and up but not too much more than the five miles. No twelve races this week, only six.

The June 23 Soling regatta recorded a season high of twenty-one skippers. An increase in the number of Sailor Class skippers was welcomed for a more balanced fleet, the class posting nine skippers while count for the Master Class was twelve.

Solings on the Water

Leading the Sailor Class was Dave Hogenson with two wins, three second-place finishes, and a score of 1.60. Jim Opie also posted three seconds, giving him a score of 2.60. Bruce Wilhelm earned the third spot with four thirds and a score of 3.20. Just back from D.C., Clint Wolcott had a win in the fifth race, helping him to place fourth at 4.00, and John Barstow earned fifth at 5.40.

Tim Wright was at the head of the Master Class with four wins and a score of 1.20. Chuck Rudinsky had a strong showing with a win and three seconds for second place, his score at 2.20. One point behind was Al Posnack, taking third overall with a win of his own and a score of 3.20. Fourth went to Linwood Davis earning a score of 3.80, followed by Ted Monetta and Jeff Witzel tied for fifth with scores of 6.00.

AMYA Region 1 US12 Regatta Skippers – left to right – B.B. Wright, Tim Wright, Rick Laird, Bruce Wilhelm, Paul McBride, Chuck Rudinsky, Don McBride, John Simms, Jim Opie, Phil Tonks, and Steve Leker

2026 US12 Region 1 Championship

On Thursday, June 25, the US12 fleet hosted the AMYA 2026 US12 Region 1 Championship. Our thanks to Phil Tonks for getting this regatta off the ground and coming to sail with us. The temperature was quite warm, and with the sun shining down, it was quite hot when not in the shade. Special thanks to our scorekeeper, B.B. Wright, for enduring the heat to keep track of the fleet and maintain honesty at the start of each race. B.B. keeping us close to the start line enabled us to complete nine races in the light air. Our Soling scorekeeper, Karen Enos, stopped by to watch the regatta but didn’t have to do any work — she just enjoyed the afternoon.

The light winds were fickle, shifting over 135°. It made sailing a challenge, and the racing was very close. In fact, in the nine races, seven different people came in second. Tim Wright won the first race and never looked back. He was nosed out in Race 4 by Rick Laird but won the rest. Rick, who drove up from Boston, came in second. In addition to his win, Rick had two seconds and three thirds. In third place was Phil Tonks. He also had two second-place finishes as well as one third-place finish. In fourth place was John Simms with a second-place finish of his own. The next four places were separated by less than half a point. Steve Leker came in fifth sailing a borrowed boat. Right behind were Bruce Wilhelm in sixth, Don McBride in seventh, and Chuck Rudinsky in eighth. Paul McBride sailed to ninth place. Jim Opie had a frustrating day and decided to call it quits a little early, totally understandable, considering the winds.

The Back Bay Skippers would like to thank Phil Tonks for coming to sail with us. The conditions were frustrating but spirits were high. It was great to see ten US12s on the line for the first time in a number of years.

AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship Regatta Place Name Sail # Score 1 Tim Wright 438 1.00 2 Rick Laird 429 2.75 3 Phil Tonks 127 3.75 4 John Simms 101 4.17 5 Steve Leker 1257 5.13 6 Bruce Wilhelm 267 5.38 7 Don McBride 10 5.50 8 Chuck Rudinsky 412 5.57 9 Paul McBride 1790 8.14 10 Jim Opie 130 9.67

Back Bay Sailing

Scores

2026-06-23 Soling Sailor Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Hogenson, Dave	5/1 (100%)	8	1.60	2
Opie, Jim	5/1 (100%)	13	2.60	3
Wilhelm, Bruce	5/1 (100%)	16	3.20	4
Wolcott, Clint	5/1 (100%)	20	4.00	5
Barstow, John	5/1 (100%)	27	5.40	6
Ware, Genie	4/0 (67%)	22	5.50	7
Corbett, Dave	1/0 (17%)	8	8.00	8
Lincoln, Charlie	3/0 (50%)	25	8.33	9
Malay, Bill	3/0 (50%)

2026 Season Soling Sailor Class Scores
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Butler, Jeanne	Sailor	0%	0.00	6.12	-6.12
Corbett, Dave	Sailor	0%	0.00	4.71	-4.71
Malay, Bill	Sailor	0%	0.00
Cundy, Don	Sailor	25%	1.00
Hogenson, Dave	Sailor	75%	1.67	2.17	-0.50
Lincoln, Charlie	Sailor	25%	2.00
Opie, Jim	Sailor	50%	2.50	3.12	-0.62
Barstow, John	Sailor	75%	4.00	3.33	0.67
Wilhelm, Bruce	Sailor	75%	4.00
Ware, Genie	Sailor	50%	4.50
Wolcott, Clint	Sailor	25%	5.00	5.00	0.00

2026-06-23 Soling Master Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	5/1 (100%)	6	1.20	1
Rudinsky, Chuck	5/1 (100%)	11	2.20	2
Posnack, Al	5/1 (100%)	16	3.20	3
Davis, Linwood	5/1 (100%)	19	3.80	4
Monetta, Ted	5/1 (100%)	30	6.00	5
Witzel, Jeff	5/0 (83%)	30	6.00	5
Gates, Rick	5/1 (100%)	32	6.40	7
Griggs, Doug	5/1 (100%)	32	6.40	7
Quinn, Anthony	5/1 (100%)	34	6.80	9
Bennett, Kevin	5/1 (100%)	39	7.80	10
Gerber, Ken	4/0 (67%)	33	8.25	11
Whitehead, Mark	4/0 (67%)	44	11.00	12

2026 Season Soling Master Class Scores
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Wright, Tim	Master	100%	1.00	1.07	-0.07
Rudinsky, Chuck	Master	100%	2.75	8.80	-6.05
Boisvert, Denis	Master	50%	3.50	7.58	-4.08
Witzel, Jeff	Master	100%	3.75	4.64	-0.89
Davis, Linwood	Master	100%	4.75	5.07	-0.32
Gates, Rick	Guest	50%	5.00	3.50	1.50
Posnack, Al	Master	100%	5.00	5.38	-0.38
Barstow, Tom	Master	50%	7.00	7.55	-0.55
Monetta, Ted	Master	100%	7.00	4.67	2.33
Griggs, Doug	Master	100%	9.50
Bennett, Kevin	Master	75%	10.33
Quinn, Anthony	Master	50%	10.50	7.21	3.29
Whitehead, Mark	Master	75%	10.67	7.40	3.27
Gerber, Ken	Master	25%	11.00	7.30	3.70
Pacini, Bob	Master	50%	12.00	9.00	3.00

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
July, 2026 Model Yachting Day has been postponed until 2027.
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

June 25, 2026 AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship
September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending June 20, 2026

Posted on June 19, 2026June 19, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

In Memory of
George Greathead Jr.
Sail Number 126

January 26, 1941 – June 13, 2026

George Greathead lived a life defined by service, craftsmanship, and devotion to family. He proudly served as a police officer with the Wellesley Police Department for five years, earning the respect of colleagues and residents alike through his dedication, integrity, and commitment to helping others. He also worked for several private schools as a Director of Building and Grounds, such as Rivers Country Day School, Fessenden School, Milton Academy, and Fay School.

George was the ultimate “Mr. Fix-It.” There was rarely a problem he couldn’t solve or a project he couldn’t tackle. Whether repairing something around the house, helping a neighbor, or building something from scratch, he found joy in working with his hands and sharing his talents with others. George spent countless hours in his workshop creating beautiful pieces that reflected both his skill and patience, and his craftsmanship became a lasting legacy treasured by family and friends.

One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren. He loved teaching them to fish, kayak, and enjoy hikes on Mount Major. He also shared a love of building mechanical boats. He designed, crafted, and launched his creations with them, making memories that will be cherished for generations. Those moments reflected George’s gift for teaching, encouraging curiosity, and inspiring a love of creativity. As a member of the Back Bay Skippers, he built and raced his RC sailing boats and enjoyed every moment of it.

Day of Bluster
For the skippers and Mother Nature, Tuesdays have become the “day of bluster.” It certainly was the case during our June 16 Soling regatta. The skippers challenged and bragged to each other all the way through the twelve-race regatta. Twenty-two skippers attended and nineteen sailed for scores, thirteen for the Master Class and six for the Sailor Class – a dramatic improvement in numbers for the Sailor Class.

The strong winds kept everyone alert, and there were mishaps along the way. Chuck Rudinsky won the prize for finding the most weeds, followed closely by Dave Hogenson. And weeds under these conditions are usually hard to find since high winds blow them quickly to shore. Dropping a mast after tangling with other boats was the top issue this week, with John Barstow, Genie Ware, and Bob Pacini experiencing the fun. The Commodore fell asleep at the controls, letting his stars and stripes get tangled in the ropes of the ski jump. After rowing to the jump, the boat decided it had enjoyed enough digression and released itself.

Out on the Water

In the Sailor Class, guest Don Cundy led the way this week scoring 1.8. Tied for official first in the class were Dave Hogenson and Jim Opie at 2.20. That put Bruce Wilhelm in third with 3.14 and John Barstow in fourth with 3.25. Genie Ware sailed only five races due to rigging and radio issues so didn’t qualify for placement.

The Master Class once again was led by Tim Wright with a score of 1.30. Denis Boisvert was on a hot streak, placing second and scoring 3.70, followed closely by Jeff Witzel in third at 4.0 and Chuck Rudinsky in fourth at 4.20. Tom Barstow captured fifth at 4.70.

US12 Sailing – Or Not!

There was supposed to be a Region 1 US12 regatta this week, but Mother Nature had other ideas. The regatta has been rescheduled for next Thursday on June 25 when the AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship Regatta will be combined with normal US12 sailing. This is your chance to participate in an AMYA event right here in Wolfeboro. AMYA members can register for the regatta for free at the AMYA website, but all are welcome to sail.

Register for AMYA
US12 Region 1 Championship

Back Bay Sailing

Now that the sailing season is underway, join us on Tuesday or Thursday at 1 PM, weather permitting, to enjoy the fun. Wednesday is set aside if conditions on Tuesday or Thursday aren’t suitable. We welcome you to just watch the spectacle or ask to give it a try – we love to share.

Scores

2026-06-16 Soling Sailor Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Cundy, Don	10/2 (100%)	18	1.80	1
Hogenson, Dave	10/2 (100%)	22	2.20	2
Opie, Jim	10/2 (100%)	22	2.20	2
Wilhelm, Bruce	7/1 (64%)	22	3.14	4
Barstow, John	8/1 (73%)	26	3.25	5
Ware, Genie	5/0 (42%)	24	4.80	6

2026-06-16 Soling Master Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	10/2 (100%)	13	1.30	1
Boisvert, Denis	10/2 (100%)	39	3.90	2
Witzel, Jeff	10/2 (100%)	40	4.00	3
Rudinsky, Chuck	10/2 (100%)	42	4.20	4
Barstow, Tom	10/2 (100%)	47	4.70	5
Davis, Linwood	10/2 (100%)	51	5.10	6
Posnack, Al	10/2 (100%)	51	5.10	6
Gates, Rick	3/0 (25%)	18	6.00	8
Quinn, Anthony	4/0 (33%)	29	7.25	9
Monetta, Ted	10/2 (100%)	73	7.30	10
Whitehead, Mark	10/1 (91%)	76	7.60	11
Griggs, Doug	7/1 (64%)	55	7.86	12
Pacini, Bob	10/1 (91%)	95	9.50	13

2026-06-16 Soling Master Season
Name	Class	% Regattas	Score	2025	Diff
Wright, Tim	Master	100%	1.00	1.07	-0.07
Gates, Rick	Guest	33%	3.00	3.50	-0.50
Rudinsky, Chuck	Master	100%	3.00	8.80	-5.80
Witzel, Jeff	Master	100%	3.33	4.64	-1.30
Boisvert, Denis	Master	67%	3.50	7.58	-4.08
Posnack, Al	Master	100%	5.33	5.38	-0.05
Davis, Linwood	Master	100%	5.67	5.07	0.60
Barstow, Tom	Master	67%	6.50	7.55	-1.05
Monetta, Ted	Master	100%	7.33	4.67	2.67
Whitehead, Mark	Master	67%	10.00	7.40	2.60
Griggs, Doug	Master	100%	10.33
Bennett, Kevin	Master	67%	10.50
Pacini, Bob	Master	67%	12.00	9.00	3.00
Quinn, Anthony	Master	33%	12.00	7.21	4.79

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
June 25, 2026 AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship at Back Bay 1PM to 3PM – Free to Register
July, 2026 Model Yachting Day has been postponed until 2027.
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending June 13, 2026

Posted on June 13, 2026June 17, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Tim Wright, Chuck Rudinsky
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Soling Regatta Tuesday, June 9

The Soling fleet was treated to a hot, windy and sunny day on June 9th. The winds were shifting and gusting at the beginning of the afternoon but decreased in strength and frequency as time went on. Another factor for the sailors to deal with was the return of weeds that snag keels and rudders. The conditions were ever-changing and the fourteen racers were challenged all afternoon. Thanks to our scorekeepers, Karen and B.B., for keeping us on task so we could complete twelve races.

Solings on the Water

There were only two racers in the Sailor fleet with Dave Hogenson finishing next to last (first) and newcomer Charlie Lincoln in second. Much credit goes to Charlie for finishing his first full day of racing without mishaps. He has reworked a boat given to him by Bill Malay and turned it into a reliable boat. Now his fun begins as do the challenges that come with learning such a multi-faceted sport. Where are the others in the Sailor Class? We miss you.

Tim Wright won the Masters fleet, winning seven of the twelve races. Second-place finisher, Chuck Rudinsky, had three wins, with Ted Monetta and Al Posnack each getting one win. Al came in third overall. It should be noted that Rick Gates was scored as a Sailor, but we know he is a Master. He also sailed consistently but, his actual position is not evident when this report was written.

Thanks to all who came out and made the afternoon very pleasant.

US12 Regatta Thursday, June 11

This afternoon for the US 12s was a very similar day to Tuesday when the Solings sailed. It was a westerly wind, a bit shifty (normal for Back Bay) with up-and-down velocity.

We started the day with four sailors. When Jim Opie arrived for Race #2 all five sailed. We lost Anthony Quinn after Race #4 with a broken rudder and Chuck after Race #8 with continued rig issues. He had had a total rig failure before race five. His mast fell down. All the sailors used their boats to push Charlie’s boat to shore, exhibiting great sailing skill.

John Simms showed impressive speed and nice upwind tactics, winning seven of the nine completed races. Bruce Wilhelm won the fourth and fifth races, showing good speed as well. Before racing, Bruce said he moved his mast and was worried about weather helm. I think he figured it out. All sailors shared second or third place during the day’s races.

The day was cut short to nine races when Chuck also had to retire for the day.

AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship

Thursday, June 25 is the AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship Regatta as well as normal US12 sailing. This is your chance to participate in an AMYA event right here in Wolfeboro. AMYA members, register for the regatta for free at the AMYA website, but all are welcome to sail.

Register for AMYA
US12 Region 1 Championship

Back Bay Sailing

The sailing season is underway, join us on Tuesday or Thursday at 1 PM, weather permitting, to enjoy the fun. Wednesday is set aside if conditions on Tuesday or Thursday aren’t suitable. We welcome you to just watch the spectacle or ask to give it a try – we love to share.

Scores

2026-06-09 Soling Master Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	10/2 (100%)	13	1.30	1
Rudinsky, Chuck	10/2 (100%)	23	2.30	2
Posnack, Al	10/2 (100%)	39	3.90	3
Witzel, Jeff	10/1 (91%)	43	4.30	4
Monetta, Ted	10/2 (100%)	47	4.70	5
Davis, Linwood	10/2 (100%)	50	5.00	6
Barstow, Tom	10/2 (100%)	56	5.60	7
Griggs, Doug	10/2 (100%)	63	6.30	8
Bennett, Kevin	10/2 (100%)	68	6.80	9
Pacini, Bob	10/2 (100%)	73	7.30	10
Quinn, Anthony	10/1 (91%)	94	9.40	11

2026-06-09 Soling Sailor Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Gates, Rick	10/2 (100%)	11	1.10	1
Hogenson, Dave	10/2 (100%)	17	1.70	2
Lincoln, Charlie	10/1 (91%)	30	3.00	3

2026-06-04 US12 Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	10/2 (100%)	10	1.00	1
Rudinsky, Chuck	10/1 (91%)	29	2.90	2
Quinn, Anthony	8/1 (73%)	25	3.12	3
Opie, Jim	9/1 (82%)	31	3.44	4
Simms, John	9/1 (82%)	31	3.44	4
Wilhelm, Bruce	10/2 (100%)	42	4.20	6

2026-06-11 US12 Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Simms, John	8/1 (100%)	11	1.38	1
Wilhelm, Bruce	8/1 (100%)	19	2.38	2
Opie, Jim	7/1 (88%)	19	2.71	3
Rudinsky, Chuck	7/1 (88%)	21	3.00	4
Quinn, Anthony	4/0 (44%)	12	3.00	4

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
June 18, 2026 AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship at Back Bay has been postponed until next week, June 25.
June 25, 2026 AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship at Back Bay 1PM to 3PM – Free to Register
July, 2026 Model Yachting Day has been postponed until 2027.
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending June 6, 2026

Posted on June 7, 2026June 7, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead, Kathleen Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

The Scoring Season Starts

The Soling season started with seventeen skippers sailing twelve races. The wind prediction was 9 mph, and we got that. However, there were gusts of 19 mph, and they seemed more prevalent than the lesser amounts. Everyone had to stay on their toes because when the gusts hit they really hit. On the bright side, at least with the higher winds it stayed cool.

Award Presented

At the end of the regatta, Kevin Bennett received his 2025 Sailor Class championship award as well as a certificate for the 2025 summer series. Congratulations, Kevin!

Out on the Water

This week, four different skippers won races, six skippers took second, and five finished in third place. That hasn’t been the norm, but it shows how close the competition has become.

In the Sailor Class John Barstow led the way this week with a score of 1.6, just edging out his wife, Genie Ware, who had 2.0 for second place. Third went to Bruce Wilhelm at 2.8 and fourth to Dave Corbett at 3.0. Jeanne Butler participated in only two races so didn’t qualify for a score.

Scores were tight in the Master Class with Tim Wright leading the way with 1.8. Nipping at his stern was Jeff Witzel, in second with a score of 2.7. Chuck Rudinsky and Linwood Davis tied for third, only three tenths behind Jeff at 3.0. Denis Boisvert pulled off a fifth-place finish with his score of 5.3. We were glad to have Rick Gates join us, and he completed three races.

US12 Regatta

Back Bay is known for shifting winds and tricky conditions. On June 4th, the fleet encountered extreme conditions. Wind direction varied over 180°, and the gusts were fierce when the wind was blowing. Such a variety of conditions made the sailing difficult. Six boats sailed in the races that tended to be quick. We finished twelve races before 3 o’clock even with fleet timeouts to bail the boats. The official scores were not available for this report. A summary will follow without places.

On the water, Tim Wright was tough to catch. While there were some close races, Tim made it to the first mark first on most occasions and seemed to get every wind shift he wanted when he wanted. Who does he know? He finished first overall with an average of 1.00 and twelve wins. Every other skipper had at least one second-place finish. The racing was that close and often decided near the finish. Anthony Quinn had two seconds and four thirds. Chuck Rudinsky fixed many of the issues that plagued his initial outing and had four seconds and three thirds. John Simms got off to a slow start, but regained his form at the end of the day. He had three seconds, two of which came in the last two races. Jim Opie also had two seconds and ended the day with two thirds. Bruce Wilhelm had a second too. All of the skippers had a blast and want to thank our scorekeeper, B.B. Wright, and timekeeper of the day, Diane Guerriere. They were on their games yesterday and are greatly appreciated for their work while the rest of us get to play.

The day was challenging, the wind was difficult, but the day was most enjoyable. The weather showed signs of summer with temperatures approaching the high 80s, but the wind was not a summer wind. We had plenty of it, we just didn’t know where it was going to come from. It was another great day, and we hope for another one next week.

Scores will be posted in next week’s news.

AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship

The Back Bay Skippers are hosting the Region 1 US12 championship during our regular sailing session on June 18. If you are a member of the AMYA, you can sign up on the AMYA website for no charge. If you aren’t a member but want to sail, you can. Your scores won’t be counted in the AMYA event but will count for the spring and season series. If you prefer to watch without sailing, you might consider loaning your boat in case it’s needed. Tim is loaning his backup boat, but others might ask for one.

Register for AMYA
US12 Region 1 Championship

Back Bay Sailing

Scores

2026-05-28 US12 Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	6/1 (100%)	6	1.00	1
Simms, John	6/1 (100%)	12	2.00	2
Wilhelm, Bruce	6/1 (100%)	17	2.83	3
Opie, Jim	4/0 (57%)	14	3.50	4
Quinn, Anthony	5/0 (71%)	22	4.40	5
Rudinsky, Chuck	1/0 (14%)	5	5.00	6


2026-06-02 Soling Sailor Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Gates, Rick	3/0 (25%)	3	1.00	1
Barstow, John	10/2 (100%)	16	1.60	2
Ware, Genie	10/2 (100%)	20	2.00	3
Wilhelm, Bruce	10/1 (91%)	28	2.80	4
Corbett, Dave	5/1 (45%)	15	3.00	5
Butler, Jeanne	2/0 (17%)	12	6.00	6


2026-06-02 Soling Master Class Regatta
Name	Races/Throws (Pct)	Total Pts.	Average	Score
Wright, Tim	10/2 (100%)	18	1.80	1
Witzel, Jeff	10/2 (100%)	27	2.70	2
Davis, Linwood	10/1 (91%)	30	3.00	3
Rudinsky, Chuck	10/2 (100%)	30	3.00	3
Boisvert, Denis	10/2 (100%)	53	5.30	5
Posnack, Al	10/2 (100%)	57	5.70	6
Monetta, Ted	10/2 (100%)	61	6.10	7
Whitehead, Mark	10/2 (100%)	71	7.10	8
Griggs, Doug	8/1 (73%)	58	7.25	9
Quinn, Anthony	5/1 (45%)	38	7.60	10
Bennett, Kevin	10/2 (100%)	77	7.70	11

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
June 18, 2026 AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship at Back Bay 1PM to 3PM – Free to Register
July, 2026 Model Yachting Day. Try RC Sailing at Back Bay. Postponed. Date to be Announced. Volunteers Needed!
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending May 30, 2026

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead, Kathleen Whitehead, Diane Guerriere
Layout and Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting Fair

Traditionally we have held a Model Yachting Fair in May to honor the accomplishments of the skippers and to demonstrate the many facets of model yachting. This year, the fair was run by Tim Wright with the able-bodied assistance of B. B. Wright. Camp Brookwoods generously provided space for the event, and thirty skippers wandered about, visiting the thirteen booths.

Rick Gates, Alain Jousse, and Jim Opie
Alain Jousse demonstrated his latest RC model, the *Maltese Falcon*, modeled after an actual sailing ship. The sails are controlled without rigging lines. Alain plans to sail it in the Schooner Class at the Vintage National Championship later this year. The *Maltese Falcon* has a sister ship, the *Black Pearl*, featuring black sails and hull. Many years ago, Alain built the Chinese junk that Tim Wright sometimes sails at Back Bay.

Thursday, May 28, US12 Sailing

The fleet sailed its first scored regatta of the season and what a day it was! The wind was strong and gusty. Even with temperatures in the mid-60s, there was a chill in the air. When clouds blocked the sun or gusts blew across the bay, it was downright chilly. Our scorekeepers, B. B. Wright and Diane Guerriere, were both bundled up and fighting the shivers as well as springtime allergens. Although Rule #1 is to have fun, there is no doubt that our two scorekeepers were not having fun. They were in survival mode. Thanks to the scorekeepers for their perseverance as they battled the elements. As sailors, we can choose to sail or stay home. Not so with the scorekeepers. It isn’t always an easy job, so remember to thank them after each day of racing. It is because of their season-long efforts that we can get fair starts and accurate scores.

AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship

Register for AMYA
US12 Region 1 Championship

Back Bay Sailing

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

June 2, 2026 Soling Season Starts. Tuesday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
June 18, 2026 AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship at Back Bay 1PM to 3PM – Free to Register
July 4, 2026 Model Yachting Day. Try RC Sailing at Back Bay. Volunteers Needed!
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Model Yachting News • Week Ending May 23, 2026

Posted on May 23, 2026May 27, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Layout and Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Well-Deserved Award

Since Al Stevens will be unable to attend the upcoming awards ceremony at Brookwoods, he was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2025 at this week’s Soling regatta. The award recognizes his dedicated hard work for the Model Yacht Building Program. Al spent hours identifying, labeling, and packaging all the parts required, and helped lead the Soling boatbuilding workshop.

New Skipper

We welcomed Charlie Lincoln to the Back Bay Skippers this week. Charlie has refurbished an old Soling and is in the process of getting himself and the boat tuned for competition.

As a demonstration of what the Back Bay Skippers are, Ted Monetta worked with Charlie and his boat the entire afternoon, helping Charlie get off on the right foot. Thank you so much, Ted!

A Snowbird Returns

Jim Opie returned to the fold this week for his first regatta of the season. Jim pulled off a tie for second in Race #10, so he truly is ready for action.

Out on the Water

For the May 19 Soling regatta, twelve skippers launched on yet another blustery day, completing twelve races. Seven skippers qualified for scores, and once again Tim Wright led the way with 1.0. Linwood Davis met the challenge of a hard wind by placing second with a score of 2.6. It has become a habit for Jeff Witzel to be in the top three, and his score of 2.9 qualified him for third place, only three tenths behind Linwood.

Bill Malay was leading all the way in Race #12, only to be overtaken just a few feet from the finish. We’re not sure how accurate the scoring for Ted Monetta is because he and Charlie Lincoln were swapping boats and Ted’s #237 is faster.

Sadly, the commodore, Mark Whitehead, had smoke billowing from the hold of his #12, leaving the electronics inoperable for the entire regatta.

Soling Scores, May 19, 2026
 1. Tim Wright       1.0
 2. Linwood Davis    2.6
 3. Jeff Witzel      2.9
 4. Ted Monetta      4.8
 5. Jim Opie         5.1
 6. Bill Malay       5.3
 7. Doug Griggs      5.4
 8. Rick Gates       -50% 3.0
 9. Denis Boisvert   -50% 4.0 sailing VM
10. Anthony Quinn    -50% 10.0
11. Charlie Lincoln  Not Scored
12. Mark Whitehead   Fire in the Hold

US12 Sailing

On Thursday, May 21, only four sailors showed up for US12 sailing. Perhaps it was due to the cool weather, overcast skies, and strong winds. Along with B. B. Wright, our scorekeeper, they were treated to a wonderful afternoon of sailing. Jim Opie, John Simms, Bill Malay, and Tim Wright had some very good races, and started a round-robin, where each skipper sails every boat. It went well until a collision dis-masted Jim’s boat on the final race of that series. He wasn’t steering, and Tim doesn’t want you to know who was. Jim showed off his building and troubleshooting skills by getting his boat back on the water quickly.

While scores were kept, the racing was very informal, and by my judgment, all of the sailors were winners — just for being there at all.

AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship

In case you haven’t heard, the Back Bay Skippers are hosting the Region 1 US12 championship during one of our regular sailing sessions on June 18. If you are a member of the AMYA, you can sign up on the AMYA website for no charge. If you aren’t a member but want to sail, you can. Your scores won’t be counted in the AMYA event but will count for the spring and season series. If you prefer to watch without sailing, you might consider loaning your boat in case it’s needed. Tim is loaning his backup boat, but others might ask for one.

We look forward to seeing more sailors next week.

Register for AMYA US12 Championship

Back Bay Sailing

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

May 26, 2026 Model Yachting Fair at Camp Brookwoods
June 2, 2026 Soling Season Starts. Tuesday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
June 4, 2026 US12 Season Starts. Thursday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
June 18, 2026 AMYA Region 1 US12 Championship at Back Bay 1PM to 3PM – Free to Register
July 4, 2026 Model Yachting Day. Try RC Sailing at Back Bay
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 22, 2026 Soling Season Ends
September 24, 2026 US12 Season Ends
September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro
October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro
November 3, 2026 Dock Out

Past Events:

September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
July 6, 2024 Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off 2024, Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
June 15, 2024 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
February 2024 Building the Soling 1M Slotted Mast, by Mark Whitehead – Video
February 2024 How to Win without Going Fast, by Al Posnack – Zoom Video
October 13-15, 2023 USVMYG Championship Regatta, Honey Brook PA
September 24, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay – Video
August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
August 5-6, 2023 CanAm Challenge Regatta, Stowe VT
July 4, 2023 Wolfeboro Independence Day Parade
July 1, 2023 Model Yachting Day
May 15, 2023 WCVB Boston Chronicle

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

In Memory ofGeorge Greathead Jr.Sail Number 126

January 26, 1941 – June 13, 2026

In Memory of
George Greathead Jr.
Sail Number 126