News - NH Boat Museum

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

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.

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

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 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

Model Yachting News • Week Ending May 16, 2026

Posted on May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead
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

Tuesdays Seem to Be Wind Days

Again this week the Soling fleet faced strong winds and even more powerful gusts. The May 12 regatta welcomed thirteen skippers to its course but scored only nine. There were three declaring, “Uh-uh. I’m not going out there!” And on its first launch, Bob Pacini’s boat ended up at the bottom of the bay at the start line.

Denis Boisvert’s schooner didn’t fair so well this week and had to retire with mechanical issues, but out came the #188 VM from the San Antonio collection that survived the challenge.

The fleet managed to complete nine races despite really tough wind conditions. During the fourth race, Bill Malay’s #7 decided it would rather sail on the big lake, heading downriver and out to sea, so to speak. As a consequence, Bill had a very long row to retrieve the old girl. After only four races, Anthony Quinn’s #111 developed issues that ended his day.

That left seven skippers who qualified for regatta scoring. Nothing new, Tim Wright defended his standing with eight wins and a score of 1.0 to take top honors this week. Jeff Witzel was right in the thick of things to score an impressive 2.25. Doug Griggs got new sails to improve his sailing prowess and caught the wind to third place and a score of 3.38.

May 12, 2026 Soling Scores
 1. Tim Wright     1.00
 2. Jeff Witzel    2.25
 3. Doug Griggs    3.38
 4. Mark Whitehead 4.25
 5. Ted Monetta    5.00
 6. Denis Boisvert 5.00 Sailed VM
 7. Linwood Davis  5.20
 8. Bill Malay     5.00 50% Rule
 9. Anthony Quinn  7.75 50% Rule
10. Bob Pacini     Boat Disaster
11. Bruce Wilhelm  DNR
12. Rick Gates     DNR
13. Ken Gerber     DNR

US12 Sailing

Both Wednesday and Thursday were predicted rain days so the US12 skippers stayed home to remain dry by a warm fire this week.

Back Bay Sailing

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

May 26, 2026 Model Yachting Fair at Camp Brookwoods
May 28, 2026 US12 Season Starts. Thursday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
June 2, 2026 Soling Season Starts. Tuesday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
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 9, 2026

Posted on May 8, 2026May 10, 2026 by Paul McBride

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

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Boatbuilding Prep

Prior to this week’s sailing, several of the Back Bay Skippers helped raise tents for the 2026 boatbuilding projects. This year, the tents went up early because of the May construction of a World War II storm boat.

Those Back Bay Skippers who participated with the tent crew were Ted Monetta, Bill Malay, Chuck Rudinsky, Tim Wright, and Doug Griggs. Thank you, Back Bay Skippers. You’re a great bunch of guys!

A Blustery Day

Meteorologists predicted 17-mph winds for May 5. Because we had no anemometer, the commodore doesn’t know if they reached those heights, but gusts certainly were strong. Tuesday’s regatta posted fourteen skippers, but only nine actually challenged the wind on Back Bay. Ten exciting races were completed as several boats were seen sailing nose down due to the air currents.

At the pinnacle of this week’s top three skippers was Tim Wright with an average score of 1.0. Chuck Rudinsky seemed to take the gusts in stride scoring 2.3 for an impressive second, followed closely by Jeff Witzel at 2.9.

It should be mentioned that Denis Boisvert brought his schooner that just loves the heavy winds. He led the way in several races. Unfortunately, the schooner wasn’t included in the Soling scores. Before sailing, Denis gave a V36-class vessel from the San Antonio collection a good workout to fine-tune the boat.

May 5, 2026 Soling Scores
1. Tim Wright         1.0
2. Chuck Rudinsky     2.3
3. Jeff Witzel        2.9
4. Linwood Davis      3.5
5. Ted Monetta        4.0
6. Mark Whitehead     4.3
7. Bruce Wilhelm      5.8
Not Scored
8. Denis Boisvert
9. Anthony Quinn
10. Charlie Lincoln
11. Bill Malay
12. Steve Towne
13. Bob Pacini
14. Al Posnack

US12 Sailing

Sailing on Thursday, May 7, was more about testing the rigging and seaworthiness than it was about competition. It was a chilly day in the mid-50s with a strong and variable wind.

Six boats sailed, with Bill Malay, Anthony Quinn, John Simms, and Tim Wright sailing US12s and Kevin Bennett launching his Soling. Tim also tested his newly designed and 3D-printed Footy, which sailed very well upwind and down. No leaks either!

The breeze was gusty throughout, and it changed directions dramatically. The strongest gusts made tacking almost impossible. Downwind sailing also was a challenge with many nosedives and wipeouts. Rigging was put to the test, and just being out in the strong winds was demanding. Four races were completed, and there were never more than three finishers. B. B. Wright scored the boats in the very informal racing. It also should be reported that Kevin Bennett beat two US12s by a large margin with his Soling in one of the races.

All of the sailors were glad to have been tested by the winds, and they came away with better knowledge of their boats’ abilities in those conditions. With attrition taking boats out of competition, the racing came to its natural conclusion.

We look forward to next Thursday and more exciting sailing.

Back Bay Sailing

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

May 26, 2026 Model Yachting Fair at Camp Brookwoods
May 28, 2026 US12 Season Starts. Thursday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
June 2, 2026 Soling Season Starts. Tuesday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
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 • April 2026

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

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

April Zoom Class

Professor T (Tim Wright) presented the final Zoom class on April 8. The boats would be on the water soon as Skippers start sailing for the season. Tim’s sessions helped us become better sailors.

This month’s class started with “Who We Are,” a pictorial review of the many accomplishments of 2025. This was followed by a discussion of “windward and leeward” rules and tactics in side-by-side sailing. The leeward boat has the right of way and there are ways to position yourself effectively.

During the off-season instructive classes, Tim had suggestions for more successful sailing.

Tim’s Thoughts on Tuning

1) Although he didn’t think it was said exactly this way, better sail trim and shape is similar to Goldilocks and the three bears. Don’t over-tighten the shape of your sails or make them too baggy. You are looking for the sweet spot, the one that is just right. So look to see what those around you are doing since this will help you learn what changes you could try. That leads us to the second theme.

2) We all should observe the boats around us and try to match those doing well. Figure out what might be making the difference and try it ourselves. We should be ready to change the sail shape, sail trim, course heading, where we start and go, to name just a few. Sometimes it is easier to learn from watching what others are doing than it is to figure it out all by yourself.

3) As B. B. commented, another theme is to constantly be ready to make corrections to the rudder and the sail trim, very much like driving a car. The difference is that when sailing, the water is always changing. There are no lines to tell you where to go, and your throttle is tied to the wind, which is out of your control. You might be going in a straight line, but you need to pay attention to the details while always ready to make adjustments so your course is true and your sails match the wind. Wind can change direction and speed at any time and you need to be on your toes to make any adjustments necessary, but do so as little as possible, thus getting the biggest benefits from the smallest changes in course and sail trim. Learning what those changes are is what takes time and experience. Keep trying and learning while having fun at the same time.

4) It is Tim’s hope that these teaching sessions will help to make us all better sailors and make the racing more competitive. After all, it is more fun when it is competitive without being overly aggressive. We are friends first and competitors second. Rule #1 definitely applies all the time: HAVE FUN!! And we do!

Winter Project

Doug Griggs has completed the dinghy cover supports with an extra special touch of the Back Bay Skippers burgee.

AMYA Clubs Working Together

The Maine Model Yacht Club, strictly a club of the DF 95 class, had a couple of members who long ago purchased Soling kits. Never completed, they were generously donated by Ralph Thompson and George Yarborough to the New Hampshire Boat Museum as scholarship kits. We enthusiastically thank the Maine Model Yacht Club as well as Ralph and George for their donations.

Right on Schedule

Thanks to the 2026 dock-in crew, the Back Bay Skippers dock was installed right on time, April 21. The commodore ordered sunshine for the event and the crew was not disappointed.

Joel Nelson and John Simms provided transport from the storage barn, and we especially want to thank our deep-water crew of Ken Gerber and Joel Nelson for setting the dock in place. Water was deep enough to reach Joel Nelson’s shoulders during placement of the dock and dinghy mooring anchor.

This year’s crew was, left to right, Linwood Davis, Doug Griggs, Joel Nelson, Ted Monetta, Jeff Hathaway, John Simms, Bob Brennan, Ken Gerber, Anthony Quinn, Chuck Rudinsky, and Bill Malay. Although not in the photo, Commodore Mark Whitehead supported the program with a supply of tools and equipment required for the project.

First-launch honors this year go to Chuck Rudinsky followed by Doug Griggs and Ted Monetta as the trio raised their sails to catch the wind.

The Season Is Underway

Through May, the regattas are for getting winter kinks out of the boats, official scoring scheduled to start in early June. Sailing is a little less tense although the smart remarks are in greater abundance.

April 28 provided a day of sunshine and a good breeze so thirteen skippers were able to complete eleven races. Tim Wright started right where he left off by scoring a 1.0 to take the day. He also was able to give his newly designed Footy a good workout. Ted Monetta was back in form and sailed to a 3.2 for second place, followed closely by Linwood Davis with a score of 3.5. Most important, a great day was had by all!

April 28 Soling Unofficial Scores
1. Tim Wright 1.0
2. Ted Monetta 3.2
3. Linwood Davis 3.5
4. Chuck Rudinsky 3.7
5. Rick Gates 3.8
6. Mark Whitehead 5.1
7. Doug Griggs 5.3
8. Bill Malay 5.7
9. Kevin Bennett 6.1
10. Anthony Quinn 4.7 50% rule
11. Al Posnack 4.8 50% rule
12. Charlie Lincoln no scores
13. Jeff Hathaway no scores

US12 Sailing

Wednesday, April 29, was the first day of US12 sailing. Instead of sailing on a rainy Thursday, we put boats in the water a day early. Only Bob Strodel and Tim Wright showed up ready to sail. They were glad to have had a chance to sail when it was quite windy but not too much, and cool enough for a jacket without being overly cold. In fact, it was the type of day skippers dream of in the summer — cool, windy, and great sailing. Bob and Tim were able to practice in very informal racing, with Bob holding his own against the champion under challenging conditions. With no scoring, B. B. Wright was able to take some good photos of the spectacular sailing day while Diane Guerriere and Anthony Quinn stopped to enjoy the scene.

It was a great start to the season, and we hope to see some new or repurposed boats in the fleet this season. Let’s hope the summer doesn’t get too hot and too still, but if it does, today was the antithesis. We sail again next Thursday, May 7. Racing starts at 1:00 PM. You can come early and give it a try.