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
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.
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.
Videos and Photos
- Back Bay Skippers Video (WMUR NH Chronicles)
- Back Bay Skippers YouTube Channel
- Latest Videos: Solings, US12s, Lily Pond
- Latest Photos: Solings, US12s, Lily Pond
- Photo Gallery
Previous Highlights
- Sasquatch Regatta (Nor’easter Footy Series) 2021, 2019
- Sheila Ryan Memorial Footy Regatta 2021, 2020
- Awards for 2019 Season
- Tim Wright Wins CAN/AM Challenge 2019
- Lake Discovery Camp 2019
- US12 AMYA Region 1 Championship, Nashua
- Spring Skippers Party 2019
Score Sheets
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
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