Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Editing & Proofreading Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by B. B. Wright, Paul McBride, Mark Whitehead, Al Stevens
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Meet the New Skippers
This week we want to introduce Leo Salvo, the youngest member of the 2023 model yacht-building class, who’s an eleven-year-old sixth-grader. Leo, along with his grandfather Steve O’Neill, worked together to build their Soling.
We’re in a Funk!
We just can’t seem to get a happy medium for the Soling Skippers. Last week, it was a forecast of rain then high winds that crushed any chance for Soling regattas. This week, the threat of rain canceled the Tuesday regatta, and skippers looked forward to a day of good sailing on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the wind never showed up. We tried but failed to have a scored regatta, each race taking half an hour or more to complete. After only three races with nary a ripple on Back Bay, we called it a day, not enough to qualify for an official regatta. When the commodore’s wife returned from her delightful lunch with the Back Bay Babes, she smirked that the gals should have purchased takeout and eaten by the Skipper dock since their gab while gobbling would have provided plenty of movement in the air!
Twenty anxious skippers attended the regatta and struggled mightily to keep up with ducks that whizzed by the fleets. On a high note, John Cavanagh from the building class of 2023 joined the fleet with his newly painted boat. The low note goes to Bruce Wilhelm after being warned to stay away from the weed patch. Ignoring the advice, he sailed right in — and spent the next several minutes wiggling and giggling to free himself from those green tentacles. Lesson learned???
US12 Sailing
The eight sailors who showed up on Thursday, August 17, were treated to wind, unlike the day before. It was off the land, shifty and temperamental, but at least it was there. B. B. Wright kept us going so we were able to complete eleven races before time ran out. Due to the direction of the wind, we started downwind all day so that we could get a good, long upwind leg. It made for some tight roundings at the first two marks — and plenty of material for the winter rules and tactics sessions.
As is usually the case, positions changed frequently and the wind kept everyone guessing. The camaraderie amongst fleet members makes the whole event fun. After all, isn’t that Rule #1? We hope for another good day next week.
Out on the Water for the Solings
All scores are unofficial because we didn’t reach the required four races to qualify, but Paul Wallace has not been able to sail as of late so he decided to make up for it this week. In the Sailor Class, he sailed in two races and took a first and a second, winning the day with a score of 2.0. Jeff Witzel ended with a first, a second, and a fourth, scoring 2.33 to take the second spot. For third, it was a tie with Ken Gerber and Steve Towne scoring 4.67. Al Stevens cruised ever so slowly to a fifth-place finish, a fourth, and a sixth to place fifth overall.
Of course, our light-air master Tim Wright won all three races to take the Master Class. We all marvel at his ability to see the seemingly invisible puffs of wind. Tom Barstow sailed two races, finishing second and third for second overall. Paul McBride’s two third-place finishes plus a “weed” that gave a third-place average landed him in third place overall with a score of 3.0. Although Mark Whitehead had two second-place finishes, a sixth-place finish brought his score down to 3.33 for fourth. In fifth was Joel Nelson, finishing fourth in all three races with a final score of 4.0.
Out on the Water for the US12s
On the race course, Tim Wright won nine of eleven races. He finished with an average of 1.10. Don Cundy loaned his boat for two races, but did well enough in the other nine to finish second with a score of 3.25. He won a race and came in second in two others. In third place, Jim Opie finished with a 3.60 score. Jim turned on the jets in the last five races with a win, three seconds and a third. He also had a second in race 3. Now the scores get close. In a tie for fourth at 4.14, Don McBride and Anthony Quinn each sat out the last three races. Anthony had two seconds and two thirds, while Don had a second but finished more consistently in the middle of the pack. Only 6 hundredths behind came Bob Brennan, who finished in sixth with a 4.20 average. Bob had a second and five thirds. John Simms scored a 4.60 for a seventh-place finish. He had one third-place finish Bruce Wilhelm came in eighth with a score of 5.70. Bruce had a great race in which he sailed near the shore, picking up a breeze no one else got, and again found a breeze on the last leg to come in third.
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
Sailing on Back Bay
The radio-controlled model yachts are on Back Bay in Wolfeboro from 1 PM to 3 PM weekly, the Solings on Tuesday and the US12s on Thursday, weather permitting. Wednesday serves as an alternate day should sailing conditions be poor.
Join the fun! We love to share so don’t be shy about asking to try your hand at the controls. Come watch the show or take a picture. It’s a sight to behold.
Upcoming Events:
- August 26, 2023 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
- September 10, 2023 3rd Annual RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- September 15-16, 2023 Vintage Race Boat Regatta, Wolfeboro Bay
Past Events:
- 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