Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Ahh! Seventy Degrees!
At last a reprieve from the hot and humid weather! The August 19 skipper count doubled from last week, reflecting more bearable conditions. The wind, however, was its normal fluky self — zilch in spots and not bad in others. With twenty boats on the water, the two-fleet configuration was called by our race director, Al Posnack — seven Sailors and thirteen Masters. Despite weak winds, the fleet managed to complete nine races.
Howard Germon returned to sail with us this week, giving his new #76 boat a good workout and certainly challenging the rest of us. It was disappointing, however, that new skipper Bryer Cain clipped his boom on the dock and was unable to sail with us this week. Hopefully he can get back in action for our next regatta.
Solings on the Course
Dave Hogenson gave himself a going-away present by taking first place in this week’s Sailor Class. Four first-place finishes gave him the win with a score of 2.38. Jim Opie shined with a first, a second, and two thirds to take second place with a score of 2.60. A tie for third between John Barstow and Kevin Bennett showed scores of 2.88. Kevin had three first-place finishes, but John’s more consistent placement in the top three led to the tie. The top five competitors were all within one half of a point, so congratulations on a job well done!
No surprise in the Master Class with Tim Wright taking seven firsts for a score of 1.00. Somehow Tim always has the best wind in his sails. Howard Germon’s new boat got off to a good start with one win and three seconds for a second-place score of 3.12. Linwood Davis was in the top four at the end of five races, which included two seconds for third overall and a score of 4.25.
US12 Sailing
The five sailors who raced on Thursday, August 21, were treated to cool temperatures and good winds most of the time. Which direction the wind would blow was always in doubt, but it was a good, steady wind — until it wasn’t. Some dead spots appeared, but the majority of races were done with a good breeze. We were delighted to complete twelve races by 2:40. To achieve that, we can thank B. B. Wright and Diane Guerriere, our scorekeepers, who kept us on task.
Before the racing started, Tim Wright sailed a model called an Independence class built by Bob Gabel. Bob and Liz are downsizing and wanted to find a good home for the boat he built. Tim received it through the New Hampshire Boat Museum, and spent time making it work. The test sail went very well, and Tim was pleased with the results. Thanks to Bob for all of his volunteer work for the museum, and for the generous donation of his boat.
The course we sailed was mostly out between the outer marks, and the breeze was remarkably strong offshore. It made the skippers pay attention all the time as things changed quickly.
Tim Wright won the day with nine victories and three seconds. His final average, after the two throw-outs, was 1.10. Lin Davis sailed to two victories and five seconds, his final average of 2.30 good enough for second place. John Simms missed a few races but still managed to finish third with a 2.88 average. He had two seconds and five thirds in the eight races counted. Finishing strongly in fourth, Bruce Wilhelm had a first, two seconds, and three thirds for a 3.10 average. Bob Strodel is still working to get his boat to respond correctly, and had many third-place finishes. He ended with a 3.78 average and a fifth-place finish for the day. His boat is coming out of mothballs and has a few issues to be resolved. Once that happens, watch out!
Overall, it was a very pleasant day, with good winds, warm temperatures, and good vibes between the sailors and our scorekeepers. There were a few collisions on the outer legs of the course, but everyone rolled with the punches, partly due to the wonderful day we were fortunate enough to experience. We can only hope for such a nice day next week. Thanks to all who made it possible.
Featured Skippers
Bob Pacini
Originally from just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there wasn’t much sailing to be done in those days. Bob attended college as an engineer major, interrupted by the Vietnam War. After performing his duty, he returned to NYU and worked as a prosthetist orthotics, making artificial limbs and braces for forty-three years. His relaxation from this high-stress work was a passion for wood-turning and boatbuilding. He has continued both of those activities since retirement, and now enjoys New Hampshire life with his wife and family in their Melvin Village home.
Rick Laird
Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Rick Laird attended an art school associated with Springfield Technical Community College. Moving to Boston, he worked for a graphics house on Summer Street. He also joined the 27th Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps of Revere, and became interested in sailing catamarans while admiring them from Rhode Island beaches as a youth. He tried various boat lengths then settled into sailing on fresh waters at Quannapowitt Lake in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Although time took its toll on his body and spirit, he couldn’t give up sailing. Wandering into a model boat shop in 1993, he bought his first radio-controlled sailing yacht. Over the years, he’s won many regattas and regional competitions, but decided his best achievement was placing second four times in the U.S. Vintage Marblehead Championships.
Sailing on Back Bay
Join us for Model Yacht sailing 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.
It’s 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.
Scores
2025-08-19 Soling Sailor Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Hogenson, Dave | 8/1 (100%) | 19 | 2.38 | 1 |
| Opie, Jim | 5/1 (62%) | 13 | 2.60 | 2 |
| Barstow, John | 8/1 (100%) | 23 | 2.88 | 3 |
| Bennett, Kevin | 8/1 (100%) | 23 | 2.88 | 3 |
| Griggs, Doug | 8/1 (100%) | 24 | 3.00 | 5 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | 2/0 (22%) | 8 | 4.00 | 6 |
| Corbett, Dave | 4/0 (44%) | 18 | 4.50 | 7 |
2025 Soling Sailor Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
Cain, Bryer | 0% | 0.00 | |||
| Clare, Henry | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | 10.50 | -10.50 |
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 15% | 2.00 | ||
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 46% | 2.17 | 2.25 | -0.08 |
| Bennett, Kevin | Sailor | 85% | 2.27 | 6.67 | -4.39 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 31% | 2.75 | 2.67 | 0.08 |
| Griggs, Doug | Sailor | 62% | 3.00 | ||
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 46% | 3.33 | 3.78 | -0.44 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | Sailor | 31% | 3.75 | 5.38 | -1.62 |
| Corbett, Dave | Sailor | 15% | 4.50 | 5.36 | -0.86 |
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailor | 15% | 5.00 | 3.80 | 1.20 |
| Butler, Jeanne | Sailor | 23% | 5.67 | 10.33 | -4.67 |
| Currier, Dick | Sailor | 15% | 6.00 | 8.14 | -2.14 |
| Curran | Sailor | 15% | 6.00 | 6.00 | 0.00 |
2025-08-19 Soling Master Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 7/1 (88%) | 7 | 1.00 | 1 |
| Germon, Howard | 8/1 (100%) | 25 | 3.12 | 2 |
| Davis, Linwood | 8/1 (100%) | 34 | 4.25 | 3 |
| Pacini, Bob | 8/1 (100%) | 38 | 4.75 | 4 |
| Gerber, Ken | 8/1 (100%) | 42 | 5.25 | 5 |
| Monetta, Ted | 8/1 (100%) | 49 | 6.12 | 6 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 8/1 (100%) | 51 | 6.38 | 7 |
| Posnack, Al | 8/1 (100%) | 57 | 7.12 | 8 |
| Barstow, Tom | 7/1 (88%) | 55 | 7.86 | 9 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 8/1 (100%) | 64 | 8.00 | 10 |
| Laird, Richard | 8/1 (100%) | 68 | 8.50 | 11 |
| Boisvert, Denis | 8/1 (100%) | 75 | 9.38 | 12 |
| Ware, Genie | 8/1 (100%) | 83 | 10.38 | 13 |
2025 Soling Master Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Master | 85% | 1.00 | 1.08 | -0.08 |
| Germon, Howard | Master | 8% | 2.00 | ||
| Gates, Rick | Master | 15% | 3.50 | 8.38 | -4.88 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 62% | 3.88 | 2.83 | 1.04 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 100% | 4.92 | 6.43 | -1.51 |
| Posnack, Al | Master | 77% | 5.10 | 5.18 | -0.08 |
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 85% | 5.73 | ||
| Jousse, Alain | Master | 8% | 6.00 | ||
| Cundy, Don | Master | 23% | 6.67 | 3.38 | 3.29 |
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 69% | 6.78 | 6.25 | 0.53 |
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 92% | 7.17 | 6.69 | 0.47 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 69% | 7.22 | 5.90 | 1.32 |
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 54% | 7.43 | 9.00 | -1.57 |
| Leker, Steve | Master | 46% | 7.50 | 7.62 | -0.12 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Master | 15% | 7.50 | ||
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 62% | 7.75 | 8.83 | -1.08 |
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 85% | 8.09 | 8.00 | 0.09 |
| Malay, Bill | Master | 46% | 9.17 | 10.00 | -0.83 |
| Ware, Genie | Master | 54% | 10.14 | ||
| Laird, Richard | Master | 23% | 10.67 | ||
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Master | 77% | 10.80 |
2025-08-21 US12 Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 10/2 (100%) | 11 | 1.10 | 1 |
| Davis, Lin | 10/2 (100%) | 23 | 2.30 | 2 |
| Simms, John | 8/1 (73%) | 23 | 2.88 | 3 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | 10/2 (100%) | 31 | 3.10 | 4 |
| Strodel, Robert | 9/1 (82%) | 34 | 3.78 | 5 |
2025 US12 Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Sailor | 100% | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.00 |
Chalder, Glenn | 11% | 2.00 | |||
| Davis, Lin | 56% | 2.20 | 4.00 | -1.80 | |
| Simms, John | Sailor | 100% | 3.00 | 2.57 | 0.43 |
Quinn, Anthony | 56% | 3.40 | 5.23 | -1.83 | |
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 22% | 3.50 | 4.43 | -0.93 |
Gates, Rick | 22% | 4.00 | 3.93 | 0.07 | |
| Laird, Rick | Sailor | 44% | 4.25 | 3.40 | 0.85 |
| Brennan, Bob | Sailor | 22% | 4.50 | 5.80 | -1.30 |
| Strodel, Robert | Sailor | 22% | 5.00 | 7.00 | -2.00 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Sailor | 89% | 5.38 | 6.56 | -1.18 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 44% | 6.00 | 6.40 | -0.40 |
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: [2025 Schedule]
- April 29 – October 28 , 2025 Regattas 1PM-3PM Tuesday Solings, Thursdays US12s
- September 11, 2025 Scoring Season Ends
- September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- October 28, 2025 Dock Out
Past Events:
- 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