Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead, Diane Guerriere
Layout & Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Spring Series Awards
The Back Bay Skippers have two eight-week regattas, spring and summer. The 2025 Spring Series ran from May 20 to July 11, and the Soling awards for that series were presented on Tuesday, August 5, those for the US12s on Thursday, August 7.
Soling Sailor Class
1. Chuck Rudinsky
2. Kevin Bennett
3. Doug Griggs
Soling Master Class
1. Tim Wright
2. Jeff Witzel
3. Al Posnack
US12 Class
1. Tim Wright
2. Linwood Davis
3. John Simms
Soling Master Class
Soling Sailor Class
US12 Class
A Gift Presented
Longtime Skipper Howard Germon presented his Soling #76 to the Back Bay Skippers. His generous gift will be used as a backup for sailors having boat problems or for those interested in joining us. Thank you so much, Howard, for your very generous gift!
We Forgot to Bring the Wind
Although Soling skippers brought all their necessary gear to the August 5 regatta, they forgot to bring wind. In the very light and variable velocities provided by Mother Nature, the nineteen participants completed only six races, just enough for one throw-out. The winds ranged from zip to about five miles per hour, and we often had to wait for the puffs to come along and push us to the next mark. At least the temperatures stayed at bearable levels.
Solings on the Water
It was a tie at the top in the Sailor Class with Kevin Bennett and Doug Griggs scoring 1.80, Kevin with three wins and Doug two. John Barstow was just four tenths behind for third place. Bryer Cain and Jim Opie didn’t have enough races to qualify but held their own in the races they ran.
Tim Wright earned four firsts for a 1.40 score to take the regatta in the Master Class. Ted Monetta again captured second place with one win and three seconds, scoring 2.20. Tom Barstow earned a 4.80 with consistent sailing.
A Special Session
On Wednesday, August 6, a special afternoon was held for sailors who wanted to work on their racing skills without the usual regatta scoring. Tim Wright and Ted Monetta were on hand to encourage, offer help, explain nomenclature, and give tips on tuning, sail trim, and racing strategies.
Jeanne Butler, Curran, Bryer Cain, Jim Opie, and Mark Bodenstab devoted the afternoon to honing their skills and having fun sailing. They later were joined by Bob Pacini, whose new boat wasn’t yet ready for launch, so he received help with his radio, rigging, and other boat-preparation tips.
The wind was variable, as it often is at Back Bay, but there were times when it held steady, allowing the sailors to enjoy low-key races in a relaxed atmosphere. It provided a great chance for the sailors to get out on the course without worrying about the finer points of rules.
A good time was had by all, and plans are being made to repeat informal subdued sailing in the coming weeks.
US12 Sailing
On Thursday, August 7, the winds on Back Bay were as tricky as ever. With wind coming off the land and down the bay in patches, sailors had to be careful to not miss the air currents. Many times, boats coming from behind passed boats ahead that were standing still. The fickle winds made it hard to be consistent. With only six sailors, everyone had multiple finishes in fourth-place or lower except one. Despite a serious lack of wind to start the afternoon, the racers managed to complete nine races. B. B. Wright, our scorekeeper, and Diane Guerriere, a consistent helper and assistant, braved the hot sun to keep us moving.
How does he do it? Tim Wright, sailing in the same difficult conditions, managed eight wins plus a second-place finish. His race average of 1.00 earned him first overall. Rick Laird, coming up from Boston, ended up with a 2.50 average, good for second place. Rick had five second-place finishes. In a close battle for third, Anthony Quinn edged out John Simms by thirteen hundredths, 3.25 to 3.38. Anthony had the other first-place finish as well as two seconds. John, with a second and three thirds, came up one point short of tying Anthony. In fifth place, Bruce Wilhelm started with two third-place finishes and earned an average of 4.25. Jim Opie was having issues with his electronics, and sat out a couple of races troubleshooting the problem. Steering was an issue, and that’s huge in sailing. He finally retired before the last race, a frustrating afternoon, no doubt!
It was good to have the camaraderie of the group to offset the unpredictable winds. The conditions kept the sailors busy looking for wind, and figuring out how to use what little there was. Hopefully, we will have a better, more consistent wind next week. Oh wait, I forgot, it’s Back Bay. That doesn’t happen on Back Bay.
Well then, let’s hope for more good sailing, good stories, and good laughs with friends. After all, the racing is truly secondary to the friendships that have formed. See you next week.
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
2025-08-05 Sailor Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Bennett, Kevin | 5/1 (100%) | 9 | 1.80 | 1 |
| Griggs, Doug | 5/1 (100%) | 9 | 1.80 | 1 |
| Barstow, John | 5/1 (100%) | 11 | 2.20 | 3 |
| Cain, Bryer | 2/0 (33%) | 7 | 3.50 | 4 |
| Opie, Jim | 3/0 (50%) | 11 | 3.67 | 5 |
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 | 18% | 2.00 | ||
| Bennett, Kevin | Sailor | 91% | 2.20 | 6.67 | -4.47 |
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 36% | 2.75 | 2.25 | 0.50 |
| Griggs, Doug | Sailor | 55% | 2.83 | ||
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 27% | 3.00 | 2.67 | 0.33 |
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 36% | 3.50 | 3.78 | -0.28 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | Sailor | 36% | 3.75 | 5.38 | -1.62 |
| Corbett, Dave | Sailor | 18% | 4.50 | 5.36 | -0.86 |
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailior | 18% | 5.00 | 3.80 | 1.20 |
| Butler, Jeanne | Sailor | 27% | 5.67 | 10.33 | -4.67 |
| Currier, Dick | Sailor | 18% | 6.00 | 8.14 | -2.14 |
| Curran | Sailor | 18% | 6.00 | 6.00 | 0.00 |
2025-08-05 Soling Master Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 5/1 (100%) | 7 | 1.40 | 1 |
| Monetta, Ted | 5/1 (100%) | 11 | 2.20 | 2 |
| Barstow, Tom | 5/1 (100%) | 24 | 4.80 | 3 |
| Cundy, Don | 1/0 (17%) | 5 | 5.00 | 4 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 5/1 (100%) | 26 | 5.20 | 5 |
| Gerber, Ken | 5/0 (83%) | 30 | 6.00 | 6 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 5/1 (100%) | 30 | 6.00 | 6 |
| Leker, Steve | 5/1 (100%) | 34 | 6.80 | 8 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | 5/0 (83%) | 34 | 6.80 | 8 |
| Malay, Bill | 5/1 (100%) | 35 | 7.00 | 10 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | 5/1 (100%) | 36 | 7.20 | 11 |
| Pacini, Bob | 5/0 (83%) | 41 | 8.20 | 12 |
| Boisvert, Denis | 5/1 (100%) | 43 | 8.60 | 13 |
| Ware, Genie | 5/1 (100%) | 51 | 10.20 | 14 |
2025 Soling Master Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Master | 91% | 1.00 | 1.08 | -0.08 |
| Gates, Rick | Master | 18% | 3.50 | 8.38 | -4.88 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 64% | 4.14 | 2.83 | 1.31 |
| Posnack, Al | Master | 82% | 4.78 | 5.18 | -0.40 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 100% | 5.00 | 6.43 | -1.43 |
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 91% | 6.00 | ||
| Jousse, Alain | Master | 9% | 6.00 | ||
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 73% | 6.50 | 6.25 | 0.25 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 73% | 6.62 | 5.90 | 0.72 |
| Cundy, Don | Master | 27% | 6.67 | 3.38 | 3.29 |
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 64% | 7.43 | 8.83 | -1.40 |
| Leker, Steve | Master | 55% | 7.50 | 7.62 | -0.12 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Master | 18% | 7.50 | ||
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 91% | 7.50 | 6.69 | 0.81 |
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 55% | 7.83 | 9.00 | -1.17 |
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 82% | 9.00 | 8.00 | 1.00 |
| Malay, Bill | Master | 55% | 9.17 | 10.00 | -0.83 |
| Ware, Genie | Master | 45% | 10.40 | ||
| Laird, Richard | Master | 18% | 10.50 | ||
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Master | 82% | 11.89 |
2025-08-07 US12 Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 8/1 (100%) | 8 | 1.00 | 1 |
| Laird, Rick | 8/1 (100%) | 20 | 2.50 | 2 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 8/1 (100%) | 26 | 3.25 | 3 |
| Simms, John | 8/1 (100%) | 27 | 3.38 | 4 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | 8/1 (100%) | 34 | 4.25 | 5 |
| Opie, Jim | 5/1 (62%) | 28 | 5.60 | 6 |
2025 US 12 Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Sailor | 100% | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.00 |
Chalder, Glenn | 14% | 2.00 | |||
| Davis, Lin | 43% | 2.00 | 4.00 | -2.00 | |
| Simms, John | Sailor | 100% | 3.14 | 2.57 | 0.57 |
Quinn, Anthony | 71% | 3.40 | 5.23 | -1.83 | |
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 29% | 3.50 | 4.43 | -0.93 |
| Gates, Rick | 29% | 4.00 | 3.93 | 0.07 | |
| Laird, Rick | Sailor | 43% | 4.33 | 3.40 | 0.93 |
| Brennan, Bob | Sailor | 29% | 4.50 | 5.80 | -1.30 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Sailor | 86% | 5.50 | 6.56 | -1.06 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 57% | 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