Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wrigh, Mark Whitehead
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Great Day for Sailing
Sunshine and much lower humidity greeted the skippers this week. There was even wind, not a great deal but enough to keep the boats moving. Twenty-two skippers with their Solings entered the queue to Back Bay July 22, but only twenty actually participated in the nine-race regatta.
Sadly we are losing skipper Henry Clare for the rest of the season. He and his family are touring the Atlantic provinces over the next week before returning to Montreal, where his parents are currently posted as foreign service officers.
Joining us were dozens of spectators to enjoy the spectacle, several trying their hand at the controls.
Out on the Water
Kevin Bennett led the way in the Sailor Class this week with five firsts and a score of 1.62. Jim Opie challenged the fleet with one win and five seconds, scoring 2.12 for second place. Third place went to Dave Hogenson, thanks to a couple of wins and two second-place finishes.
Our perpetual leader for the Master Class didn’t disappoint, Tim Wright scoring three firsts and two seconds to land at the top of the podium with a 1.50 score. Linwood Davis held the second place, scoring 4.25. Al Posnack and Ted Monetta tied for third, both with a score of 5.00.
Five US12 Sailors
Sailors on July 24 were treated to good winds, which helped moderate the hot temperatures. While we dealt with Back Bay’s usual wind shifts and lulls, the puffs were really quite strong, unlike many hot days in the summer. There was a good variety of velocities with none too strong or too soft for too long. Although we got off to a slow start with only two races in the first thirty minutes, we did manage to complete twelve races. B. B. Wright, our scorekeeper, kept the skippers involved with quick turnarounds so anyone who sailed in every race would earn two throw-outs.
Racing was very spirited. Positions shifted throughout each race and often on each leg. Wind shifts and changing strengths tested the skippers’ mettle from start to finish. Phantom winds and missed buoys changed the order of the fleet every race. Bruce Wilhelm came in fifth of five, but you have to love his attitude. He said, “My first race started with a second place, and it was all downhill after that.” He didn’t mention, however, that his last three races were all third-place finishes. Bruce finished with a race average of 3.90.
Anthony Quinn was consistent. He had six third-place finishes and a final average of 3.40 for fourth place.
In a very close battle for second place, Lin Davis beat John Simms by six hundredths of a point, 2.50 to 2.56. John had one first and five seconds, along with three fourth-place finishes. Lin also had one win and five second-place finishes, but he had two third-place finishes that made the difference and gave him a slightly better score.
In first, Tim Wright had ten first-place finishes, and after two throw-outs had an average of 1.00. Has anyone checked his boat lately? As he does, Tim got good starts and usually worked out to the front of the fleet. The intense pursuit kept Tim on his toes, and the chasers were always there, ready to pounce on any mistake or wind shift!
Thanks to all who help to make this possible. We look forward to next week when we sail again. Hopefully, we will have more boats in our fleet.
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
2025-07-22 Soling Sailor Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Bennett, Kevin | 8/1 (100%) | 13 | 1.62 | 1 |
| Opie, Jim | 8/1 (100%) | 17 | 2.12 | 2 |
| Hogenson, Dave | 7/1 (88%) | 16 | 2.29 | 3 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | 6/1 (75%) | 21 | 3.50 | 4 |
| Corbett, Dave | 5/0 (56%) | 23 | 4.60 | 5 |
| Butler, Jeanne | 6/1 (75%) | 29 | 4.83 | 6 |
| Curran | 5/0 (56%) | 25 | 5.00 | 7 |
2025 Soling Sailor Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Clare, Henry | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | 10.50 | -10.50 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Sailor | 78% | 1.14 | ||
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 22% | 2.00 | ||
| Bennett, Kevin | Sailor | 89% | 2.38 | 6.67 | -4.29 |
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 44% | 2.75 | 2.25 | 0.50 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 33% | 3.00 | 2.67 | 0.33 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | Sailor | 44% | 3.75 | 5.38 | -1.62 |
| Griggs, Doug | Sailor | 44% | 3.75 | ||
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 22% | 4.00 | 3.78 | 0.22 |
| Corbett, Dave | Sailor | 22% | 4.50 | 5.36 | -0.86 |
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailior | 22% | 5.00 | 3.80 | 1.20 |
| Butler, Jeanne | Sailor | 33% | 5.67 | 10.33 | -4.67 |
| Currier, Dick | Sailor | 22% | 6.00 | 8.14 | -2.14 |
| Curran | Sailor | 22% | 6.00 | 6.00 | 0.00 |
2025-07-22 Soling Master Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 6/1 (75%) | 9 | 1.50 | 1 |
| Davis, Linwood | 8/1 (100%) | 34 | 4.25 | 2 |
| Monetta, Ted | 8/1 (100%) | 40 | 5.00 | 3 |
| Posnack, Al | 8/1 (100%) | 40 | 5.00 | 3 |
| Gerber, Ken | 7/1 (88%) | 37 | 5.29 | 5 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 7/1 (88%) | 37 | 5.29 | 5 |
| Barstow, Tom | 7/1 (88%) | 38 | 5.43 | 7 |
| Witzel, Jeff | 8/1 (100%) | 56 | 7.00 | 8 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 8/1 (100%) | 59 | 7.38 | 9 |
| Malay, Bill | 8/1 (100%) | 62 | 7.75 | 10 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | 8/1 (100%) | 64 | 8.00 | 11 |
| Pacini, Bob | 8/1 (100%) | 65 | 8.12 | 12 |
| Leker, Steve | 7/1 (88%) | 63 | 9.00 | 13 |
2025 Master Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Master | 89% | 1.00 | 1.08 | -0.08 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 67% | 3.33 | 2.83 | 0.50 |
| Gates, Rick | Master | 22% | 3.50 | 8.38 | -4.88 |
| Posnack, Al | Master | 89% | 4.75 | 5.18 | -0.43 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 100% | 5.67 | 6.43 | -0.76 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 78% | 5.71 | 5.90 | -0.19 |
| Jousse, Alain | Master | 11% | 6.00 | ||
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 100% | 6.22 | ||
| Cundy, Don | Master | 33% | 6.67 | 3.38 | 3.29 |
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 67% | 7.17 | 6.25 | 0.92 |
| Leker, Steve | Master | 56% | 7.40 | 7.62 | -0.22 |
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 89% | 7.62 | 6.69 | 0.93 |
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 67% | 7.67 | 8.83 | -1.17 |
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 56% | 8.20 | 9.00 | -0.80 |
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 89% | 8.62 | 8.00 | 0.62 |
| Malay, Bill | Master | 56% | 9.00 | 10.00 | -1.00 |
| Ware, Genie | Master | 33% | 10.33 | ||
| Laird, Richard | Master | 22% | 10.50 | ||
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Master | 78% | 12.14 |
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