Written by Mark Whitehead
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Hot – Hot – Hot!
When we were pulling out of the parking lot after the regatta the thermometer read 90 degrees. Luckily there was a little bit of a breeze by the bay, but it was still hot. Prior to the regatta the skippers were warned to bring water and stay hydrated.
The June 30 Soling regatta signed up seventeen skippers, and we managed to complete six races. They weren’t the fastest races we’ve ever had, but for the most part the boats were at least able to keep moving. After all, this is Back Bay. You never know which way the wind will go, but you have to wait only a minute before it changes.
A huge – and warm – thank-you goes out to Karen Enos and B. B. Wright for braving the heat to keep score.
Out on the Water
For the Sailor Class this week it was Jim Opie who topped the leader board, earning three wins and three seconds for a score of 1.40. Dave Hogenson had some boat issues but managed to clinch the second spot with one win and a second at 2.60. Charlie Lincoln and Bill Malay were tied for third with one win each and a score of 3.00. With a score of 3.80, Bruce Wilhelm sailed to the fifth position.
Tim Wright cruised to first place in the Master Class, this time tallying a perfect score of 1.00. Rick Gates didn’t sail enough races last year to maintain his Master Class status, but this year he’s been a regular guest. Because he’s such a good sailor, we’ve listed him as a Master. His three second-place finishes proved that he’s a Master as he earned second place overall this week with a score of 3.20. Linwood Davis had a second-place finish of his own to earn the third place on our podium with a score of 3.40. Tying for fourth with scores of 4.80 were the commodore, Mark Whitehead, and Al Posnack.
US12 Sailing
To maintain safety for the US12 skippers, this week’s regatta was canceled because of extreme heat. The forecast was for temperatures near 100 degrees accompanied by a very high dew point – not safe no matter how much water is sipped.
Back Bay Sailing
The sailing season is well underway so 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.
Scores
2026-06-30 Soling Sailor Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Opie, Jim | 5/1 (100%) | 7 | 1.40 | 1 |
| Hogenson, Dave | 5/1 (100%) | 13 | 2.60 | 2 |
| Malay, Bill | 5/1 (100%) | 15 | 3.00 | 3 |
| Lincoln, Charlie | 5/0 (83%) | 15 | 3.00 | 3 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | 5/0 (83%) | 19 | 3.80 | 5 |
2026 Soling Sailor Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2025 | Diff |
| Butler, Jeanne | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | 6.12 | -6.12 |
| Corbett, Dave | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | 4.71 | -4.71 |
| Cundy, Don | Sailor | 20% | 1.00 | ||
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 80% | 1.50 | 2.17 | -0.67 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 60% | 1.67 | 3.12 | -1.46 |
| Lincoln, Charlie | Sailor | 40% | 2.50 | ||
| Malay, Bill | Sailor | 20% | 3.00 | ||
| Ware, Genie | Sailor | 40% | 3.50 | ||
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 60% | 4.00 | 3.33 | 0.67 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Sailor | 80% | 4.00 | ||
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailor | 20% | 4.00 | 5.00 | -1.00 |
2026-06-30 Soling Master Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 5/1 (100%) | 5 | 1.00 | 1 |
| Gates, Rick | 5/1 (100%) | 16 | 3.20 | 2 |
| Davis, Linwood | 5/1 (100%) | 17 | 3.40 | 3 |
| Posnack, Al | 5/0 (83%) | 24 | 4.80 | 4 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 5/1 (100%) | 24 | 4.80 | 4 |
| Monetta, Ted | 5/1 (100%) | 27 | 5.40 | 6 |
| Witzel, Jeff | 5/1 (100%) | 32 | 6.40 | 7 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 5/0 (83%) | 41 | 8.20 | 8 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | 5/1 (100%) | 41 | 8.20 | 8 |
| Gerber, Ken | 5/1 (100%) | 42 | 8.40 | 10 |
| Bennett, Kevin | 5/1 (100%) | 43 | 8.60 | 11 |
| Griggs, Doug | 5/1 (100%) | 43 | 8.60 | 11 |
2026 Season Soling Master Class Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2025 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Master | 100% | 1.00 | 1.07 | -0.07 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 40% | 3.50 | 7.58 | -4.08 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Master | 100% | 3.80 | 8.80 | -5.00 |
| Gates, Rick | Guest | 60% | 4.00 | 3.50 | 0.50 |
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 100% | 4.40 | 5.07 | -0.67 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 100% | 4.40 | 4.64 | -0.24 |
| Posnack, Al | Master | 100% | 4.80 | 5.38 | -0.58 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 100% | 6.80 | 4.67 | 2.13 |
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 40% | 7.00 | 7.55 | -0.55 |
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 80% | 9.00 | 7.40 | 1.60 |
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 60% | 9.67 | 7.21 | 2.45 |
| Griggs, Doug | Master | 100% | 9.80 | ||
| Bennett, Kevin | Master | 80% | 10.50 | ||
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 40% | 10.50 | 7.30 | 3.20 |
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 40% | 12.00 | 9.00 | 3.00 |
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]
- June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
- July, 2026 Model Yachting Day has been postponed until 2027.
- July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
- August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
- September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- 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:
- June 25, 2026 AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship
- 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