Written by Rick Parent, Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Editing and Proofreading Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by B. B. Wright, Paul McBride, Mark Whitehead, Al Posnack
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Layout by Ken Gerber
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
First Annual Rick Parent Squadron 57 Scholarship Award
Anthony Quinn and Rick Parent met with the final candidate, Kyle Blaisdell, to award the first annual Rick Parent Squadron 57 scholarship for this year’s NHBM Model Yacht Building Class. Working with Wolfeboro PD officer Eric Larochelle and Kingswood teachers, we were able to list five candidates who were painstakingly whittled down to the final two. The other candidate had a prior commitment and will be away during the week of our building class but will move to our top choice for next year if he keeps his grades up and continues to do well in the community.
Anthony and Rick met with Kyle and his parents to become better acquainted, Kyle unaware that he was chosen for the scholarship. He was given the remote control for the Wolfeboro Fire Department’s Soling to sail while Anthony mentored his father, Bob, with the Wolfeboro Police Department’s Soling. During the sailing session, Rick informed Kyle’s mother, Doreen, that her son had been awarded the scholarship.
Kyle works at Goodhue Hawkins, volunteers on Abenaki’s ski patrol, and hopes eventually to become a firefighter or enter an engineering field. He will be a great junior asset to the Back Bay Skippers fleet, having taken lessons at the Parks and Recreation NH Boat Museum sailing class. Perhaps at some point he might be interested in building one of the bigger boats with his father in a workshop offered by the NHBM during the summer.
Kyle’s father will attend the building class with his son, and Kyle in turn will attend the June 22 NHBM event at Pop Whalen with Rick Parent and will serve as one of the team members on the July 6 model yachting day. He also will be helping during any upcoming demo days. It is hoped that he will be able to mentor the recipient of the second annual award during the 2025 building class.
We Had Wind!
A regatta with consistent wind – certainly an unusual condition for the Back Bay Skippers! And thanks to that gift from Mother Nature, the fleet of nineteen skippers completed a full slate of twelve races for the May 28 Soling regatta. A few might have been intimidated by the strong gusts, but it was all smiles for any wind-lovers.
Another refurbished SanAntonio Vintage Marblehead hit the bay this week. Denis Boisvert did a masterful job at bringing the old girl back to life. The SanAntonio collection was donated to the New Hampshire Boat Museum last fall, and the Back Bay Skippers are gradually restoring the original glory of these ten boats
Solings Out on the Water
The Soling fleet was light on numbers for the Sailor Class this week, but those attending were very competitive. At the end of the day, it was Jim Opie who led the way, scoring nine firsts, two seconds, and a third. Jim’s tally goes in the record books as 1.10. Second place went to Bruce Wilhelm with three firsts, seven seconds, two thirds, and a score of 1.7. Only six tenths separated the two. Dave Corbett placed third with two seconds, two thirds, one fourth, and a score of 2.8. Al Stevens fought through boat issues to post one second and five fourths for a score of 3.6.
There were fifteen skippers in the Master Class, led by Tim Wright with six firsts, three seconds, and a score of 1.5. Giving Tim a run for his money, Jeff Witzel earned six firsts, one second, and a second-place score of 3.0. A very strong performance put Denis Boisvert in third place with two seconds, three thirds, and a score of 4.3. Al Posnack glided to fourth place with two seconds, two thirds, and a score of 4.7, and Steve Towne became the fifth-place finisher with one second and a score of 5.0.
Keen Competition for the US12s
The US12 fleet ignored the rainy forecast and ended up sailing in great conditions. It was cool and cloudy with a more consistent wind that came from the opposite direction, blowing in from the east. The seven sailors completed ten races, with a few interruptions for boat repairs or, in one case, a substitution. Three different courses were sailed while trying to get a good upwind leg. When that goal was achieved, the wind shifted. It was, after all, typical sailing on Back Bay.
Everyone had at least two top-three finishes in a row. The second-place and seventh-place boats were just over a point apart. The fleet had spirited racing, and a bit of rust came off our boats and our skills while we enjoyed the day
The camaraderie of the sailors and spirited conversations made the day very pleasant for everyone. Again, we thank the volunteers who pitch in to help make our day possible. Special thanks to our scorekeeper, B. B. Wright. We look forward to next week.
On the Water with the US12s
With nine wins, Tim Wright finished in first for the day. Don McBride, who finished in second, sailed his boat for four races until it had an equipment failure. He then sailed a “backup” boat for the last five races. Anthony Quinn came in third overall with one first, two seconds, and a third. In fourth was John Simms and right behind him in fifth was Bruce Wilhelm. Rick Gates bought a used US12 today, and sailed it to sixth place. In one stretch, he had three third-place finishes in a row. Jim Opie was starting to do well at the end of his day with a third, then a second-place finish. That’s when his hull met a rock and Jim had to call it a day. Had he kept it up, who knows how the scores would have changed.
Sailing on Back Bay
The 2024 season has begun, with radio-controlled model yachts 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.
Come join the fun! We love to share so give it a try
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:
- June 15, 2024 Saturday, Sasquatch Footy Regatta – Race Notice
- June 22, 2024 NHBM Booth at Summer Kick-Off, 11AM-3PM Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center
- July 6, 2024 Saturday, Model Yachting Day at Back Bay
- July 8-12, 2024 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
- July 13, 2024 NHBM Vintage Boat Auction
- September 8, 2024 Sunday, 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
Past Events:
- 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