Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
A Day Without Our Socks Blown Off
We have proof — the wind at one point was actually the five miles per hour that was predicted. Of course, this is Back Bay so it varied from zero and up but not too much more than the five miles. No twelve races this week, only six.
The June 23 Soling regatta recorded a season high of twenty-one skippers. An increase in the number of Sailor Class skippers was welcomed for a more balanced fleet, the class posting nine skippers while count for the Master Class was twelve.
Solings on the Water
Leading the Sailor Class was Dave Hogenson with two wins, three second-place finishes, and a score of 1.60. Jim Opie also posted three seconds, giving him a score of 2.60. Bruce Wilhelm earned the third spot with four thirds and a score of 3.20. Just back from D.C., Clint Wolcott had a win in the fifth race, helping him to place fourth at 4.00, and John Barstow earned fifth at 5.40.
Tim Wright was at the head of the Master Class with four wins and a score of 1.20. Chuck Rudinsky had a strong showing with a win and three seconds for second place, his score at 2.20. One point behind was Al Posnack, taking third overall with a win of his own and a score of 3.20. Fourth went to Linwood Davis earning a score of 3.80, followed by Ted Monetta and Jeff Witzel tied for fifth with scores of 6.00.
AMYA Region 1 US12 Regatta Skippers – left to right – B.B. Wright, Tim Wright, Rick Laird, Bruce Wilhelm, Paul McBride, Chuck Rudinsky, Don McBride, John Simms, Jim Opie, Phil Tonks, and Steve Leker
2026 US12 Region 1 Championship
On Thursday, June 25, the US12 fleet hosted the AMYA 2026 US12 Region 1 Championship. Our thanks to Phil Tonks for getting this regatta off the ground and coming to sail with us. The temperature was quite warm, and with the sun shining down, it was quite hot when not in the shade. Special thanks to our scorekeeper, B.B. Wright, for enduring the heat to keep track of the fleet and maintain honesty at the start of each race. B.B. keeping us close to the start line enabled us to complete nine races in the light air. Our Soling scorekeeper, Karen Enos, stopped by to watch the regatta but didn’t have to do any work — she just enjoyed the afternoon.
The light winds were fickle, shifting over 135°. It made sailing a challenge, and the racing was very close. In fact, in the nine races, seven different people came in second. Tim Wright won the first race and never looked back. He was nosed out in Race 4 by Rick Laird but won the rest. Rick, who drove up from Boston, came in second. In addition to his win, Rick had two seconds and three thirds. In third place was Phil Tonks. He also had two second-place finishes as well as one third-place finish. In fourth place was John Simms with a second-place finish of his own. The next four places were separated by less than half a point. Steve Leker came in fifth sailing a borrowed boat. Right behind were Bruce Wilhelm in sixth, Don McBride in seventh, and Chuck Rudinsky in eighth. Paul McBride sailed to ninth place. Jim Opie had a frustrating day and decided to call it quits a little early, totally understandable, considering the winds.
The Back Bay Skippers would like to thank Phil Tonks for coming to sail with us. The conditions were frustrating but spirits were high. It was great to see ten US12s on the line for the first time in a number of years.
AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship Regatta Place Name Sail # Score 1 Tim Wright 438 1.00 2 Rick Laird 429 2.75 3 Phil Tonks 127 3.75 4 John Simms 101 4.17 5 Steve Leker 1257 5.13 6 Bruce Wilhelm 267 5.38 7 Don McBride 10 5.50 8 Chuck Rudinsky 412 5.57 9 Paul McBride 1790 8.14 10 Jim Opie 130 9.67
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
2026-06-23 Soling Sailor Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Hogenson, Dave | 5/1 (100%) | 8 | 1.60 | 2 |
| Opie, Jim | 5/1 (100%) | 13 | 2.60 | 3 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | 5/1 (100%) | 16 | 3.20 | 4 |
| Wolcott, Clint | 5/1 (100%) | 20 | 4.00 | 5 |
| Barstow, John | 5/1 (100%) | 27 | 5.40 | 6 |
| Ware, Genie | 4/0 (67%) | 22 | 5.50 | 7 |
| Corbett, Dave | 1/0 (17%) | 8 | 8.00 | 8 |
| Lincoln, Charlie | 3/0 (50%) | 25 | 8.33 | 9 |
| Malay, Bill | 3/0 (50%) |
2026 Season Soling Sailor Class 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 |
| Malay, Bill | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | ||
| Cundy, Don | Sailor | 25% | 1.00 | ||
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 75% | 1.67 | 2.17 | -0.50 |
| Lincoln, Charlie | Sailor | 25% | 2.00 | ||
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 50% | 2.50 | 3.12 | -0.62 |
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 75% | 4.00 | 3.33 | 0.67 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Sailor | 75% | 4.00 | ||
| Ware, Genie | Sailor | 50% | 4.50 | ||
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailor | 25% | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.00 |
2026-06-23 Soling Master Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 5/1 (100%) | 6 | 1.20 | 1 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | 5/1 (100%) | 11 | 2.20 | 2 |
| Posnack, Al | 5/1 (100%) | 16 | 3.20 | 3 |
| Davis, Linwood | 5/1 (100%) | 19 | 3.80 | 4 |
| Monetta, Ted | 5/1 (100%) | 30 | 6.00 | 5 |
| Witzel, Jeff | 5/0 (83%) | 30 | 6.00 | 5 |
| Gates, Rick | 5/1 (100%) | 32 | 6.40 | 7 |
| Griggs, Doug | 5/1 (100%) | 32 | 6.40 | 7 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 5/1 (100%) | 34 | 6.80 | 9 |
| Bennett, Kevin | 5/1 (100%) | 39 | 7.80 | 10 |
| Gerber, Ken | 4/0 (67%) | 33 | 8.25 | 11 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 4/0 (67%) | 44 | 11.00 | 12 |
2026 Season Soling Master Class Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2025 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Master | 100% | 1.00 | 1.07 | -0.07 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Master | 100% | 2.75 | 8.80 | -6.05 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 50% | 3.50 | 7.58 | -4.08 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 100% | 3.75 | 4.64 | -0.89 |
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 100% | 4.75 | 5.07 | -0.32 |
| Gates, Rick | Guest | 50% | 5.00 | 3.50 | 1.50 |
| Posnack, Al | Master | 100% | 5.00 | 5.38 | -0.38 |
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 50% | 7.00 | 7.55 | -0.55 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 100% | 7.00 | 4.67 | 2.33 |
| Griggs, Doug | Master | 100% | 9.50 | ||
| Bennett, Kevin | Master | 75% | 10.33 | ||
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 50% | 10.50 | 7.21 | 3.29 |
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 75% | 10.67 | 7.40 | 3.27 |
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 25% | 11.00 | 7.30 | 3.70 |
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 50% | 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