Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright, Kathleen Whitehead
Editing and Proofreading Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by B. B. Wright, Paul McBride, Al Posnack
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
In Memoriam
The Back Bay Skippers Lose a Former Member
During Saturday sails on Lily Pond in Gilford many years ago, a friendship developed between our commodore and Ned Lakeman. It was Ned who made a sail for Mark’s inherited hull and later guided him through the sail-making process. Garage shelves in his West Ossipee home sagged with trophies. Ned admitted to being a triple winner of national championships with his schooner, but confessed that first place with Solings tended to elude him. His wife, Jackie, claimed even more trophies were on display in Florida, adding that several became ingredients in landfill stews. In the cellar, at least fifteen boats Ned had made were stored in Peacock Alley, named after the location for completed vessels at Herreshoff in Bristol, Rhode Island. On a long table were patterns, fabric, tools, and a sewing machine. Although he once catered to a steady clientele, sail production had dropped to personal use.
Historically, most participants in RC yacht racing clubs once sailed the big boys, and Ned certainly confirmed that notion.
Born and raised in Swampscott, Massachusetts, Ned began model sailing with his dad in Marblehead. After serving on a Navy sub during World War II, he followed a family tradition with GE, but two years as a draftsman was all he could tolerate. Becoming a Gloucester fisherman, he filled his lungs with salty air and felt the wind on his face while combing the Atlantic for herring and menhaden. When fishing seasons ended, he pounded nails. As proprietor of a fish market in Marblehead, he added bait to his inventory and purchased a delivery truck that could be transformed into a snowplow for winter depths.
There were eight years during the 1960s when Ned managed a family lumber and home-improvement business in Littleton, New Hampshire; however, Marblehead drew him back to the coast. Completing a stint at a metal-plating shop, he moved to Gloucester where he bought a 40-foot motorboat with his four sons to trap mackerel delivered to Boston by Jackie until increased volume demanded a switch to shipping.
As that volume increased, so did Ned’s fleet. He added a 50-foot dragger, invested in a 105-foot seine that he rigged to haul netting, and went on to buy a steel boat in Biloxi, Mississippi that could carry 200 tons of fish. The flotilla continued to grow when he succumbed to the purchase of a 144-foot bunker steamer with an 800,000-pound capacity. Moving to Maine, the family’s boats added up to the largest tonnage in Portland. Eventually, however, the business was laid on the shoulders of their two younger sons.
Snow becoming too heavy to shovel, Ned and Jackie sold their Ossipee home several years ago to live year-round in Port Charlotte, Florida, their son Jack nearby.
Edmund W. Lakeman was born June 24, 1925 and died in his sleep on January 14, 2024 just shy of his 99th birthday. He was predeceased by his wife and sons Larry and Fred, but is survived by sons John and Ned as well as seven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. A private service will be announced this summer.
Not Ready Yet
Mother Nature is not quite ready to let us install the dock and start sailing. April traditionally brings showers, but March barged in to share the spotlight. Its fluctuation from rain to snow to rain dampened any thoughts about sailing. Back Bay has been in the same situation with ice in and out, really confusing the ducks and geese.
Al Posnack tried to launch his boat in Gilford, but it bounced back when he threw it in.
Zoom Sessions
This month, Tim Wright presented a session for sailors on good and bad sailing techniques plus terms when sailing. It helps to know what the words mean since sailing has its own language. There were photos and videos highlighting sail shape and proper setup for racing as well as buoy roundings, starts, and intersecting fleets.
Tim’s goal is to get people involved and thinking about the topic by asking questions to promote understanding about the rules and intricacies of sailing and racing.
The April Zoom session will revolve around rules and tactics, which are closely intertwined. It takes an understanding of rules to use tactics in your favor. There will be photos and videos showing when things go as they should, and also when things go wrong. There is a lot of material ready to go. We hope to see you on April 9 at 7:00 PM.
The photos will be from B. B. Wright’s vast photo archives, and Steve Leker will host the Zoom meeting.
Punxsutawney Phil Has No Idea What the Weather Will Be
Since Phil has an accuracy record of only 30 percent, we Back Bay Skippers take it one day at a time. Our sailing will start before you know it, however. Look for us after the dock goes in. The Solings sail at 1 PM on Tuesdays and the US12s at 1 PM Thursdays. Come and enjoy the show or try your hand at sailing – we love to share.
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:
- April 30, 2024 Tuesday 9 AM, Dock-In (Rescheduled Due to High Water)
- May 1, 2024 Wednesday 1PM, Camp Brookwoods, Deer Run Lodge
- May 7, 2024 Tuesday 1PM, Soling Tune-Up Regatta
- May 9, 2024 Thursday 1PM, US12 Tune-Up Regatta
- June 15, 2024 Saturday, Sasquatch Footy Regatta
- 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 San Antonio Fleet Donation, SailFlow