Model Yachting News • Week Ending May 24, 2025

Posted on by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Editing & Proofreading Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B.B. Wright
Layout & Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

On Display
Just a small part of the Back Bay Skippers collection is now on display at the New Hampshire Boat Museum in Moultonborough. The vast collection of memorabilia and boats of all sizes in their newly created and impressive settings is well worth a visit.

Model Sailboat Fleet at NHBM, Moultonborough
One Big Beautiful Start for Solings

It Sure Snuck Up on Us
Suddenly the new season crossed the starting line. Tuesday, May 20, was the first scored Soling regatta of the season, even though it felt like fall. The temperature pretty much stayed in the mid-fifties with an 8- to 10-mph NNW wind to keep us moving. Sixteen skippers attended, eleven from the Master Class and five from the Sailor Class. A few gusts up around 15 mph kept everyone on their toes for the nine races.

The Master Class heads for the first mark.
Solings at the First Mark
Solings at the Second Mark
Steve Leker's Rescue Boat in Action
Sailor Class at the Start
Skippers and Scorekeepers
Chuck Rudinsky 301

Solings Out on the Water
Our dedicated statistician, Wes Matchett, has been very busy with Saturday’s Brewster Academy graduation, so we certainly understand his delay with this week’s scores.

Judging by the score sheet, however, Tim Wright took top honors in the Master Class with five first-place finishes. Jeff Witzel was consistently near the top of the leader board with one win, two seconds, and a third to take second overall. Steve Leker also had a win plus three seconds, and a third, sailing to third place in his class.

Chuck Rudinsky was top dog in the Sailor Class, followed closely by Kevin Bennett in second and Mark Bodenstab in third.

Wes Matchett, Scoring Aficionado Extraordinaire
Tim Wright 58
Jeff Witzel 820
Steve Leker 41
A Visiting Fleet of Canada Geese
A Perfect Start - Oops, Wrong Side of the Mark, Anthony

The Prediction Was Cold, Rainy, and Blustery
With a spring nor’easter, the US12 regatta for Thursday, May 22, was blown to Wednesday, May 21. Only three racers and our dependable scorekeeper, B. B. Wright, showed up. Coincidentally, it was the same three sailors who showed up last week. John Simms, Anthony Quinn, and Tim Wright came to sail this week and had a good time together, once again.

The US12s dealt with gusty and shifting winds, the boats being at their limits occasionally but the sailors managing to complete many races. They even traded boats in a “round-robin” format, when everyone sailed each of the three boats. Anthony had a good day, coming from way back to win the last race. John Simms started slowly but made some tweaks to his sails and rigging, getting into a groove and doing better as the day went along. Tim sailed well and enjoyed the chance to captain the other boats. No scores were kept since we all were winners for being there.

US12s at the Start
Sailing with the Wind

We were sorry to have missed the other sailors, but, in truth, it wasn’t a very spring-like day. It was more like late fall when we have to bundle up. Unfortunately the US12s did not meet the criteria for an official regatta, but hopefully the weather will improve for next week.

After a great tuning session, we left early to find a warm place and a warm drink. See you next week!

The Intrepid Skippers: Tim Wright, John Simms, Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn's Boat
Tim Wright's Boat 438
John Simms' boat makes a gusty rounding of the fourth mark.

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.

Join the fun!

Quiz and Game Fun Page - Updated 11/4/2022​

Trophy Room

Skippers Memorial

Soling 1M Building Manual

Videos and Photos

Previous Highlights

Score Sheets

US12, Soling Masters, Soling Sailors

Upcoming Events: [2025 Schedule]

  • April 29 – October 28 , 2025 Regattas 1PM-3PM Tuesday Solings, Thursdays US12s
  • May 28, 2025 Model Yachting Fair and 2024 Awards Presentation
  • June 14, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
  • July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
  • July 7-11, 2025 Model Yacht Building
  • 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:

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

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NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM – UP TO CAMP TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM – UP TO CAMP TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW