Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Editing & Proofreading Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by B.B. Wright, Paul McBride, Mark Whitehead
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
A Week of Wind, Wind and More Wind
With sailing canceled on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday, May 18, was our only hope for getting on the water that week. Between the cold and the strong gusts at the start, not many people showed up, and fewer sailed.
Tim Wright arrived with a Soling and a US12, and he sailed them both intermittently. Mark Whitehead brought two boats — his Soling and an Osprey. The Osprey was hand-built and given to Mark by Bob White of Grantham, New Hampshire. Mark sailed it to see what adjustments, if any, needed to be made. The boat got a thumbs up so Mark has another project.
Also braving the weather was Bob Strodel with his new garage-sale find — a Soling Bob refinished, and it showed. The new boat had a successful maiden voyage. Bob will have some work over the weekend making a few more rigging updates.
Jim Opie unloaded his US12 and was one of the first willing to put his boat in the water with the gusting winds.
As the afternoon passed, so did the strong gusts, creating exceptional sailing during the final hour. Tim and Jim were the last two to sail, and when Tim’s US12 rudder stopped responding, Jim used his boat to catch up to the runaway, turn it around, and guide it back to shore. Unfortunately, there was no one to witness the solid rescue. Trust Tim when he claimed there was no dinghy action involved in those maritime maneuvers. Jim did a splendid job.
A good, no, a great time was had by all. Although there were no formal races, of course, we raced in spirit.
There was a lesson learned by those who came. It is that you can never tell about the weather, so sometimes it’s best to show up ready to sail. Until next week, fair winds.
On May 25, six US12 sailors and four boats pulled up to Back Bay for sailing. They were greeted with strong, gusty winds and gigantic wind shifts. The cool temperatures combining with the blasts of wind made it feel like a cold fall day. The four boats in the water had to work hard to finish races while staying under control. It was exciting, and the only damage was one blown-out sail.
We hope for better wind for the US12s as we enter the scored season next week. Get your boats ready to go!
Soling Fair Winds
The Solings had a decent day on May 23. This was the last preseason regatta before official scoring gets underway and the intensity that goes with it. Fourteen skippers did their final tuneup under sunny skies and a manageable breeze.
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
Sailing on Back Bay
The radio-controlled model yachts are 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.
Join the 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.
Because of so much interest in the sport, the Soling building class was doubled in size this year. Last year’s class filled almost immediately so we have tried to meet that demand. The class is open for registration now so sign up on the NH Boat Museum website. The class runs from July 10 through July 14
Model Yacht Building Workshop
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