Model Yachting News • Week Ending May 9, 2026

Posted on by Paul McBride

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

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Boatbuilding Prep

Prior to this week’s sailing, several of the Back Bay Skippers helped raise tents for the 2026 boatbuilding projects. This year, the tents went up early because of the May construction of a World War II storm boat.

Those Back Bay Skippers who participated with the tent crew were Ted Monetta, Bill Malay, Chuck Rudinsky, Tim Wright, and Doug Griggs. Thank you, Back Bay Skippers. You’re a great bunch of guys!

The boatbuilding tents went up early this year.
The First Boatbuilding Project for the Year
Starters, Scorekeepers, and Skippers

A Blustery Day

Meteorologists predicted 17-mph winds for May 5. Because we had no anemometer, the commodore doesn’t know if they reached those heights, but gusts certainly were strong. Tuesday’s regatta posted fourteen skippers, but only nine actually challenged the wind on Back Bay. Ten exciting races were completed as several boats were seen sailing nose down due to the air currents.

Don Cundy takes a look at Anthony Quinn's rigging.
Tim Wright 58
Chuck Rudinsky 545
Jeff Witzel 820

At the pinnacle of this week’s top three skippers was Tim Wright with an average score of 1.0. Chuck Rudinsky seemed to take the gusts in stride scoring 2.3 for an impressive second, followed closely by Jeff Witzel at 2.9.

A Beautiful Start for Solings
Maneuvering Prior to the Start
Solings and a Schooner
Solings on the Way to the Mark
Denis Boisvert and the V36 from the San Antonio Collection

It should be mentioned that Denis Boisvert brought his schooner that just loves the heavy winds. He led the way in several races. Unfortunately, the schooner wasn’t included in the Soling scores. Before sailing, Denis gave a V36-class vessel from the San Antonio collection a good workout to fine-tune the boat.

Denis Boivert's Schooner
Denis Boivert's Schooner vs. Mark Whitehead's Soling
May 5, 2026 Soling Scores
1. Tim Wright         1.0
2. Chuck Rudinsky     2.3
3. Jeff Witzel        2.9
4. Linwood Davis      3.5
5. Ted Monetta        4.0
6. Mark Whitehead     4.3
7. Bruce Wilhelm      5.8
Not Scored
8. Denis Boisvert
9. Anthony Quinn
10. Charlie Lincoln
11. Bill Malay
12. Steve Towne
13. Bob Pacini
14. Al Posnack

US12 Sailing

Sailing on Thursday, May 7, was more about testing the rigging and seaworthiness than it was about competition. It was a chilly day in the mid-50s with a strong and variable wind.

Six boats sailed, with Bill Malay, Anthony Quinn, John Simms, and Tim Wright sailing US12s and Kevin Bennett launching his Soling. Tim also tested his newly designed and 3D-printed Footy, which sailed very well upwind and down. No leaks either!

Kevin Bennett's Soling beat the US12s.
Anthony Quinn, Kevin Bennett, John Simms, and Bill Malay
The Maiden Voyage of Bill Malay's US12
At the Start Bell
US12s and a Soling start a race.
John Simms 101, Kevin Bennett 887, and Tim Wright 400
Tuning up Boats at the Dock

The breeze was gusty throughout, and it changed directions dramatically. The strongest gusts made tacking almost impossible. Downwind sailing also was a challenge with many nosedives and wipeouts. Rigging was put to the test, and just being out in the strong winds was demanding. Four races were completed, and there were never more than three finishers. B. B. Wright scored the boats in the very informal racing. It also should be reported that Kevin Bennett beat two US12s by a large margin with his Soling in one of the races.

Tim Wright 400 and John Simms 101
John Simms 101

All of the sailors were glad to have been tested by the winds, and they came away with better knowledge of their boats’ abilities in those conditions. With attrition taking boats out of competition, the racing came to its natural conclusion.

We look forward to next Thursday and more exciting sailing.

Tim Wright's New Footy
Wide Body
Dual Rudders
Join the fun.

Back Bay Sailing

Now that the sailing season is underway, 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.

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

Trophy Room

Skippers Memorial

Soling 1M Building Manual

Skippers Knowledge Base

Videos and Photos

Previous Highlights

Score Sheets

US12, Soling Masters, Soling Sailors

Upcoming Events: [2026 Schedule]

  • May 26, 2026 Model Yachting Fair at Camp Brookwoods
  • May 28, 2026 US12 Season Starts. Thursday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
  • June 2, 2026 Soling Season Starts. Tuesday Regattas 1PM to 3PM
  • July 6-10, 2026 Soling Building Workshop
  • August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
  • 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:

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

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