Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright, B.B. Wright
Editing and Proofreading Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B.B. Wright, Diane Guerriere, Tim Wright, Mark Whitehead
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Layout by Ken Gerber
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Fall Wind Building
For the last few regattas the fall winds have increased — fun for some and terror for others. It can be intimidating, that’s for sure. Concentration is the name of the game, being ready for each gust is a must.
We did have enough skippers for an official regatta, but some came late and some were not interested in facing the hard wind, so not quite official. We started early and ended early from sheer exhaustion, having completed ten races with brute force and determination. There were a few mishaps along the way and one successful rescue with Steve Leker’s new rescue boat. The boat might look strange but it sure does the job — the best design so far.
This time of year, since the scores are just for bragging rights, if you finish you score. Throw-outs apply, but we do like to see fifty percent of the races completed by each participant. We had five from the Master Class and four from the Sailor Class, so we won’t separate the classes this week and list only the total regatta
For Bragging Rights
Absolutely unbelievable! Commodore Mark Whitehead won the day and needed treatment for shock. Taking five firsts, one second, and a third, he scored 2.0. Second place went to our race director, Al Posnack, who had two wins and two seconds for a score of 2.5. Denis Boisvert, sailing both his schooner and his Soling, had two wins, three second-place finishes plus a third for a day’s score of 2.8 that captured third spot. Ted Monetta came in fourth overall with his score of 3.2, one win, and a second. New skipper Kevin Bennett scored fifth at 4.0 with one second and two thirds, and Linwood Davis, the 2024 Sailor Class champion, was sixth at 4.2.
A Work Day on Wednesday, October 16
Tim and B. B. welcomed four more sailors intending to spend time working on their boats, either Solings or US12s. The group included Jeanne Butler, Ken Gerber, and Kevin Bennett. Bruce Wilhelm graced us with his presence for the third time – determined to use these opportunities to continue increasing his nautical skills. Jeff Witzel had intended to join us, but a last-minute dental appointment had to take precedence.
Each sailor came with various issues they wanted to address: lines and boom vangs to restring, electrical connections to improve, equipment to inspect and modify, plus vessels made to be more responsive, reliable and competitive on the water. Another focus was clarifying rules to make racing easier to understand. Advice on the subject was sought from Tim and one another.
Tim then used two house fans to talk about sail shape. It included taking full advantage of the wind by tuning the sails. That discussion then expanded to include wind direction and sailing strategies. Tim used his workbench, small boat models, and ‘wind arrows’ to illustrate various points.
Learning to watch for wind direction was key. Watching for changes in the wind’s velocity (dark water) became a focus of the discussion.
From there, adjusting points of sail, understanding race starts, and rounding marks were also specific discussions. Perceptive questions from the group showed their determined concentration to take in Tim’s many strategies. His willingness to share his knowledge and teach specifics stems from Tim’s many years of sailing, teaching, and his genuine passion for the sport.
It was a very productive day despite being far too cold to sail on the lake – next spring, for sure!
Tim and B. B. would like to thank those who took time from their busy lives to come and share boat-work time together. They too benefit from these shared sessions.
And…. we would like to offer more ‘work time’ this winter, so stay tuned
Sail What You Brought
Thursday, October 17, was a great day for sailing. With the early-winter cold weather dissipating, the late-fall muted leaf colors provided a beautiful backdrop for another sailing afternoon. Back Bay’s winds were normal for Back Bay — shifty, patchy, and frustrating as usual. Eight sailors brought a combination of seven Solings and two US12s. It’s a treat to sail different classes against each other — the more the merrier. For any Soling sailor, please feel free to come sail on Thursday. There are fewer people and it’s a great time to practice.
At this point in the season, it isn’t just about winning. It’s about taking the time to appreciate our sailing group and the good friendships that have been forged. With all of the verbal jesting and joking, I suspect some spectators were there as much for the fellowship as they were for the sailing competition.
On the course, we had some boat swapping going on, so you never really knew who you were sailing against. For each of us, some races were better than others. The results don’t matter in the same way at this non-official time. What does matter is that we are there with each other to enjoy the picturesque setting and the time together.
Feel free to come with your US12, Soling, or anything else next Thursday.
Scores
October 15 Soling Regatta
Mark Whitehead 2.0
Al Posnack 2.5
Denis Boisvert 2.8
Ted Monetta 3.2
Kevin Bennett 4.0
Linwood Davis 4.2
Tim Wright Two Races
Mark Bodenstab Four Races
Bob Strodel Three Races
Sailing on Back Bay
The 2024 season is winding down but still active, with radio-controlled model yachts 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. Dock-out is tentatively set for Thursday, October 31, weather permitting.
Come join the fun! We love to share, so give it a try.
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:
- October 31, 2024 Dock Out
- September, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
Past Events:
- September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
- July 8-12, 2024 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
- 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