Written by Mark Whitehead,Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
The Last Soling Regatta of the Season
We even had wind!!! It has been several weeks since Mother Nature provided a full afternoon of reasonably steady breeze, and it was certainly enjoyed by all. Eleven skippers launched for the October 21 regatta completing a season record of sixteen races. A good dose of sunshine greeted us so it made the day even more enjoyable.
The outer buoy is currently about twenty yards away from the course so Tim Wright called for a three-mark course and an upwind start. It was an interesting course that made the first mark a little tight at times.
Rumors before race day reported that there wasn’t much water off the dock, but the rain must have heightened the levels, alleviating problems for boat launch.
Mark Berne joined us for a test run of the recently donated #808 Soling. Mark hopes to sail with his seven-year-old son next season, and we look forward to his participation.
Out on the Course.
Tim Wright posted eleven wins for a final score of 1.50. Ted Monetta again had a strong showing with a score of 2.79 for second place, thanks to a win and three seconds. Anthony Quinn seems to like third place, scoring two seconds and two thirds for a final tally of 3.80. It should be noted that Jeff Witzel was only six one hundreds of a point behind with a score of 3.86. Jeanne Butler scored a fourth in Race #4, while Mark Whitehead and Steve Leker crossed the finish line first in Races #8 and #9 respectively.
Sailing on October 23
On this last Thursday of the season, four sailors were treated to ideal conditions. While the temperature was in the mid-50s, the sun felt warm. The wind was great for most of the time……. but we were sailing on Back Bay. The shifts were dramatic, and strength of the puffs was balanced by the baffling calms. Still, the inconsistency of the winds and its shiftiness made for some tremendous lead changes and dramatic finishes. Overall, it was a perfect day for sailing.
Bob Shapiro came up from Bow Lake and brought one of his RC Lasers, which he sailed with an A rig (big sail). John Simms brought his US12 and displayed his prowess and consistency. Anthony sailed Tim Wright’s Laser for one race then switched to his Soling. Tim Wright sailed his Soling for the first race then switched to his RC Laser with a B rig (smaller sail). The choice of the Laser’s rig can be an important decision. Too much sail, and the Laser will bury its bow and stop. Bob sailed well and avoided demonstrating how much it affects one’s position when stopping on a dime, and losing control!
Overall, boat 101 (US12) with John Simms at the helm finished with a score of 2.07. Boat 94 (Laser, B rig) ended at 2.21. No Bean Salad, Bob’s Laser (A rig) had a score of 2.43. Soling 58 finished with a score of 3.29. Each boat had a first-place finish, and each had a last place. The racing was very interesting to see how each boat did in each succeeding race, wind shifts making a huge difference. The last race was advertised for bragging rights for the six months till we sail again. It is only fitting that those bragging rights go to John Simms, who sailed well all day.
We want to thank B.B. Wright for keeping score all season long. She has been a stalwart supporter of our group and a great ambassador to all who stop to ask about our hobby. Thanks, too, to Diane Guerriere for assisting B.B. during the long season. Their dedication to the task of score-keeping made our season much more interesting and official. We all appreciate their hard work for the Back Bay Skippers.
We enjoyed a great season, and are sorry to see it end. Thanks to all who had a part in it.
Sailing on Back Bay
Sadly the sailing has ended and the dock will be put to bed on Tuesday, October 28. We look forward to seeing you at Back Bay in 2026. News will be posted monthly over the winter months so you can keep up with Back Bay Skipper activity.
October 21 Scores 1 Tim Wright 1.50 2 Ted Monetta 2.79 3 Anthony Quinn 3.80 4 Jeff Witzel 3.86 5 Steve Leker 4.46 6 Doug Griggs 4.89 7 Bob Pacini 5.00 8 Kevin Bennett 6.29 9 Jim Opie 6.50 10 Mark Whitehead 6.58 11 Jeanne Butler 8.40
Meet the Skippers
Paul McBride
– Behind the scenes a key player in the operations of the Back Bay Skippers and an invaluable resource for the group.
Paul McBride was born in Rochester, New Hampshire and lived there through his years at Spaulding High. Summer Sundays were always spent in Wolfeboro swimming, and sailing on Rust Pond. He graduated from MIT with a BS in Electrical Engineering (Computer Science). While there he sailed Tech Dinghies in the Charles River Basin and worked part-time at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory (Draper Labs), where the Apollo moon mission guidance computer software and parts were designed and built. Retired now, living partly on Rust Pond and in Waltham, Massachusetts, he has kept busy with the Back Bay Skippers since 2013, serving as treasurer; taking photos; publishing the news; and sailing Solings, US12s, Footys, and Lasers. He also serves as vice president of the Lakes Region Model Railroad Museum.
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: [2025 Schedule]
- October 28, 2025 Dock Out
- January – March 2026 Sailing Seminars via Zoom
Past Events:
- September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
- July 5, 2025 Model Yachting Day
- July 7-11, 2025 NHBM Model Yacht Building Workshop
- September 8, 2024 4th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH [More Photos]
- 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