Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B.B. Wright, Mark Whitehead, Kathleen Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
It’s a Party!
To celebrate the end of the scored season, many skippers and their companions gathered at Mark and Kathleen Whitehead’s home. Lively conversation and hearty laughter filled the air as everyone selected pieces of pizza and scoops of salad, and decided which of many dessert bars to nibble.
Ken Gerber
Eventually the bell was rung to announce that it was time for Kathleen to annoy them with her game. To test their ability to determine capital cities from clues and locate it in the proper state, ten guests were selected to participate. Skip Koehler reigned supreme and had first choice of many prizes. All participants then chose a prize in order of how they placed in the contest.
It then was time for the commodore to honor skippers for their sailing achievements. Season champions, the most improved skipper, the person earning the sunken-ship award, and volunteer of the year were announced.
Sailor Class Champion John Barstow
Master Class Champion Tim Wright
US12 Champion Tim Wright
Second-Place Winners
Sailor Class Jim Opie
Master Class Jeff Witzel
US12 Class John Simms
Third-Place Winners
Sailor Class Bruce Wilhelm
Master Class Chuck Rudinsky
US12 Class Chuck Rudinsky
Most Improved Skipper Chuck Rudinsky
Sunken-Ship Award Bob Pacini and Charlie Lincoln,
who actually sank their boats!
Volunteer of the Year Award Anthony Quinn, our sail maker
with Commodore Mark Whitehead
Soling Enduro
What’s that, you ask? Basically it’s a nonstop regatta — no breaks and no stops, just continuous sailing from 1 PM to 3 PM. The scores are tallied by lap counts not by individual races.
At 1 PM September 29, eighteen skippers crossed the starting line for the Back Bay Skippers’ first enduro ever. Utilizing a six-buoy course, it added an extra dimension to the day.
Of course, it was Tim Wright who led the way with a lucky thirteen laps, but hot on his stern was Chuck Rudinsky, also completing thirteen laps. Our AMYA regional director, Glenn Chalder, was only one lap behind with twelve. Don Cundy and Linwood Davis sailed twelve laps as well but crossed the finish line behind Glenn.
AMYA Region 1 Director
Left to Right Back row – B.B. Wright, Dick Currier, Ted Monetta, Bill Malay, John Barstow, Don McBride, Charlie Lincoln,
Jim Opie, Denis Boisvert, Anthony Quinn, Tim Wright, Mark Whitehead, Don Cundy, Linwood Davis, Karen Enos
Front Row – Jeff Witzel, Chuck Rudinsky
US12 Enduro on October 1
The competition was a two-hour-long race to see who could complete the most laps. The day was delightful, with warm temperatures and a bright sun. The winds were more reminiscent of the light winds we had for the Soling enduro, but the competition was fierce, and phantom winds boosted people while dead spots allowed people to be passed. B. B. Wright scored her first enduro while answering spectators’ questions. Thanks to her focus and concentration, however, she produced the results.
Don Cundy started strong and led for a while by two legs. Tim Wright started a long chase from astern, eventually catching and passing Don, who came in second in the inaugural enduro race with twelve laps. Tim managed to finish fourteen laps. Right behind Don and also with twelve laps were John Simms and Lin Davis. Bill Malay came in fifth with Bob Strodel right behind in sixth. Completing eleven laps, Charlie Lincoln was seventh, and visitor Bob Shapiro, sailing a borrowed boat, came in eighth. Kevin Bennett finished in ninth place with ten laps.
As we look back on the enduro, there was a lot of talk about the difference in sailing a two-hour race rather than twelve races in two hours. The fleet was much more spread out, and people were able to concentrate on their boats and the conditions they were encountering. It felt different to the sailors, with fewer rules issues and more sailing.
Next week starts open sailing for the US12 fleet. Bring whatever boat you would like to sail. We look forward to a varied fleet.
US12 Skippers Left to Right – Back Row B.B. Wright, Linwood Davis, Bob Strodel, Bob Shapiro,
John Simms, Don Cundy, Bill Malay
Front Row – Val Soucy, Rick Parent, Tim Wright, and Charlie Lincoln
Back Bay Sailing
We continue to invite you to join us on Tuesday or Thursday at 1 PM, weather permitting. 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. Next week marks the beginning of unofficial scoring when results don’t count toward season standings.
Scores
Soling Enduro Scores
1) Tim Wright – 13 laps
2) Chuck Rudinsky – 13 laps
3) Glenn Chalder – 12 laps
4) Don Cundy – 12 laps
5) Lin Davis – 12 laps
6) Ted Monetta – 11 laps
7) Mark Whitehead – 11 laps
8) Ken Gerber – 11 laps
9) Jeff Witzel – 11 laps
10) Jim Opie – 11 laps
11) Denis Boisvert – 10 laps
12) Bill Malay – 10 laps
13) Charlie Lincoln 10 laps
14) Don McBride – 9 laps
15) John Barstow – 9 laps
16) Dick Currier – 9 laps
17) Anthony Quinn – 9 laps
18) Tom Barstow – 4 Laps
US12 Enduro Scoring
1) Tim Wright – 14 laps
2) Don Cundy – 12 laps
3) John Simms – 12 laps
4) Lin Davis – 12 laps
5) Bill Malay – 12 laps
6) Bob Strodel – 12 laps
7) Charlie Lincoln – 11 laps
8) Bob Shapiro – 11 laps
9) Kevin Bennett – 10 laps
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: [2026 Schedule]
- October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesdays Rain Date
- November 3, 2026 Dock Out
Past Events:
- October 1, 2026 US12 Enduro, One Two-Hour Race, Boats Over One Meter in Length
- September 29, 2026 Soling Enduro, One Two-Hour Race, Boats One Meter and Under in Length
- September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- August 15, 2026 Sasquatch Footy Regatta
- June 25, 2026 AMYA US12 Region 1 Championship
- 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 Chronicl
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