Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B.B. Wright, Kevin Bennett, Mark Whitehead
Captions and Layout by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
A Bit of Bluster
The nineteen skippers had to stay on their toes as the winds built throughout the day for the September 8 regatta, ending with the eleventh race in knock-down winds. As predicted, however, we did have sunshine with temperatures in the low seventies.
There were teachers meetings that day in the school system so we had two of the younger members from this year’s building class. Leo Ferrucci sailed for the first time, giving his #99 a good workout and finishing four races — not an easy task considering the wind shifts. Austin Parent sailed in his last race before school starts. Because of his first win a couple of weeks ago, Austin was given a certificate.
from Commodore Mark Whitehead.
Boys Clockwise, Girls Counterclockwise.
Out on the Water
Every time Austin Parent sails he gets better and better. This week he outdid himself by taking the Sailor Class with four wins and two seconds. His final tally was an impressive 1.71. Not far behind, our season leader Jim Opie scored four wins and four seconds, leading to an overall score of 2.00. In third place was John Barstow with a win and four seconds for a score of 2.90. To keep it a family affair, Genie Ware sailed to a win, a second, and six thirds for fourth place at 3.00. Charlie Lincoln racked up a win to join the top five at 4.70.
The Master Class again was led by Tim Wright, but it sure was close. Tim had only three wins this week but scored 2.00, just ahead of Jeff Witzel who had four wins and scored 2.70. Tim’s six second-place finishes helped him clinch that first-place spot. Chuck Rudinsky had a win of his own for third at 4.00, and Bob Pacini’s win and one second helped boost him to fourth place overall with a score of 5.20. Only a tenth of a point behind was Ted Monetta with two wins and a score of 5.30 to round out the top five.
Of note, Denis Boisvert forgot his sails and used borrowed sails that never seemed to give him his usual higher placement.
for the Region 1 RC Laser Championship on Sunday.
US12 Sailing
On Thursday, September 10, the US12 fleet was faced with a dilemma: too much wind. Because the forecasted wind gusts were expected to reach 30 mph, the scored racing was canceled. Still, five sailors showed up to see if there was any good sailing to be had. The wind was as strong as promised.
Calling off the racing was a good decision. With frequent prolonged gusts around 25 mph on Back Bay, white caps crowded the water. The strength of the wind put boats and their captains to the test, especially the three US12 boats.
Bob Strodel’s boat lost three shrouds and had to retire for the day. However, when his boat got pulled out, he noticed that a lot of Back Bay had entered his bilge uninvited. Losing the shrouds was a blessing in disguise as the servos will live on to be used another day.
Kevin Bennett discovered his sail winch wasn’t strong enough to pull in his sails so he pulled his boat out soon after launching. The third US12 owned by Charley Lincoln never got in the water. It suffered two rigging failures before even getting wet. Amazingly, no crash boat was needed!
Ted Monetta showed up with his Soling but without his hatch cover. A little postage tape and he sailed most of the afternoon with only minimal water intrusion. Tim Wright sailed his RC Laser with a C rig. Even with the smaller rig, when sailing downwind the boat spent much time with its bow underwater.
The call to cancel the racing was the correct one, but the five sailors who showed up enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere and the more challenging conditions. In two weeks, scored sailing for both fleets will end.
Enduro: September 29th, One Meter and Under
The Enduro races, new to Back Bay Skippers, are scheduled for two days the week following the end of scoring. An enduro race is one long, nonstop race with the number of laps completed used as the criteria for assessment. Scoring will be done by class, each class requiring at least two boats to form a competitive class.
On Tuesday, September 29, the Solings will be one of the classes raced. Any other boat under one meter can sail, for example a DF 95 or a Footy.
Enduro: October 1st, Over One Meter
On Thursday, October 1, the US12 class will race as well as any boat over one meter. Any larger boat can compete in that enduro. Bring out the Marbleheads, the Santa Barbaras, and any stray J class boat lying around. It should be a fun afternoon with lots of sailing and no down time. Just keep in mind that two boats of a certain class are required for scores to count.
Back Bay Sailing
As the sailing season approaches the end of September, we 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.
Scores
2026-09-08 Sailor Class Soling Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Parent, Austin | 7/1 (70%) | 12 | 1.71 | 1 |
| Opie, Jim | 10/1 (100%) | 20 | 2.00 | 2 |
| Barstow, John | 10/1 (100%) | 29 | 2.90 | 3 |
| Ware, Genie | 10/1 (100%) | 30 | 3.00 | 4 |
| Lincoln, Charlie | 10/1 (100%) | 47 | 4.70 | 5 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | 10/1 (100%) | 48 | 4.80 | 6 |
| Currier, Dick | 10/1 (100%) | 65 | 6.50 | 7 |
| Ferrucci, Leo | 4/0 (36%) | 26 | 6.50 | 7 |
2026 Sailor Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2025 | Diff |
| Butler, Jeanne | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | 5.50 | -5.50 |
| Claire, Henry | Guest | 0% | 0.00 | ||
| Corbett, Dave | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | 4.29 | -4.29 |
| Ferrucci, Leo | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | ||
| York, Micheal | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | ||
| Cundy, Don | Sailor | 23% | 1.00 | ||
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 38% | 1.40 | 2.17 | -0.77 |
| Wadsworth, Gaius | Guest | 8% | 2.00 | ||
| Parent, Austin | Sailor | 23% | 2.33 | ||
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 62% | 3.00 | 2.88 | 0.12 |
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 69% | 3.11 | 3.33 | -0.22 |
| Ware, Genie | Sailor | 62% | 3.38 | ||
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Sailor | 77% | 3.50 | ||
| Malay, Bill | Sailor | 38% | 3.80 | ||
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailor | 31% | 4.00 | 4.50 | -0.50 |
| Lincoln, Charlie | Sailor | 69% | 5.00 | ||
| Hathaway, Jeff | Sailor | 8% | 6.00 | ||
| Currier, Dick | Sailor | 15% | 7.50 | 5.50 | 2.00 |
2026-09-08 Master Class Soling Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 10/1 (100%) | 20 | 2.00 | 1 |
| Witzel, Jeff | 10/1 (100%) | 27 | 2.70 | 2 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | 10/1 (100%) | 40 | 4.00 | 3 |
| Pacini, Bob | 10/1 (100%) | 52 | 5.20 | 4 |
| Monetta, Ted | 10/1 (100%) | 53 | 5.30 | 5 |
| Barstow, Tom | 9/1 (90%) | 54 | 6.00 | 6 |
| Griggs, Doug | 10/1 (100%) | 61 | 6.10 | 7 |
| Posnack, Al | 10/1 (100%) | 61 | 6.10 | 7 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 10/1 (100%) | 66 | 6.60 | 9 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 7/1 (70%) | 52 | 7.43 | 10 |
| Boisvert, Denis | 10/1 (100%) | 84 | 8.40 | 11 |
2026 Master Class Soling Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2025 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Master | 85% | 1.00 | 1.07 | -0.07 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 77% | 3.40 | 4.64 | -1.24 |
| Gates, Rick | Guest | 31% | 3.75 | 3.50 | 0.25 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Master | 85% | 3.82 | 8.80 | -4.98 |
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 54% | 4.00 | 5.07 | -1.07 |
| Posnack, Al | Master | 92% | 4.58 | 5.38 | -0.80 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 100% | 5.46 | 4.67 | 0.79 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 62% | 6.38 | 7.58 | -1.21 |
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 54% | 7.00 | 7.30 | -0.30 |
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 54% | 7.29 | 7.55 | -0.26 |
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 62% | 7.50 | 9.00 | -1.50 |
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 69% | 7.89 | 7.21 | 0.67 |
| Griggs, Doug | Master | 85% | 8.64 | ||
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 77% | 9.10 | 7.40 | 1.70 |
| Bennett, Kevin | Master | 31% | 10.50 |
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]
- June – October 2026 1-3PM Tuesdays Solings, Thursdays US12s, Wednesday – Alternate Rain Day
- September 13, 2026 6th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- 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:
- 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 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