Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Kathleen Whitehead, Mark Whitehead
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
National Champion
We were joined this week by one of the top Soling sailors in the nation. Our guest was Don Ouimette — a national champion, past District 1 director, and past vice president of the American Model Yachting Association.
Official Scoring
For the last officially scored Soling regatta on September 9, it was one of those glorious days with comfortable temperatures and sunshine. The wind, however, was a bit capricious, varying from zip to about six mph. Nonetheless, it was one of those fun days for the eighteen skippers in attendance. Despite fickle wind, the Soling fleet did manage to complete eight races, giving everyone a much-needed throw-out for the day.
Solings Out on the Course
There were six skippers in the Sailor Class this week, led by Doug Griggs posting four wins, one second, and a third. Doug’s final tally was 1.86. Mark Bodenstab earned the second spot with his three wins and two thirds, scoring 2.57. Kevin Bennett sailed to third place earning three seconds, three thirds, and a score of 2.86.
Our guest Don Ouimette led the Master Class with six wins, a second, and a third, scoring 1.14. In a strong second, Back Bay Skippers’ Tim Wright had two wins, four seconds, and two thirds for a 1.86. Third went to Linwood Davis with a score of 3.50.
Delayed from June
On Wednesday, September 10, the annual Sasquatch Footy Regatta was held. Early fog lifted to reveal sun in a blue sky, welcoming three skippers from the Massachusetts Minuteman and five Back Bay Skippers. The winds were light at first, delaying the start by thirty minutes, but they grew stronger and remained throughout the day. The final race tally was twelve; however, we had heavy attrition with four of the skippers withdrawing before the final races. The little twelve-inch boats are very finicky as well as a real challenge to sail.
Order of Finish: 1 Steve Leker Back Bay Skippers 16 points 2 Herb Dreher Minuteman 17 points 3 Jack Berglund Minuteman 28 points 4 Mark Whitehead Back Bay Skippers 35 points 5 Steve Doherty Minuteman 57 points 6 Rick Gates Back Bay Skippers 71 points 7 Paul McBride Back Bay Skippers 80 points 8 Jim Opie Back Bay Skippers 91 points
US12 Sailing
On 9/11, the season’s final afternoon of officially scored US12 racing, the weather saved its best for last. The five US12 racers were treated to a beautiful day, with warm temperatures and good winds for most of the afternoon. With guest scorekeeper Karen Enos, they managed to complete thirteen races.
The sailors would like to thank the season-long efforts of the scorekeepers. They work hard to keep things moving along while sighting starting lines and recording finishes. They volunteer their time, but it is also a commitment. If they can’t be there, they have to find substitutes. None of the sailors have to do that. So, thanks to B. B. Wright, Karen Enos, and Diane Guerriere for all of your efforts to keep our sailing days recorded accurately and fairly. Thank you! We don’t say it often enough.
On the course, Lin Davis took top honors in a tightly contested race. With seven wins in thirteen races, he ended up with a 1.64 average. Right behind in second place was Rick Laird with a 1.82 average. Rick had two wins and five second-place finishes. In third place, John Simms had a win, four seconds, and a 2.73 average. Anthony Quinn ended up in fourth place with a 3.40 average. He had a win and one second-place finish. In fifth, Bob Strodel had two second-place finishes and a 3.75 average. The racing was spirited and close all afternoon.
Get ready for open sailing next Thursday. Bring any boat you have and enjoy an afternoon of friendly learning and competition.
"Are you sure the one in front does all the paddling?"
Sailing on Back Bay
Join us for Model Yacht sailing 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.
It’s fun! We love to share so don’t be shy about asking to try your hand at the controls. Come watch the show or take a picture. It’s a sight to behold.
Scores
2025-09-09 Sailor Class Soling Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Griggs, Doug | 7/1 (100%) | 13 | 1.86 | 1 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | 7/1 (100%) | 18 | 2.57 | 2 |
| Bennett, Kevin | 7/1 (100%) | 20 | 2.86 | 3 |
| Wolcott, Clint | 7/1 (100%) | 22 | 3.14 | 4 |
| Opie, Jim | 6/1 (86%) | 20 | 3.33 | 5 |
| Butler, Jeanne | 5/0 (62%) | 24 | 4.80 | 6 |
2025 Sailor Class Soling Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Cain, Bryer | Sailor | 0% | 0.00 | ||
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 12% | 2.00 | ||
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 38% | 2.17 | 2.25 | -0.08 |
| Bennett, Kevin | Sailor | 81% | 2.46 | 6.67 | -4.21 |
| Griggs, Doug | Sailor | 62% | 2.70 | ||
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 44% | 2.86 | 2.67 | 0.19 |
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 50% | 3.12 | 3.78 | -0.65 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | Sailor | 38% | 3.67 | 5.38 | -1.71 |
| Corbett, Dave | Sailor | 19% | 4.33 | 5.36 | -1.03 |
| Clare, Henry | Sailor | 6% | 5.00 | 10.50 | -5.50 |
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailior | 25% | 5.00 | 3.80 | 1.20 |
| Butler, Jeanne | Sailor | 31% | 6.00 | 10.33 | -4.33 |
| Currier, Dick | Sailor | 12% | 6.00 | 8.14 | -2.14 |
| Curran | Sailor | 12% | 6.00 | 6.00 | 0.00 |
2025-09-09 Master Class Soling Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Ouimette, Don | 7/1 (100%) | 8 | 1.14 | 1 |
| Wright, Tim | 7/1 (100%) | 13 | 1.86 | 2 |
| Davis, Linwood | 6/1 (86%) | 21 | 3.50 | 3 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 5/0 (62%) | 27 | 5.40 | 4 |
| Boisvert, Denis | 7/1 (100%) | 38 | 5.43 | 5 |
| Posnack, Al | 7/1 (100%) | 41 | 5.86 | 6 |
| Leker, Steve | 7/1 (100%) | 43 | 6.14 | 7 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | 7/1 (100%) | 44 | 6.29 | 8 |
| Witzel, Jeff | 7/1 (100%) | 50 | 7.14 | 9 |
| Malay, Bill | 7/1 (100%) | 54 | 7.71 | 10 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 7/1 (100%) | 59 | 8.43 | 11 |
| Ware, Genie | 7/1 (100%) | 66 | 9.43 | 12 |
2025 Master Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Ouimette, Don | Guest | 6% | 1.00 | ||
| Wright, Tim | Master | 88% | 1.07 | 1.08 | -0.01 |
| Germon, Howard | Master | 6% | 2.00 | ||
| Gates, Rick | Master | 12% | 3.50 | 8.38 | -4.88 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 69% | 4.64 | 2.83 | 1.80 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 94% | 4.67 | 6.43 | -1.76 |
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 88% | 5.07 | ||
| Posnack, Al | Master | 81% | 5.38 | 5.18 | 0.20 |
| Jousse, Alain | Master | 6% | 6.00 | ||
| Cundy, Don | Master | 19% | 6.67 | 3.38 | 3.29 |
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 69% | 7.09 | 8.83 | -1.74 |
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 56% | 7.22 | 9.00 | -1.78 |
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 88% | 7.43 | 6.69 | 0.74 |
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 69% | 7.55 | 6.25 | 1.30 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 75% | 7.58 | 5.90 | 1.68 |
| Leker, Steve | Master | 56% | 8.22 | 7.62 | 0.60 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Master | 31% | 8.80 | ||
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 81% | 9.00 | 8.00 | 1.00 |
| Lalley, Rick | Master | 6% | 10.00 | ||
| Malay, Bill | Master | 56% | 10.22 | 10.00 | 0.22 |
| Laird, Richard | Master | 19% | 10.67 | ||
| Ware, Genie | Master | 62% | 11.00 | ||
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Master | 69% | 11.18 |
2025-09-11 US12 Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Davis, Lin | 11/2 (100%) | 18 | 1.64 | 1 |
| Laird, Rick | 11/2 (100%) | 20 | 1.82 | 2 |
| Simms, John | 11/2 (100%) | 30 | 2.73 | 3 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 10/1 (83%) | 34 | 3.40 | 4 |
| Strodel, Robert | 8/1 (67%) | 30 | 3.75 | 5 |
2025 US12 Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Sailor | 92% | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.00 |
Chalder, Glenn | 8% | 2.00 | |||
| Davis, Lin | 67% | 2.00 | 4.00 | -2.00 | |
| Simms, John | Sailor | 100% | 3.08 | 2.57 | 0.51 |
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 17% | 3.50 | 4.43 | -0.93 |
Quinn, Anthony | 67% | 3.75 | 5.23 | -1.48 | |
| Laird, Rick | Sailor | 42% | 3.80 | 3.40 | 0.40 |
Gates, Rick | 17% | 4.00 | 3.93 | 0.07 | |
| Brennan, Bob | Sailor | 17% | 4.50 | 5.80 | -1.30 |
| Strodel, Robert | Sailor | 42% | 4.60 | 7.00 | -2.40 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Sailor | 67% | 5.38 | 6.56 | -1.18 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 42% | 6.00 | 6.40 | -0.40 |
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]
- April 29 – October 28 , 2025 Regattas 1PM-3PM Tuesday Solings, Thursdays US12s
- October 28, 2025 Dock Out
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