Model Yachting News • Week Ending September 20, 2025

Posted on by Paul McBride

Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead 
Layout & Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Bow Lake Laser Regatta

On Sunday, September 14, twelve Laser Class skippers gathered on Bow Lake for the annual AMYA Region 1 championship regatta. In attendance representing the New Hampshire Boat Museum Back Bay Skippers were Tim Wright and Paul McBride. B. B. Wright assisted with scoring duties.

Glenn Chalder, AMYA Region 1 Director, brought the banner to make it official.
The start and finish line was off the end of the dock, and we sailed form the dock, boats, and deck behind the dock.
Sailing was not always this orderly.
Tim Wright and Bob Shapiro, Host for the Event

For the fourth time, Tim Wright won top honors, scoring eight firsts and a net total of eleven points. Paul McBride sailed to tenth place with one fourth and a net score of ninety-four points.


Region 1 Laser Championship Regatta Scores
  Place      Name                   Score
    1        Tim Wright               11
    2        Michael Hoydis           24
    3        Glenn Chalder            28
    4        Bob Shapiro              43
    5        Bill Shaw                46
    6        Jacques Rioux            55
    7        Tim Stone                57
    8        Nate Hendrickson         75
    9        Russell Franklin         79
   10        Paul McBride             94
   11        Fred Skeels              94
   12        Mike Baker              123
The top five received flags.
Tim Wright gets his US12 and Solings ready to sail.

A Small Soling Fleet

We don’t know whether it was the light wind prediction or just too many things going on, but there were only twelve skippers who launched this week. The weather was absolutely spectacular, with sunshine and a temperature just below eighty degrees. The winds have been out of the north the last few days, creating a slightly different course.

The fleet completed eleven races thanks to increasing wind during the afternoon. There were spots where the boats just sat until the puffs caught up with the fleet, but at least we could maneuver around the course.

The Skippers
Steve Leker's DF95 Sail #94
The Scorekeepers, Karen Enos and B.B. Wright
The boats spread out on the way to the mark.
Clint Wolcott rescued his runaway boat, while mastering an uncooperative dinghy.

Solings on the Course

There were a couple of boats from other classes on the water this week — Tim Wright bringing his US12 and sailing that for the first two races, and Steve Leker sailing his DF 95 to a seventh-place finish.

For the rest of the sailing season, the scores are unofficial. Skippers are scored as long as they finish. The placements are totaled then divided by the number of races completed for an average score.

 All classes sailed together, with three from the Sailor Class and nine from the Master Class. The leader was Tim Wright with an unbeatable 1.0, and second went to Ted Monetta with a 2.5. Only participating in four races but doing well, Tom Barstow had an average of 4.5 for third. Bob Pacini sailed to fourth with his score of 5.1. Just three tenths of a point behind was Mark Whitehead with 5.4 and fifth place. Linwood Davis, Denis Boisvert, and John Barstow all scored 5.6 for a chummy sixth-place finish. Just behind Steve Leker’s score of 5.8 in seventh place was Clint Wolcott’s score of 6.0 for eighth. He was followed by Genie Ware and Kevin Bennett with scores of 7.4 and 8.0 respectively.

A Good Start
The Solings round the last mark and head to the finish line.
Scores
1   Tim Wright          1.0
2   Ted Monett          2.5
3   Tom Barstow         4.5
4   Bob Pacin           5.1
5   Mark Whitehead      5.4
6   Denis Boisvert      5.6
6   Linwood Davis       5.6
6   John Barstow        5.6
7   Steve Leke          5.8  (DF 95)
8   Clint Wolcot        6.0
9   Genie Ware          7.4
10  Kevin Bennett       8.0

September 18 US 12 fleet

We welcomed a Soling, a One-Meter One-Design (ODOM), and an RC Laser. While the Soling sailed only a single race, the rest of the fleet was very competitive. In one race, after the fourth mark and heading for the finish line, all six boats were within two boat lengths. That was indicative of the racing all afternoon.

The fleet rounds the last mark.
Tim Wright sails his Laser #94 and Rick Laird sails his One-Design One-Meter (ODOM) #716.
A Slow Start

While some boats jumped out to big leads, the fickle winds tended to bring them together for exciting finishes, changing places right up to the finish line. All boats had at least one finish in the top two, and all three different classes had at least one win. Other than the winds, the day was perfect.

The fleet heads to the first mark.
The Laser is in the lead.

We had a number of people come by to watch, including one particular soon-to-be four-year-old boy, Archie, who was captivated by the sailing and his ability to control a boat from shore. He said, “I am good at controlling boats.” His mother says he has no problem with confidence. His enthusiasm and delight were contagious.

We thank the people who make sailing possible, and treasure the days we have remaining.

Tim Wright showed Archie how to use the controls.
Take the controls ...

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. As the regular scoring season is over, boats of any class are welcome on Thursdays.

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.

and receive a sailboat kit.

Quiz and Game Fun Page - Updated 11/4/2022​

Trophy Room

Skippers Memorial

Soling 1M Building Manual

Skippers Knowledge Base

Videos and Photos

Previous Highlights

Score Sheets

US12, Soling Masters, Soling Sailors

Upcoming Events: [2025 Schedule]

  • April 29 – October 28 , 2025 Regattas 1PM-3PM Tuesday Solings, Thursdays US12s
  • October 28, 2025 Dock Out

Past Events:

e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com

Copyright © 2025 New Hampshire Boat Museum
SITE MAP

Our final weekend of the season is this Friday (10th), Saturday (11th) and Sunday (12th). Stop by for a visit!

Our final weekend of the season is this Friday (10th), Saturday (11th) and Sunday (12th). Stop by for a visit!