Written by Mark Whitehead, Tim Wright
Proofreading & Editing by Kathleen Whitehead
Photos by Paul McBride, B. B. Wright, Mark Whitehead
Layout by Ken Gerber
Photo Captions by Paul McBride
Games by Dave Perry
e-mail: backbayskippers@gmail.com
Fall Sailing
We had no idea where the summer went as we competed in our first regatta of September. There’s just one more week of officially scored regattas before moving to a more relaxed schedule, but we certainly don’t stop sailing until there’s a definite chill in the air.
We welcomed an old friend and fellow skipper, back from a five-year hiatus. Rick Lalley joined us this week, using the #76 boat. Rick used to drive three hours from Thomaston, Maine every week, but he no longer is able to make such a long journey. We were delighted to have him join us, and we thank his wife, Ann, for providing the opportunity.
With sunshine and cooler temperatures, twenty-three skippers sailed the eight-race regatta. We could have used a little more wind, but occasional gusts helped to push us around the course. There were seven from the Sailor Class and sixteen from the Master Class, and topping our agenda for next season will be the creation of a better balance in the fleets.
Solings on the Course
There was a strong showing from Jim Opie, his five wins, a second, and two thirds putting him at the top of the Sailor Class this week with a score of 1.43. Doug Griggs had two wins, two seconds, and two thirds for second place and a score of 2.29. John Barstow’s score of 3.29 and a third-place finish was reached thanks to a win and two seconds.
With six wins, Tim Wright was hard to beat as he scored 1.14 in the Master Class. Linwood Davis earned two seconds, two thirds, and a score of 3.29 for second place. The old Navy guy, Anthony Quinn, sailed into the third spot with a win and two seconds, scoring 4.14.
Our returning skipper, Rick Lalley, showed that his old skills also were returning when he placed second in Race #8.
The US12 Fleet
The six US12s that sailed on Thursday, September 4, had a very similar day to last week, except more so. Wonderfully warm temps, with highs in the low eighties, and a good southerly wind — the same as before.
The increased strength of the wind and the wildly variable wind directions, often just a yard apart, made the sailing very tricky indeed. Every point of the compass was well represented by the wind’s direction. At one time we had two boats within a yard of each other, directly across and beside each other, going in the same direction at the same speed, both close-hauled but on different tacks and moving well! A gust must have come down between them and gone outwards. Each skipper was reacting appropriately, and it lasted for twenty seconds. It was one of those days on Back Bay. Keeping us moving were the strong winds and our scorekeepers.
On the course, Tim Wright won eleven of twelve races, and finished with a 1.00 average. He was challenged often by the other sailors, and loves the rising level of competition. Lin Davis finished second with a 2.80 average. He had a first place as well as four second-place finishes. Bob Strodel finished third in the closest race of the fleet. Bob had three seconds and three thirds, and finished with a 3.20 average. Right behind in fourth, and always a tough competitor, John Simms had a 3.30 average. He had a second and six thirds. In fifth, Anthony Quinn had three seconds and a score of 3.57. In sixth, Jim Opie, fresh off his win in the Soling Sailor Class on Tuesday, decided to let everyone experience success. No, not seriously, but due to the fickle winds he was often just short at the finish. The whole group was tightly bunched and changing positions all afternoon.
The group really enjoys their time together and a chance to share humor, stories, and a great pastime. We have only one more week of official scoring on September 11, then starting September 18, Thursday becomes a “Bring What You Have Day” — any boat, any skipper for a relaxed and fun-filled afternoon of racing.
Thanks to all who make it possible for us to sail and share our hobby.
Featured Skippers
Paul McBride
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, eventually as treasurer, photographer, news publisher, and as a sailor of Solings as well as US12s, Footys, and Lasers. Currently, he also is vice president of the Lakes Region Model Railroad Museum.
Steve Leker
Steve was born in 1955 as the third of three kids, which he claims explains so much. There was a brother in the middle, and first-born Karen is the sister now known as a scorekeeper for the Back Bay Skippers.
Typical for any boomer kid, his bicycle was the doorway to freedom, which expanded greatly when dirt bikes replaced pedal power. Trail riding was a passion from junior high into his college years.
He met a beautiful girl, and one of their first dates involved a sail on a Sunfish when she promptly fell off during a tack. Forty-three married years later, they still laugh about it, so all is well.
The years went by as an entomologist, a vocational teacher, a licensed pest management professional, a turf manager, and a corporate nuisance wildlife franchise trainer.
Along the way were a dozen marathons, 200-mile relay races, century bike rides, many half marathons and sprint triathlons, countless 5k’s, and a full Iron-man. A highlight of running was the honor for six years of coaching non-runners from the couch to the finish line of the Disney Marathon while they simultaneously raised thousands of dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Their son married a Massachusetts girl and began raising two energetic sons, which made for Steve and his wife an easy decision to leave Florida and move permanently to New Hampshire. The seasons are gorgeous and the small-town living, according to Steve, is fabulous!
Bruce Wilhelm
Bruce was born and raised in California, where he graduated from CalPoly and married Joanne in 1973. They had two children and now can brag about three grandchildren.
Before moving to New Hampshire in 1989, they lived in California, Texas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Bruce retired in 2017 after a forty-four-year career in commercial sales and marketing, the last half of that time with Epson America. Since 2015, they have lived in Moultonborough, and sailed people-sized boats until 2019. The very next year, he built his US12, and in 2022, he added a Soling to his fleet.
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.
Wednesday, September 10, the Back Bay Skippers will host the Sasquatch Footy Regatta that was postponed from an earlier date due to rain. The little twelve-inch boats are a great show, so come join the fun.
Scores
2025-09-02 Soling Sailor Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Opie, Jim | 7/1 (100%) | 10 | 1.43 | 1 |
| Griggs, Doug | 7/1 (100%) | 16 | 2.29 | 2 |
| Barstow, John | 7/1 (100%) | 23 | 3.29 | 3 |
| Bennett, Kevin | 7/1 (100%) | 29 | 4.14 | 4 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | 7/1 (100%) | 30 | 4.29 | 5 |
| Wolcott, Clint | 7/1 (100%) | 36 | 5.14 | 6 |
| Butler, Jeanne | 6/1 (86%) | 31 | 5.17 | 7 |
2025 Soling Sailor Class Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
Cain, Bryer | 0% | 0.00 | |||
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 13% | 2.00 | ||
| Hogenson, Dave | Sailor | 40% | 2.17 | 2.25 | -0.08 |
| Bennett, Kevin | Sailor | 80% | 2.42 | 6.67 | -4.25 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 40% | 2.50 | 2.67 | -0.17 |
| Griggs, Doug | Sailor | 60% | 2.89 | ||
| Barstow, John | Sailor | 53% | 3.12 | 3.78 | -0.65 |
| Bodenstab, Mark | Sailor | 33% | 4.00 | 5.38 | -1.38 |
| Corbett, Dave | Sailor | 20% | 4.33 | 5.36 | -1.03 |
| Clare, Henry | Sailor | 7% | 5.00 | 10.50 | -5.50 |
| Wolcott, Clint | Sailior | 20% | 5.33 | 3.80 | 1.53 |
| Butler, Jeanne | Sailor | 27% | 6.00 | 10.33 | -4.33 |
| Currier, Dick | Sailor | 13% | 6.00 | 8.14 | -2.14 |
| Curran | Sailor | 13% | 6.00 | 6.00 | 0.00 |
2025-09-02 Soling Master Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 7/1 (100%) | 8 | 1.14 | 1 |
| Davis, Linwood | 7/1 (100%) | 23 | 3.29 | 2 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 7/1 (100%) | 29 | 4.14 | 3 |
| Monetta, Ted | 7/1 (100%) | 46 | 6.57 | 4 |
| Gerber, Ken | 7/1 (100%) | 47 | 6.71 | 5 |
| Witzel, Jeff | 7/1 (100%) | 49 | 7.00 | 6 |
| Whitehead, Mark | 7/1 (100%) | 50 | 7.14 | 7 |
| Boisvert, Denis | 7/1 (100%) | 51 | 7.29 | 8 |
| Posnack, Al | 7/1 (100%) | 56 | 8.00 | 9 |
| Lalley, Rick | 7/1 (100%) | 62 | 8.86 | 10 |
| Barstow, Tom | 7/1 (100%) | 65 | 9.29 | 11 |
| Malay, Bill | 7/1 (100%) | 66 | 9.43 | 12 |
| Leker, Steve | 5/0 (62%) | 50 | 10.00 | 13 |
| Pacini, Bob | 7/1 (100%) | 75 | 10.71 | 14 |
| Ware, Genie | 7/1 (100%) | 79 | 11.29 | 15 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | 7/1 (100%) | 85 | 12.14 | 16 |
2025 Soling Master Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Master | 87% | 1.00 | 1.08 | -0.08 |
| Germon, Howard | Master | 7% | 2.00 | ||
| Gates, Rick | Master | 13% | 3.50 | 8.38 | -4.88 |
| Witzel, Jeff | Master | 67% | 4.20 | 2.83 | 1.37 |
| Monetta, Ted | Master | 100% | 4.67 | 6.43 | -1.76 |
| Davis, Linwood | Master | 87% | 5.23 | ||
| Posnack, Al | Master | 80% | 5.33 | 5.18 | 0.15 |
| Jousse, Alain | Master | 7% | 6.00 | ||
| Cundy, Don | Master | 20% | 6.67 | 3.38 | 3.29 |
| Whitehead, Mark | Master | 87% | 7.15 | 6.69 | 0.46 |
| Gerber, Ken | Master | 60% | 7.22 | 9.00 | -1.78 |
| Quinn, Anthony | Master | 67% | 7.40 | 8.83 | -1.43 |
| Barstow, Tom | Master | 73% | 7.55 | 6.25 | 1.30 |
| Boisvert, Denis | Master | 73% | 7.82 | 5.90 | 1.92 |
| Leker, Steve | Master | 53% | 8.38 | 7.62 | 0.75 |
| Pacini, Bob | Master | 87% | 9.00 | 8.00 | 1.00 |
| Rudinsky, Chuck | Master | 27% | 9.00 | ||
| Lalley, Rick | Master | 7% | 10.00 | ||
| Malay, Bill | Master | 53% | 10.25 | 10.00 | 0.25 |
| Laird, Richard | Master | 20% | 10.67 | ||
| Ware, Genie | Master | 60% | 10.89 | ||
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Master | 73% | 11.18 |
2025-09-04 US12 Class Regatta | ||||
| Name | Races/Throws (Pct) | Total Pts. | Average | Score |
| Wright, Tim | 10/2 (100%) | 10 | 1.00 | 1 |
| Davis, Lin | 10/1 (91%) | 28 | 2.80 | 2 |
| Strodel, Robert | 10/2 (100%) | 32 | 3.20 | 3 |
| Simms, John | 10/2 (100%) | 33 | 3.30 | 4 |
| Quinn, Anthony | 7/1 (64%) | 25 | 3.57 | 5 |
| Opie, Jim | 10/2 (100%) | 46 | 4.60 | 6 |
2025 US12 Class Season Scores | |||||
| Name | Class | % Regattas | Score | 2024 | Diff |
| Wright, Tim | Sailor | 100% | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.00 |
Chalder, Glenn | 9% | 2.00 | |||
Davis, Lin | 64% | 2.14 | 4.00 | -1.86 | |
| Simms, John | Sailor | 100% | 3.09 | 2.57 | 0.52 |
| McBride, Donald | Sailor | 18% | 3.50 | 4.43 | -0.93 |
Quinn, Anthony | 64% | 3.71 | 5.23 | -1.52 | |
Gates, Rick | 18% | 4.00 | 3.93 | 0.07 | |
| Laird, Rick | Sailor | 36% | 4.25 | 3.40 | 0.85 |
| Brennan, Bob | Sailor | 18% | 4.50 | 5.80 | -1.30 |
| Strodel, Robert | Sailor | 36% | 4.50 | 7.00 | -2.50 |
| Wilhelm, Bruce | Sailor | 73% | 5.38 | 6.56 | -1.18 |
| Opie, Jim | Sailor | 45% | 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
- September 10, 2025 Sasquatch Footy Regatta 9AM – 3PM
- September 11, 2025 Scoring Season Ends
- September 14, 2025 5th Annual RC Laser Regatta – Region 1 Championship, Bow Lake, Strafford NH
- October 28, 2025 Dock Out
Past Events:
- 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