Model Yachting News • Week Ending August 27, 2022

Posted on

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

Retiring Skipper

George Greathead, a longtime Back Bay Skipper from Gilmanton Iron Works, has decided to bring his sailing career to a close. He hasn’t sailed with us for a few years but always will be one of us. We hope his retirement from the fleet will be blessed with fair winds and following seas.

George Greathead Working on His US12
Vice Commodore Tim Wright

The News Makers

Week after week, the Model Yachting News comes to you, and you might wonder how. Tim Wright provides the happenings for the US12 fleet, with help from B. B. Wright, and Mark Whitehead composes a summary of the Soling regattas, all presented with a little color here and there. The scores from Wes Matchett’s statistic program are added, and everything is passed on to Kathleen Whitehead for proofing and the magic touch only she can provide.

Ken Gerber starts the process of loading the final composition onto the web, with Paul McBride adding colorful photos and captions. As you can see, it takes many to deliver news about sailing activities on Back Bay each week. A big thank-you to all involved!

B.B. Wright
Commodore Mark Whitehead
Wes Matchett
Kathleen Whitehead
Ken Gerber
Paul McBride 23

Good Wind Saved the Day

Our normal sailing day for Solings is Tuesday, but meteorologists called for dangerous thunderstorms and very little wind. Out of concern for sailors who have distances to travel, Commodore Mark Whitehead made the call late Monday afternoon to utilize our alternate day. Guess what! Tuesday had no wind but also no thunderstorms! Ah, weather forecasts in New Hampshire!

As it turned out, however, it was the perfect call. Not only was there sunshine on August 24, but also a great wind. Nineteen skippers challenged Back Bay Wednesday for eleven races, and we even had our normal course. Starting with an all-in fleet, we then switched to the separation of classes.

We did have a few rescues this week – made once water was scooped out of our johnboat, tired from its injuries. Scotch on the rocks might be desirable but not boat on the rocks!

Race Director Don Cundy
Boats are checked and adjusted at the dock while others continue to sail.
Solings start a race.
Out on the Water Again this week it was Tom Barstow who led the Sailor Class. He seems very reluctant to give up that roll and is a strong contender for the season championship. Despite a dismasting later in the regatta, Ken Gerber took the second spot. Always a contender, Jay Burns was the third-place skipper, and rounding out the top five were Bill Malay in fourth and Jim Opie in fifth.
Solings head for the first mark.
Mark Whitehead untangles some Solings.
Soling Skippers guide their boats through the start line.
Solings round the first mark.
Don Cundy held off all challengers in the Master Class to sit atop the podium this week. From the Nashua Club, Rick Gates was the second-place finisher, followed closely by Tim Brand. Denis Boisvert took the fourth slot with Mark Whitehead in fifth. Once again it should be noted that all skippers in the Master fleet were within 1.33 points for the regatta!
A Rescue in Progress
The Solings start a race.
US12s at the Finish Line

Nine US12s Sail

 

On Thursday, August 25, US12 skippers were treated to some of the best winds and weather in recent memory. The winds were more consistent than they’ve been in some time, and the temperatures were in the 80s. While some had to deal with equipment failure, including dismastings, the fleet was able to complete thirteen races.

What seems significant is that the racers finishing in fifth through ninth were only separated by .75. The racing was tight and everyone had at least one solid finish. Bob Brennan, who averaged 5.5, had a second-place finish as well as two thirds. He finished the day in eighth place, just a little ahead of Jim Opie’s 5.75. Jim’s day was cut short by two rigging failures that caused his mast to fall twice. Fortunately, there was no lasting damage. He managed two fourth-place finishes before his bad luck started.

Noteworthy was Bruce Wilhelm’s first win in the fifth race, his overall finish in seventh place with 5.45. Just ahead of Bruce was Anthony Quinn, who had three third-place finishes and a 5.1 average for sixth. At 5.0 and in fifth place overall was John Simms, who is dealing with electrical gremlins. He tried many different combinations of receivers, transmitters, and batteries to see if he could improve his erratic RC controls. Near the end of the afternoon, John won a race and had a third, so it would seem he is on the right track.

 

Finishing with a 3.91 average, Paul McBride came in fourth. Paul had a first-place finish in the first race and two seconds later on. In third, Rick Laird, with a 3.64 average, had five second-place finishes and a third in a span of nine races. Don Cundy, at a 3.09 average, is starting to get his boat moving well. He also showed consistency with a win, a second, and six third-place finishes. Tim Wright, at 1.18, won nine races and finished in second in the other four. He has been tough to catch.

Jim Opie retrieving his dismasted boat.
Throughout the fleet, racing has been spirited but good-natured. A visitor who sails in Florida commented to our scorekeeper, B. B. Wright, that he was impressed with the way we all got along. He said there was no screaming or shouting about rules, and while competitive, everyone was having fun. He didn’t even know about our rule #1 — “Have fun!” It is nice to know that our fleet is notable for its demeanor while racing. The respect, the enjoyment, and the relaxed feeling makes it fun for participants and observers alike. Well done to the US12 racers! Let’s hope we have another beautiful day next Thursday. It will be hard to improve upon the day we had on the 25th of August.
US12s
The bench in the shade is a great place to watch the action.

Sailing on Back Bay
The radio-controlled model yachts are 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.

Join the 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.

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay
Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay

Upcoming Events:

  • Saturday September 24, 2022 RC Laser Regatta, Bow Lake, Strafford NH – Race Notice
  • Saturday October 1, 2022 Old Man of the Mountain Footy Regatta, Nor’easter Series, Nashua NH
  • Saturday October 22, 2022 Minuteman Footy Regatta, Nor’easter Series, Needham MA