Model Yachting News • Week Ending July 16, 2022

Posted on by Paul McBride

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

Model Yacht Building

From July 11 through July 15 was Model Yacht Building week, an annual tradition that has added to the Soling fleet for about fourteen years. Enrolled in the 2022 class were Tom Cookson, Ken Goodwin, Dave Hogenson, Ray Lalime, Bob Little, Andy Snowdon, and Bruce Wilheim. Onsite instructors were Al Stevens and Mark Whitehead, but others were very much involved with prep work. Anthony Quinn can be thanked for the sails and stands; Bill Quayle had made several masts, the supply completed by Mark Whitehead, who also made fittings; and Steve Leker was appreciated for providing radio setup.

Race Results

Would you believe that in a few days these boats will be in the water.
Al Stevens shows the boatbuilders how it is done.
Soling builders are hard at work.
The Boatbuilding Class of 2022: Mark Whitehead, Bruce Wilhelm, David Hogenson, Ray Lalime, Ken Goodwin, Tom Cookson, Al Stevens, ...
... Bob Little, and Andy Snowdon
New Solings are prepared for their maiden voyage.
Launching a New Soling
It floats!
It moves!
Solings

Soling Sailing July 12 with Steve Leker Reporting

Wind was shifty and all over the compass as per usual, and it gave the sailors some cat’s paws, or ripples, to strategize over. The threat of rain fizzled as the sun provided a hot day for some hot sailing action!

Absent for the day were Mark Whitehead and Al Stevens. They were leading six new sailors at the Soling Boatbuilding Class at the museum. Word has it that the class is progressing ahead of schedule and is well on its way to joining the fleet soon on Back Bay.

 

Clint Wolcott signs in, under the watchful eyes of B.B. Wright.

We welcomed Al Posnack and Clint Wolcott back to the lake, the first appearance of the year for both. Clint missed a couple of races due to a dead radio in the boat. When Tim Wright loaned him a transmitter/receiver combo, Clint was able to join the fun.

Al Posnack raced his Soling for the first time of the season.

Tom Barstow sailed 638 to cross the line first six times and win the day in the Sailor fleet. His throw-out race was a fourth-place finish. Ken Gerber navigated his #14 to the second spot. Bill Malay brought the 8 boat in for third place. A lot of laughing and congratulating were heard at the finish of the seventh race as Anthony Quinn, Ken Gerber, and Tom Barstow were jockeying for position right up to the line, separated by a distance of less than two boat lengths. Ken took that win, followed by Anthony and Tom.

Sailor Class First Place: Tom Barstow 638
Soling Sailor Class Second Place: Ken Gerber 14
Sailor Class Third Place: Bill Malay 8

The Master Class was won by Tim Wright in 383 with Howard Germon finishing second only 0.2 points behind with his 76. Dan Masessa’s 27 boat finished third. The class had some epic starts with tight clusters of boats rounding the windward mark. Joel Nelson sailed the first couple of races in his plywood T37 while his Soling was shore-bound with an unbound radio. Once Steve Leker helped get the blue and yellow 554 boat’s radios talking to each other, Joel sailed the rest of the day.

Soling Master Class First Place: Tim Wright 383
Soling Master Class Second Place: Howard Germon 76

We had five junior sailors join the fun! Some were able to pilot a boat on the water and all went home with a wooden kit for assembly.

Riley sailed Denis Boisvert's boat, and got a sailboat kit.
Madison admires her sailboat kit. Ouna, not shown, also got a kit.
Travis, in his cool dinosaur boots, got a sailboat kit.

US12 Regatta on July 14

The regatta was a brief exercise in frustration. The winds were light, a storm was coming, and six sailors tried to get in the required four races before the line of squalls came through Back Bay. When the winds weren’t fickle, there were huge dead spots. Boats could sit at a mark for five minutes before a zephyr floated by and made for some movement in the fleet. Still, we managed to complete five races, so it became an official regatta. Then, just after leaving, the skies opened up and we thanked Don Cundy for his timely call on the racing. Truth is, it was getting very dark and threatening, and rain could be seen approaching.

On the course, Tim Wright led the way. Don Cundy came in second just ahead of John Simms. Anthony Quinn was fourth, Paul McBride fifth, and Paul Wallace sixth.

Although it wasn’t a full day of racing, we all enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere that Thursday’s smaller fleet brings. One more regatta is in the books.

Tim Wright shows a group how his US12 works.
While Paul Wallace 227 gets his boat ready to launch, Tim Wright gives the group some hands-on sailing time.
A US12 in Calm Waters
Anthony Quinn at the Controls

Quiz and Game Fun Page - Updated 7/16/2022

Skippers Memorial

Videos and Photos

Previous Highlights

Score Sheets

US12, Soling Masters, Soling Sailors

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.

Trophy Room

A newly built Soling hits the water - where's the Champagne?

Upcoming Events:

  • Saturday July 16. 2022 Scott Spacie Memorial Footy Regatta, Nor’easter Series, Needham MA
  • Saturday August 13, 2022 Sheila Ryan Memorial Footy Regatta, Nor’easter Series, Lily Pond, Gilford NH
  • 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
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