Fellow Argonaut Jess Atkinson has been the driving force behind our robust and exciting Calendar of Events.
Jess has been diligently working on a new series of 12 Race Events to be hosted at the San Diego Model Boat Pond, designed to honor both past and present legends of the RC sailing community.
The first four events in this prestigious series are scheduled as follows (also available on our Calendar):
– Bob Debow Masters Trophy (ODOM) – March 29, 2025 – Pete Jefferson Challenge Trophy (DF95) – June 28, 2025 – Chuck Black Memorial Trophy (IOM) – August 30, 2025 – Filippo Busalacchi Trophy (Soling 50) – October 18, 2025
The Sailing Instructions for these events can be accessed in the document below.
Registration is now open for the 2025 AMYA DragonFlite95 Region 8 Championship! See attached NOR for details. The top SIX finishers will qualify to participate in the National Championship in Newport, RI. in October.
FOUR additional DF95 skippers from Region 8 can qualify for the Nationals by being the ‘most active’ based on participation in Region 8 Travelers Trophy Events:
Saturday Jan. 4 the San Diego Argonauts were honored to have Jess Atkinson conduct the 2025 DF95 Tuning & Race Performance Clinic. This is the first in a series of seminars designed to help with tuning and racing practice. In short, an effort to raise the bar of sailing in our pond..
Photo Courtesy, Ben Reeve
Jess started the clinic with a step-by-step setup procedure for the DF95, sharing race proven setting that will put your boat in perfect balance for speed on the race course. Skippers asked numerous detailed questions and it was apparent this was valuable information for even the seasoned R/C sailor. The group also included a new R/C Sailing member.. Welcome John!
After the tuning portion 16 eager skippers, with well tuned rigs, headed to the water for starting drill practice. The challenge.. a 30 second start clock. A tight starting line. A very short weather leg. Up and back as fast as you can. With NO touching other boats! You touch..two boats out.. A great drill! Now do that 25 times..
Jess also discussed numerous strategies to get the most out of your boat on the water, course positioning while racing, how to avoid getting in the tough spots and how to get out.. One of the final water practices was the 360 drill. Fast tacks and jibes to stay in the race even if you foul. A Fantastic Day! Thank You Jess!
Photo Courtesy, Ben Reeve
Special thanks to others that helped make this Tune Up Day happen:
Chris Davidson
Dennis Rodgers
Keith Sternal
Jason Brooks
Chris Staiger
Jon Rogers
There’s an IOM Tuning and Race Performance Clinic on the calendar for Saturday, February 1.
Don’t miss this opportunity to tune up for the 2025 AMYA Region 8 Championship Regatta!
Zero to Ten… but mostly Zero from WNW. Those were the winds for the Argonauts’ final day of racing in 2024. While the day was sunny and pleasantly warm, sailing conditions were once again… fluky. The DF95’s went first with RD Ty Beach selecting mostly medium courses.
Next, it was the IOMs’ turn. RD Craig Mackey called medium courses, but ended with a short course to get the sailboats off the pond in time for the Scaler’s Christmas Parade of Lights.
Thanks to Jess Atkinson, Bob Williams, Tom Warren and everyone else who helped make the 2024 Fun & Fowl Regatta a fun and successful Event! Below are the Final Standings:
