Kerim Baran – San Diego Argonauts

Argonauts mentioned on Sailing Anarchy

Scot Tempesta, founder of Sailing Anarchy, joined us at the San Diego Model Boat Pond during our Wednesday lunch sail this week. In this 35-minute podcast episode, he shares his first-hand impressions of sailing a DragonFlite 95 with the San Diego Argonauts fleet.

Scot reflects on how much fun he had racing DF95s with Jon Rogers, Scott Harris, and others, touching on everything from rigging and race starts to the occasional “in irons” moment. He also highlights the welcoming, friendly community he experienced at the Pond—one of the things that made the day especially memorable.

In the episode, Scot gives a candid, often hilarious account of getting back into radio-controlled sailing after years away, openly owning both his rust and his rediscovery of why he loves racing sailboats. He walks listeners through his first Wednesday session at the Mission Bay Model Boat Pond—from struggling with tiny rigging components and fat-fingered mistakes, to immediately appreciating how well-tuned and fast the DF95 felt thanks to Jon Rogers’ setup. Despite early missteps (snagging the anchor line, getting caught in irons, running aground while leading), Scot emphasizes how forgiving, welcoming, and genuinely helpful the San Diego Argonauts fleet was throughout the day.

Scot repeatedly highlights what surprised him most: how real the racing feels. Starts matter, shifts matter, mistakes are instantly punished, and moments of pure groove—when the boat hooks up and just goes—are every bit as intoxicating as on a full-size racecourse. He reflects on how RC sailing compresses decision-making, forces constant focus, and exposes weaknesses in boat handling and situational awareness far more quickly than big-boat racing. For him, the DF95 is not a toy but a legitimate training ground that sharpens instincts, accelerates learning, and reconnects sailors to the essence of the sport.

A scene from a former RACE WEEK event held at the San Diego Model Boat Pond

Ultimately, the episode becomes a love letter to accessible, low-drama racing. Scot contrasts the simplicity and fairness of one-design DF95 racing with the cost, politics, and rating frustrations of big-boat handicap systems, concluding that model sailing delivers more joy per dollar than almost anything else in sailing today. He encourages experienced sailors—and especially lapsed racers—to try RC sailing if they have a fleet nearby, promising they’ll find strong competition, generous mentorship, and that unmistakable “I love this f***ing sport” feeling all over again.

Points Day Results – IOM’s & DF95’s (Oct 25, 2025)

Thanks to all who helped out yesterday, especially Jess and Jason for getting the skiff out and the marks set; Kerim and Tom for serving as RD’s; and Jack, Kerim and Keith for collecting the marks and putting the skiff away.

It was a nice day to enjoy the sunshine and to fight the fickle winds on the pond. There were many tight races and the close scoring reflects that. In the end, Larry Grant dominated the IOMs and Dennis Rogers edged out Jess Atkinson for the DF 95’s.

Filippo Busalacchi Soling 50 Masters Regatta Results (Oct 18, 2025)

The inaugural Filippo Busalacchi Soling 50 Masters Regatta took place on a beautiful fall day, October 18, 2025, at the San Diego Model Boat Pond. The event brought together some of our club’s most experienced and passionate sailors for a day of exciting, highly competitive racing in honor of long-time Argonaut and legend, Filippo Busalacchi.

After a full day of tight competition and shifting pond conditions, Ty Beach delivered a brilliant performance, securing first place with an impressive seven bullets. He was followed by Chris Davidson in second, Gerry Wold in third, David Woodward in fourth, and Filippo Busalacchi himself, rounding out the top five.

A special thanks goes out to Ben Reeves and Tom Warren for capturing beautiful photos of the day and to Steve Ross for recording and sharing videos of the action — both of which you can enjoy below.

Also, a big shout-out to Ben and Jack for their help with scoring and running the event, and to Bob for grilling up what are, without a doubt, the best hot dogs in radio sailing! Thanks as well to Ty Beach and Jack for their assistance with the boat, and to Chris “the man from Oz” Davidson for getting the pond race-ready, setting the gate, and making sure the Bob Dog Grill was fired up and ready to go. And to Jess Atkinson for organizing and running the event.

This event marked the fourth and final Masters Regatta of the year — the closing chapter of our inaugural Masters Series, which celebrates the Legends of the San Diego Argonauts. This time, it was an especially meaningful occasion as we paid tribute to our dear friend and sailor, Filippo.

We look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition in the years to come, honoring the great sailors who have shaped our club and community.

Videos:

DF95 Nationals at Newport, RI – Results & Race Videos (Oct 16-19, 2025)

The DF95 National Championship drew top remote-control sailors from across the U.S., Barbados, and the U.K. to Newport for three days of highly competitive racing in classic October conditions.

Racing off the Sail Newport Sailing Center in Brenton Cove, the fleet battled through 14 races in steady, building winds, with tight starts and finishes throughout. The regatta came down to an intense duel between brothers Brad and Ken Read, both world-class sailors, with Brad’s consistent, conservative approach on the final day earning him the national title by three points. The event showcased just how serious—and skill-sharpening—RC sailing can be, and left competitors eager to return to Newport for future regattas.

Our friend from Seattle, Dan Shier, did a great job capturing most of the racing on video—all while competing himself.

Click here for Sail Newport’s coverage and more information about the event.

Below you’ll find the results and videos from the regatta.

2025 AMYA ODOM National Championship – San Francisco (Sep 6&7, 2025)

The 2025 ODOM National Championship was hosted this September 6th & 7th at the iconic Spreckels Lake in San Francisco. The weather, venue, hosts, and camaraderie of competitors came together to make it a truly memorable weekend of racing.

Eighteen skippers lined up for a total of 23 races over two days, testing their skill against the famously shifty Spreckels winds. True to form, many found themselves “Spreckeled” more than a few times by the unpredictable shifts—but that’s part of the charm of this storied venue. With the sun out and temperatures hovering at an ideal 70–72 degrees, conditions couldn’t have been better.

The San Diego Argonauts sent four sailors north for the event, and proudly brought home four of the top five spots:

Jess Atkinson – 1st place, with a consistent and commanding performance
George Pedrick – 2nd place
Larry Grant – 3rd place
4th – Chris Davidson
5th – Kerim Baran

This strong showing was aided in part by the outstanding race management of the San Francisco Model Yacht Club. Several of SF’s top ODOM sailors chose to volunteer instead of race, and their professionalism elevated the event.

Each mark rounding had two dedicated judges, as did the start/finish line, in addition to the PRO and race director. The result was a regatta that ran with remarkable efficiency, fairness, and clarity.

The setting at Spreckels Lake was as picturesque as ever, with the historic San Francisco Model Yacht Club Boat House adding a timeless backdrop. Competitors and spectators alike enjoyed not just the high-quality racing, but also the sense of community that makes events like these special.