Episode 4 of San Diego Argonauts Radio captures the energy and diversity of activity at the Mission Bay Model Yacht Pond, from competitive sailing to the creativity of the scale division. Host Jeff Atkinson recaps a successful and highly social “Chair Challenge” regatta, where borrowed boats, tight racing, and friendly rivalry highlighted the inclusive spirit of the club. With nine competitors and a dramatic tie at the top, the event showcased both skill and camaraderie—hallmarks of the Argonauts community.
The episode also looks ahead to upcoming events, including the Open House and Swap Meet, inviting members, families, and newcomers to experience the hobby firsthand.
The heart of the episode is a fascinating conversation with Vice Commodore of Scale Division, Jeff Sparksworthy, who shares his journey from model-building enthusiast to master craftsman of fully scratch-built boats. His perspective reveals the dual nature of the hobby—part engineering challenge, part peaceful escape—as well as the deep historical inspiration behind many scale models.
Sparksworthy also introduces an exciting vision for the future: engaging local students through a robotics-based buoy challenge that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.
The episode ultimately highlights what makes the Argonauts special—a community where obsession-level craftsmanship, lifelong learning, and intergenerational connection all come together on the water.
A special thank-you is also given to Rod Messenger for his craftsmanship and generosity in restoring the club’s dinghy—an essential workhorse for race operations—ensuring it’s ready for many more days on the pond.
Today was a blast at the mission bay pond. Chair Challenge. 12 races without leaving your seat.
A look into adaptive sailing for mobility challenged sailors not able to walk the long distance of 12 races. All skippers remain seated. Short course, and a big start line.
9 skippers did the challenge with their DF 95’s. The weather was perfect.
Even had one of the skippers put on a B rig. He was flying in the last race. Super fast!
At the ribbons presentation, Steve Ross, in 5th place, said it was the first radio sailing award he’d ever received. Tom WARREN, in fourth place, was just nothing but smiles and said he had a wonderful time. Third place went to Kerim Baran, who brought a whole fleet of boats, so everyone gets to sail. Thank you, Kerim.
Big tie there between Pat Nevit and Chris Davidson, with Chris Davidson winning the countback for the tie. Pat sailed masterfully, with 29 pts before throwouts 11pts ahead of Chris. After the dust settled, it was a 21-point tie. Chris also sailed like a superstar. Having won 7 races on the day.
Episode 3 takes us straight into the heart of championship racing at the Mission Bay Model Yacht Pond with full coverage of the Region 8 IOM Championships — 28 boats strong, with competitors traveling from Washington, Florida, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and across California to compete in three days of tactical, shifty, and at times challenging conditions.
As always, the pond delivered everything: pressure, light air, puffs, shifts — and world-class competition.
The episode also highlights the Marblehead exhibition fleet, sportsmanship honors, and the tremendous volunteer effort that makes large-scale regattas like this possible. From PRO duties to race committee support and trophy craftsmanship, the Argonauts once again demonstrated what a high-functioning model yacht club looks like.
🎥 Featured Interview: Dan Shier – Shaky Cam Productions
A major highlight of Episode 3 is an in-depth conversation with Dan Shear of Shaky Cam Productions (Olympia Model Sailors).
Dan shares:
– His origin story — from a $100 Craigslist Victoria to owning boats in every local fleet. – Why he began filming regattas (promotion + “game film” for sailors). – The behind-the-scenes reality of producing race videos (3–6 hours per day of processing and uploading). – His vision for growing model sailing nationwide. – His new role as a U.S. distributor for DF95 parts to support one of the country’s largest classes. – His work with the AMYA, including stepping into the Vice President role and supporting class development nationwide.
If you’ve ever studied one of Dan’s regatta videos before traveling to an event, this interview will resonate.
📊 February Points Racing Results
Episode 3 also recaps a busy February at the pond for each of the 4 classes we sail. Soling 50s, ODOMs, IOMs, DF95s. Strong fleet sizes across every class continue to show the health and momentum of racing at Mission Bay.
📅 Coming Up in March
– Chair Challenge (March 7) – Sail from a chair! Modified course. Everyone remains seated. – Points Race – March 14 (Scale Division: Age of Steam) – Open House – March 21 – Points Race – March 28 (DF95s & IOMs — DFs lead the charge)
Whether you sail ODOMs, Solings, DF95s, IOMs, or Scale — the invitation stands. If you’re within earshot of Southern California, come sail with us.
🎧 Listen now and stay connected to the racing, the stories, and the people that make the San Diego Argonauts one of the premier RC model yacht clubs in the country.
A Real-World Robotics & Autonomous Systems Competition
The San Diego Argonauts, San Diego’s premier radio-controlled model boating club since 1959, is seeking one or more local high school or college robotics teams to collaborate on a real-world applied engineering project.
The Challenge
Design, build, and deploy a GPS-guided robotic buoy capable of:
For inquiries from educators, faculty advisors, or student team leads:
Please visit our Contact page and / or reach out to:
Jeff Sparksworthy
Kerim Baran
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Update & resources for project teams:
The following resources and information were shared with us after our outreach. These can be valuable resources for the project teams willing to work on this project:
The second episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio dives straight into what’s been an action-packed start to the season for the San Diego Argonauts. From the Traveler Series regattas in Arizona and Eldorado—where Argonauts sailors filled the top 10—to the excitement building around the upcoming Region 8 Championship, this episode captures the competitive spirit and camaraderie that define sailing at the Mission Bay Model Boat Pond.
A major highlight is a thoughtful and personal interview with IOM Regatta Chair Gil Jansky. Gil shares how a childhood gift—a vintage Marblehead built by his father—sparked a lifelong passion for sailing that began on Lake Michigan and continues today in San Diego. His reflections on preparation, race organization, and what keeps him coming back to the pond remind us that this hobby blends craftsmanship, competition, and community in a way few others do.
The episode also looks ahead to the highly anticipated Region 8 IOM Championship, welcoming competitors from across the country for three days of top-tier racing. With 31 skippers and a wide range of designs—from Britpops to Vickers models—the fleet promises tight competition and spectacular sailing.
Beyond the big regattas, the show highlights the heart of the club: volunteerism, inclusion, and innovation. From Len Bose’s DF95 outreach day at Dana Point Yacht Club to the launch of the new “Chair Challenge” event—designed to make racing accessible for sailors with mobility challenges—this episode celebrates the Argonauts’ commitment to growing and supporting the RC sailing community.
It’s a great listen for members, prospective sailors, and anyone curious about what makes this club so special.
🎧 Tune in to the episode, and we’ll see you at the pond!
San Diego Argonauts recently gathered for a memorable evening at the beautiful Southwestern Yacht Club in Point Loma. With brisket on the buffet, a lively no-host bar on the deck overlooking the slips, and display tables showcasing the craftsmanship of our scale and racing divisions, the setting was perfect for celebrating another great year at the pond.
A highlight of the evening was the debut of a spectacular 22-minute video produced by former Commodore Tom Warren — a true labor of love capturing scenes from regattas, casual sailing days, boat builds, cookouts, and the countless moments that define our club culture. The video beautifully reflects the spirit of the Argonauts: competitive yet supportive, serious about rc boating & sailing yet never taking ourselves too seriously.
The banquet once again reminded us that the Argonauts are about far more than toy boats. It’s about friendship, shared stories, good-natured banter, and recognizing the accomplishments of members across all divisions. Awards were presented, laughter filled the room, and spouses and guests were warmly welcomed into our unique world of wind, water, and meticulous detail.
We invite you to relive the memories — or see what you missed — by watching this video. It’s a celebration of our boats, our pond, and our community.
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of San Diego Argonauts Radio, the official podcast of the San Diego Argonauts Model Boat Club! Whether you’re an RC boating aficionado, a competitive sailor, a scale enthusiast, or just someone who loves big stories from our little pond, this podcast series is for you.
🎧 Listen to our very first episode — Starting the Year Strong:
In this inaugural episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio, Commodore Jess Atkinson hosts a lively 17-minute conversation packed with:
Highlights from recent Argonauts activities
Updates on the End of the Year Banquet and Pondside Chat Seminar
Results from January’s Soling and Odom competitions
A chat with a dedicated Argonaut who travels over four hours to race with the club!
Stay tuned for more episodes — we’ll be bringing you stories from skippers, insights into our events, tips for racing and boat setup, and plenty of pondside camaraderie.
