We’ve been invited to take part in a special Father’s Day event at Santee Lakes on Sunday, June 15th from 10 AM – 2 PM. This grand opening celebration for the new lake concessionaire will feature live music, family activities, and a unique opportunity for the Argonauts to sail and showcase our boats on beautiful Lake 4.
All divisions are encouraged to participate! We’re looking to field:
– At least 10 DF95s for sailing exhibitions and racing – At least 8 scale or power boats, including fast boats
We’ll have full support from the park staff—including free entry, a rescue boat, and access to premium display areas near the restaurant’s 400-seat deck. This is a fantastic chance to show off our hobby, connect with the public, and maybe even attract new members.
Let’s make a splash! Please RSVP ASAP with our commodore Pat Nevitt so we can confirm our club’s participation.
Questions or want to get involved? Come see us at the pond this Saturday or reach out directly.
Join us for a free, hands-on community event where you can experience the thrill of radio-controlled boating & sailing in an inclusive & friendly environment at the San Diego Model Boat Pond.
Whether you are a competitive sailor, weekend hobbyist, part of a sailing team, or simply curious about scale boats, this event welcomes everyone to grab a transmitter and try RC Boating!
Here’s what to expect:
* Hands-On Experience – Argonauts members will hand you the control of their own scale boats & sailboats. * Fun Mini-Courses – Short courses set up for casual mini-races, practice maneuvers, and casual boating. * Expert Coaching – Real-time guidance from experienced RC skippers sharing tips & strategies. * Free Food & Community Vibes – Picnic-style pizza & hot dogs for all who RSVP by May 29th via Eventbrite at modelboats.eventbrite.com
When & Where:
When:Saturday,May 31, 2025 (10:00 AM to 2:30 PM) Where:San Diego Model Boat Pond, Mission Bay Park Cost:Free – Just show up and play!
Come learn, compete, or just play around on the water — no prior RC experience is needed.
Bring your curiosity (and maybe a friend), and let the San Diego Argonauts show you what RC boating & sailing is all about.
Whilst 20 boats might seem a lot to have on the start line, it was! Though, to everyone’s credit, the presumed carnage was almost non-existent, almost. 🙂
A lot of ducking and weaving but all in all the skippers played rather nicely and when necessary took the applicable penalty when required.
Thanks to Tom Warren for being RD and running a great set of six heats with varied courses and not one general recall!
Breeze was a little shifty but generally, it was up and down the pond with only the odd hole. 🙂 If you were fortunate enough to break away you generally were spared being a victim of the melee behind. :O
Welcome to Richard Diamond from up North who joined us today. Whilst not being scored in the points series, I’m sure he enjoyed himself nevertheless.
Second class on the water were the IOM’s with Kerim Baran taking over with the RD duties. 13 boats! RC sailing is alive and well in San Diego! Go the Argonauts!
Unfortunately the DF 95’s stole a lot of the good breeze and left the IOM’s with a mixed bag of ‘litter’. The holes were bigger, the shifts were erratic and by the end of six heats I think everyone had their turn in getting ‘ponded’. 🙁
Gotta take the good with the bad sometimes.
One thing that wasn’t bad was the superb weather. The sun beamed down on us all day long, what a wonderful place we have to play boats.
Good to also see David Woodward pop up and join us travelling from afar, and to all the other sailors that travel reasonable distances to get to our stomping ground.
We appreciate you all. 🙂
P.S. Richard also sailed in the IOM’s making up the 13.
Here are some shots from the start line of the IOM races of the day.
Next week is the Bob Debow Masters trophy event for ODOM’s.
This is going to be a sell out! Even if you don’t have an ODOM, come down and join the peanut gallery.
14 ODOM’s out on the pond today. They’re breeding!
This week Steve Delva did a great job as RD for both classes. Thanks Steve and thanks Bill Bridge for laying the marks and Gil Jansky for retrieving them.
The tuning clinic last week obviously paid off with the fleet being very close throughout all heats, at times a little too close. :O
With a good breeze blowing, some skippers didn’t quite have their time on distance calculations dialled in, me included! :O
Nevertheless, penalty turns were taken as applicable and there was some healthy discussions afterwards, which highlighted how any one situation can have at least two perspectives.
Well sailed guys…
Next was the Solings. Breeze was still which saw these heavier displacement boats revel in the conditions.
Some tight racing throughout the heats with lots of close encounters.
Apologies Gerry for my ‘Specsavers’ moment. :O
All in all it was a fantastic day on the pond with a number of onlookers from the public and almost standing room only in the peanut gallery.
Wonderful to see some of the sailors from the ODOM’s stay to watch the show.
– Chris Davidson (VC Sail)
And thank you, Larry Grant, for recording and sharing some of the races on our Facebook Group:
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 SoCal 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) – July 5, 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.
Jon Rogers provided fascinating insights into the rapidly expanding sport of RC sailing, highlighting the various sailboat classes available in the San Diego area.
Jon placed particular emphasis on the DF95 class, which is experiencing remarkable growth and gaining popularity among enthusiasts thanks to its affordability (under $500).
This 1hr+ long interview is full of great gems and topics such as:
– Useful tips & tricks of RC Sailing – RC Sailing Mechanics – RC and DF95’s as an Entry Point to Sailing – The Competitive Scene & Notable Sailors who participate in RC sailing – RC Community & Events in and around San Diego & SoCal – The Future of RC Sailing and its Olympic Potential, and more…
Overall, this interview captures the passion, community, and innovation surrounding modern sailing, blending the traditions of full-scale yacht racing with the emerging world of RC competition.
The morning of February 20, 2025, dawned crisp and clear over San Diego Pond, where six highly skilled skippers prepared for an intense day of Marblehead-class racing. Sponsored by the esteemed Argonauts Radio Sailing Club, the event promised high-level competition, tactical brilliance, and the sheer excitement of sailing these sleek, high-performance yachts.
As the starting clock sounded for the first of fourteen races, the fleet surged forward, slicing through the water with precision. Each skipper, standing along the shore with their radio controllers in hand, relied on years of experience to navigate the ever-changing wind conditions. The Marbleheads, with their lightweight hulls and towering sails, responded instantly to every command, making for a fast-paced and fiercely competitive regatta.
Larry Grant sailed a solid event from the start, but for much of the day, he trailed behind the early leaders, including Jess Atkinson and John Castelli, who set the pace with strong performances. George Pedrick and Chris Sullivan also posted consistent finishes, keeping the competition close. Gene Harris, showed determination throughout the event.
As the regatta progressed, Larry steadily improved, making small adjustments to his tactics and boat handling. By the final stretch of races, he had found his rhythm, closing the gap on the frontrunners. Going into the last few races, he had worked his way into contention, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
With more than one point separating him from his closest competitor, Larry needed a strong finish to secure victory. In the final race, the fleet charged off the starting line, with Jess pushing hard to maintain his advantage. Larry, however, executed a masterful upwind leg, positioning himself perfectly for the final downwind run. With a decisive move at the last mark, he surged ahead, crossing the finish line first and sealing both the race win and the overall regatta victory.
With the standings finalized, the results were:
Larry Grant – First place
Jess Atkinson – Second place
John Castelli – Third place
George Pedrick – Fourth place
Chris Sullivan – Fifth place
Gene Harris – Sixth place
As the sun dipped behind the horizon, the sailors gathered for the awards ceremony, exchanging handshakes and recounting the day’s thrilling battles on the water.
The regatta was a testament to the high level of competition and camaraderie within the Argonauts Radio Sailing Club, providing both participants and spectators with a memorable day of sailing.
2 Hatch covers Power Switch and 2 Switch rods Upgraded Sailwinch ($69.95 value) Mast Fitting tube 3 Jib boom counterweights with shafts Elvstrom Explains the Racing Rules (2021-2024) book Bottle of CorrosionX Stand
We’re excited to unveil the soon-to-be-launched San Diego Argonauts website!
While our current website has been a trusted resource, the new site (www.SanDiegoArgonauts.org) introduces a fresh, streamlined approach to better serve our vibrant community.
What’s New and Improved?
Modern, Intuitive Design: The new website features a sleek layout that’s easier to navigate and visually engaging.
Consolidated Content: We’ve reorganized and streamlined the website to make it more welcoming, functional, and easier to navigate.
Homepage Redesign: The homepage now offers an inviting introduction to the club, highlighting all three divisions—Sail, Scale, and Power—along with a glimpse of our activities. The most recent post is no longer displayed in the center of the homepage but can still be easily accessed via the “Latest Updates” section in the menu or in the “Latest Updates” section at the top right of the homepage’s right-hand column.
Streamlined Pages: Several ancillary pages have been combined or retired for a cleaner structure:
“Buying Tips,” “Buying RC Boats,” “Buying RC Parts,” and “Links” have been merged into a single, comprehensive “Getting Started & Resources” page.
“Classifieds,” “For Sale,” and “Wanted” have been unified under one “Classifieds” page for simplicity.
Email Groups: This page has been reworded and reorganized for easier understanding. While the many email lists remain, we recognize there may still be room for further simplification.
Contact Us: This page has been simplified to forward messages from one message box instead of displaying 5 different ones, one for each officer.
Facebook Links: Previously listed in the main menu, these have been replaced with easily accessible icons located in the top right of the right-hand column. A YouTube link has also been added to the same section.
The “Newsletter,” “Photos,” and “Videos” sections, which were rarely used, have been retired to reduce clutter.
These changes aim to reduce redundancy, improve usability, and ensure all key information is easy to access.
Call for Feedback and Contributions: We value your input in shaping this new chapter for the San Diego Argonauts. Here’s how you can get involved:
If you have strong opinions about the wording, content organization, or layout of specific sections on the website, let us know! We’re open to suggestions to make the site as accurate and engaging as possible.
Share your favorite pictures or short video clips of club events, activities, or even personal moments with your model boats. Your contributions could replace existing content or be featured in the GIF video on the homepage to showcase the vibrancy of our community.
If you have any amazing pictures that could enhance various sections of the homepage, division pages, or other parts of the site—or if you have short video clips that could be included in the video on the homepage—feel free to share them with us at [insert email address here]. Your contributions will help bring our website to life and showcase the spirit of our community.
We can’t wait for you to explore the new site and share your thoughts! Stay tuned for the official launch announcement.
