This week, San Diego Argonauts Radio welcomes Len Bose, who wears many hats as the AMYA president, Model Yachting editor, DF95 class secretary, and yacht broker. Len discusses his newspaper background, how ready-to-sail boats and innovative clubs are growing the sport, and what comes next after his presidency.
The episode also previews the next magazine issue and recaps San Diego’s Chuck Black IOM Masters Regatta and recent points races.
This Saturday brought 14 DF95 and 11 IOM sailors to the pond for points racing, with more sailors than usual joining us from the Los Angeles area. The turnout made for great competition in both fleets.
The weather was beautiful, the pond was full to the brim, and the racing was fun and friendly. Thanks to everyone who joined us, especially those who made the trip down from LA. And to our volunteers who helped with the marks and scoring.
Ren Reeve served as Race Director for the IOMs, and Craig Mackey for the DF95s. We had to resort to the famous “Mackey I flags” a few times, and some of us picked up DSQs for early starts. 🙂
Fifteen boats came out today for the Chuck Black IOM Masters Regatta, honoring Chuck Black, one of the legends of our pond.
A nice breeze held for most of the day, with winds coming mostly from the west, southwest, and northwest. Temperatures in the 80–85°F range and a bit of humidity made it warmer than our usual pond conditions, but we completed 12 races.
Top Five Finishers
Jess Atkinson
Larry Grant
Kerim Baran
Dennis Rogers
Stephan Cohen
Thank you to all the sailors and volunteers who helped make the regatta possible, especially Ben Reeve and Kelly McConville for running the races.
In this episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio, Jess Atkinson talks with Brad Read, back-to-back 2025 and 2026 DF95 National Champion, about improving race performance, simplifying boat setup, and building a strong local fleet.
Brad’s first recommendation is time with the transmitter in your hands. Practicing mark roundings helps develop depth perception, judge laylines, and avoid crowded situations at the windward mark. He also discusses consistent rig settings, adjusting forestay tension, sailing with flatter sails as the breeze builds, and understanding sail twist.
The conversation covers how Newport’s radio sailing community grew during the pandemic and the value of having experienced sailors teach newer fleet members. Brad credits the Argonauts and Jon Rogers’ clinics as an example Newport has drawn from, emphasizing that helping others improve, and keeping racing fun, benefit the whole fleet. Jess and Brad also look ahead to the 2027 DF95 National Championship in San Diego.
Dan Schreier closes the episode with a Region 6 update, including the IOM regional championship and DF95 Nationals in Texas, parts availability, and ways clubs and individual sailors can help grow radio sailing through the AMYA.
Saturday’s points racing brought some of the craziest conditions we’ve seen at the Model Boat Basin. San Diego’s tropical rainstorms delivered a repeating pattern of rain, a break, and then more rain… and the pond was the highest many of us had ever seen it!
We raced Solings first, followed by ODOMs, with the wind seemingly coming from all four corners of the pond. One moment, there was absolutely zero wind. The next, a pleasant 2–5-knot breeze would arrive from a completely unexpected direction. Predictable? Hardly. Challenging? Definitely. Fun? Absolutely!
We tried different course directions to make the most of the conditions, alternating between our usual short course and the reverse direction. But the wind kept rewriting the plan. In many races, boats were sailing wing-on-wing on the supposed “upwind” leg, then beating upwind on the “downwind” leg!
It was a day that rewarded patience, close attention, and a willingness to adapt. Sailors who played the shifts well (and kept watching for the next surprise) benefited. A promising position could disappear in a lull, while a fresh breeze from another corner could turn the fleet’s fortunes around.
Thanks to everyone who came out and embraced the rain, the shifts, and the occasional complete standstill. Tough conditions made for some wonderfully weird racing and plenty to talk about afterward!
Video courtesy of Gil Jansky; photos from Kerim Baran.
The Argonauts Board and the Race Week Committee have officially met and selected the dates for our 16th Triennial San Diego Race Week, which will take place at the San Diego Model Boat Pond from September 27 through October 10, 2027.
Our current plan is to host eight National Championship Regattas across eight model yacht classes over two weeks:
Dates
Class
September 27–29
IOM
September 30–October 2
DF95
October 3
Marblehead
October 4–5
J Class
October 6–7
S/B
October 8
Wheeler
October 9–10
ODOM & Soling 50
We are continuing to coordinate with the AMYA class organizations to finalize the schedule and event details.
Mark your calendars! We look forward to welcoming sailors from across the country for two exciting weeks of competitive racing and camaraderie at one of the premier model yachting venues in the United States.
Stay tuned for registration information and additional details as planning continues.
Special Hotel Rates at The Dana on Mission Bay
The Dana on Mission Bay has generously offered special rates for out-of-town guests attending Race Week 2027:
These rates represent approximately 30–45% off listed room rates, depending on the day, plus $65 in daily savings from complimentary parking and the waived resort fee.
$199 per night plus tax on weekdays.
$279 per night plus tax on Friday and Saturday nights.
Taking your radio-controlled sailboat to an out-of-town regatta is a great way to meet fellow sailors, experience different conditions, and sharpen your racing skills. But how do you get your boat, rigs, and equipment there, and arrive ready to race?
In this episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio, Commodore Jess Atkinson shares his approach to packing a competition-ready travel kit, drawing on his experience traveling with IOMs and DF95s.
Jess walks listeners through his travel setup, including a hard case with wheels, fitted foam to secure the hull and components, and a protected tube for the keel bulb. He also explains how clear containers help keep tools and spare parts organized and visible during inspection.
For his IOM rigs, Jess describes a separate rig box packed inside a padded surfboard bag. His DF95 setup fits the boat and rigs into one case, with careful attention to the space needed to protect everything.
The central lesson: choose a case that fits your equipment, secure every component, and plan for the knocks that can come with travel.
Pack Spares and Prepare Them Before You Leave
A well-packed boat is only part of being ready. Jess emphasizes carrying a practical selection of tools, repair materials, and spare parts so a small equipment failure doesn’t cost you the next start.
Among his suggestions:
Spare receivers already bound to your transmitter
Spare rudder servos and prepared replacement winches
A spare rudder and patches for hull or fin damage
Essential hand tools, including Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, and needle-nose pliers
Rigs for the conditions you may encounter, including a C rig when needed
A luggage tracker, a useful suggestion from fellow sailor Larry Grant
Jess also recommends practicing rig changes and equipment replacements at home. Knowing how to make a repair quickly can make all the difference between heats.
Travel to Learn and Keep Racing
The episode opens with reflections on Jess’s recent US One Meter regatta in Sacramento, where sailors raced with B rigs on Saturday and A rigs on Sunday.
Different venues bring different challenges, and Jess encourages sailors to embrace the learning opportunity. In shifty conditions, his advice is simple: keep working forward, one boat at a time. A series of small gains can bring you back into the race.
September Points Racing
Jess wraps up with September DF95 and IOM results from Mission Bay. Dennis Rogers won both fleets, with Craig Mackie and Chris Staiger completing the DF95 top three, and Kerim Baran and Len Bose taking second and third in the IOM fleet.
Thanks also to Steve Ross for filming the points racing and making it available on the Mission Bay Pond YouTube channel—a valuable resource for reviewing the action and learning from each race.
What makes a day at the pond special? Competitive sailing, a beautiful setting, and… perhaps most of all, the people.
In this episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio, Commodore Jess Atkinson takes listeners pondside at the Soling 50 National Class Championship Regatta, sharing highlights from the racing and conversations with the sailors, volunteers, and spectators who make our club such a welcoming community.
Serving as Principal Race Officer, Jess helped oversee 26 races with a nine-boat fleet, supported by good breeze, a full pond, and plenty of camaraderie. Three visiting sailors from (North Bay Radio Sailing in San Rafael: Jim Wondolleck, Gene Harris, and George Pedrick) made the trip south, bringing a third of the fleet.
Congratulations to the top three finishers:
1st: Chris Staiger, earning his fifth Soling 50 national championship
2nd: George Pedrick
3rd: Ty Beach
Jess also recognizes the people who made the event possible: class secretary Ben Reeve, who handled the organizing; Kelly McCormick, who assisted with race management and scoring; Jason Brooks and Gil Jansky, who helped monitor the racing; and Pat Nevitt and Steve Ross, who filmed the action.
Voices from the Pond
Between races, Jess turns the microphone toward the shore for a few informal conversations.
Longtime member Kim Robbins shares the spectator’s perspective, complete with friendly commentary from the pond’s “peanut gallery.” Bob Williams, known for his much-appreciated “pond dogs,” and other familiar faces weigh in on the pleasures of good racing, good company, and a shady spot to watch it all.
New member Charman French talks about getting her DF95, Mermaid, assembled and sailing with help from fellow Argonauts. Her story is a wonderful reminder of how much a welcoming club can help someone get started, from rigging and tuning to building confidence on the water.
More Club News
The episode also includes a recap of recent ODOM and Soling 50 points racing, a visit from local police officers who tried their hands at radio sailing, and an introduction to the club’s growing MiniMax school STEM initiative, led by Kerim Baran and Jeff Sparksworthy.
Whether you come to race, learn, volunteer, or simply enjoy the view, there’s a place for you at the pond.
The San Diego Argonauts enjoyed a good day at the 5th Annual Walter Munk Day on Saturday, October 3, at La Jolla Shores. With temperatures reaching around 95°F (about 20 degrees warmer than usual) it was a hot day to celebrate our oceans!
We met many families and children, connected with fellow sailors, and had valuable conversations with leaders in STEM, robotics, and education from across the San Diego region.
Our exhibit offered an opportunity to introduce visitors to model boating and share our growing school STEM program built around 3D-printed MiniMax RC sailboats.
Those conversations were an encouraging step as we continue developing the program.
This week, our focus turns to preparing the introductory session for University City High School students, introducing the MiniMax project, the sailing competition, and the physics of boats and sailing.
Thank you to the Argonauts members and friends who helped with our exhibit, everyone who stopped by, and the organizers who brought this community celebration together.
Our original event announcement follows below.
Argonauts to Exhibit at the 5th Annual Walter Munk Day on Oct 3rd, 2026
The San Diego Argonauts are excited to participate as an exhibitor at the 5th Annual Walter Munk Day — Celebrate Our Oceans, taking place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Kellogg Park in La Jolla Shores.
Walter Munk was one of the world’s most influential oceanographers. During his remarkable 80-year career at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, his pioneering work helped advance our understanding of ocean waves, tides, currents, climate and the sea floor. Walter Munk Day brings that legacy to life through interactive exhibits celebrating ocean science, exploration, education and conservation.
This year’s event will also recognize several important milestones:
The 75th anniversary of the Scripps Scientific Diving Program
The 10th anniversary of the Scripps Center for Marine Archaeology, founded by Walter Munk
The 75th anniversary of the gift of Kellogg Park to the City of San Diego
The 50th anniversary of the release of JAWS
The day begins with a Kumeyaay Smudge Ceremony and Bird Songs at 9:30 AM, followed by the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:00 AM. Exhibits and activities will continue until 4:00 PM.
What Will the Argonauts Bring?
Our exhibit will introduce visitors to the many sides of the San Diego Argonauts, from radio-controlled sailing and scale-model boating to our growing STEM and robotics initiatives.
We expect to display a variety of RC boats, club photographs, videos, and educational materials. Computer monitors will help us show visitors our boats in action, while hands-on displays will give children and families a closer look at how radio-controlled boats are designed, built and operated.
We also plan to highlight our developing school-based STEM program, including our work with 3D-printed MiniMax sailboats. The program combines design, 3D printing, electronics, boatbuilding, sailing and team racing to give students a practical and memorable engineering experience.
Weather, space and event logistics permitting, we may also demonstrate selected boats at our booth and beyond.
Hands-on robotics, engineering and ocean-science exhibits were among the highlights of Walter Munk Day in 2025.
A Great Match for the Argonauts
Walter Munk Day brings together scientists, educators, conservation organizations, students, engineers, ocean enthusiasts, and families from across San Diego. Last year’s exhibitors included organizations involved in oceanographic research, marine robotics, underwater exploration, environmental education, marine wildlife and ocean conservation.
It is a perfect environment for the Argonauts. Model boating naturally brings together water, wind, engineering, electronics, craftsmanship, competition, and fun, and it gives us a wonderful way to introduce young people to the science and technology of the marine world.
Scenes from the 2025 Walter Munk Day celebration at Kellogg Park in La Jolla Shores.
Watch Highlights from Last Year
The following video offers a look at the exhibits, activities and atmosphere of the 2025 Walter Munk Day celebration:
Argonauts: We Need Your Help!
We are looking for several San Diego Argonauts members and friends to help us staff the booth throughout the day.
Volunteers can help with:
Setting up our tables and displays
Transporting and displaying RC boats
Greeting visitors and introducing them to the club
Explaining how our sailboats, scale boats, and other models work
Demonstrating radios, electronics and hands-on activities
Talking about our sailing classes, public events and STEM programs
Supervising boats and equipment
Taking photographs and video
Breaking down the exhibit at the end of the day
You do not need to stay for the entire event. Even helping for a two or three hour shift would be extremely valuable. Setup begins at 8:00 AM and must be completed by 9:15 AM. Breakdown begins at 4:00 PM.
We would especially appreciate members who can bring interesting boats or displays, including sailboats, scale boats, submarines, unusual powered boats, works in progress, electronics, 3D-printed components, portable power stations to power the laptops & monitors, or other items that can help us tell the Argonauts’ story.
If you can volunteer, lend equipment, or provide a boat for the exhibit, please contact Kerim Baran or speak with us at the Model Yacht Pond.
This is an excellent opportunity to introduce thousands of San Diegans to the San Diego Argonauts, promote our activities and help inspire the next generation of sailors, builders, engineers and ocean stewards.
Please save the date: Saturday, October 3, 2026. We hope you will join us at Kellogg Park!
Learn more about Walter Munk Day and the Walter Munk Foundation at:
The San Diego Argonauts have published a new video series featuring longtime club member and sailing coach Jon Rogers.
Created for beginner & intermediate-level RC sailors, the beginner series introduces the basic principles of sailing and demonstrates the first four or five practical drills every new sailor should master. These exercises are designed to help beginners understand how a sailboat responds to the wind, improve their boat-handling skills, and confidently sail up and down the San Diego Model Yacht Pond.
In the Intermediate Sailing Series, Coach Jon covers how to identify wind direction, recognize and stop sail luffing, and adjust sails for three key points of sail: close-hauled, beam reach, and run.
Whether you are completely new to sailing or simply want to strengthen your fundamentals, Jon’s clear, pond-side instruction provides an excellent place to start.
Learn to Sail with Coach Jon Rogers
Introduction
Back & Forth Drill
Understand Luffing
Tight sails upwind, Loose sails downwind
Tacking, Gybing, and Upwind to the Buoy
Downwind Sailing & Gybing
Intermediate Sailing with Coach Jon Rogers
You can also watch the complete series on our YouTube channel:
We have added all nine videos to our Sailing Classes for All Ages page, where they will remain available as a free learning resource for new sailors, families, students, and anyone interested in learning how to sail an RC sailboat.
To find the page, use the website menu and go to:
SanDiegoArgonauts.org → More… → Sailing Classes for All Ages
For competitive sailors, Jon’s 26-video “Coaching with Jon” series is also an excellent resource and is listed under our YouTube Courses and under the Coaching with Coach Jon page on our website.
We hope these videos help more people discover the fun, challenge, and lifelong learning that sailing offers. After watching, come visit us at the San Diego Model Yacht Pond and put the lessons into practice!
A big thank you to Jon Rogers for sharing his time, knowledge, and enthusiasm with the next generation of sailors!
