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Argonauts Open House Recap – A Big Day at the Pond!

On Saturday, May 31st, the San Diego Argonauts came together to host an unforgettable RC Boating Open House and Family Fun Day at the Model Boat Pond in Mission Bay Park. The event was a resounding success—bringing together Sail, Scale, and Power divisions for a day of hands-on RC action, community connection, and wide-eyed joy from kids and adults alike.

Over 70 guests joined us throughout the day, including many who found the event through our Eventbrite promotion. They got a chance to take the helm of model steamships, tugboats, Civil War-era Ironclads, ferries, sailboats, and speedboats, guided by friendly Argonauts eager to share their passion for the hobby.

Even a freak tropical disturbance couldn’t stop the fun! Though we wrapped up slightly early due to nearby thunder and lightning, the spirit of the event was already firmly sealed with 57 hot dogs and 4 pizzas served, dozens of boats in motion, and countless memories made.

From Our Club Leaders

Rear Commodore Tom Warren reflected:

“Thank you Commodore Pat and Staff for an excellent day at the pond. The Open House really showed that we are Argonaut Strong.

Families enjoyed the mid-day activities without that cell phone menace! From young to old, everyone had a chance to test drive an incredible variety of boats.

This is the kind of community engagement the AMYA would be proud of—and a perfect story to share with them. Thanks always go to how this club participates, from the organizers to the Scale, Power and Sail fleets. We are all-in.

If you have photos or videos, please share them—we’d love to include them in an article for the AMYA magazine and on our website!”

Commodore Pat Nevitt shared:

“I can’t thank you all enough for hosting such a successful club fun day and open house. Seeing all three divisions in full force, with family and friends alongside, was truly special.

At one point, someone counted over 70 people in attendance, and I spoke with many who found us through Eventbrite. Guests definitely got to see the best of the Argonauts!

One of the most heartwarming moments was watching members hand their controllers to eager kids and teach them the finer points of model boating. So many smiles!

A huge thanks to Bill, Al, Bob, Kurtis, Kerim, and the many others who made this possible. You all made me proud. Let’s look at doing this again.”

Event Highlights – Photo Gallery

Event Video Recap

More Photos

Coming Soon

We plan to put together an article for AMYA featuring this event, including photos, testimonials, and details about how Eventbrite and local outreach helped draw in a great crowd. Stay tuned—and if you have media to contribute, please email us at sdargonauts @ gmail dot com.

Thanks again to everyone who participated, volunteered, or simply showed up with curiosity and joy. The Argonauts spirit was on full display—and the pond was buzzing with life.

Let’s do it again soon.

Argonauts at Santee Lakes – Father’s Day Showcase! (June 15, 2025)

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.

RC Sailing & Boating Open House Event! (May 31st, 2025)

Join us for a day of fun

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.

Questions? Email [sdargonauts@gmail.com] or visit www.sandiegoargonauts.org


Our annual Scale Sail Regatta will also take place during this event on May 31, 2025. More info below:

Scale Sail Regatta May 31stDownload

 

Points Day Results – DF95’s & IOM’s (May 24, 2025)

Thanks to one and all that splashed their boats yesterday. The pond definitely ‘put it on’ for us with a good breeze and plenty of sunshine.

Thanks to RDs Kim Robbins and Kerim Baran for conducting two great races both consisting of 6 heats each.

Thanks also to Chris Staiger for setting the course and Kerim for pulling the marks and getting the boat and gear washed down and stored away.

Thanks for another great day at the pond. 🙂

2025 DF95 Region 8 Championship: Regatta Report & Final Standings

The San Diego Argonauts hosted the AMYA 2025 Dragonflite95 Region 8 Championship Regatta May 17th-18th.  21 Skippers from 4 different states including 2 past DF95 National Champions competed.

Friday afternoon began with check-in and practice-racing. Technical Committee Chairman Steve Ross and PRO Chris Staiger performed check-in and measurement and distributed logo hats, while Commodore Pat Nevitt took customized sandwich pre-orders for Sunday’s lunch. (Special thanks also to Pat for his tireless efforts in having the city dredge the reef and make our ENTIRE pond useable once more!)

Saturday morning saw the remaining skippers and boats checked-in under drizzly cold conditions (improved somewhat by hot coffee and donuts provided by Purser Gil Jansky.) PRO Chris Staiger set 6 marks: an inside leeward Gate, a Start/Finish Line, and two windward marks. The standard long course, which was used for every race in the regatta, consisted of: Start, two windward marks, inside leeward Gate, two windward marks, inside leeward Gate, Finish. Depending on the winds, the windward marks were rounded either to Port or Starboard. The HMS with 2 Fleets and 4-Boat Promotion/Relegation was utilized, resulting in 12/13 Boat Heats throughout the event. Finishes and Scoring were recorded by Steve Delva. Following the Skippers Meeting, competitors were faced with shifty south to south-westerly winds which required constant relocation of the windward marks and shifting of the Start/Finish Line. Even so, most races on Saturday consisted of long port tacks up the pond with only occasional short starboard hitches. Saturday’s successful skippers managed to dodge the biggest holes and take advantage of the fingery puffs to keep their sails full and their boats moving. Skippers were treated to Bob Williams’ famous grilled hotdogs for lunch. Bob also provided beverages and ice throughout the weekend.

By the end of the day with 8 races completed, past Champion Mark Golison, led with 11 points, followed by Gary Boell (15), Chris Davidson (17), Jim Sears (20), Kerim Baran (24), with Jon and Dennis Rogers rounding out the Top 7. Following the racing, skippers were treated to a pond-side Café-Med style barbecue prepared by Chris and Pam Staiger. Opa!

Sunday morning began with more promising conditions: Coffee, donuts, warmer temperatures and 5 – 8 knot winds a bit more westerly than the day before. Marks were adjusted and after a few heats, the breezes filled in and trended more westerly allowing starboard roundings at the windward end to resume. Jan Nevitt provided custom-ordered sandwiches for lunch as the sailing conditions improved. The sun emerged and racing was completed in classic San Diego conditions: 8 – 10 knots of wind straight down the pond under sunny skies and warm temperatures. By the time the dust settled, Mark Golison had held solidly onto 1st, while Jim Sears leapfrogged into 2nd and Chris Davidson fought past Gary Boell to take 3rd by a mere tenth of a point. The Rogers Brothers (who have a habit of finishing adjacent to each other) took 5th (Jon) and 6th (Dennis).

Skippers were given secret ballots to vote for the one competitor who best exemplified sportsmanship both on and off the racecourse: They chose Jon Rogers to receive the Corinthian Spirit Award.

Thanks to Chairman Gil Jansky, Bob Williams, Jack, and Keith Sturgess who handled site setup and takedown and Tom Warren who manned the rescue boat. Special Thanks to all the Argonauts who worked so hard clearing weeds, algae and debris to restore full use of our Pond!

Final Results:

Day 1 Results:

Day 1 Videos (Thank you, Dan Shier!)

Day 2 Videos (Thank you, Dan Shier!)