Category: Sail

Bob DeBow ODOM Masters Regatta II Results (May 16th, 2026)

The second running of the Bob DeBow ODOM Masters Regatta was held at the San Diego Model Yacht Pond, continuing this new Argonauts tradition honoring one of the legends of our local RC sailing community. The regatta once again delivered a great day of competitive and fun ODOM racing.

Congratulations to all skippers who participated, and especially to our top finishers:

  1. Jess Atkinson
  2. Chris Davidson
  3. Larry Grant
  4. Tom Warren
  5. Gil Jansky

A special thank you to everyone who helped organize, set up, race direct, score, retrieve marks, and keep the event running smoothly throughout the day.

The Bob DeBow Masters series has quickly become one of the highlights of the Argonauts sailing calendar, combining competitive racing with recognition of the sailors who helped build and shape the San Diego RC sailing community.

We look forward to the next Masters event at the Pond!

đź“şSan Diego Argonauts on CBS News

A piece of fun news 🙂

The San Diego Argonauts were featured on CBS8 San Diego today!

CBS8 story on their website:
https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/zevely-zone/san-diego-argonauts-affordable-water-sport/509-d67e58f9-79ec-4434-a3a1-ebc6330861a7

On a related note:
The CBS8 crew helped promote our STEM/Robotics initiative for high school & college students involving GPS-guided robotic buoys and autonomous marine systems. If you know any students, robotics teams, or STEM advisors who might be interested, please send them our way!

More info here:
https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/2026/05/02/%e2%9a%93-calling-san-diego-socal-robotics-stem-students/

⛵ RC Sailing & Boating Open House Event! (Aug 1st, 2026)

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 July 29th via Eventbrite at modelboats.eventbrite.com

When & Where:

When: Saturday, Aug 1st, 2026 (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

DF95 Region 8 Travelers Trophy Brings Great Racing & Camaraderie to Sacramento

The San Diego Argonauts had an outstanding showing at the May 2–3, 2026 Region 8 Dragon Flight 95 Travel Trophy Regatta at Bridgeway Lakes in Sacramento, hosted by the Sacramento Model Yacht Club (SMYC).

In a competitive 14-boat fleet and breezy Northern California conditions, Argonauts sailors captured 4 of the top 5 finishing positions.

Leading the charge was Jess Atkinson with a 1st place finish, followed by Len Bose in 2nd, George Pedrick in 3rd, Dennis Rogers in 4th, and Chris Staiger in 5th.

The regatta featured steady 10–15 knot winds, fast racing, and the always-appreciated camaraderie that makes the DF95 Travel Trophy series such a favorite among skippers throughout Region 8.

In addition to the racing, the weekend highlighted everything that makes the Travel Trophy series special — road trips with fellow sailors, reconnecting with friends from other clubs, sharing stories over Saturday dinner, and learning how different clubs organize and run their events. Another fantastic weekend of competitive RC sailing, strong Argonauts results, and great camaraderie throughout Region 8.

đźš©Fleet Captains Step Up to Support Weekend Racing

In line with our recent Board and Member meeting discussions, our Commodore Jess Atkinson has encouraged members to step up into a new volunteer role—Fleet Captains—for each of our four sailboat classes.

Here are the Fleet Captains by class:

IOM: Dennis Rogers
DF95: Jack Calafato
ODOM: Keith Sternal
Soling 50: Ben Reeves

These Fleet Captains will help coordinate the setup and breakdown of the regatta course during point series weekends, aligned with the order of racing. The first fleet of the day will take the lead on setting the course and getting the skiff out on the water, while the final fleet will handle course breakdown and help clean and secure the skiff.

In addition, Fleet Captains are responsible for coordinating help and arranging backups or replacements as needed—making sure each weekend runs smoothly even if schedules shift.

This new system kicks off on May 9th with the ODOM & Soling race day.

This is a simple but important step toward keeping our race days organized and efficient—and a great example of the Argonauts community pitching in to support one another.

Thank you to everyone who stepped up!

Youth Sailing Meets RC Sailing (April 1st, 2026)

Sabot Racers Visit the Argonauts Pond

A Unique Cross-Over Experience

On Wednesday, April 1st, the San Diego Argonauts will host a special Spring Break field trip led by Coach Jon Rogers, bringing 6–12 junior Sabot racers to the pond for a hands-on introduction to RC sailing.

This event creates a rare bridge between full-scale youth sailing and the precision world of model yacht racing—giving young athletes a chance to experience tactics, wind reading, and race strategy from a completely new perspective.

How the Session Will Work

The format is simple, fast-paced, and fun:

  • Start time: 11:30 am PT
  • Each sailor will compete in two short races using Argonauts’ loaner DF95 boats
  • The top six performers will advance to a final race
  • The session will be captured on video to showcase the experience and community

This is more than just a fun day—it’s a great opportunity to:

  • Introduce young sailors to a lifelong hobby
  • Showcase the Argonauts as a welcoming, intergenerational community
  • Potentially bring in new families and future members

For many of these kids, this could be their first exposure to RC sailing—and possibly the start of a deeper connection to the sport.

Call for Volunteers & Boats

We’re asking Argonauts members to help make this event a success:

  • Lend a boat for one or more races
  • Assist with race coordination
  • Provide light mentorship and guidance

Even showing up and supporting the event will go a long way in creating a great experience.

Get Involved

Interested in helping or lending a boat?
Please reach out to Jon at buenorogers @ gmail or simply join us at the pond on April 1st!