The latest episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio takes us to the beautiful Foster City lagoon for the 2026 California IOM State Championship—widely regarded as one of the finest radio sailing venues in the country.
Recorded pond-side during the regatta, Commodore Jess Atkinson talks with four competitors about the racing, boat tuning, and what makes this championship such a standout event. The episode also celebrates a terrific performance by the San Diego Argonauts, with all five club members finishing in the top 10.
The show wraps up with a call-in from Vice Commodore of Power Division Bill Bridge, who shares results from the NAMBA District 19 Heat Race Series in San Diego, where an impressive 137 boats competed across 11 classes.
Whether you’re planning a road trip to race new waters or simply want to learn more about the broader RC sailing community, this episode is worth a listen.
Congratulations to Ty Beach on winning the second annual Filippo Busalacchi Soling 50 Masters Regatta, held yesterday at the San Diego Model Boat Pond.
After a full day of close, tactical racing, Ty edged out a tightly contested battle for the podium. Kerim Baran and Chris Davidson, sailing as a duo, finished a close second, followed by Larry Grant in third. Filippo Busalacchi finished fourth, with Ben Reeves rounding out the top five.
Thank you to all of the competitors and volunteers who made another fantastic Masters Regatta possible. The event continues to celebrate Filippo’s contributions to our club while showcasing the close competition and great camaraderie of the Soling 50 fleet.
The latest episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio is now available, and it may be our most ambitious episode yet.
In Episode 10, SD Argonauts’ Commodore Jess Atkinson sits down with three of America’s top International One Metre (IOM) skippers to discuss their experiences competing at the 2026 IOM World Championship in Datchet, England, just outside London.
This special episode features in-depth interviews with:
Brian Shore – 9th Place Overall
Peter Feldman – 4th Place Overall
Gary Boell – Veteran U.S. International Competitor and Multi-Worlds Campaigner
Together, these conversations provide a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the most competitive radio sailing events in the world.
Brian Shore shares the remarkable story of qualifying for the Worlds after only a handful of IOM regattas and achieving an impressive Top-10 finish. He discusses the challenges of competing against former world champions, adapting to the demanding conditions at Datchet Reservoir, and navigating the intense scrutiny of international measurement inspections.
Peter Feldman reflects on his outstanding fourth-place finish, the mental and tactical challenges of choosing the correct rig in constantly changing conditions, and the preparation required to compete at the highest level of international radio sailing. His insights into fleet management, race strategy, and the grind of a six-day championship offer valuable lessons for sailors of every level.
Gary Boell brings the perspective of one of America’s most experienced international IOM competitors, having represented the United States at World and European Championships for well over a decade. Gary discusses how far the American IOM program has progressed, the camaraderie among the ten U.S. skippers competing in England, and the pride of seeing four American boats sailing in the championship’s final A-Fleet race.
A Strong Showing for Team USA
One of the recurring themes throughout the episode is the continued rise of American IOM sailing. The United States fielded one of its strongest teams ever, with multiple skippers competing at the front of the fleet throughout the event and several finishing among the world’s elite.
The interviews highlight not only the sailing itself, but also the preparation, teamwork, sportsmanship, and dedication required to compete successfully on the world stage. From equipment tuning and rig selection to long race days and international competition, listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes to race among the best sailors in the world.
Additional Regatta Reports
Episode 10 also includes:
A report from the Region 6 DF95 Championship in Seattle from AMYA Vice President Dan Shier
Coverage of the Travelers Trophy Team Racing Event at the San Diego Model Yacht Pond
Monthly points standings for the ODOM, Soling, DF95, and IOM fleets
Results from the Bob DeBow Masters Series ODOM event
Whether you’re an active racer, a casual sailor, or simply curious about what it takes to compete at the highest levels of radio sailing, this episode offers a rare inside look at the world’s premier IOM event through the eyes of three accomplished American skippers.
A special thank you to Brian Shore, Peter Feldman, Gary Boell, and Dan Shier for sharing their time, insights, and experiences with the San Diego Argonauts community.
We hope you enjoy Episode 10 of San Diego Argonauts Radio.
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:
Jess Atkinson
Chris Davidson
Larry Grant
Tom Warren
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!
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!
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.
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.
