Category: Sail

🎙️ Argonauts Radio – Episode 10: Inside the 2026 IOM Worlds…

…with Brian Shore, Peter Feldman & Gary Boell

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.

Also available on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-american-skippers-take-us-behind-the-scenes-of/id1874110517

What You’ll Hear

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.

🏆 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!

📺San 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/

🏆 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.

🚩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!

DF95 Chair Challenge Results (Mar 7th, 2026)

Summary from Commodore Jess Atkinson:

Today was a blast at the mission bay pond. Chair Challenge. 12 races without leaving your seat.

A look into adaptive sailing for mobility challenged sailors not able to walk the long distance of 12 races. All skippers remain seated. Short course, and a big start line.

9 skippers did the challenge with their DF 95’s. The weather was perfect.

Even had one of the skippers put on a B rig. He was flying in the last race. Super fast!

At the ribbons presentation, Steve Ross, in 5th place, said it was the first radio sailing award he’d ever received. Tom WARREN, in fourth place, was just nothing but smiles and said he had a wonderful time. Third place went to Kerim Baran, who brought a whole fleet of boats, so everyone gets to sail. Thank you, Kerim.

Big tie there between Pat Nevit and Chris Davidson, with Chris Davidson winning the countback for the tie. Pat sailed masterfully, with 29 pts before throwouts 11pts ahead of Chris. After the dust settled, it was a 21-point tie. Chris also sailed like a superstar. Having won 7 races on the day.

Was fun for the RD, too.


Videos were uploaded to Facebook:

1)https://www.facebook.com/100012585552614/videos/pcb.26213245328338096/893760663272089

2)https://www.facebook.com/100012585552614/videos/pcb.26213245328338096/1970988923486765

Argonauts Annual Banquet Dinner at the Southwestern Yacht Club

San Diego Argonauts recently gathered for a memorable evening at the beautiful Southwestern Yacht Club in Point Loma. With brisket on the buffet, a lively no-host bar on the deck overlooking the slips, and display tables showcasing the craftsmanship of our scale and racing divisions, the setting was perfect for celebrating another great year at the pond.

A highlight of the evening was the debut of a spectacular 22-minute video produced by former Commodore Tom Warren — a true labor of love capturing scenes from regattas, casual sailing days, boat builds, cookouts, and the countless moments that define our club culture. The video beautifully reflects the spirit of the Argonauts: competitive yet supportive, serious about rc boating & sailing yet never taking ourselves too seriously.

The banquet once again reminded us that the Argonauts are about far more than toy boats. It’s about friendship, shared stories, good-natured banter, and recognizing the accomplishments of members across all divisions. Awards were presented, laughter filled the room, and spouses and guests were warmly welcomed into our unique world of wind, water, and meticulous detail.

We invite you to relive the memories — or see what you missed — by watching this video. It’s a celebration of our boats, our pond, and our community.

2026 AMYA R8 IOM Championship  Regatta (Feb 20-21-22, 2026)

The San Diego Argonauts are delighted to host the 2026 AMYA Region 8 IOM Championship Regatta, taking place February 20, 21, and 22. This premier event will bring together many of the nation’s most accomplished IOM skippers for a weekend of top-tier competition, close racing, and plenty of camaraderie on and off the water. Whether you are chasing a championship or simply enjoying great sailing in a beautiful setting, this regatta promises an outstanding experience for all participants.

This year, the San Diego Argonauts are also pleased to extend a special invitation to skippers sailing “Classic” IOM designs to compete in the Region 8 Championship Regatta. Yachts built in 2010 or earlier are eligible, and the highest-finishing Classic IOM skipper will be specially recognized for their achievement, celebrating both skill and the enduring performance of these timeless designs.

Register here today:

https://www.iomusa.org/upcoming-events