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.
Now is a great time to add the Model Boat Festival of Lights to your holiday calendar. The calming waters of the Mission Bay Model Yacht Pond are a perfect way to sail into the holiday season. Bring your boats. Bring your family and friends.. You will not be disappointed!
Join us down at the pond for a day to showcase your Destroyers, Battleships, Patrol boats, and anything else related to the military (even military float planes).
Running or not, bring it down to display!
Where: San Diego Model Yacht Pond, Located on Mission Bay’s Vacation Isle
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.
It is almost the end of the month and I am way behind on my updates.. Yikes! We have had a busy start of the year with new membership and renewals, 2023 Points Races and planning for a long awaited and well deserved Awards Banquet and Trophy Presentation.. Let’s get started.
LUNCH BREAK
Saturday, January 7 began the first Points Racing of the new year. A truly beautiful San Diego winter day greeted Soling 50 and ODOM skippers eager to improve their skills and scores. Extra light winds in the 3-5 mph range prevailed throughout the afternoon so fleets were assigned short courses. Despite the very light conditions competition was tight at the top of the fleets. Unfortunately ODOM skippers had to scrap the last race of the day due to drifting conditions.
RD-Steve Ross
Mark Setting- Ben Reeve
Scoring- Pat Nevett & Steve Delva
Course wrangling and skiff clean up-Tom Warren
January 14 was scheduled for DF95 and IOM fleets to kick off their 2023 points season. Mother Nature had other ideas with heavy rain and wind in the forecast. Our master VC of Sail, Steve Ross, got us all off the hook early after a number of motivational messages from reluctant skippers. It rained for 3 or 4 days and San Diego received A LOT of rain. IOM and DF95 fleets were rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28.
IOM and DF95 Fleets Rescheduled Saturday, January 28, 2023
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2022 Awards Banquet and Trophy Presentation
Saturday, January 21 the San Diego Argonauts celebrated a successful year of Scale Boating achievements and R/C Sailing awards. Mission Bay Yacht Club provided a beautiful bayside location and Hawaiian Style Buffet Dinner for the over 40 attendees.
Mark Hallberg greeted our group and introduced club officers. Tom Warren, master of ceremonies, kept the evening lively and guided us through the evenings program.
Rob Wood presented the Scale Division Awards to top members.
2019 SAIL POINTS WINNERS
Tom Warren presented trophies to skippers active in the 2019 sailing season. Due to COVID19 our clubs activities were suspended throughout 2020 and we wanted to recognize the sailors dedicated to our club. Belated Congratulations!
Soling 50
Fillippo Busalacchi
Gerry Wold
Kim Robbins
Santa Barbara
Gerry Wold
Lesty Sala
Bart Klatt
ODOM
Gerry Wold
Kim Robbins
Greg Williams
IOM
Konrad Witt
Larry Grant
Dennis Rogers
DF95
Larry Grant
Konrad Witt
Gerry Wold
2022 SAIL POINTS WINNERS
Bob Williams presented awards to top skippers of the 2022 sailing season. Congratulations!
Gerry Wold – 1ST PLACE ODOMKen Campbell – 1ST PLACE IOMGIL JANSKY- Best Improved SailorBen Reeve – Volunteer of the Year
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FINAL SCORES FOR 2022
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January 28 Points- IOM & DF95
Please don’t be fooled by these beautiful sunny images. A cool grey coastal marine layer dominated most of our day.
Bob Williams was our volunteer RD for the IOM and DF95 fleets. Thank You BOB!
Special recognition to the volunteers that made our racing today possible.
Steve Ross-Scoring Assistant
Pat Nevitt- Score Keeper
Chris Staiger- Marks & Skiff Cleanup
Fred Rocha manned the skiff and set numerous creative course situations. Pesky light south wind forced a skinny upwind leg for the IOM heats. DF95 skippers benefited by a moderate shift of breeze to the SW. Fred moved marks, once again, for sailing a more standard course for our pond.. Believe it or not-The sun was not out this much. Thank You Fred!
See the marine layer?
VC Sail- Steve Ross,
First, I would like to thank all of our volunteers for making Points happen for IOM’s and DF95’s. Bob Williams was the RD for the day, Thank you, Bob! Next, is Chris Staiger assisting with setting the course, also a Huge thank you to Fred Rocha for his racecourse management on a very challenging shifty wind that started with a light South East wind direction slowly shifting to South West. Fred spent most of the day in the dinghy and reorienting the race course with the shifting wind. Finally, I would like to thank Pat Nevitt for doing the scoring with a very quick turnaround on the results. Also, I would like to welcome Jess Atkinson to the Argonauts. Jess took everybody to school by winning the IOM and DF95 in a convincing victory in both fleets. Jess is a lovely guy with a wealth of knowledge of RC sailing.
Special thanks to our new members and all that participated today!
The San Diego Region is fortunate to have an exclusive Model Yacht Pond that is not shared with large or small personal watercraft. A location with easy access to young and old, in a naturally quiet surroundings, with excellent conditions for Model Yacht cruising and friendly competition.
The San Diego Argonauts Scale Division and Sail Division had a successful year featuring events that promoted interest in the pursuit of Model Yachting. Each division has built on our fundamental mission of assisting those interested in R/C boat construction and maintenance, to enhance their knowledge of rules and skills associated with competition, and to promote friendly competition and good sportsmanship. We have a really good thing going on the pond and all members should be proud of our accomplishments in 2022. We are on a steady course and growing strong! Thank You to all that have contributed to our success!
I’d like to remind our members that the Awards Banquet is rapidly approaching.
The banquet date is Saturday evening, January 21st. In order to facilitate the smooth running of this project I’m asking Argonauts to get their payments to me by December 15th. I will be at the pond on Wednesdays and Saturdays to accept your banquet support. If it may be more convenient for you, please send a check to:
Mark Hallberg
4989 Old Cliffs RD.
San Diego, CA. 92120
Be sure to write the check out to the ‘ San Diego Argonauts ‘.
Tom, Steve and Bob are putting together a little something for our pleaser. Rob Wood will also be making an award presentation for the Scale division.
In order for a successful banquet, the first in a few years, we need participation with a great turnout.
Tis the season to renew your San Diego Argonauts annual membership. The process is easy, fast and affordable! Here are a few easy steps to get another fun year of activities and Camaraderie with our unique R/C boat club.
Fill out the 2023 Membership Form
$20 cash or check, with completed Membership Form to Gil Jansky or any other Argonauts Officer that knows Gil.
Endorse $20 check to San Diego Argonauts R/C Model Boat Club
Today’s points racing had a respectable attendance with ten boats in each fleet. Skippers experienced warm pond-side sunshine and light onshore winds most of the day. Gerry Wold, our RD for both fleets, ran a tight ship. Skippers meeting was called at 11:45am and we were on the clock at 12:05 sharp. The IOM fleet was on the line first and completed 6 races with a mix of medium and long courses. Nice sailing guys!
A big thank you to our assistants:
RD: Gerry Wold
Boat Shed and cleanup: Steve Ross
Scoring: Bob Hirsch
The DF95 fleet jumped into the pond next with lighter wind conditions and challenging glare from the late afternoon sun. Courses were medium, then later modified to short with the fading wind. All six races were completed.
DECEMBER EVENTS
Dec. 3 – ODOM, SOL50 Points
Dec. 10 – DF95, IOM Points
DEC. 17 – SCALE HOLIDAY LIGHTS
AWARDS BANQUET
Mark is now actively collecting fees for our awards banquet. The cost will be $30.00 per person. In order to expedite matters, please pay with a check made out to the San Diego Argonauts.
Send Check to: Mark Hallberg
4989 Old Cliffs Road
San Diego, CA. 92120
Or, hand check to Mark at the Pond. Please include the number of guests you are bringing.
Mark would like to have a final count for the MBYC administration by the middle of December. They would be expecting at least 40 attendees. Realize, also, that this get together is for the entire club membership, though Sail Awards will be given out. Both the Scale and Power division members are invited.
This will be our first banquet in a few years and it will be held at an excellent venue. January 21st, 2023. Hor D’Oeuvers are served at 5PM, with dinner at 6PM.
November is a busy month for our club with voting /changing of club officers, planning a January awards banquet, coordinating the 2023 activities and events calendar and closing out the 2022 Pond Season with More Racing.HERE we GO!
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CARING FOR OTHERS
Wishing Pat a speedy recovery!
One of the most important things we do as as social club is recognize and help members and friends that would benefit from our thoughts and prayers. Patt Nevitt has been fighting health issues for many months. He has sailed and contributed to the Argonauts even when his energy level was low and he felt horrible. Likely, many of us didn’t even realize what he was fighting. Last Thursday Pat had major surgery and is now recovering in the hospital. Tom Warren and others have created a thoughtful incentive for Pat to make a speedy recovery. A picture board full of great memories and get well wishes from us all.. We are all pulling for you Pat!
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2023 Officers
Commodore Mark Hallberg kicked off our meeting today with voting and a club consensus of our 2023 officers. Much appreciation should be directed to our 2022 board members that helped us recover from the dismal COVID years. Great Job!
Congratulations to our new Argonauts Officers:
Commodore- Tom Warren
Vice Commodore Sail- Steve Ross
Vice Commodore Scale- Rob Wood
Vice Commodore Power- Bill Bridge
Secretary- Steve Delva
Purser- Gil Jansky
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AWARDS BANQUETT
Mark is now actively collecting fees for our awards banquet. The cost will be $30.00 per person. In order to expedite matters, please pay with a check made out to the San Diego Argonauts.
Send Check to: Mark Hallberg
4989 Old Cliffs Road
San Diego, CA. 92120
Or, hand check to Mark at the Pond. Please include the number of guests you are bringing.
Mark would like to have a final count for the MBYC administration by the middle of December. They would be expecting at least 40 attendees. Realize, also, that this get together is for the entire club membership, though Sail Awards will be given out. Both the Scale and Power division members are invited.
This will be our first banquet in a few years and it will be held at an excellent venue. January 21st, 2023. Hor D’Oeuvers are served at 5PM, with dinner at 6PM.
We are winding down the final 2 months of the 2022 Sailing Season and today we had a nice showing of Soling 50 and ODOM skippers. It truly was a perfect fall day in San Diego. The sea breeze was a little better than anticipated and ranged from about 2-8mph with shifting directions from W to NNW. Fleets managed 6 races each with mostly medium courses. Nice sailing today!
DUE TO COVID19 THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION ABOUT THE PIFA EVENT AND POND AVAILABILITY. PACIFIC ISLAND FESTIVAL 2021 HAS BEEN CANCELED AND REPLACED WITH VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES.
PLEASE NOTE.. THE POND IS OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR USE ON SEPTEMBER 25-26. REMEMBER TO BE CONSIDERATE TO ALL USERS AND SHARE THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE WITH RESPECT.
Saturday, June 05, 2021 – “Scale Regatta & Tug Fest”
Join the SDA Scale Division’s popular Tug Fest to match your Tug’s pulling power against our contestants’ heavy hauler of the sea. Charge up your batteries and put on your biggest prop to show the other crews who has what it takes to keep the sea lanes open and the cargo moving. All scale boats are welcome for free running, including scale sailboats. (no entry or registration fees)
8:00am-6:00pm
Saturday, July 17, 2021 – “Age of Steam”
Shine up your brass, tighten your fittings, fire up your boiler, and get up a full head of steam to show the world the ways that having a raging fire in a boat can actually work (most of the time). Bring your steamers and favorite stories to share in this exciting hobby. Feel free to show off your stationary engines as well.
Static displays and live steam demonstrations welcome!
8:00am-6:00pm
Saturday, August 28, 2021 – “Gray Day & Commodore’s Lunch”
It’s your day to “Bring out the Gray” to join our fleet of battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and other military vessels for a great day of sailing these classic warships. Be warned, however, that there may well be some subs, and a Bismarck or a Yamato lurking in the waters along with a German Schnell Boat, just to keep it interesting. SDA Members – Please Join Us for Lunch – Members of SDA can all join us for our Commodore’s Lunch in which we host our members for a sandwich and chips meal on the green at the pond when the smoke of battle settles down for a brief cease fire.
8:00am-6:00pm
Saturday, December 18, 2021 – “2021 Model Boat Festival of Lights”
Come celebrate the holiday spirit with the San Diego Argonauts Scale Division Model Boat Festival of Lights inspired by San Diego’s popular annual event. Bring the family, some lawn chairs, some hot chocolate, and a camera to get big time enjoyment from this small scale festival of lights.
