Imagine running your RC boat in Balboa Park…
Right behind you would be the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Onlookers would smile and watch as you and your fellow Argonauts navigate a 72′ x 40′ pond dedicated to model boating.
Sounds pretty awesome, right? It’s going to happen! October 3 & 4.
The Western Warship Combat Club (WWCC), which typically runs its Battle Pond at the San Francisco Maker Faire, has been invited down to San Diego’s Maker Faire. That means San Diego will be hosting a huge temporary pond for RC combat ships. This is like Battlebots (or should I say Battleboats) that shoot and sink each other!
What’s really cool for the Argonauts is that since WWCC won’t be doing combat every moment, and they’ve invited us to make use of their pond while they’re not. Imagine a hockey rink. When there’s not a game, others use it. That’s us.
Actually, the first battle isn’t until 11:00am Sat and Sun, so the pond is available all morning for fun-running. Battles last a total of 30 minutes, including retrieval, and there is 1 1/2 hour between battles. That’s all fun-run time. After 4:30pm, it’s all fun-run! How about another mini Parade of Lights?
Thursday, October 1st: Volunteers need to build the pond
Friday, October 2nd: Volunteers need to build the pond
Saturday, October 3rd: Volunteers need between battles for fun runs, teaching, etc.
- 7:00am – 9:00am: Unload boats and equipment not already in the Battle Pond arena. (Applies mostly to local skippers.)
- 10:00am: Maker Faire starts.
- 11:00am: Combat
- 1:00pm: Combat
- 2:30pm: Combat
- 4:00pm: Combat
- 4:30pm on: Fun runs, repairs, etc.
- 6:00pm: Maker Faire officially closes for the night. Afterward: Party time and fun runs!
Sunday, October 4th: Volunteers need between battles for fun runs, teaching, etc.
- 7:00am – 9:00am: Unload boats and equipment not already in the Battle Pond arena. (Applies mostly to local skippers.)
- 10:00am: Maker Faire starts.
- 11:00am: Combat
- 1:00pm: Combat
- 2:30pm: Combat
- 4:00pm: Combat
- 4:30pm on: Fun runs, repairs, etc.
- 6:00pm: Maker Faire officially ends.
- 6:00pm: Battle Pond strike begins. All but the pond walls and liner are dismantled. Afterward: Fun runs and BS session.
Monday, October 5th: Volunteers need to tear down the pond
Let’s promote model boating. The San Diego Argonauts is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting radio control model boating and racing. With thousands of people attending Maker Faire, this is the perfect opportunity to show off our hobby and to attract the next generation to the sport of RC model boating.
Best part is, the WWCC is not only going to share its pond, but it’s going to share tables, canopies, electricity for charging, and the general area with the Argonauts. That means, you’ll have a great home base to enjoy the Faire or to simply enjoy your boat. Drop off your boat and then take the shuttle right to the pond.
Also, if you’d like to try your hand at combat, the WWCC will have both armed and unarmed combat ships available for Argonauts to run in battle.
The pond will range in depth from 12″ to 20″, so start thinking of boats that will run in such waters. Scale boats, sail boats, and slower power boats are welcome. Did we mention this is the perfect environment for a submarine?
The following sizes of sailboats could be fun on the battle pond.
- Footy
- Graupner Micro Magic
- CR-914
- Victoria
Here’s what we need to make this happen: you & boats. There are a few simple ways you can volunteer. Picking one or more will make this event great.
- Bring a boat to run on the pond.
- Help set up the pond.
- Help staff the combat events.
If you’d like to run a boat on the pond or to otherwise volunteer, just fill out this quick form so we can get a head count. Click here to volunteer.
Feel free to email Rob Wood rwood@hypergold.com with any questions.
