Following the completion of the Sacramento Travelers Trophy Regatta on May 2nd & 3rd, here are the current R8 TT Standings:
The next event on the Region 8 Travelers Trophy circuit will be TEAM CHALLENGE I in San Diego on May 30th:
https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/2026/04/27/2026-df95-team-challenge-i-registration-now-open/
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.
Thank you to everyone who stepped up!
Following Sacramento on May 2-3, the next stop on the 2026 Region 8 Travelers Trophy Tour will be San Diego on May 30th for Team Challenge I. This TMS (Team Management System) event will be fast-paced and fun with great spectator appeal. Matches take place on a tight course where rules knowledge and tactics usually win out over straight-line speed. Through a combination of round-robin and wildcard knockout stages, TMS keeps nearly every team ‘in the hunt’ for the final few races, with the winner ultimately being decided by the last race or two!
This year, skippers have the option to enter their own 2-Boat Teams or enter as individuals and be seeded into Teams as in prior team events.
Current Roster (5/10/26):
The San Diego Argonauts hosted the DF95 Region 8 Championship on April 11–12.
A little bit of everything over the weekend—shifting winds, tight mark roundings, and even a 20-minute spurt of rain on Sunday—but one thing remained constant: the Corinthian Spirit. 🙂
We saw it all out there—winds shuffling between S, SW, W, and NW, keeping everyone on their toes and delivering some truly dynamic racing. The competition was top-notch: Jim Sears schooled the fleet on Saturday, and Chris Davidson took over the act on Sunday.
Top 5 and Final Standings below:
1) Chris Davidson
2) Jess Atkinson
3) Keith Ives
4) Dennis Rogers
5) Kerim Baran
A huge thank you to all the competitors, guests, and organizers who made this such a special event. Special shoutout to Chris Staiger and team for putting together an impeccably run regatta—while somehow also cooking up a fantastic BBQ!
And of course, it wouldn’t be an Argonauts weekend without the full experience: the classic Bob Dogs and an amazing pizza spread on Sunday.
All around, another great weekend at the pond!
Pictures & Videos below:
Race 14A
Race 13A
Race 12A
Race 11A
Race 9A
Race 8A
Race 7A
Race 6A
Race 3A
Race 2A
Race 2B
Race 1A
Race 1B
See last page of NOR for Regatta Entry Form:
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.
The format is simple, fast-paced, and fun:
This is more than just a fun day—it’s a great opportunity to:
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.
We’re asking Argonauts members to help make this event a success:
Even showing up and supporting the event will go a long way in creating a great experience.
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!
