Tag: DF95

⛵🏆 Race Week 2027 (Save the Date)

Save the Date: 2027 San Diego Race Week

The Argonauts Board and the Race Week Committee have officially met and selected the dates for our 16th Triennial San Diego Race Week, which will take place at the San Diego Model Boat Pond from September 27 through October 10, 2027.

Our current plan is to host eight National Championship Regattas across eight model yacht classes over two weeks.

We are currently working with the AMYA class organizations to finalize the Race Week schedule and determine the order in which each class will compete.

Mark your calendars! We look forward to welcoming sailors from across the country for two exciting weeks of competitive racing and camaraderie at one of the premier model yachting venues in the United States.

Stay tuned for additional details as planning continues.

🏆 2026 Team Challenge I: Monday Morning Quarterbacking

Congratulations to ‘The Boys of Summer’ (Larry Grant and Jim Sears) who managed to ‘Outwit, Outplay, Outlast‘ the competition and win the coveted top position in the first Region 8 Team Racing Event of 2026!

With 8 Teams, the day began with a Stage 1 Round-Robin of 28 Races. The winds were good, the course was tight, the competition was fierce and many matches were decided in the last few feet before the finish. Team Bueno (John Rogers and Scotty Harris) piled up 6 wins with only a single loss to ‘The Boys‘ who also lost only a single race to the ‘Trap Rioters‘ (Doc Elliott and Stephen Cohen). Meanwhile, ‘Annoying Orange‘ (Dennis Rogers and Jess Atkinson) managed 5 wins to round out the Top 3 and join the Boys and Bueno directly in the Finals (Stage 3).

The remaining 5 Teams were seeded into the Stage 2 Wild Card Knockout Bracket where sudden-death awaited each losing Team. The Bleve Bombers (Len Bose and Chuck Simmons) crept from the cellar and ran the table to win 3 straight races and earn their way into the Finals!

Proof that no matter how poorly a Team does in Stage 1, the Team Management System (TMS) allows everyone a second chance.

In Stage 3, it all came down to the 2 FINAL RACES to determine the first 3 Places! In the penultimate race, the Bleve Bombers defeated Annoying Orange to claim 3rd Place. Then, in the final race of the day (RACE 38), the Boys beat Bueno to clinch 1st Place!

Kudos to Team ‘Dry Heat‘ (Rod Sturgess and Mike Fruciano) who traveled all the way from Arizona to compete!

If you missed out on all the fun, you have a second chance to participate in Team Challenge II on August 16th at Mason Park in Irvine. Don’t miss it!

Photo Credit: Mike Schachter

🏆 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!

🏆 2026 DF95 R8 Championship – Final Standings

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

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!