Tag: Marblehead

🧜‍♀️ A Mermaid Joins the Argonauts!

The San Diego Argonauts have a new skipper — and a new Mermaid in the fleet!

Please welcome Sharman French, one of our newest SDA members and, notably, our first female member in quite a while — perhaps close to a decade!

Sharman recently picked up a brand-new DF95, and she certainly made it her own. Appropriately named Mermaid, the boat now sports a beautiful custom mermaid skin (from DragonSkinsUSA) that is going to be hard to miss on the water.

Getting a new DF95 from the box to the starting line takes a little work, and in true Argonaut fashion, it became a team effort. Steve and Pat helped Sharman rig and set up the boat, while Kerim helped apply Mermaid’s colorful new skin.

And there’s another fun twist to the story.

Sharman has spent time in Marblehead, Massachusetts — a pretty fitting coincidence for someone now getting into RC sailboat racing!

For those new to the hobby, Marbleheads are one of the oldest, fastest, and most sophisticated development classes in radio-controlled sailing — what we recently called the “Formula 1 cars of RC sailboats” in our latest Argonauts Radio episode, “Marbleheads Are Making a Comeback: Trend or Here to Stay?” If you haven’t heard it yet, check it out and learn a little more about this legendary RC sailing class.

From Marblehead to Mission Bay, perhaps Sharman was destined to become an RC sailor!

Mermaid is now rigged, skinned, and ready to go. The next step is getting Sharman out on the starting line with the rest of us.

We also hope Sharman’s arrival inspires more people of all ages, backgrounds, and genders to come discover the San Diego Argonauts. RC sailing is a sport and hobby that truly can be enjoyed by just about anyone — whether you’re an experienced sailor, a lifelong maker, or someone who has never touched a sailboat before.

There’s always room for another skipper at the pond!

Welcome to the San Diego Argonauts, Sharman — and welcome to the fleet, Mermaid! 🧜‍♀️⛵

We look forward to seeing both skipper and boat crossing tacks with us at the pond!

🎙️Argonauts Radio – Episode 14: Are Marbleheads Making a Comeback?

Are Marbleheads making a comeback?

In the latest episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio, Commodore Jess Atkinson sits down with Bruce Andersen, U.S. Marblehead Class Secretary and Chairman of the International Radio Sailing Association (IRSA), for a fascinating conversation about one of the oldest, fastest, and most technologically advanced classes in radio sailing.

Also available on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marbleheads-are-making-a-comeback-trend-or-here-to-stay/id1874110517?i=1000779643020

The Marblehead has a history stretching back nearly a century. Originally developed in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the class evolved from free sailing to vane sailing and eventually radio control. Today’s Marbleheads bear little resemblance to those early boats. At 50 inches long with 800 square inches of sail, modern Marbleheads are lightweight, carbon-fiber, deep-keel racing machines capable of remarkable acceleration and speed.

As Bruce puts it, if tightly controlled classes such as the IOM and DragonForce are the NASCAR of radio sailing, the Marblehead is Formula One.

Jess and Bruce explore the evolution of the class—from the home-built boats that once dominated American radio sailing, through legendary designs such as the Scalpel, to today’s extremely narrow and sophisticated Grunge and Red Ant designs.

They also discuss why Marblehead racing declined in the United States as sailors migrated toward the more easily transported IOM and, later, the DF classes—and why that trend may now be starting to reverse.

New fleets and renewed interest are appearing on both coasts, with experienced IOM sailors increasingly adding Marbleheads to their boat sheds. Regattas are beginning to combine IOM and Marblehead racing, and the Marblehead will be one of the featured classes at San Diego Argonauts Race Week 2027.

And there is a reason sailors keep coming back to them.

They are fast.

Really fast.

Modern Marbleheads feature sophisticated rigs—including their distinctive swing rigs—and acceleration unlike almost anything else in radio sailing. As Jess describes it, sheet in the sail and the boat can take off “like a rocket.”

Bruce and Jess also talk about how newcomers can get involved. Their advice is simple: don’t buy one first—sail one. Come to a Marblehead regatta, introduce yourself, and chances are someone will happily put a transmitter in your hands.

Also in this episode, Jess gives a big shout-out to everyone who helped make the 2026 San Diego Argonauts Open House such a successful “party at the park,” and wraps up with results and highlights from recent ODOM, DF95, and IOM points racing at the Mission Bay Model Yacht Pond.

If you’ve ever wondered why Marblehead sailors become so enthusiastic about these extraordinary boats—or you’re simply curious about the history and evolution of high-performance radio sailing—this is an episode you’ll want to hear.

Are Marbleheads simply enjoying another moment in the spotlight, or are they truly making a comeback?

Give the episode a listen and decide for yourself.

⛵🏆 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 11, 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.

The Marblehead Regatta: The California Cup (February 20, 2025)

A Day of  Racing at San Diego Pond.

The morning of February 20, 2025, dawned crisp and clear over San Diego Pond, where six highly skilled skippers prepared for an intense day of Marblehead-class racing. Sponsored by the esteemed Argonauts Radio Sailing Club, the event promised high-level competition, tactical brilliance, and the sheer excitement of sailing these sleek, high-performance yachts.

As the starting clock sounded for the first of fourteen races, the fleet surged forward, slicing through the water with precision. Each skipper, standing along the shore with their radio controllers in hand, relied on years of experience to navigate the ever-changing wind conditions. The Marbleheads, with their lightweight hulls and towering sails, responded instantly to every command, making for a fast-paced and fiercely competitive regatta.

Larry Grant sailed a solid event from the start, but for much of the day, he trailed behind the early leaders, including Jess Atkinson and John Castelli, who set the pace with strong performances. George Pedrick and Chris Sullivan also posted consistent finishes, keeping the competition close. Gene Harris, showed determination throughout the event.

As the regatta progressed, Larry steadily improved, making small adjustments to his tactics and boat handling. By the final stretch of races, he had found his rhythm, closing the gap on the frontrunners. Going into the last few races, he had worked his way into contention, setting the stage for an exciting finish.

With more than one point separating him from his closest competitor, Larry needed a strong finish to secure victory. In the final race, the fleet charged off the starting line, with Jess pushing hard to maintain his advantage. Larry, however, executed a masterful upwind leg, positioning himself perfectly for the final downwind run. With a decisive move at the last mark, he surged ahead, crossing the finish line first and sealing both the race win and the overall regatta victory.

With the standings finalized, the results were:

  1. Larry Grant – First place
  2. Jess Atkinson – Second place
  3. John Castelli – Third place
  4. George Pedrick – Fourth place
  5. Chris Sullivan – Fifth place
  6. Gene Harris – Sixth place

As the sun dipped behind the horizon, the sailors gathered for the awards ceremony, exchanging handshakes and recounting the day’s thrilling battles on the water.

The regatta was a testament to the high level of competition and camaraderie within the Argonauts Radio Sailing Club, providing both participants and spectators with a memorable day of sailing.