Small Boats, Big Offseason Fun

Published: Thursday, October 1, 2020
By: Ken Quant

With summer winding down and no real relief from travel restrictions in sight, this year’s offseason seems a bit more daunting than usual. So, how can Great Lakes sailors quench their thirst for wind-powered fun during the upcoming cold weather months? It’s easy: Radio Control (RC) sailing. Increasingly popular, these scaled-down boats offer all the fundamental challenges of sailing without the need for a slip, crew, or upkeep. Simply pull it from your car, drop it into the water, and start sailing.

On its own, RC sailing is an interesting pastime, but these interactive models really shine when raced. As all sailors know, anytime there are two sailboats near each other, it’s a race. This is even more evident when the skippers are standing side-by-side on the shore with joystick boat control. This direct interaction between skippers is part of what makes RC sailing a perfect offseason activity for any group of sailors. No matter if it’s a yacht club, a community sailing organization, or even just a loose group of friends, the affordable cost and easy deployment of these pint-sized yachts offer a perfect way to enjoy some off-season racing action.

Despite common belief, model sailing is not new. As far back as 1851, an English newspaper documented a model in “full sail” in London’s Hyde Park. In 1898, at Madison Square Garden, the first remote control model boat was demonstrated to amazed crowds by no less than Nicola Tesla, himself. Throughout the 20th century, different models and classes continued to develop until it reached a point that the American Model Yachting Association formed. Now celebrating its 50th year, the association currently lists 34 different active classes. A few of the most popular designs include the Soling 1M, DragonFlite 95, EC 12, DragonForce65, RC Laser, US12, Star45, US 1-meter, RG 65, Seawind and Victoria.

Of the active fleets, there are two basic genres: strictly ruled one-design classes, or more open “box rule” development classes. Many of the one-design fleets often, but not always, mimic popular full-size boats like the Laser, Soling, and Star boats. These fleets tightly control boat modifications by rules and generally offer closer racing action. Development classes are for those more interested in pushing technology to gain competitive advantage through design and upgraded components.

For fledgling fleets, picking a one-design boat is usually the best option because it keeps the racing competitive and the cost and time investment under control. An excellent example of how quickly a fleet may grow can be seen in the recently formed DragonForce 65 fleet, at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee. In less than two seasons, 25 members have purchased boats and they now regularly get 12 to 16 RC boats out racing on Sunday afternoons in front of the clubhouse.

According to Fleet Captain Andrew Van Sickle, “We picked the DragonForce 65 because it is very affordable and doesn’t require too much assembly.” He estimates the build-time to be about five hours. They also limit modifications, like upgraded sails, to keep the playing field level, which is an important consideration in keeping competitors coming back for more. “Nobody likes to lose over and over again,” said Van Sickle.

From the club’s perspective, this new fleet has been a welcome addition that offers members one more reason to come down to enjoy a little sailing fun and camaraderie during the offseason.

In an era when the usual indoor gatherings are not recommended, RC sailing offers a great outdoor group option. If you share my concerns for the impending winter doldrums this year, why not corral a group of your local sailing friends and talk them into spending a few hundred dollars on an RC sailboat? It’s a perfect way to keep the summer sailing party going through the colder weather months.