For those not familiar with radio controlled sailboat racing – it’s quite popular here, with clubs active on the east and west sides of Phoenix. And once a few of our AYC members discovered the fun of sailing with remote controls and smaller boats, more followed.
Mike Ferring, AYC Racing Captain and former Commodore, is now serving as Commodore for the West Valley R/C Mariners. Mike has years of experience on full-size boats and blames another past Commodore, Al Lehman, for getting him hooked on R/C sailing – after being offered a turn at the gaming-like controls.
Looking for a new hobby or passion to pursue? How about unplugging from the internet and getting outside for some good old-fashioned fun? Radio controlled sailing may be the answer!
Below we are sharing Mike’s write-up of the most recent event hosted by the West Valley R/C Mariners. It may not be big boat racing, but it appears to be every bit as fun and competitive.
Mark golison wins the DF95 Region 8 Regatta
By Mike Ferring, Commodore
The DF95 Region 8 Travel Series Regatta couldn’t have been better, enjoying some of the finest RC sailing conditions imaginable: wind 5-10 knots and temperature in the 70s. The competition was even better. A dozen of the best sailors in California (and in the country) traveled to Arizona on January 27-28 and dominated the results sheet.
Mark Golison came in marked as the man to beat, and at the end of two days of racing at Estrella North Lake he’d captured first place with a dominating performance. The next spots were closer, with Larry Grant, Dennis Rogers, Keith Ives, and Jim Sears finishing second through fifth. (They’re pictured first to fifth below right.) Al Lehman, Jr. was WVRCM’s highest placing entrant in seventh, just one point out of sixth. Al told me his biggest challenge was punching through on the starts, since our regattas don’t have a dozen boats or more on the start line, as this one did. Continue to the full article
