Jan. 6 Sail Points-Soling 50 & ODOM

There were many glassy holes on our pond for the first races of the 2024 season. That said, each fleet managed 6 races just in time for happy hour! (happy is getting home before dark). VC Sail, Chris Staiger handled the workload, setting marks, RD’ing both fleets and even some entertainment with a broken oar trick. Chris even demonstrated his Venetian gondola poling technique while standing in the skiff. (not coast guard approved). All good fun!

Our ODOM fleet is growing and it’s fun to see skippers from other classes take the helm of that classy little pond yacht. The ODOM fleet welcomed Steve Ross, Pat Nevitt, Tom Warren and Dennis Rogers to the roster. It should be a fun year with these added skippers on the line.

Pat Nevitt is once again our score keeper for 2024.. Thank You Pat for volunteering!

January 19th is the SDA AWARDS BANQUET. January 12 is the deadline to pay. Don’t miss the boat!

Smooth Sailing, Gil

2024 IOM AMYA Region 8  Championship Regatta

FEBRUARY 16-17-18

The San Diego Argonauts are excited to host the 2024 IOM AMYA Region 8 Championship Regatta. February is a perfect time to escape the cold weather and enjoy San Diego and Mission Bay Model Yacht Pond. The IOM sailing community is cordially invited to join the fun!

The Following links will direct you to IOM USA

ENTRY LIST

https://www.iomusa.org/2024-r8-regatta-entry-list

ENTRY FORM

https://www.iomusa.org/2024-r8-regatta-entry-form

NOTICE OF RACE

2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Don’t miss this Region 8 Ranking Event in Feb. 2024

DEC. 9-DF95 & IOM Points

The San Diego Argonauts completed their final Saturday of the 2023 Points Racing Season. It looks like the winds did not cooperate sufficiently to allow IOM skippers their December points opportunity. Despite that disappointment, we must focus on all the fun we have had throughout the entire season and thank everyone that has participated in activities this year.

A special thank you to all the volunteers that make our passion of R/C sailing possible. 2024 is going to be an even more exciting year on our pond!

Best Wishes for the Holiday Season. Gil

2024 CALENDAR

DEC.2-ODOM & Soling 50 Points

ODOM and Soling 50 skippers concluded the 2023 Points Season with nice participation from both fleets. Mission Bay delivered a typical fall day with plenty of sunshine and a very light onshore breeze. It was tedious sailing for sure, but rather difficult to complain about the weather.

Ty Beach, RD for the ODOM fleet, manned the skiff and set marks and course for a south west wind direction. Ty modified our normal route to the weather offset mark and choose a starboard rounding, reaching left to right. On the medium course the starting line became a gate.. It’s good to mix it up! Thank you Ty for volunteering!

Thank You Ken Wild for the First ODOM start.

The light breeze continued with a shift to the right by the time the Soling 50 fleet launched into action. Tom Warren, our RD adjusted the course back to our more normal port rounding and shortened the weather leg to accommodate the even lighter afternoon conditions. It was a drifter but the fleet managed to complete the six heat series. Thank you Tom!

Cumulative Scores for the the 2023 Points Season are being tallied.. Stay tuned!

CHECK OUT THE 2024 CALENDAR! THIS THING WE DO TOGETHER IS A LOT OF FUN!

NOV.25-Soling 50 & ODOM Points

Chris Staiger, our new 2024 Vice Commodore of Sail, arrived at the shores of our pond early to prep the skiff, marks and starting gear. A light onshore breeze filed in early and it appeared to be a promising day of pond sailing. Chris manned the skiff and set the marks for our Soling 50 fleet, of 8 skippers.

We had a modest turnout of Soling 50 and ODOM skippers determined to close out the 2023 seasons on a positive note. The ODOM fleet welcomed two additional yachts to the roster. Good luck Tom Warren and Pat Nevitt. You will discover the ODOM is a fun rig to sail!

Pat Nevitt was our volunteer Race Director for the Soling 50 fleet. Before the start of the series Pat reminded us about sailing in the Corinthian Spirit. This is a proclamation we must all take to heart.. A medium course was the norm and followed though the 6 heat series. Thanks to all that joined the fleet today!

By the time the ODOM fleet had their turn on the water the breeze started to vacillate (I think that’s a word). In turn, Chris shortened the weather leg to accommodate the indecisive wind conditions. I think fluctuation and oscillation are other good words that describe the conditions. Skippers may have had some of their own descriptive word as well! At any rate, Chris Staiger did a good job finishing the 6 heat afternoon before dusk. Thanks again to everyone that helped make this day fun!

Remember to volunteer when you can.. it takes a village!

BRING ON DECEMBER

NOV. 18 Points- IOM & DF95

A cutoff low pressure system tried to spoil our pond sailing this weekend but sunny skies prevailed as IOM and DF 95 skippers were treated to a summer like day.. Unfortunately the wind pressure did not follow the blue sky. A very light breeze from the southwest in the 3-6 mph range prevailed most oft the day and oil slick water on the west end presented a real problem to most skippers. That being said both classes completed their 6 race series. Mostly in slow motion!

Chris Staiger set the marks and lined up a course that was suitable for the conditions and also handled the duties of Race Director for the 8 boat IOM Fleet. We appreciate your direction Chris!

SCORES BY PAT NEVITT
SCORES BY PAT NEVITT

By the time the DF 95 fleet had their turn on the pond the wind conditions deteriorated another notch or two. Craig Mackey stepped in as Race Director for the DF fleet and worked with the light breeze and shortened course configuration. Thank you Craig for volunteering today!

SCORES BY PAT NEVITT
SCORES BY PAT NEVITT

Despite frustrating wind conditions we got all our races off and had a good day on our pond.. Special thanks to those who participated and pitched in a hand to make this day possible.

SPECIAL REMINDER: November 25 is a ODOM & Soling 50 Points Make Up Day!

Smooth Sailing, Gil

DF95 FUN & FOWL REGATTA

A healthy group of DF 95 skippers faired well today with no fowl weather and no fowl language.. Jess Atkinson was the master of ceremony and directed a full day of sailing on Mission Bay Model Yacht Pond. At stake today was winners rights to a booty of fresh fowl for the Thanksgiving table!

Prior to racing skippers gathered around Dennis Rogers for an informative tuning seminar. Dennis shared valuable setup and tuning tricks for the DF95. I think everyone learned something from the class..Dennis is FAST!

Jess got us all thinking about the four boat circle with four DF95 yachts parked bow too stern on the grass . The visualization gave us a good refresher on how to avoid problems when rounding the leeward mark. The stage was set and skippers were eager to bring home the bacon! Tom Warren backed up the class with expert assist at the start and finish. GREAT JOB!

Chris & Team Rogers
Race #2, Race #5, Race #8, I think

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS

Don’t Forget

SOLING 50 & ODOM-NOVEMBER 25

OCT.21-DF95 & IOM Points

A fantastic day greeted a nice group of skippers, on our last points event for October. DF95 and IOM fleets experienced consistent 6-10mph north west breezes that held trough out the day.

Craig-Mike

Craig Mackey was our volunteer Race Director for the DF95 fleet and managed 6 races on our standard medium course. There was some tight racing in the in the top ranks but Dennis Rogers came out on top with some beautiful sailing.

DF-95 Fleet

Chris Staiger stepped up as Race Director for the IOM fleet. The wind was favorable for long courses, so five longs and one modified (“Freddy”) medium course filled up the day. Mike Fruciano made the road trip from Arizona.. Thank you Mike for your participation! Congratulations Dennis Rogers for some very consistent sailing!

Bob Williams, once again, pushed that semi-portable grill half way around the world to serve up his specialty.. HOT DOGS!! Thank you Bob!!

Thank You Pat Nevitt for the beautiful score sheets.. YOU ROCK!! After all, scores are the meat of this post!

DF95’s DON’T FORGET NOVEMBER 11

SEE YOU AT THE POND.. Gil

OCT.14-IOM Fun Regatta

Seven IOM skippers participated today in our October IOM Fun Regatta. Ken Wild was our volunteer Race Director for a full day on the water. Thank you Ken for hanging in there for a total of 14 races.. I know that wasn’t in the contract!

IOM skippers sailed a course suggested by Steve Ross, inspired by the recent European IOM Championships. The weather mark was an outside -to inside gate. We did two upwind and two downwind legs and omitted our traditional offset reach in the middle. I think it worked fairly good.. A little more separation between the marks would make it even better.

Steve Ross recorded some drone footage of the first few races but they still live on a tiny little SD card.. once I track down my reader we will be in business!

It was a good day of sailing!

How About Fast & Fowl??

Don’t Forget… November 11

DF95 FUN & FOWL REGATTA