RC sailing: maximum fun with minimum expense and effort
We all love sailing, and anything to do with sailing, but with the economy, and life in general recently, we are always looking for ways to get the most out of our day and budget. Did you know there is a way to sail, or do even more sailing, without having to put so much time, money, and effort into it? Hear me out now, I am talking about model yacht racing, also known as remote control (RC) sailing.
Yes, it really is a thing, and a pretty big thing at that. RC sailing has all the excitement, challenges, and rewards of sailing, but on a much easier level. It is a relatively inexpensive hobby to get into. One can be racing for less than $200. And, that $200 investment can easily last 20 years or more with no real re-occurring costs! Compare that with the painful maxim, BOAT means "Break Out Another Thousand,” or the timeless, “A hole in the water where you pour money”.
Besides being so inexpensive to do, it is also very easy to participate, especially in the Mid-Atlantic area. The following is a partial list of some popular clubs in the region:
- Northern Maryland Model Yacht Club, Frederick, MD
- Maryland Model Yacht Club, Bowie and Columbia, MD
- Chesapeake Bay Model Yacht Racing Association, Stevensville, MD
- Heritage Harbour Model Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD
- Northern Virginia Model Yacht Club, Reston, Va
- Solomons Island Model Boat Club, Solomons, MD
- Oxford RC Laser Fleet, Oxford, MD
- The Model Sailing Club of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD
In addition to local clubs, one of the country’s premier RC sailors, multi national class champion, Dave Ramos, operates his national RC sailboat business, Chesapeake Performance Models, in Stevensville, MD.
Some Chesapeake area yacht clubs have started fostering model racing programs. You may have seen the CR 914s racing at the Annapolis Yacht Club Annex, and Southern Maryland Sailing Association just started its own DF 65 racing program this year. Even Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) has started a RC sailing program.
Besides our local area, there are also many clubs around the country that actively race model yachts. The American Model Yachting Association is the national body for model sailboat racing. If you search “The AMYA” on your web browser, you can explore the vastness of the RC racing scene here in the US. From the hundreds of yacht clubs to the vast number of models that race, it really is mind boggling how many there are all over the nation. Just like big boat racing, there are regional and national regattas held annually around the world.
Unlike campaigning a big boat, with all its logistics, all that is necessary with an RC boat is to pack your car and go! Most class racing only takes a couple hours, then one can pack their boat into the back of their car and be off for the rest of their busy day. It’s not a whole day commitment.
Having one’s own RC boat gives one the opportunity to enjoy an experience they might not of had in the big boat world, and it is perfect for men and women alike. We have several women who sail regularly in my yacht club, the Maryland Model Yacht Club (MMYC). Since it is so easy to participate, this is a natural evolution for sailors of some maturity, especially those who might not have the desire to skid across the foredeck of a pitching boat, or enjoy a white-knuckle broach anymore.
A simple plop of the boat in the water, and you are off to the starting line and the next race, all from the comfort of a folding chair, if you desire. If you live on the water, there is also nothing as relaxing as plopping a boat in the water, sailing around and sipping on your favorite beverage. Or, it can also be a lot of fun to hold some fun races with your friends at the dock, as everyone cheers the winner and boos the bad guy committing the foul on port tack.
Finally, for those hard-core racers, I can tell you from experience, there is no better way to get lots of practice with tactics and boat handling, rules, etc., when you do seven races in two hours. Sail trim is essential, so learning this skill happens automatically. So much more concentrated information learning takes place in such a short time. I can speak from experience, RC sailing took my personal big boat program to another level, and I am certain it will for anyone else who has never done it.
I hope that after reading this, your curiosity leads you to investigate this fun hobby and you take the time to explore/experience it. MMYC, as well as all clubs, is always happy to let you experience a sail and participate in racing with us (we can loan you a boat to experience the fun firsthand, without any commitment). We have a positive maxim in model sailing. “Hand someone a boat controller, then stand back and watch their smile grow.”
If any of this sounds interesting to you and you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] for complete information.
Hope to be handing you a controller soon!
By John Ebell
