Vessels supported

Yachts

Radio controlled model yacht racing has many of the thrills of the full size yacht competition. Society members sail two classes competitively. These are the Lesro Models 575 at 575mm overall length, and the slightly larger 590 class. If you have a 575 or 590 model yacht, bring yours along and have a go. They make a fine sight with up to 12 and sometimes more, all of one design, sailing across the lake in a good breeze/ Typically at the time of writing, the cost of a ’575′ complete with radio gear is in the region of £100 in the water. Second hand boats are also fairly easy to find.

Scale modelling

Model building in scale, of a full size boat, is a challenge to the enthusiastic modeller. It is a creative and fulfilling hobby. In whatever type of boat building your interest lies, building from plans or from purchased kits, the end product is always worth the effort.

Scale steering regattas

The object is to sail a boat purposefully, rather than just up and down the lake. At club level regattas are usually pure steering events and you are judged on your ability to run the course without errors, rather than on how good a model you have built. Only at special events such as the MPBA National Scale Championships are skills in addition to steering judged

A course is set out, using buoys and scenic obstacles, such as islands, wrecks, lighthouses etc… Competitors are given a plan showing the directions to take and what to do at each obstacle. Starting with 100 points, points are deducted for offences such as hitting a buoy or not hitting one that should have been touched, or passing an obstacle the wrong way.

At some point, all competitors will be briefed by the Officer Of the Day (O.O.D.), about the course and how it should be sailed. Make sure everything is understood and if in doubt on any point, get clarification. When called to sail, you will be accompanied by a course judge, whose job it is to check that you have sailed the course correctly and to deduct marks if you haven’t. Talk of officers, judges, rules etc. can be intimidating but don’t be put off! It really is a lot of fun and can be very entertaining.

Fast electric boats

A One-design Class, the ‘Club 500′ – kitted by Model Slipway at a very modest price – is sometimes supported. Powered by rechargable “Nicad” batteries, six “sub-C” cells of 1700 milliamp.hr maximum capacity drive a stock 540 motor. Models reach high speeds around an “M” shaped course. This formula gives race times of around four minutes. A fairly evenly matched performance sorts out the good drivers from the not so good. After a race, the battery pack can be recharged in around fifteen minutes. They are quiet, clean, easy to use and cause no annoyance.

Scale steering – tug towing

These events are usually designed to test the skills of teams of two or three skippers working together to manoeuvre a hulk or disabled vessel from one site to another over a predetermined course, which may or may not involve the negotiation of obstacles. There is also a class for single tugs. The vessels involved must be at least semi-scale versions of recognised types of tug, either current or historical.