Mount Hope Bay Model Yacht Club

DF95 Racing. 8/26/25

The tide reached its peak at just about 11 am, with a temperature in the low seventies, and a west wind at about 10 mph. Humidity was low, and it just felt like a comfortable late-summer day. A record eleven members thought so too, and brought their boats to the cove for some high-tide fun.

Our amazing helpers, Judy and Connie, were there as usual to keep score, start races, and do whatever else was necessary. Thank you both very much.

It was good to see members Pat Donovan and Bill Reposa, who came to spectate, and Shelley, who came to support Bill.

The DroneBuoy and the pin formed the east-west start line. The boats set off heading south to take the blue, then the green to port, head north to the pink/white, also to port, and back to the line.

The second race was twice around, but too many boats collected weed, so Rob took the dinghy and put in a red mark south of the pink/white. We then dropped the green mark from the course in the hope that the bulk of the weed would be avoided. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen so much so that Rob and Wes withdrew in frustration!

There were seven races with only two different winners: Nick was racing a different boat this week, with sail number 1738, and he notched up three, while Fokka won the other four. However, Nick added three second places to become today’s champion. Fokka was runner-up. 

Other second-place finishers were Rob, Al, Bill Northup, and Kim.

Greg had three third-place finishes, which gave him enough points to place third overall today. 

Other third places went to Kim, Mike, and Louis. Kim and Mike finished level on points, but Kim got fourth place today by virtue of his second-place finish. It was very unusual for Bill David not to finish in the top three in any race. I can’t remember it ever happening before

The results are attached and can also be found on our website mhbmyc.org

DF95 racing resumes next Tuesday, September 2nd, when the tide will be coming in towards a high at 2.21 pm, Kim and I will be in mid-Atlantic, and events will be in the very capable hands of Commodore Mike, ably assisted by Connie. Judy and Bill have another appointment.

Very best wishes to all.

It’s been a privilege and a joy to play a role in this club.

Have fun and keep on rockin’

Derek

Club Dinner. 8/24/25

Twenty-two people enjoyed a very pleasant social evening at Aidan’s Irish Pub in Bristol. It was heartening that the members present expressed their fondness for the club and the wish that the club would survive and prosper. With Kim and Derek exiting active management of the club, and Paul’s wish to retire from the position of Webmaster, things had been in the balance. Mike Todd stepped forward and offered to become Commodore and Webmaster. Elected unanimously!

Wes, who was unable to attend the meeting, had offered to assume the role of Treasurer. Offer accepted!

With Rob managing the “make ready” and “put away” ends of the season, I think everything is taken care of, and the club will go forward embodying the spirit of (very) friendly competition.

There followed a discussion about the club championship and the best way to go forward. The majority supported continuing to score race days as in the past.

The short formal part of the evening concluded with the award of the Corinthian Trophy. This year, it was awarded to two people, so it’s just as well that they’re married. Judy and Bill David are the recipients. Congratulations.

Congratulations and Good Luck, too, to Mike and Wes.

Thanks to everyone for coming, and I think, a good time was had by all.

Derek

DF95 Racing. 8/19/25

Cooler temperatures made the morning more pleasant than recent race days. The light and variable breeze was from our least favorite direction (ENE), and the tide was starting to come in from a low around 10.30. 

Nine members brought boats to the cove and competed in eight races. Kim positioned the DroneBuoy to form the start line with the pin. The course was a simple anti-clockwise one today: north to the red/yellow mark, then south to the blue mark, and back to the line. 

It was good to see Bill and Shelley Northup today. Bill sailed, and Shelley assisted Judy in starting and keeping score. Connie was also there to assist and take some pictures. I hope she got one of Al winning the fourth race. Judy’s granddaughter, Maggie, also paid a visit today. Thank you all.

Another welcome visitor was Bill Raposa, who threatens to sail his DF95 next season.

We had four different race winners: Fokka won four, Wes won two, and Al and Greg won one each.

Fokka also came second in two races and third in another two to romp home in first place overall today by quite a large margin.

Wes, with two second places and one third place to add to his two wins, was the runner-up, and in third place was Bill David, who, unusually, didn’t have any wins today but displayed the consistency that all sailors need.

Nick squeezed Al out of fourth place by just one point.

I’ve been very encouraged by all the emails I’ve had saying how much the club is liked and by all the offers of help.

This club has a future!

Relatively new member and Tiverton resident, Mike Todd, has offered to become our next Commodore. Great news, Mike. Quick, let’s hold a vote!

The results are attached and can always be found, along with other news, on our website mhbmyc.org

DF95s race again next Tuesday, August 26th, when the tide will be high at close to 11.00.Reminder:  Dinner at Aidan’s next Sunday, August 24th, at 6 pm

23 have signed up so far

See you there,

Derek

DF95 Racing 8/12/25

It was 80 degrees at the start of Rob’s workshop at 10.00 this morning. Rob covered the basics of DF95 setup and provided examples using several members’ boats. He then went on to discuss the latest thinking from experts in the sport. Finally, he gave some great advice on rounding the marks on our tricky course, covered the inside, outside overlap rules, and suggested that we should all “think vertically” when rounding a mark.                                

Rob got a well-deserved round of applause. Thank you very much, Rob. 

Eight members put boats in the water and ran seven races. The tide was very high, and the light wind was from the southwest. The start line was formed by the DroneBuoy and the pin, and the course was south to the blue mark, the north to the pink and white mark and back to the line. All marks taken to port.

 I couldn’t stay for the racing this morning, so Judy and Connie looked after starting, scoring and judging. Thank you very much

The results are attached.

DF95 racing will resume next Tuesday, August 19th, when the tide will be at a low at 10.30.

If you haven’t, please let me know if you’ll be attending our Club Dinner on Sunday, August 24th .

Take care,

Derek 

MODEL BOAT CLUB MEETING 8/5/25

The lunch meeting was held at Aidan’s Irish Pub in Bristol.

Let me start by saying how very disappointed I was with the very low turnout, not even as many as come to any given race day. Lunch was delicious, by the way.

Attendees: Bill and Judy David, Fokka deJong, Kim Hanna, Paul Mercer, Derek Melven, Al and Connie Sampson, Wes Siegner, and guest Andy David.

Apologies for absence were received from Nick Bailey, Louis Cordeiro, Jim Fuller, Rob Hill, Jim Kelly, Bill and Shelley Northup, and  Mike Todd.

Kim gave the Treasurer’s report. The Club has $1,600 before paying for the lunch, $182 more than last year.

Kim and Derek announced that they were bowing out of the club and that they have planned a trip to Europe with their wives starting September 2nd.

Kim and Derek talked about all the things that need to be done in the club, nothing earth-shattering, but they have to be done.

Calling the weather,

Preparing and printing score sheets,

Compiling results for races and the championship,

Getting the starter to the cove and ensuring its batteries work,

Ditto for the DroneBuoy,

Keeping track of club finances,

Getting the rescue boat out in the Spring and putting it away in the Fall.

Preparing and placing the marks, and removing them at the end of the season.

The Banquet?

Al rightly pointed out that the Commodore or Treasurer need not be racers. Paul asked if the officials had to be residents of the Village. With so few active members now, the answer is “no”. Resident members can always be called upon if needed to communicate with The Boathouse

Restaurant. Wes was not proposing that we do this, but said that another club he belongs to doesn’t even score races. 

It was resolved to make all club members aware of the situation via email.  This is it!

Urgent thought and action are needed. Come on, guys and gals, this is your club, established in 2007. Keep it going.

On the subject of the Pot Luck Banquet, nothing has been organised this year. It was suggested that we have a Sunday evening dinner for all members, their wives, husbands, and significant others at Aidan’s. This was agreed, and a reservation was made for Sunday, August 24th at 6.00 pm. The Club will pay! (as far as the exchequer extends)

Please let me know if you will be attending, and, if so, who will be accompanying you.

Keep smiling,

Derek

DF95 Racing. 8/5/25

Another hot but less humid morning, but still with traces of the Canadian wildfires in the atmosphere, greeted seven members at the cove today.

Judy kept score once again, with thanks from everyone. Ace photographer Connie was also there, hoping to record Al’s exploits. It was good to see Paul Mercer, who made a welcome visit, but without a boat. We also welcomed Andy David, Bill’s and Judy’s son, who took control of “00” now and again.

With the strengthening breeze from the northeast, the starting line was from a diagonal relative to the shore, formed by the DroneBuoy and the pin. From there, the course ran northwest to the red mark, then south to the blue mark, both taken to port. Once around for the first race, then twice around for the remaining eight races. Paul used a klaxon to call attention to infringements at the start line. Thanks, Paul.

There were four different race winners this morning: Nick and Fokka won three each, Bill won two, and Greg won one.

Bill had four second places and two third places to become today’s Champion. Runner-up was Fokka, with Greg in third place just ahead of Nick.

There were a couple of disputes today that got a little heated. A gentle reminder: this is a friendly club specializing in fun!

The full results are on our website, mhbmyc.org and attached to this email.

After racing, we adjourned to Aidan’s Irish Pub in Bristol for a Club lunch and meeting.

An email on the meeting will follow Tomorrow.

DF95 racing resumes next Tuesday, August 12th, when the tide will be.very high at 11 am.

In the meantime, be happy, stay calm, and enjoy whatever you do.

Derek

DF95 Racing 7/29/25 and important notice

Another hot and humid day, with a high tide, didn’t deter eight members from bringing their boats to the cove. Kim also brought the DroneBuoy and guided it to its position.

The temperature was in the mid-eighties, and the 7 mph wind was from the west, so the course was, from the DroneBuoy and pin starting line, southwest to the blue and then the green mark, taken to port, then northeast to the pink and white mark, also to port and back to the line. This course was unchanged for all seven races.

Judy, once again, did an excellent job of starting and scoring the races. Many thanks, Judy. Connie was also there to support Al and take some of her great pictures.

Louis had a new boat and new sail numbers, 03.  

We had four different race winners today: Fokka won three, Rob won two, and Bill and Greg won one each. 

Fokka and Rob both finished second twice, as did Bill, and Greg finished second once.

Al and Mike both had third place finishes. Other third places went to Bill (2), Rob (2), and Fokka.

When all was said and done. Fokka is today’s Champion with 10 points, closely followed by Rob with 12, and, with 16 points, Bill.

Thanks to all for some very close racing

The results are attached and can also be found along with all the other news on our website mhbmyc.org

Racing continues next Tuesday, August 5th, when the tide will be low at 10.48. Plenty of beach, so lots of room for many boats. Come on down!

Important Announcement: After racing next Tuesday, we will be holding a club meeting at Aidan’s Irish Pub at John Street in Bristol. We’ll meet at around 1 pm for lunch. The club will pick up the tab, so even if you don’t race, be there to enjoy some good food and drink, have some fun, and join in the lively discussion.

Stay safe, stay cool, and have fun,

Derek

DF95 Racing 7/15/25

The early morning showers soon gave way to a sunny, but very humid day with a 6 mph wind from the southwest and a high tide, peaking at 12.14.

Seven members and their boats squeezed onto the beach for a few hours of friendly, competitive fun. Jim Kelly paid us a visit, and Luis was there, but without his boat.

Judy started the races, kept score, and was the voice of reason. (“Time for a water break”). Many thanks, Judy. 

Connie was there too to support Al and take some photographs. 

Kim had family visitors today, so I was in charge of the DroneBuoy, but my many hours of arduous training came to naught when Bill decided he would rather wade out and plant a “throw-in” mark for the start line. This and the pin became a rather long start line. The course was simple: south to the blue mark, then north to the yellow mark, and back to the line, twice around, taken to port.

Variety is the spice of life, so for the third race, the course became once around, for the fourth race, it was one and a half times around, and, finally, for the last two races, we came to the conclusion that we were right the first time and changed back to the original course. Whew!

Our sailors are used to the challenge of wind and waves, but today we had the added challenge of weed, copious weed. Nevertheless, we held six races and had four different winners. Wes won the first race, and Nick the second. The other four races were shared by Bill and Fokka.

Bill had three second places while Fokka had one, so Bill wins the duel and is today’s Champion.

Nick and Greg both had second places. Nick had to leave after the third race, and Greg, with two third-place finishes, took third place overall today, but just one point ahead of Al.

After a great start, Wes was out for two races and finished sixth today, just one point ahead of Mike. 

Fun today, despite the weed in the water and the high humidity.

The full results are attached and can also be found on our website, mhbmyc.org

Racing will continue next Tuesday, July 22nd, when there will be lots of beach as the tide will be at a low at 11.32..

In other news, please join me in wishing Ed Haddad a speedy recovery from a very painful hip fracture. Ed was a past commodore of the club. Get well soon, Ed.

Stay safe…..take care…..have fun,

Derek

DF95 Racing 7/8/25

The early morning fog had lifted by nine, and the high humidity was easing fast. There were still dire warnings of “high heat” and a “thunderstorm watch”, but that couldn’t deter the ten members from bringing their boats to the cove this morning. The tide was approaching a low at noon, and the WSW wind was about 8 mph. It was in the mid to high eighties and quite humid.

Kim was back from the geysers and waterfalls of Iceland and guided the DroneBuoy to its position as one of the starting marks, with the pin being the shore-most mark on this occasion.

The course was south to the blue mark, and sometimes the green as well, then north to the yellow mark, twice around with all marks taken to port.

Judy was there to score and keep track of things, and Connie was there to assist. Thank you both very much.

It was good to see Wilkie, who paid us a visit for a while, and good to see Greg back in good racing form. We missed you both.

Fokka won the first race of the six and went on to win another four. Greg was the only other sailor who won today. Needless to say, Fokka is today’s Champion with 5 points. Second place was more difficult to determine as Wes took two second places, as did Bill. Rob and Nick took the other two second places. Greg took three third places,, Wes took two, and Rob and Greg took one each.

So, Greg and Wes were tied on 15 points, but Greg gets second place by virtue of his win.

It was very hot at the cove, and we had a water break after the third race. Rob took the opportunity to replace his sails. That seemed to work as he finished second in the fourth race. In the fifth, he got tangled with weed, and he missed the sixth as he had a family commitment. Bill also sat out the last three races as his transmitter batteries died.

Despite the really hot conditions, everyone had a good, if sometimes frustrating, time.

Well done, everyone!

The full results are attached and can be found with all the other news on our website, mhbmyc.org

Competition resumes next Tuesday, July 15th, when the tide will be high at 12.14.

Whatever you do in the meantime, stay safe, be kind, and have fun.

Derek

DF95 Racing. 7/1/25

A damp foggy morning brightened a little, and, with no racing last week, and 10 mph SSW winds, seven members were lured to the cove. Kim and his wife, Pat were on the return journey from their adventures in Iceland and Louis and Cindy had told me they would be on holiday. I had family staying with me so my part was just to get the starter and score sheet to the shore. The event was in the capable hands of Judy and Connie. Thank you both very much.

The tide was coming in towards a high at 1.44 pm and the start was formed by a red buoy and the pin and off on a typical course for winds from the south. (I wasn’t there). The temperature was a muggy 78 degrees, the boats were moving well and there were six races.

My interpretation from the scoresheet is that there was some close racing with Fokka and Rob winning three races each. They also had two second place finishes each, and even a fourth place each, so it was a classic tie but Fokka gets first place today because he won the first race. Is this right? Protests on a $10 bill, please.

Bill David with his new boat was consistent with four third places,and that put him third overall today.

Nick had two second place finishes. but had mainsail control problems for the final two races pushing him down to fifth place, tied on points with Al.

Wes finished in fourth place by virtue of his one third place and two fourth place finishes. Mike tailed the field, but, like everyone else, was pleased to be back on the water racing at last.

The results are attached and these, and all the news, can be found on our website, mhbmyc.org

Racing continues next Tuesday, July 8th when the tide will be low at noon from a high at 07.00

Enjoy the July 4th festivities, parades, and family time,

Have fun,

Derek