Three members of The Villages Model Yacht Squadron traveled to Naples this past weekend to race in the RC model yacht class Soling 1M National Championships.
Mike Vanover and Alan and Liz Perkins from the Village of Amelia traveled south to Naples for the Soling 1M National Championships over this last weekend. The conditions were perfect for the 45 entered competitors with 10 to 15 mph breezes from the northeast which was ideal for the lake giving the Race Director Dave Brawner the chance to lay the best course for championship RC sailboat racing seen for many a year. Competitors travelled from far and wide coming from as far afield as Canada plus from New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and from all around Florida.
Villager Alan Perkins raced hard all weekend to come in third by only one point to Ron Lange from Palm City who were both well out sailed by the new 2015 National Champion Art Hawes from Englewood.
Perkins’ wife Liz, sailing in her first national RC championships, sailed brilliantly against the competition many of whom were sailing in their third and fourth major championship regatta. She came in 31st only 2 points behind fellow TVMYS member Mike Vanover.
The Villages Model Yacht Club race most days at Ashland Pond in the Village of Lynnhaven. The largest boats EC12 which are 5-feet long with 6-foot mast race Saturdays and Thursdays, Soling 1M which are 3-foot long sail on Tuesdays and Micro Magics which are 21-inch long on Wednesdays. Each sailing session lasts from 10 a.m. until noon.
