
RC Racing at the RVYC
Published 13:17 on 13 Jan 2025
In late summer 2024, as several members of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club were racing Radio Controlled yachts at other clubs and others showed interest, it was decided to join the worldwide party albeit 150 years late. Model boat sailing on the Island started on the Ryde Canoe Lake in 1874 when the grand RVYC was in full swing the other side of the Pier.
The RVYC RC Boating group was formed in September 2024 and developed throughout that Autumn. Racing on most Wednesdays and Saturdays commenced in October. Two classes, the RC Laser and the DragonForce 65, increased in numbers and by January 2025 there were fifteen owners with a total of nineteen boats.
The group's activities are not confined to racing. Anyone is welcome to join either for free sailing while others are racing or try out their motorboat.
Please contact the group co-ordinator, Hilary Martin, via the Club office (office@rvyc.org.uk) for more information or to join the WhatsApp group (RVYC-RC). All members are welcome especially those who cannot get out on the water. Racing experience is not necessary the main needs are manual dexterity and the ability to concentrate.
Google 'RC Laser' or DF65 to find numerous websites with more information and videos than you can process. This sport is addictive you have been warned!
RC Classes at the RVYC
The RC Laser is a scale version of the famous one design Laser, the most popular "real boat" sailing class in the world. It was designed by Bruce Kirby himself and engineered for production as a model by Jon Elmaleh in 1995 at one quarter scale of the original. Just 105 cm long and weighing under 4 kg, it is ready to sail in under 7 minutes. The keel, mast, and rudder assemblies just snap in and the sails clip on.
Second hand boats are scarce but can be found. Alternatively, Soch Sails in Abersoch is the UK agent for new boats from the USA.
The DragonForce 65, designed in the UK by experienced model racers and made in China, was launched at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2013 and well over 20,000 were sold world-wide in five years. A longer younger sister, the DragonFlite 95 is proving just popular.
At 65 cm long and weighing under 2 kg with batteries, like the RC Laser, it has four different rigs. New boats are readily available in the UK either online or in stores such as Jolliffes Chandlery in Cowes. Second hand boats can be found on eBay.
The DF65 is very easy to own! While the RC Laser needs to be packed up into its bag when not in use, the DF65 can live on its stand as an ornament at home (it is very cute!), placed in the back of the smallest hatchback for transport and launched/recovered by holding the mast while the RC Laser needs a separate lifting pole.
RC Racing at the RVYC
The RVYC fleet is presently using the B rig for the RC Laser (A, B, C, D) and the A rig for the DF65 (A+, A, B, C). Both these are the standard rig supplied with new boats as the optimal wind range is approximately 8 15 knots.
Racing on Wednesdays and Saturdays is scheduled over a wider range of tide than regular Club racing. Sessions are between 1000 and 1400 in the Pool on either side of the Club pontoon with the 'Control Area' on the hammerhead or adjacent pontoon/ramp. We tend to have four short races with several laps to keep the course near the control area. The expanding fleets means there will soon be enough for separate class starts rather than all boats racing level (handicaps are not an option).
Marks are either set by throwing from the shore (retrieved with lines) or suitable empty mooring pickup buoys are pressed into service. The only signals are audible using a smartphone app via a Bluetooth speaker. A rescue dinghy is provided for recovering RC boats which lose signal.
Racing Rules
Racing is governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing as amended by Appendix E Radio Sailing Racing Rules. The main rule to note is that the Zone is four boat lengths. Our local rule is that marks can be hit without penalty.
Last updated 09:41 on 7 February 2025