Minuteman Model Yacht Club

The Minuteman Model Yacht Club is the largest club devoted to model yacht sailing in New England. Based in Needham, Massachusetts, USA, just outside of Boston, it draws members from the greater Boston area, as well as subscribers to its monthly newsletter from all over the United States. The club is number 25 in the AMYA, the national organization for model yachting. The club holds an informal regatta every Thursday night in Needham, from around mid-afternoon until the wind dies or it gets too dark to see (usually the former). In addition, the club hosts more formal, trophy-granting regattas on most major holidays and selected Sundays throughout the sailing season, which stretches from early April to early November. See the AMYA Regatta Schedule for details.

To reserve your frequency for any OPEN regatta, contact Jim Linville (see above).

At any event, the members of the club will be happy to hand you a transmitter so you can get a feel for what it is like to sail remotely. Even veteran big-boat skippers are surprised by the differences. Sailboats can bump into each other, but they don't crash like model airplanes or helicopters, and they are quieter and more subtle than cars or powerboats. It is not unusual for boats to last twenty or more years, even in active use. Most events give skippers hours of stick time, not minutes. In fact, one of the more unusual events that Minuteman MYC hosts is the "4 Hour Enduro", which is a single 4-hour timed heat. The skipper with the most laps wins. It is the traditional season closer, and has been contested in snow, rain, and beautiful 70 degree weather.

Club membership ($15) includes a subscription to a monthly newsletter ($10 for an e-mail subscription), which doubles as the official AMYA Region 1 newsletter. To join, make out a check for either $10 or $15, to Minuteman Model Yacht Club; to Pat Butterworth, 8 Hampshire Road, Wellesley, MA 02481.

Minuteman has standardized on two "club boats": the Soling One Meter, and the US One Meter. Because the Soling is a one design boat that is inexpensive ($125.95 w/o radio), and because it is a good sailing boat with the basic controls, it is an ideal first boat for those getting into the hobby. The class rules are fairly restrictive, and even a beginning sailor can put together a boat that will be competitive with the best. The US One Meter is a developmental class that many of the clubs more advanced skippers have adopted. Most Minuteman events are open to many classes, however the Solings and US One Meters have tended to dominate in recent years, with up to 20 boats racing at a time. In 2004, we added two more fleets, Star 45 and Wheeler. In 2007 we are adding an EC12 fleet, which will sail on Saturdays, alternating with the Wheelers.

Sailing Sites

Minuteman MYC holds its events at two sites in Needham. In the first half of the season, the sailing is done in the Needham Reservoir. In May, as the weather warms up, the reservoir becomes choked with weeds, and it is no longer appropriate for sailing. In June, the sailing switches to Lake Rosemary, in the heart of Needham. Getting to either site is very easy from Route 128, the major loop around Boston.

Directions:

Needham Reservoir: Take I-95/Rt 128 to Exit 17 (Route 135), and head West towards Needham. Approximately 1/2 mile from the exit there is a traffic light at South Street. Turn right just beyond this traffic light. It's a driveway with a small sign "Needham Public Works Bldg."

Rosemary Lake: Take I-95/Rt 128 to Exit 19 (Highland Avenue), and head West towards Needham. At the 4th light, make a right turn on Rosemary Street. The parking area is on the left after you pass the bottom of the lake.

Newsletter Index:

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This page is maintained by Jim Linville with assistance from the AMYA Web Master.