Flying on water
By Jerry Parks
Photos by Jerry Park and as noted
As seen in the Spring 2022 issue of Park Pilot
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s an RC sailboat? If you are asking yourself, “Why am I finding an article in my Park Pilot magazine about RC sailboats?” I was thinking the same thing when I was writing this piece. However, I also knew it made perfect sense for a couple reasons: Informing readers about all things RC and growing our hobbies is important and there is a natural commonality between RC airplanes and sailboats.
A sailboat may be the perfect model for those windy days when you can’t fly.
What is a sail? Well, it is just a wing! Looking back at how I added RC sailboating to my list of RC hobbies, the commonality between airplane and sailboat now seems obvious. My journey and growth in the RC hobby evolved around aviation.
After joining my first club, I quickly made new friends and, through camaraderie and mentorship, I added new disciplines. A couple of years ago, one of my flying buddies invited me to check out the local model yacht club and see his new RC sailboat in the water. I enjoyed the afternoon and left intrigued. I researched a couple of boats that members had recommended and, as you might surmise, ordered one.
Any RC pilot who has experienced the exhilaration of thermal lift when flying sailplanes will appreciate pulling in the sails and finding his or her sailboat heeling over on its side and moving fast upwind. Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Performance Models (rcyachts.com).
When I maidened my first sailboat at the O’Aces Model Yacht Club, a member named Randy S. helped me launch my boat. He also had a boat in the water and was curious about how I came to find the club, etc. Randy, a longtime corporate pilot, pointed out that the principles of fluid dynamics that allow flight are the same principles that allow the sailboat to be propelled through the water.
In general terms, sails, like airplane wings, exploit Bernoulli’s principle. There is lower pressure above the wing than there is pressure below it. This pressure difference generates lift. Next thing I knew, I was pointing my boat off center of the wind a bit, pulling in the sails, and I was in lift. With that, I was hooked.
Like model aviation, model sailboating has a long history, starting with scratch-built tethered and free sailing models. In the 1960s, with the help of reliable electronics, RC became the norm for an interactive experience. Into the 21st century, materials such as plastics for hulls and strong, light sail materials have made it possible for boat kits and ready-to-sail boats to be affordable, easy to maintain, and competitive to race.
Most classes of RC sailboats are “sloop rigged,” meaning they have a main and a foresail or jib. Controls are generally two servos, consisting of a winch or arm setup to bring the sails in or out and a standard servo to control the rudder. Radio setup is very simple. Most of the performance tuning concerns physical adjustment of the sail’s shape as it’s attached to the mast and booms.
Jerry Parks’ boat, a DragonForce 65. This is an excellent entry-level boat that can be purchased ready to sail, with some assembly required. This makes a great recreational boat as well as being one of the fastest-growing fleet models sailed worldwide.
The DragonForce 65 wing on wing, downwind sailing.
RC sailboating is an excellent companion hobby to RC flying for those in the sport who do not enjoy the forced downtime that weather sometimes brings. If the wind is keeping you out of the flying park and your airplane out of the air, it is probably excellent weather to have a sailboat on the pond. Another bonus to RC sailboating is that 100% of your time on the water can be used for tactical learning and tuning your boat. Sailing comes without the pressure of having to be two or three mistakes high with your RC airplane.
So, if you are thinking that RC sailing might be something you would like to try, I recommend that you search out a club. If you don’t already know someone in the RC sailboat hobby, check out AMYA (the American Model Yachting Association; amya.org). Go to the “Find A Club” search tab and see if there is a local club near you. There you will also find the classes of sailboats most used in your area. This is especially helpful if you join a club and want to race in any of their designated regatta classes.
So, what are you waiting for? There is a pond nearby for a recreational sail, or a local club with organized regattas that you might consider joining. From 12-inch Footy class boats to the monster-size J Boats upwards of 95 inches long, there is a boat and price point to fit most any budget. Most importantly, no matter the RC hobby you chose, be informed, be safe, and have fun!
RC Sailboat racing. Chesapeake Performance Models photo.
