Model Yacht Club holds weekly races at Sherman Pond in Hiawatha
by Cynthia Petersen · July 19th, 2018


Hiawatha residents are invited to Sherman Pond on North Center Point Road every other Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., and every Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m., to watch the Eastern Iowa Model Yacht Club members race their remote-controlled model yachts.

Sunday races at Sherman Pond are scheduled for July 15 and 29, August 12 and 26, September 9 and 23, plus October 7, weather permitting.

During alternating Sundays this summer, the races are held at Liberty Center pond in North Liberty, which is located two blocks west of Highway 965 on Cherry Street.

Club members compete while racing the CR-914 class of RC sailboat, which measures about three feet long and stands five feet tall from keel to mast tip.

According to club member Dick Hakes, each racer controls the boat from shore by means of a radio transmitter, which lets the sailors steer the boat sand adjust the sails.

Hakes said the races are very short, and usually last only five or 10 minutes, depending on how strong the wind is and how many laps they want to race.

"We set two buoys out to form a starting gate, then race windward to another buoy or 'mark' which is normally 75 yards away. This means you must 'tack' back and forth at 45-degree angles, or so, to the center of the wind in order to circle the buoy and come back to the starting gate."

Hakes added that tacking is where the most strategy is involved.

"Each race is started with a mechanical countdown 'electronic voice' starter. If your boat is across the line before the bell clangs, you must circle and start over. The short races mean we can often have 15 or 20 races in an afternoon. Most of the races are two laps, sometimes three."

There are no propellers on these boats. The only controls are the rudder and adjusting the sails, so the sailor is entirely dependent on the wind.

"Our overall goal is to just have fun and enjoy testing our skills at racing our one-design sailboats, which puts everybody on an equal playing field," said Hakes. "Most of us are senior citizens who have done a lot of full-size boat sailing over the years, including some ocean sailing. It's easy for most of us to transfer those skills to these radio controlled boats, which sail in a remarkably similar manner to the real boats."

Hakes said the members are a little offended when people call the models toy boats, because these boats are carefully built to exacting specifications in only one place in the world - Maryland. And they are not cheap.

"You might find a sailable used boat for $400 somewhere, but a kit from the factory to build your own boat is $500," said Hakes. "A new factory-made boat can cost $900 to $1,200 or more. Several in our club have multiple boats, and some used ones are for sale. There are about 40 specific classes of RC (remote-controlled) model sailboats raced competitively in the U.S. - all of which have a lot of regional and national tournaments or regattas."

Hakes said the club's class is CR-914, with the CR standing for Cup Racer.

"Cup Racer means it is designed similar to the America's Cup racing yachts of the mid-1980s - very sleek, fast and beautiful. At least, we think so," said Hakes. "These boats are very responsive and look very much like the real thing on the water."

Hakes noted the club is always looking for new members and will help any beginner with a boat learn to sail and race.

"A beginner might have to invest $400-$500 to get started, but that would include the boat and transmitter to control it, everything they need. - even a cradle to hold it on land so you can work on it."

The club members are very passionate about sailing, according to Hakes.

"The lifelong fun of sailing they have had in the past continues through radio-controlled model yachts. It's fun just to cruise them around. However, the racing part provides the thrill of what we do. Since everybody has the exact same boat, it is basically your own racing skill and the decisions you make about tuning your boat, positioning your sails and judging wind shifts which will determine if you can beat your buddy to the finish line. And quite frankly, there is a certain satisfaction when you can have a good day racing."

Hakes said the members have fun sailing the boats, but everyone enjoys the competitive thrill racing has to offer.

"We are all friends, but when you are racing, you want to win. It's just the competitive nature of humans, I guess. The simple act of sailing is a wonderful, graceful, classic, time-honored thing on its own."

For more information about club membership, contact Jim Brust at [email protected].