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JULY 1961 JULY, 1961 io Annual Poole Radio Regatta , traditionally one of the biggest and best-attended R/C functio ns in the calendar, was this year, for the first time, just a tiny bit disappointing. One reason, beyond the control of the club, was that two nights previou sly a bunch of yobs had opened the sluices and filters leading into the lake from the harbour; the harbour at that point happened to be full of seaweed, all of which was washed into the lake and blown down to the model end. All credit to the Poole club and the local council for the tremendous efforts made to clear it, but there was hardly a power boat run made on the Saturday which was not terminated or affected by weed, and even the yachts ran foul of it. On Sunday some improvement was effected by tethering George Honnest-Redlich’s full-size outboa rd boat near the starting point and blowing the weed away by periodic runs of the 16 h.p. motor, but even so many boats had their runs spoiled. No wonder “weed” is now a rude word in Poole! Other factors which cast slight shadow s were the high proportion of events which required simultaneous control of two models (crystals or different channel s were insisted upon, so that for example only eight of the forty-odd power boats present could enter the simultaneous race, and two or three of these were slow electrics) and the placing of the most popular events first on the programme each day. We are all for simultaneous control being encouraged but existing equipment must be catered for TENTH ANNUAL R/C MEETING, POOLE, MAY 13/14 if a regatta is to continue to enjoy popular ity; as it turned out, the only events in which such gear could be used were run off first each day, so that many competitors were through for the day by mid-morning and, more x often than not frustrated by the weed, went off sightseeing rather than stopping to enjoy the endless “‘shop’’- talking which has always been such a pleasant feature at Poole. Please note that these are very minor criticis ms of a meeting which was successful and generally enjoyable. Poole sets a high standard and therefo re must expect to be judged hard! On the brighter side was the gorgeo us weather—hot but breezy enough for the yachts—the almost complete lack of radio trouble, the smooth organis ation that left no untoward gaps in activity, the good attendance from a wide area, the pleasant evenings at the “Dolphin” —in short, as nice a week-end as one could wish for. Except for the weed! Radio-wise, E.D., R.E.P., and home-built gear Heading shows George Nurthen’s boat coming in at rather less than half speed. Next, some of the German boats, including 14 size Vosper R.T.T.L., all metal Wappen von Hamburg also about 54 in., and Dussel 1, M.M. Blazer design. Next, P.L.4 by Wulfruna’s A. J. Spencer; Townsend g.f. hull modified (flare filled in etc.), Gannet powered. Bottom left, same club’s E. R. Millward had a good meeting with Brutus; Ripmax 48 in. g.f. hull, semi-scale P.L.4 top, Gannet power. Both used all-transistor crystal superhets (article promised) . Note trollies. Bottom right George Goodfello w’s Zeta, 37% in., Taplin 5 c.c. Twin, very fast. Behind is Michael Taplin’s Nimbus, second in Steering 369 Photos opposite: 1, A. Wilson’s electric M.T.B. fired a depth charge, made smoke, trained and fired gun as well as more conventional actions to win novelty. 2. Taplin Twin powered airscrew hydroplane, inyerted V 4 4 underbody, by Col. Bowden. Not fast but steady and responsive; less danger from weed! 3. George Nurthens’ Chris Craft Catalina, 48 in. using German glass fibre hull identical to Kleinespel’s. Behaviour is inexplicably different but after many experiments (note spray strips and rudder shape) performance is now pretty hot. 4. Bowden and Whale one of the few entries using American radio gear. Note glass fibre cabin top which doubles for use on other models (see yacht opposite). Boat in foreground is Diana, an Elizabeth hull which did very well, Note loaded aerial. Regret better photo missed, as owner removed model after each run! 5. George Honnest-Redlich starts up his –Weedkiller’’ (!). This boat is radio controlled, speed and steering, and George closed the meeting with a low-speed demonstration which impressed onlookers. Fail/safe device stops engine in the event of any failure of any sort. 6. Yachtmen preparing to do battle, Messrs. Roberts and Merrick in foreground, with pipe Bob Curwen, at right Jack Gascoigne. 7. George Goodfellow for once lost his customary bad luck and had a successful meeting. His Worship the Mayor presents his prize and a word of congratulation on a well-earned win. Foreground R. P. Simpson, Commodore of the Poole Club. 8. Two Piranas brought along by G. Southwell of Ilford. Standard left-hand one has 5 c.c. glow Miles Special, 36 in. version has 10 c.c. Miles diesel. Both fast, handle well. Returned 1:55 in. speed including 8 sec. loss of radio, won sp event at Brighton following week-end with over 16 m.p.h. ayerage. 5. Freeman Challenge Cup (R/C steering 36 entries) Brutus 1. R. Millward Nimbus Diana 2. M. Taplin ra W. Burrows . Hogg Challenge Cup (Yachts up to 55 in. l.o.a. 3 entries) Cinderella 1. R. T. Foster 7. Taplin Challenge Cup (Yachts over 55 in. l.o.a. 8 entries) 1. J. Gascoigne Senorita 3. C. E. Bowden Radio One-Design 10-Rater 2. H. Boddy appeared in about equal proportions, with a light sprinkling of foreign sets. Boats were fairly much the mixture as before from the design angle; the photos show many of those of special interest. Engines were interesting—a lot of Gannets, Twins, a couple of TrojanRice, and five (prototype) Taplin 15 c.c. Twins. There were only three or four electric models, but, for the first time, a steam plant appeared; this was sufficiently novel to place second in the novelty event, ahead of Leo Wood’s conventional Gannet powered boat which gave an impressive demonstration of a variable (fully reversible) pitch propeller. Funniest story of the meeting was Altfried Kleinespel’s inability to start his Gannet. George Nurthen (the maker), called in to help, spent almost an hour checking and pulling; was nearly melting with heat and frustration when Altfried, with a look of horror, remembered the cork in the transom end of the exhaust. It started immediately when this was removed! 1. 2-lap Speed (35 entries) 1. G. E. Goodfellow 2. W. Burrows 3. L. R. Wood 2. Bravery Challenge Cup RESULTS Zeta Diana Japonica 1 min. 38-5 1 min. 39-6 1 min. 47 (R/C yachts simultaneous pairs 9 entries) 1. C. E. Bowden 2. J. Gascoigne 3. R. T. Foster 3. Novelty (4 entries) 1. A. Wilson 2. A. Kleinespel 4. Power Boat Race — Senorita Cinderella M.T.B. Dussel 1 (Simultaneous pairs 23 entries but only 8 allowed on radio equipment grounds) 1. A. Kleinespel Catalina TI 3. C. E. Bowden Whale 2. R. Millward Brutus Above: Bob Foster’s Cinderella an Alexander-designed 6 metre (ex-A thos), one of the prettiest and most successful R/C yachts. Radio link is crystal controlled on 27 or 27-2 mc/s; control of rudder and sails is independent and continuously proportional, using variable mark/space ratio and pulse repetition rate at the lower audio frequencies. Transmitter is safeguarded by automatic control of depth of modulation and sideband limiting is used. Special AVC features in the receiver largely overcome swamping and the inherent cross-modulation with adjacent channels. Top right: the Bowden one-design project, practically the first time afloat, gave a good account of itself despite rudder damage by a careless passer-by. Bottom: the most intriguing motor seen, the Washington/Cassanet twin C.I. special—two Jensens coupled back to back with pressure oiling etc. and fitted for direct petrol injection 370 Ss ——— : 4 ae ne , Ewes ; : : : cg : / : ‘ : MODEL IMIANKIEIR Model Yachts for Radio Control PART 1 Annual cep I was not well enough to attend General Meeting of the M.Y.A. last December, when in spite of the report of a specially appointed (and I may add, technically well-qualified) Sub-Committee, the proposal to adopt a One Design Class for Radio Control was rejected by a large majority. At the same time, suggestions from the Midlands for the adoption for R/C of a scale model to the 5.5 metre rule, and R and S Classes, were referred back to the district for a year’s trial. Since this Annual General Meeting was very poorly attended and only 35 persons were present, of whom at least half were either officers or individual members, it is obvious that only a small percentage of the 50-odd clubs that form the Association were represented. In view of the importance of the issues involved, I therefore , make no apology for re-opening the question of this One-Design Class. In our consideration of the problem, I feel we should bear in mind the general position of our sport to-day, and in assessing this,*we must be guided by the knowledg e that during the last few years, model yacht racing in every class, other than the M Class, has taken a con- siderable setback. In making this statement, I am, of course, referring to organised racing with vane steering. Now this regrettable set-back has been ascribed to various causes, and as usual, many blame T.V. for the trouble, suggesting that people, who otherwise would spend their evenings building model yachts, waste them goggling at the screens of T.V. sets acquired on the “never never’! Personally, I think our difficulties can be ascribed to a combination of adverse circumstances, ~— it may be worth while briefly to examine some of these. In every part of the country rates are rising, and consequently many local Authorities employing modern materials. This fact led to the sugges- tion that if the M.Y.A. recognises a special One-Desi gn Class for R/C, there might be scope for a parallel class for vane steering. However, this idea was purely tentative, innovation, but has invaded many fields including model ON A CURRENT QUESTION the interest in small-boat sailing since “kit” dinghies and One-Designers have brought the pastime within reach of many who otherwise could not afford it. In a time of generally rising prices, this cheapeni ng of the cost of small-boat sailing has only been possible by the adoption of specially designed One Designs, built by modern methods, strictly standardised, and and the One-Designer primarily intended for R/C. Radio control for models is a comparatively recent H. B. TUCKER GIVES HIS VIEWS td Epp Atleasmcahe Again, many model yachtsmen, and would-b e modet yachtsmen, complain of the increasing cost of boats and gear, which is alleged to hinder building, particula rly to the larger classes, and keep recruits out of the sport. This is an acute contrast to the strong upsurge of public are economising on items like model yacht lakes by converting them to children’s boating pools, which show a profit instead of being an expense to maintain. To combat this tendency, the local club must show its appreciation of the facilities provided by utilising them to the full, and it should also take pains to make its races as interesting as possible to casual spectators. In this connection it must not be forgotten that the general public enjoys watching R/C Regattas. Hence it is good policy for model yacht clubs to cater for R/C as well as ordinary racing. 396 railways, cars, aeroplanes, steamers and powerboats, yachts, etc. In the case of model sailing yachts, the first problem was to get the R/C gear to function satisfactorily. As vehicles for their preliminary experiments, many R/C enthusiasts obtained out-dated boats from M.Y. Clubs, whose members were only too pleased to have the chance of disposing of their old crocks at a nominal price. At first there were problems in electronics to overcome, but it soon became apparent that R/C would make possible model yacht racing on triangular or out-and- home courses, and in 1957, at the request of members of the model yacht section of the I.R.C. Model Society, the M.Y.A. formulated rules for R/C yacht racing. These were drawn up by a Sub-Committee of which Mr. N. D. Hatfield was the Secretary, and are based on the Y.R.A. code for full-sized yachts. At the same time the M.Y.A. suggested to member clubs the inclusion of one or two R/C Regattas in their Fixture Lists. One difficulty in organising races for R/C yachts is that the boats are a heterogeneous collection, and in 1959 the M.Y.A. decided to recognise the Q Class, consisting solely of ex A Class yachts. This decision was influenced by the fact that there were already a number of these in existence, and that mainly owing to the sturdy type encouraged by the A Class rule, they make better craft for R/C use than conversions of any other recognised class. At best, this recognition of the Q Class can only be regarded as a stop-gap measure until special classes for R/C are formulated and I admit surprise that a very handsome silver cup was allocated by the M.Y.A. to the Q class Championship. Summarising the position as I see it, the R/C people, realising that none of the ordinary recognised classes suited their purpose, asked the M.Y.A. to formulate a special class (or classes), and indicated the type of boat they had in mind. Many of them, including notably Lt.-Col. C. E. Bowden, openly plumped for a OneDesign Class. Utterly ignoring this, the 1960 Annual General Meeting of the Association rejected the idea of a One-Designer out-of-hand, and also implied that no class can be recognised until enough boats to it exist to make racing possible. Not only does this appear to be a classic example of an insistence that the chicken must precede the egg, but a flat refusal to implement the aims of the M.Y.A. (as set out in its constitution) to forward every branch of the sport in all possible ways. Next month, I hope to discuss the requirements for a R/C model class from the designer’s point of view, illustrated by the lines of a One-Designer which I think might be found suitable for the purpose. (To be continued) Other Regattas Wulfruna Regatta April 23rd Despite the early date of this Regatta something like thirty boats were present with visitors from Victoria Portsmouth, Manchester, Bournville Birmingham, Leicester. One of the big features of the meeting was the large clock used for the radio event to show com- petitors how much time was in hand. Visible timing of this sort adds quite a lot of interest for speeds. Results were :— Steering 1. B. Osman Bournville 2 ee DON Fi… 3. P. Wakeman 13 points Wulfruna Bournville 10 6 Nomination Q Class Championship, 1961 O doubt some lessons were learned at this year’s Q Class Championships at the Rick Pond, Hampton Court, on May 7th, as it was the first time that most of the competitors had sailed in anything of a wind, A friendly meeting on the Saturday saw wind of 18 m.p.h. gusting to 30—enough to strip the teeth off one sail winch in a gust—and during the race itself the steady wind was 22 with gusts to 35. The eight entries were reduced to 6 starters, and of these only two had smaller suits of sails, so that most of the boats were over-canvassed in the conditions. The two small-suited yachts placed Ist and 2nd., but this loses significance when it is considered that the skippers were T. Carrington-Wood and J. Gascoigne, both experienced R/C sailors who have won in various weathers. Apart from some small interaction—still a big problem—the race went smoothly with some close tussles which proved exciting, and not until the last heat was the result determined. Carrington-Wood employed a mate to signal his position on the end bouys, which enabled him to cut them finely and seems an idea worth using; his transmitter power began to fail on his last heat but when the car engine was started to charge the accumulator, full control was quickly re-established. We wondered if this could be construed as “outside assistance’? which is prohibited under the rules, but it is a delicate shade of interpretation and in any event, with so friendly a group competing no-one brought the point up! 1. R. Don 2. Mr. Beck 3. M. Moore Wulfruna—Est. 24 secs.—Nil Error St. Albans—Est. 16 secs.—25 % error Wulfruna—Est. 25 secs.—27 % error Radio Steering 1. Mr. Till 2. H. Wraith Portsmouth—145 points (Taplin Twin) = Manchester—135 points (Home Made ; ; Petrol.) 3. G. Nurthen Victoria—125 points (Gannet.) Radio Relay Race First Team Wulfruna M.B.C. R. Don All Taplin Twins M. Moore _ Time for Three Laps 3 mins. 46 sec. N. Tillsley | Distance approx. 4 mile. Welling M.E.S. May 25th Eight clubs took part in the Welling meeting with as many as 43 entries in steering. With five runs at the target and a maximum possible score of 25 the placings were as follows:— 15°G:, Caird’ .:. .. 2. Mrs. Washington . 3. R. Locan … 4. R. Hawes 5. K. Goodger Bromley… Victoria …. Blackheath Blackheath Bromley… 16 16 13 10 10 + 1 on rerun + 0 on rerun + 3 on rerun + 0 on rerun In the nomination event C. A. Clark of Welling returned no error to win. R. Hawes was runner-up with two per cent. error. Once again the member’s wives laid on tea and the Societies model railway operated all afternoon which helped to keep the children away from the water. Midland District News Above: Gascoigne’s Senorita makes a little offing while CarringtonWood’s Vanessa goosewings by. Below Vanessa uses drum type sheet control and a chain-driven screwed rudder rod The Six Metre Midland District Championship Race for the Georgian Goblet was run at Bournville on Sunday, April 9th. There was a good entry of eight boats, and two boards were run. A good breeze was blowing S.E., which freshened in the afternoon. The boats entered and positions were as follows:— 14 17 31 … M. Hardwicke Ariel 8 16 8:5. ~ J. Harris … Dorree Oberan Titiawir Helvic Dare R. Harris … C. Edwards D. Lippitt … J. Woolland polit 20m 24-2 AA ta 2nd. sin il 4a 2s 235 EROS fo ven, > 19 TT 36 1st 3rd 23-19″ AD wo Heather N. Kenward MAO 1S “25 sco) A.Ralph … Dainty This was a very successful day’s meeting, thanks to Alan Cole’s good services as O.D. |
