With the rest of the country suffering from snow and the cold, the weather in the Valley of the Sun has been great. Because of blue skies and sunshine (with needed rain), model boaters has been enjoying the hobby. The good thing is, we will be able to enjoy great weather for three more months before the heat starts. So get out and enjoy the weather.

It has been nice this past month and as always, there is something to report. In this issue readers will find an article on how character can relate to sportsmanship at events. The Mesa MYC club has been busy with events with various boat types. One event in particular was a Victoria regatta that was one of the most enjoyable in a while, and that is with a few skippers not attending.

I would like to welcome and thank Tony Contrabasso for sharing articles from his publication called The Log. Tony has been building beautiful scale boats for quite a while and if you have not seen one of his boats, then you have missed something. So enjoy the articles from The Log. _/)

Guest Editorial

Under the US Sailing Prescriptions to the Racing Rules of Sailing, a sailor who feels a protest handled by a local protest committee was not correct may appeal the decision. Such appeals are initially handled by local appeals committees organized by regional sailing associations (RSA's) such as the Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA), the Yacht Racing Association of San Francisco Bay (YRASFB) and so on; a mechanism exists for decision of these RSA appeals committees to be further appealed all the way up to US Sailing, much as court decisions may be appealed to the US Supreme Court. While some committees hear many such appeals, some hear few; there is apparently some feeling at US Sailing that that these less-active RSA appeals committees are at worst inadequate to the task and at least not as efficient in handling or adjudicating appeals as US Sailing would like. Unspecified frustration among sailors whose appeals are not handled as quickly or efficiently as they might like - by volunteers who have lives outside sailing - is cited as a problem.

A memo sent to the RSA appeals committee chairmen by the US Sailing Appeals Committee outlines a proposal to shift the responsibility to hear initial appeals from the RSA's (of which there are 37, some with overlapping areas of responsibility and some of which have poorly defined boundaries) to appeals committees organized within each of the US Sailing areas (of which there are only ten with well-defined boundaries). The US Sailing Appeals Committee would define the makeup of these ten committees and approve the number of members and the length of their terms. Qualifications of area appeals committee (AAC) members would be defined by US Sailing, and standards of performance defining the time to respond and act on appeals would be set by US Sailing as well.

All this seems appropriate. However, the final point is a doozy: under this scheme, all appeals would be routed to US Sailing to be assigned to an area appeals committee (AAC) rather than directly to the RSA appeals committees - and an administrative fee would be levied.

This is, I believe, a badly flawed plan. While I embrace the reassignment from RSA's to AAC's, all the rest of this is, to paraphrase the chairman of at least one RSA appeals committee, fixing something that is not broken. If there are RSA appeals committees that are not doing their jobs, the US Sailing Appeals Committee should work with those specific committees rather than to paint the entire system with the same damning brush.

But there is an even more sinister part of this that has not been shared with the RSA's. Information received by one RSA appeals chairman indicates that this proposal is not a proposal at all: it is, in his words, a "fait accompli." The US Sailing Rules Committee has apparently received instructions to draft a change to the US Sailing Prescriptions to the Racing Rules of Sailing that would implement this scheme. There is no evidence that this proposal has received due process either within the enclave of US Sailing or throughout its membership. Members of the US Sailing Executive Committee have not seen or been asked to comment or vote on the proposal: this has evidently been handled strictly within the US Sailing Appeals Committee.

More specifically, there is no evidence that this proposal has been presented to either US Sailing area officials, the RSA's or indeed the elected leaders of US Sailing. A memo from the US Sailing Appeals Committee to RSA appeals committees cites a survey during which the US Sailing staff was asked to contact each of the association appeals committee chairmen as listed in the US Sailing database. While the memo says that only fifteen responded, the RSA appeals committee chairman cited above - who has served in this capacity for some years - was not contacted, and neither have many of the more active and "major" RSA appeals committee chairmen this chairman contacted.

I cannot but feel that this is an ISAF-like approach to the administration of our sport - making a unilateral change and trying to pass it off as a reasoned and researched approach to a problem. US Sailing apparently fails to understand that it is an organization of the members and should serve them - but in accordance with its own rules and regulations. Making a change without consultation with the affected parties - the RSA's and their appeals committees - is such a unilateral change, akin to the abortive attempt at ISAF to eliminate discards in the Olympic regatta without consulting the parties involved. And the "administrative fee" that will be charged is a blatant attempt to increase the income of US Sailing, an organization that has apparently so little perceived benefit to sailors that it's membership is made up of only a fraction of the sailors that presumably benefit from the services of US Sailing.

In recent months I have commented on the moves by ISAF to concentrate authority at the highest possible level rather than at the lowest possible level, the latter a management technique that is universally practiced by the top companies around the world. Now it seems that US Sailing has taken a leaf from ISAF's book and is trying to concentrate authority and power at its level in the guise of fixing a problem that may not in fact exist. I hope the RSA's - and the Committee of Sailing Associations, that body within US Sailing that coordinates actions between US Sailing and the RSA's - will resist mightily and noisily this usurpation of their authority. _/)

Playground Politics

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting for a few days a local elementary school. During this time I witnessed some very interesting interrelationships between kids on the playground. From swing sets, monkey bars and four squares, each play area's occupants had their own way of handling politics on the playground.

As soon as the recess bell rang, kids would stream out of the school to go to the playground equipment of their choice. The kids would start playing and enjoying their limited amount of recess time. While playing, the rules of proper play and conduct would be followed without too many problems. Basically, kids would handle themselves so that everyone enjoyed their playground time.

Occasionally, some kid would take control of the play and the other kids would go along with it. But sometimes the opposite would happen; other kids would say no! This would result in an exchange of words and if the "brat" kid did not get his or her way, they would have a fit. If the outburst did not work, then it would become physical. At this point, the teachers would come on the scene, and the problem child would go visit the principal.

Luckily, playground bullying was rare because of one thing - character. According to the Arizona Character Education Commission, character is who we really are. It's what we do when no one else is looking and is the accumulation of thoughts, values, words, and actions. These become the habits that comprise our character.

Of course, character to model boating is sportsmanship. Character is what makes skippers decide if they want to be good sportsmen. Of course, this view of sportsmanship is a narrow angle but it gives a basis to how people act at the pond.

Whenever sailing, skippers must apply the concepts of sportsmanship in keeping the rules and conduct. If not, it will not be long until it is known how un-enjoyable it is to sail with skippers who choose to be brats. It behooves all skippers to be good sportsmen. For those skippers who decide not to, go sail some place else. What matters, is being good sportsmen so that sailing will be fun for all. _/)

From time to time we will take a look at various sailing rules and how it may effect us. One International Sailing Federation (ISAF), rule that has recently caught my attention is rule 71.1. To the best of my knowledge, this rule has never come up in regards to any protest that has occurred at a model yachting event. But one never knows, one day it may, so it would be a good idea to have a short review of this rule. Before we start, here is the rule:

In the event one of the parties of a protest did not like the outcome of the protest, an appeal can be requested. If this is the case, rule 71.1 states no interested party or members of the protest committee shall take any part in the discussion or decision on an appeal or a request for confirmation or correction. So the question is, who can take part in the discussion or decision, or a request for confirmation or correction?

The answer comes from rule 71.2. Only the national authority may uphold, change, or reverse the protest committee's decision, request for redress invalid, or return the protest or request for a new hearing and decision by the same or different protest committee. So who is the "national authority"? The answer is the International Sailing Federation.

So in if you want a discussion or decision on an appeal or a request for confirmation or correction, you will need to go to ISAF. _/)

In the Phoenix Metro Area there are several model airplane parks where members of different model airplane clubs can go to fly. One important item all participants at these model airplane parks have is to know what is required of them to fly there. For this to occur, the model airplane parks make public the rules so that everyone will know what to and what not to do. Also accompanied is a public notice for all fliers to have insurance.

Luckily, model boating is not as difficult as model airplanes - skippers do not have to purchase insurance for themselves. Instead of each individual having insurance, the model boat club that resides at the pond has insurance coverage. One misnomer about pond insurance, it does not protect the skipper or the model boat club. Pond insurance only protects the city or municipality where the pond is located.

Take for instance the City of Scottsdale, no pond insurance is required to operate electric and sail boats on the three ponds that are available at the Vista Del Camino Park (McKillipps), Chaparral pond, and Indian School Park Lake. The only pond in Scottsdale that requires insurance, is for gas powered model speedboats at Vista Del Camino Park. So that means Copperstate MYC does not need insurance.

The City of Mesa only has one city park where operating electric and sail boats is allowed, and that is Dobson Pond. Along with only allowing electric and sail model boats (gas powered model speedboats are not allowed), the City of Mesa does require pond insurance. So the only model boat club allowed to sail at Dobson Pond, is the Mesa MYC and it has to have insurance.

The City of Tempe requires the Tempe Town Lake MYC to have insurance for the Tempe Town Lake. As for Tillerman MYC, it sails on a private pond so insurance is not an issue. The West Valley RMC is not required to have insurance for Litchfield Park.

It is good for all skippers and model boat clubs to know the rules and requirements of the ponds they sail. If model boaters were asked about pond insurance, most would say it is silly. When the American Model Yachting Association was asked about how many insurance claims were made, the response was none!

All skippers know safety is very important when operating around ponds or lakes. The only reason for pond insurance is when cities or municipalities hear the words "remote control". They think of model airplanes flying out of control and crashing. If that is the case, then model boating must be that way too. So if the pond owner does not require insurance, then club that sails at that pond is fortunate. _/)

Relief!

I have just received in the mail a notice from the Copperstate Model Yacht Club (CMYC) of Scottsdale, AZ that I no longer may participate in any Copperstate MYC event at Chaparral Lake! After the tears of joy and happiness subsided, I reviewed the notice again. Since CMYC made this notice public by mailing copies of it to other skippers in addition to me, I have decided to share it with the readers of Model Yachting Resource News (MYRN), the notice is quoted below:

"Dave Acree:

[Name withheld] CMYC Commodore"

Readers may be wondering what terrible "unfounded attacks" this newsletter did "…on the way Copperstate MYC conducts it's business". Since no unfounded attacks were specified, let me state what I know. First, I have never been or asked to be a member of CMYC. Second, I have never attended any CMYC club meeting or reported on any CMYC club meetings. Third, I have not sailed at CMYC's pond in over a year and when I did, it was only a couple times a year, if that.

The only thing MYRN has done, was to provide information that is public on ponds and lakes in Scottsdale that is available for model boating. Also, MYRN stated insurance information from American Model Yachting Association (AMYA) that is also public. What it all comes down to, is I am not a "yes man" and will not be a good boy and do what I am told. So I get flak - so bid.

As to rule 71.1, I am at a loss as to what it means in behalf of the notice. I think CMYC wanted to use rule 76.1. It looks like the notice could have used some editing, but who am I to judge? Not being allowed to sail at CMYC events will not be a problem. Since I am no longer obligated to support CMYC's events, I thank CMYC for the relief and am happy to honor CMYC's notice.

Fair winds and great sailing! _/)

Ship's Lights

A detail item that is often ignored, or incorrectly executed are ships lights. With the electronic miniaturization available to modelers today, these lights could be added with little or no difficulty by the average modeler.

The primary set of lights on a ship are the running lights required by the International Rules of the Nautical Road. By looking at another ship's lights at night, one can tell what direction the ship is heading, and thus avoid collision if necessary.

A green light on the starboard (right) side of a vessel and a red light on the port (or left) side serve to identify the side presented to another ship. These lights are mounted in housings which allow the light to show only from directly in front to just aft of the side of the ship. A white stern light mounted on a level as close as possible to the side lights, covers the arc astern and around each side in the area not exposed to the side lights. On vessels under 150 feet long, a white masthead light is mounted 20 to 40 feet above the main deck.

Ships over 150 feet in length, in addition to the masthead light, carry a range light, also white, and located aft of, and at least 15 feet higher, than the masthead light. These two lights shine from dead ahead to just aft of each side. The exact arcs of illumination are as shown below:

/

Since the port and starboard running lights and the stern light are required to be visible for two miles, and the masthead and range lights for five miles, the observer seeing a ship or. the horizon might see only the five-mile lights. Note from the proceeding illustrations that the height and fore - and - aft spacing of these two lights will give an indication of

the vessel's course, even though the side lights are not visible.

The running lights are illuminated from sundown to sunrise, the only exception being warships following "darken ship" procedure where no lights of any kind are permitted.

Running lights may be available for large-scale models, but they may not be correctly made. Some rework may be necessary to make the lights cover the prescribed arcs of illumination.

These lights may be scratch built by any enterprising modeler in the following fashion:

The bulbs are "grain of wheat" or "grain of rice" types found in the model railroad section of better hobby shops. These bulbs should be of a voltage rating compatible with the electrical system in the model, and if used at about 75% of their rated voltage, will last considerably longer, while maintaining adequate levels of illumination. In the event that colored bulbs are not readily available, clear bulbs may be colored with bulb dye (not too easily located),the Candy Color type of translucent paint made by both Pactra and Testor's in spray cans, or with regular food coloring. These small bulbs have thin wire leads attached for electrical hookup, but due to their small size these wires might break off if not handled gently. A drop of epoxy around the base of the bulb and leads will make them a little less prone to breakage.

The housings are made with thin sheet plastic available at most hobby shops. The small arc shaped pieces are made easily by making discs with a paper punch, then trimming the unwanted portion away with a pair of scissors or modeler's knife. The other pieces are made out of sheet plastic cut to size.

The pieces are cemented to the bulb with Krazy Glue (or similar adhesive). The assembly should be considered somewhat expendable, and mounted so that the unit is replaceable in the event a bulb burns out.

Since the size and shape of the fittings varies from ship to ship, consult plans or photographs to determine size and location. Individual mountings will require some thought to provide installation and replacement techniques. A lot of vessels have exposed wiring, so the thin wire leads on the lamp fixtures may be led neatly to a nearby bulkhead entry location. The wires may even be painted to help hide them.

The lamp housing and back side of the bulb should be painted flat black, to keep the light from shining out in unwanted areas.

Keep in mind that these lights are not meant to illuminate the vessel, they need be only bright enough to appear brighter than other lights on board the ship. Any other light would be shaded or indirect such as the glow of light from a porthole.

Towing lights, because of their similarity to the masthead light in function and construction, are included in this section. A vessel towing another vessel at night requires an additional masthead light at least six feet above the first light if the towed vessel and towline do not exceed 600 feet in length or, if the vessel is being pushed. For tows over 600 feet in length, a third masthead light is displayed, again, at least six feet above the other two.

Subsequent parts to this series will describe the lights used on small craft, fishing boats, minesweepers, and vessels engaged in flight operations, special underway replenishment lighting used by Naval vessels, and, anchor and mooring lights.

Various techniques for duplicating these lights will be explained, such as the use of clear plastic rods to conduct light, the use of light-emitting diodes, and, fiber optics. _/)

Writers Wanted

Put your ideas and experiences to work and write an article, and share it with others. Doing so will help new people in the hobby of model boating and give others fresh ideas. If you feel you can't write, don't let that stop you. There are individuals who are willing to help you work out the snags and put that polish on your work. So email your articles, digitized black and white or color photos, and/or drawings to: model_yachting_rc@juno.com.

MMYC's Victoria
Valentine's Day Regatta

Just a few words about Mesa MYC's Victoria Valentine's Day Regatta. With great weather, a few Victoria skippers expressed a desire to have a regatta, so one was quickly put into the schedule. Even with the quick formation of the event, there were eleven boats in attendance.

The wind gave interesting sailing conditions that tested the skippers. From very light wind to the usual brisk afternoon air, the wind had the usual love/hate relationship with the participants. The only protest called was at the start of the event, which went to the protest committee - the lesson learned, do a penalty turn. One of the things that stood out was the absence of any problems, and how enjoyable it was to be at the event.

The results of the first, second, and third placed are as follows:
Place           Skipper
            First             George Baldacchino
   Second        Jerry Muridge
  Third           Ray Dagenais

The way it looks, MMYC will be having more Victoria regattas in the upcoming months, which is great! The in the past year, the Victoria has bypassed the Marblehead in the number of events and I think it will soon be passing the 36/600 in the numbers of regattas. It is easy to see why, the Victoria is affordable, a nice size, it gives the skipper some room to be creative in sail rigs, and is fun to sail. _/)

Scale Side

by Ray Agee

Scale model boat building has gone through many twist and turns through the years. Of course, wood was the original material used until the Veco company debuted their plastic Tug Boat kits in the mid-1950s. These have become true collectors items.

Then came fiberglass or glass fiber and the skills of the early boat builders kind of went into hibernation. There were still builders who did all-wood models, but fiberglass quickly took the lead. Along came the mid-1970s and Dumas decided to introduce some new kits and even today, continue to spread out the product line of wood kits through their Chris Craft series. This was nothing new to Dumas, they had Chris Craft cabin cruisers in the '50s and '60s. Dumas is the only manufacturer licensed to use the Chris Craft name and designs. This has flamed the interests of model boat builders and reintroduced the craft of wood building. Go to almost any scale boat run or meet today and you'll see beautiful reproductions of the Chris Craft Cobra with it's flared engine covering reminding the eye of the "fins" of '50s Cadillacs and Chevrolets. Dumas lists a whole series of Chris Craft boats today starting with the 1930 24' Runabout, 1940 Barrel Back, 1940s Utility Boat, Triple Cockpit Barrel Back, and the 19' and 24' Racers. Coming soon will be the 1949 19' Racer in 1/8th scale. And, luckily, they also have redesigned and rekitted the classic Chris Craft 1954 36 foot Commander Express Cabin Cruiser. All of these boats are small enough to put in the back seat of your PT Cruiser and then carry down to the water. Plus, they are beautiful displayed in the living room ... after all, they are works of art. _/)

Closing Thoughts

On the matter of not allowing the editor of this newsletter to sail in Copperstate MYC's events, several local skippers have suggested the idea of boycotting CMYC's events. I am not the one to fostering this action, but I do thank these skippers for their support.

I hate to see a boycott of CMYC's events since they had recently held the Arizona State Marblehead Championship Regatta but had to cancel it because only three boats were in attendance. It is the hope of this publication that CMYC will be able to reschedule the event. Since I believe individuals can do what they want, it will be interesting to see what happens. I just hope my banning makes everyone happy, I know it does me! _/)

Local Calendar March 2004 06 MMYC, Scale Event, 9:00 a.m. 06 WVRCM, Fun Scale and Scale, 10 a.m. 07 TMYC, Victoria Regatta, 9:00 a.m. 13 WVRCM, Kit 1 Meter/Seawind Regatta, 10 a.m. 13 MMYC, Marblehead Regatta, 9:30 a.m. 20 MMYC, Fast Electric Event, 9:00 a.m. 21 TMYC, 36/600 Regatta, 9:00 a.m. 27 TTLMYC, Victoria/Laser Regatta, 9:30 a.m. 28 TTLMYC, 36/600 Regatta, 9:30 a.m. April 2004 03 WVRCM, Fun Scale & Sail, 10 a.m. 03 MMYC, Lost Dutchman Gold Cup Regatta, 9 a.m. 04 Palm Sunday 06 Passover 09 Good Friday 11 Easter 10 MMYC, Scale Event, 9:30 a.m. 11 TMYC, Marblehead Regatta, 9 a.m. 17 MMYC, Fast Electric Event, 9 a.m. 24 CSMYC, Spring Regatta (36/600), 9:30 a.m. 25 CSMYC, Spring Regatta (Marblehead), 9:30 a.m.

Club Abbreviation and Regatta Location
MMYC - Mesa MYC at Dobson Pond, Mesa AZ
CSMYC - Copperstate MYC at Chaparral Pond, Scottsdale, AZ
WVRCM - West Valley R/C Mariners at Litchfield AZ
TMYC - Tillerman MYC at Leisure World, Mesa AZ
TTLMYC - Tempe Town Lake MYC at Tempe Town Lake, Tempe, AZ

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© 2004 David Acree. All rights reserved.