Never done it before
What is radio sailing?
Real sailboat racing, in boats about a metre long, steered from the bank.
Common questions
What is radio sailing?
Real sailboat racing with real sails and real wind, in boats about a metre long, steered from the bank. One stick steers, the other trims the sails. No motor. The right of way rules are the same as full size racing, and you get four or five races in a morning.
What does an RC sailboat cost?
A DragonFlite 95, the class most New England clubs race, is about $500 ready to sail, radio included. After that there is no mooring, trailer, yard bill or fuel.
Do I need my own boat to start?
No. Watching costs nothing, and most clubs keep a spare boat rigged for visitors. Buy one once you know you like it.
Do I need to know how to sail?
No. Beginners pick it up, and lifelong sailors get humbled. Both are welcome.
Is it just for retired people?
No, though there are plenty. A teenager and a seventy year old are evenly matched, because the boat does the physical work.
Is there a radio sailing club in Connecticut?
Yes. The Mystic Model Yacht Club is forming at Mystic Seaport and covers Mystic, Stonington and southeastern Connecticut. Membership is $25 a year, and MudRatz sailors aged 23 and under sail free.
Come and see
The club is new, so anyone who turns up now gets a say in which class we race and when we sail.
Further afield? The AMYA club directory lists clubs across the country.