Sixty of the nation’s top sailors will guide 37-inch carbon fiber sailboats across the water at Sail Newport this weekend, competing in the DragonFlite 95 National Championship through Sunday.
The diminutive radio-controlled boats, powered by wind and controlled from shore with hand-held transmitters, belie the expertise required to race them.
“It’s like a chess match on the water,” said Barr Batzer of Lighthouse Point, Florida. “In scale, things happen much quicker in RC boats, and there’s an infinite number of micro decisions that can affect your outcome. I absolutely love the tactics.”
Batzer has won numerous radio-controlled national championships, including the DF95, ILCA and IOM titles. In full-sized boats, he’s raced everything from dinghies to super yachts.
The field includes several local contenders, led by brothers Ken Read of Portsmouth and Brad Read of Middletown. Ken is the current International One Metre Class North American champion, while Brad finished sixth in the 2022 DF95 nationals.
Other top competitors include Steve Landeau of Pooler, Georgia, a multi-time IOM, DF65 and DF95 champion, and Newport sailors Scott Innes-Jones, Eric Arndt and Tommy Henshaw.
Sailors qualified for the national championship at regional events throughout the past year. The boats, sanctioned by the American Model Yacht Association, measure 95 centimeters with Mylar sails. Racers launch from Sail Newport’s Admirals Pier in Fort Adams State Park.
Sail Newport and the Newport Model Sailing Club partnered to host the event.
“We’re pleased to foster the sport of RC sailboat racing in southern New England and look forward to providing a quality racing experience,” said Henry Dipietro, leader of the Newport Model Sailing Club.
