Members of the Indian River Model Sailing Club have continued to unfurl their sails and keep things on an even keel despite the coronavirus pandemic’s groundswell. Most days, if you wander past Hobart Park you’ll see a flotilla of remote-controlled sailboats skimming across the pond.
All eyes are on the action as smiling competitors skipper their boats from land, adhering to the club motto: “Sun on our backs and wind in our faces.”
The local club draws model sailing enthusiasts from all over the county, and not surprisingly includes a high contingent from waterside communities such as John’s Island and The Moorings. Members from other clubs along the Treasure and Space coasts also regularly travel to Vero Beach.
“The people that we have come from a variety of different backgrounds and different areas of the country,” said Commodore Bob Beer, who joined the all-volunteer club about 15 years ago.
Members run the gamut from novices to seasoned sailors with national championships under their belts, as well as folks who have sailed full-sized craft around the world, boat builders and sailmakers.
“The facilities are some of the best in Florida. That’s what attracts people from other areas to come and race with us. It’s a beautiful spot, and it’s beautifully maintained,” said Beer.
Praising the county’s commitment to the upkeep of the pond and its sailing course, Beer pointed out buoys for turning and starting, a dock, covered seating, and bleachers for spectators.
“Our club members are out here at least four afternoons a week,” said Beer. “We race different classes of boats on different days and invite all racers to join in the fun on Sundays.”
American Model Yachting Association president Chuck Millican, a recent addition to the Indian River County club, said he relocated to Vero Beach in part because of the plethora of radio-controlled yacht racing opportunities nearby.
There are more than 180 AMYA clubs in the U.S., and Florida is home to the lion’s share of them. The Vero Beach club – founded 25 years ago and currently more than 60 members strong – is centrally located between several highly active model sailing communities.
“I’ve been involved with boats since I was 10 years old,” said Millican, a former top-level, full-scale racer, who now occasionally finds himself racing some of the same people he competed against on the big boats.
Millican explained that his transition from racing big boats to model boats was predicated by “all the things that come with age and reduce the feasibility of racing at a competitive level. So, I graduated to the models and compete all over the country now. It’s something I really enjoy, and I’m passionate about.”
He explained that, interestingly, children and adults each come with their own skillset. Many youngsters today are adept at manning a joystick from an early age. That, paired with youthful eyesight and nimble fingers, can give them an edge. At the same time, many of the adults bring a lifetime of sailing expertise – rules are basically the same in full-scale boat competitions as they are for the models – which is a huge tactical advantage and balances the scales.
Anyone interested in learning more about the sport, or even taking a boat for a test drive, can stop by the Hobart Park Pond beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and Fridays.
But Beer warns, “Once you start sailing one of those boats, it becomes kind of addictive.”
The Winter Series runs through Feb. 22. For more information, visit IRMSC.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
