San Diego Argonauts Radio

About San Diego Argonauts Radio

Welcome to the podcast all about  San Diego’s premier community of radio-controlled model boating enthusiasts, celebrating the art, craft, and competition of RC model boating, since 1959. Hosted by current Commodore-elect Jess Atkinson. Find all the club rankings, meet information, helpful tips, and race analysis you're looking for here on SD Argonauts Radio.

Publisher

San Diego Argonauts

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Feb 2026

Latest episode

28 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Packing a Competition-Ready Travel Kit

   Traveling with everything you need to competitively sail your boat is not simple. This episode covers how to build a travel kit that gets your IOM or DF95 to the regatta ready to race. But first, we'll start with a recap of the US One Meter event in Sacramento. Then we go through the full kit, one piece at a time: hard cases, a board bag for the rig box, how to keep the bulb from moving, the handy kitchen tool recommended for cutting foam, and the spare parts you hope you don't need but should keep with you, just in case. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com)!

2. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Pondside at the Soling 50  National Class Championship Regatta

   Check out this week's pond-cast episode from the shores of the Mission Bay Model Boat Pond during September's Soling 50 Championships. We'll hear from many Argonaut members and catch some live action sailing commentary. Big thanks to everyone who came out to the event and volunteered. We say it a lot, but we wouldn't be able to run things half as smoothly without the donated time of fellow sailors. We appreciate you! We'll talk a little about PRO duties, new members, and as always, go over our points racing results. Also, stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear about a special guest at the pond who really enjoyed getting a transmitter in her hands! For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com)!

3. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Make Every Start with a Proactive Boat Maintenance Routine

   Join me for a practical walkthrough of RC sailboat maintenance across the DF-95, Odom, Soling, and IOM classes. We’ll talk all things chafe, corrosion, seized blocks and rudders, keel care, the importance of cleaning your goosenecks, and the routines that will help you make every race start. We also get into the products that help with routine maintenance most. Plus, we’ll do a quick recap of the August Mission Bay points races for the San Diego Argonauts! For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com)!

4. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Why Steve Landeau Says to Always Have an Extra Boat

   This week, we sit down with longtime IOM legend and fleet promoter Steve Landeau to discuss how our radio sailing fleets are built and sustained. He talks about the importance of keeping an extra boat nearby to let people try them out, his move from the West Coast IOM scene to East Coast fleets, his work sourcing hard-to-get masts and parts, and which designs he recommends to newcomers. And as always, we'll wrap up with some results! This time from the Region 8 Traveler Weekend at Mason Park: 17 boats out for Saturday's fleet racing, followed by a fast-paced five-team team racing challenge. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com)!

5. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Marbleheads Are Making a Comeback: Trend or Here to Stay?

   The San Diego Argonauts Open House was a blast, with every division out in force, kids soldering at the maker tables, boats of all kinds on the pond, and hot dogs and pizza gone in a flash. All signs of a great event! And then this week, I'm joined by Bruce Anderson, U.S. Marblehead class secretary and IRSA chairman. And we talk about radio sailing's Formula One class, Marbleheads! We'll dive into the boats 1930s origins, the Scalpel design, and today's comeback behind the Grunge and Red Ant. Plus July points results from Mission Bay Pond! For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com)!

6. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Can High School Robotics Students Change the Future of Radio Sailing?

   Let's sit down with Kerim Baran and Jeff Sparksworthy, the driving forces behind the San Diego Argonauts' new community outreach program: a hands-on STEM initiative connecting high school students with the world of radio-controlled hobbies, especially sailing here in San Diego. Our pond actually has a history of being connected to the local high school so it's exciting to hear about the continuation of that partnership. From setting up soldering stations and metalworking tables to actually sailing RC boats on the pond, Kerim and Jeff take us through their first High School Maritime and Robotics Workshop, as well as share their vision for the upcoming RoboBuoy Challenge, where student teams will design and build radio-controlled (and eventually GPS-autonomous) buoys! We'll get into details for the upcoming open house on August 1st, the Marblehead Nationals in Foster City, and Len Bose stops by the show with the latest on the DF-95 Travelers Trophy fleet and team racing on August 8th & 9th. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com/)!

7. 

   6 Jul 2026

   A Harborside Chat with Renowned Radio Sailor Craig Mackey

   This week is a special episode where we're joined by 27-time radio sailing national champion, Craig Mackey. He'll take us through his top sailing ponds around the world (hint: one is right here in California and one is across the pond!). He also shares his origin story with the sport and how a borrowed Victoria led to four national championships in four weeks. We also discuss the purpose of practice when it comes to doing your turns, Craig's advice to new skippers, the importance of knowing the rule book inside and out, and of course, we have a little fun quizzing him on a recent pond protest. Also, we'll review June race results for the San Diego Argonauts, hear from friend of the podcast Dan Shier about what's happening in Region 6, and share a little info on the upcoming Travelers Series registration. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com)!

8. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Foster City Highlights: California IOM Championships, Traveling Competitors, and the "Best Venue" for Radio Sailing

   We're back from the California IOM State Championship in Foster City, and it's clear that their pond is one of the premier radio sailing venues in the country. In this episode, we chat pond-side during the event with four competitors about racing, boat tuning tips, and what makes this regatta special. Also, all five San Diego Argonauts who headed up for the Championship finished in the top 10... How about that! We'll end with a call-in from friend of the show Bill Bridge with results from the NAMBA District 19 Heat Race Series in San Diego, which drew an impressive 137 boats across 11 classes. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoargonauts.com)!

9. 

   8 Jun 2026

   3 American Skippers Take Us Behind the Scenes of the 2026 IOM Worlds in the UK

   From spot checks and long courses to lay day priorities — this week, we're talking all things 2026 IOM World Championships! Today we're celebrating our 10th episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio with a very special first-hand reflection of the 2026 IOM Worlds — times three! We hear from three American sailors who competed across the pond, in Datchet, England, last month. Brian Shores, a remarkable newcomer who finished 9th with only three IOM regattas under his belt, describes the challenging reservoir venue near Windsor Castle with its unpredictable weather and long course. He also details a tense protest over a one-millimeter sail measurement and praises the competitive level of the event. We'll also connect with Peter Feldman, who improved on his 2024 fifth-place finish to claim fourth this time around. Peter details the 12-day commitment of traveling for the Worlds and the strategy of rig-change decisions (including a pivotal Race 16 gamble that paid off). Lastly, we'll hear from Gary Boell, a veteran of over a decade of international IOM events, who offers a comprehensive take on the Championship. Gary tells us about the proud moment of seeing four American boats in the final A-fleet race and the differences between this year's event and the lavishly produced 2024 Worlds in Gladstone, Australia. We'll also kick things over to a friend of the podcast, AMYA Vice President Dan Shier, to update us on Region 6's recent regatta results and how one of our own San Diego Argonauts performed sailing with the group in the Pacific Northwest. And as always, we'll recap our Region 8 race results and standings, and share our important updates for the club. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/)!

10. 

    25 May 2026

    100+ Powerboats at the Pond in June 👀 How VC Bill Bridge Handles This "Organized Circus"

    This week's episode is a fun, info-packed episode featuring an interview with Bill Bridge, Vice Commodore of the Power Division (or as I call them, the "Thunderboats"). Bill shares the history of RC powerboat racing, the shift from nitro to gas engines, engine cooling systems for these boats that can move upwards of 65 MPH, and he gives us all the details on the upcoming District 19 Heat Race happening on June 12-14, where more than 100 boats are expected to descend upon San Diego, making what Bill calls an "Organized Circus" of an event. Plus, AMYA President Len Bowes drops in with a preview of the next issue of Model Yachting Magazine and updates on DF95 team racing. Then we'll wrap it up with a look at a busy June schedule, from Solings and IOMs to the Scale Tug-of-War. See you at the pond for all these great events and more! For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website!

11. 

    11 May 2026

    Sailing in Sacramento with Bob Eger + April Results

    On this episode, we pay tribute to legendary IOM designer Ian Vickers, recap the DF 95 Travelers Trophy at Bridgeway Lakes (complete with a dramatic mid-race sinking!), and sit down for an in-depth interview with Hall of Famer Bob Eger. Bob is a driving force behind the Sacramento Area Model Yacht Club, and he took the time to share his journey from model airplanes at age eight to co-founding the South Bay Model Yacht Club in 1975. We chat about everything from the club's Star 45 building program to their "Thursday Luffers" sailing in Folsom. Then we end with full April race results from San Diego, as well as the Travelers Trophy standings, where the Argonauts claimed five of the top six spots... Way to go, Argonauts! For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/).

12. 

    27 Apr 2026

    Pacific Northwest Ponds: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, + Salt Spring Island

    This episode takes a look at some of the model yacht clubs accessible to us on the West Coast beyond California. Starting with Portland, Seattle, and Idaho, and then a quick detour to British Columbia to visit Salt Spring Island, where a passionate community of sailors keeps the tradition of wooden IOMs alive. Whether you're a seasoned racer or just traveling and looking to gain some new pond experience in some of the country's most beautiful areas, these clubs offer well-attended regular racing and stunning sailing locations that are worth the trip. Also, let's look at the calendar and discuss heading to Sacramento for the DF-95 Travelers Trophy Event. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (http://sandiegoragronauts.com/).

13. 

    13 Apr 2026

    Exploring California’s Region 8 Ponds + Regatta Results

    Let’s go on a tour of RC sailing ponds across California: from San Diego all the way up to Redding. We’ll learn about the clubs, the classes they sail, the people who keep them running, as well as tips for visiting each venue. Plus, we'll chat about how to find clubs near you to try out using the AMYA website! This episode also discusses the UK Nationals, insights from Larry Grant's masterclass experience in Croatia, and a race report from the 2026 DF 95 Region 8 Championship held at our very own San Diego Mission Bay Pond. Congrats to Chris Davidson from Australia on taking the top spot over the weekend! For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website: https://sandiegoargonauts.com (www.sandiegoargonauts.com)!

14. 

    30 Mar 2026

    An Inside Look at the DF-95 Regionals

    Today, we're talking all things DF-95 Regionals with Chris Steiger, Regional Director for the DF-95s and the PRO (Principal Race Officer) for the upcoming event. We talk sportsmanship on the water, what goes into a well-run regatta, and how Chris plans to keep things fair and competitive at this year's event. Also, Chris shares his journey to RC sailing, from discovering the Argonauts at Mission Bay in 1976, all the way to becoming one of our regional race directors. We'll also discuss the upcoming Global DF-95 Championship in South Africa. The DF-95 Regionals take place April 11-12th, 2026, at the San Diego Mission Bay Model Boat Pond. And rest assured, Bob's Pond Dogs will be served! For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/)!

15. 

    16 Mar 2026

    “It Crosses Between a Hobby Versus an Obsession Some Days”

    March is the time to check out the hard work of our scale division at the annual open house, coming to the San Diego Mission Bay Model Boat Pond on March 21st. Whether you build scale model boats or not, it's easy to appreciate the time, energy, and expertise required to make these detailed works of art take sail. We'll talk with Jeff Sparksworthy, VP of the San Diego Argonauts Scale Division, about scale models, his earliest nautical fascinations, the fate of hobby shops during the rise of online shopping, and how robotics students could become the future pond-goers here in San Diego. We'd love fellow Argonauts to bring a friend, grandchild, or family member to the open house on March 21st from 8am-2pm PT at the San Diego Mission Bay Model Boat Pond.For an upclose look at the remarkable models Jeff mentions, head down to the free San Diego Nautical History Gallery & Museum (https://libertystation.com/go/nautical-history-gallery-and-museum) at Liberty Station, located in the old command building at the intersection of Decatur and Roosevelt. A very special shoutout this week goes to Rod Messinger for his work on the club dinghy during a busy time at the pond. We appreciate you, Rod!For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/)!

16. 

    2 Mar 2026

    Talking Regatta Footage, Region 8 Results, and Points Races

    The recent Region 8 Championship featured excellent competition and drew a large community of traveling sailors from around the country. Let's break down the leaderboard, the performances of those in attendance, and which boat models sailed to success. Despite shifty wind conditions, the competition was well attended and well-documented by AMYA's Vice President, and the man behind Shakey Cam Productions, Dan Shier. We'll chat with him about the value of model yachting 'game tape' for improving tuning, the workflow for making these videos, and the importance of establishing more ponds across the country. Find out more about Dan Shier's new DF95 marketplace at www.OlympiaModelSailors.com (http://www.olympiamodelsailors.com/). For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/).

17. 

    16 Feb 2026

    Preparing for the Region 8 IOM Championship

    February is underway with a full slate of races on the calendar! Time to review the recent Traveler series in Arizona that many San Diego Argonaut sailors attended. We'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at this week's Region 8 IOM Championship with race chairman and competitor Gil Gansky. The Championship takes place February 20th, 21st, and 22nd, but Gil and his team have been working hard on the event for months. Tune in for a look at Gil's regatta planning strategy, secrets to success on race day, and how Gil's background sailing the shores of Lake Michigan led him to model yachting with us in San Diego. Throughout today's episode, we highlight how appreciated and valuable our club volunteers are in ensuring the club runs smoothly. Volunteers keep events on the calendar and draw sailors from all over the world to our club for the great events we host. If you want to get more involved in the club outside of points races, Len Bose has an opportunity for DF95 owners at an upcoming demonstration day. For more San Diego Argonauts events, opportunities, and fun — check out our website (https://www.sandiegoargonauts.org/).

18. 

    2 Feb 2026

    Starting the Year Strong

    New year, new podcast. Welcome to the inaugural episode of San Diego Argonauts Radio. Here, we'll chat about all things San Diego Mission Bay Pond — from events and open houses, to race results and club get-togethers. In this episode, let's discuss the End of the Year Banquet, the latest Pondside Chat Seminar, the January Soling and Odom Competitions and their results. And we'll chat with a San Diego Argonaut who drives upwards of four hours to compete with our club. Hosted by 2026 San Diego Argonauts Commodore: Jess Atkinson. For more info on the San Diego Argonauts, visit us online at www.sandiegoargonauts.org (www.sandiegoargonauts.org).

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.