2025 RC Laser National Championship on 2/2/2025
Submitted By: Dave Branning
Region: 7
Class: RC Laser
Chevrons: Gold National
Date: 3/1/2025 - 3/2/2025
Location: Mackle Park Marco Island, FL
Host Club: MARCO ISLAND MODEL YACHT CLUB Club No: 137
# of Entries: 27
Winds: 4-14
Races completed: 20
Scoring System: Gold/Silver
Regatta Committee & Valuable Assistants:
Regatta Directors: Rocky and Mary Lee Cale;
Race Directors: Judy Bonanno & Dave Branning;
Nick Mortgu, RC Laser Class Secretary;
Scorers: Mary Lee Cale, Joan Lefczik, Eleanor Parker, Julie Weaver;
Parking: Bob and Joanne Nederoeste;
Lunches: Joy and Wheat Harrison, Joanne Nederoeste, Lynne Phelps;
Breakfast Tent: Jane Ritter and Happy Fox;
MIMYC helpers: Harry Henkel, Rich Phelps, Terry Naylon, Paul Zeller, Glenn Chalder; Feather Flags/Banners: John Santoro, Jacques Rioux, Domenick Bonanno, Glenn Chalder.
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2025 RC Laser NCR Regatta Report Submitted by: Dave Branning, PRO
They Did It Again! The regatta do-all team of Rocky and Mary Lee Cale, the MIMYC and many other regatta volunteers stepped up to host and execute the 2025 RC Laser NCR after hosting this championship last year. Why not! Perfect weather plus a first-class venue, Happy Fox's full on breakfast tent, yummy box lunches, dozens of spectators, top level Corinthian skippers and first-class hospitality on and off the water. And we get to do it at the Cale Model Yacht Sailing Center.
Day One: With light winds we sailed four seeding heats to separate the fleet into gold and silver fleets for the championship. There was a mix of one and two lap heats. With the fleets set, gold skipper Will Van Cleef (Charleston, SC) started off hot and had the lead at the lunch break. After the break, Barr Batzer (Lighthouse Point, FL), NCR defending champion, took command, reeling off firsts and seconds. At the end of the day, Barr held a commanding 26.8-point lead over Jim Kaighin (Abacos, Bahamas) and Will Van Cleef. Steve Holdeman (University Park, FL) and Bill Bentz (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) kept the fight for second place tight as four skippers were within a very few points.
In the Silver fleet, Jon Luscomb (Jupiter, FL) held a five-point lead over Jim Flach (Norristown, PA), who ended the day with two bullets to keep the pressure on Jon. Glenn Chalder (Simsbury, CT) was eight points back in third. All scores were without throw outs at this point.
Day Two: Mother Nature stepped up the wind gods and a few skippers gave initial heats the A sail try but ultimately freshening wind puffs into the teens relegated all to the B sail the rest of the day.
In the gold fleet, Barr Batzer kept the pedal down and, if not commanding a perfect start, he would stay in clear-air, pressure and sail bow-down with great boat speed. In the end Barr would win by 29 points. The fight for second was very close as Steve Holdeman came on strong to grab second over Will Van Cleef in third with Jim Kaighin in fourth and Bill Bentz in fifth. After three throw outs, the separation between second and fifth was 2.6 points. Incredibly competitive.
In the Silver fleet, Jon Luscomb apparently woke up Sunday morning and said enough is enough. There was no stopping him on this day. Jon managed to cobble together a string of seven firsts and one second to win by 42 points over Glenn Chalder in second, Jim Flach in third, Chuck Weaver in fourth and Bob Tallman in fifth.
In memory of former AMYA President, and long-time Mid-Winter regatta RD, David Brawner, a Sail Like 53 award was presented to the sailor who most exemplifies the qualities and attributes of DB during the regatta as determined by the race committee. This year the award was presented by Glenn Chalder, the 2024 winner, to Jon Luscomb, winner of the Silver Fleet and who provided so much help and support during the event. Jon was a long-time friend and competitor of David Brawner and was quite moved by receiving the award.The RC Laser Class created The Southern Circuit Champion award which is awarded to the top skipper who sailed in the NCR as well as one East Coast and one West Coast Southern Circuit regatta. This year's winner was quite convincing as Barr Batzer basically pitched a shutout winning at Coconut Creek, Punta Gorda, and the NCR. Congratulations, Barr!
Thanks to Charlie Sumner and his drone footage of the Silver Fleet action. See the Judy Bonanno picture link above
They Did It Again! The regatta do-all team of Rocky and Mary Lee Cale, the MIMYC and many other regatta volunteers stepped up to host and execute the 2025 RC Laser NCR after hosting this championship last year. Why not! Perfect weather plus a first-class venue, Happy Fox's full on breakfast tent, yummy box lunches, dozens of spectators, top level Corinthian skippers and first-class hospitality on and off the water. And we get to do it at the Cale Model Yacht Sailing Center.
Day One: With light winds we sailed four seeding heats to separate the fleet into gold and silver fleets for the championship. There was a mix of one and two lap heats. With the fleets set, gold skipper Will Van Cleef (Charleston, SC) started off hot and had the lead at the lunch break. After the break, Barr Batzer (Lighthouse Point, FL), NCR defending champion, took command, reeling off firsts and seconds. At the end of the day, Barr held a commanding 26.8-point lead over Jim Kaighin (Abacos, Bahamas) and Will Van Cleef. Steve Holdeman (University Park, FL) and Bill Bentz (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) kept the fight for second place tight as four skippers were within a very few points.
In the Silver fleet, Jon Luscomb (Jupiter, FL) held a five-point lead over Jim Flach (Norristown, PA), who ended the day with two bullets to keep the pressure on Jon. Glenn Chalder (Simsbury, CT) was eight points back in third. All scores were without throw outs at this point.
Day Two: Mother Nature stepped up the wind gods and a few skippers gave initial heats the A sail try but ultimately freshening wind puffs into the teens relegated all to the B sail the rest of the day.
In the gold fleet, Barr Batzer kept the pedal down and, if not commanding a perfect start, he would stay in clear-air, pressure and sail bow-down with great boat speed. In the end Barr would win by 29 points. The fight for second was very close as Steve Holdeman came on strong to grab second over Will Van Cleef in third with Jim Kaighin in fourth and Bill Bentz in fifth. After three throw outs, the separation between second and fifth was 2.6 points. Incredibly competitive.
In the Silver fleet, Jon Luscomb apparently woke up Sunday morning and said enough is enough. There was no stopping him on this day. Jon managed to cobble together a string of seven firsts and one second to win by 42 points over Glenn Chalder in second, Jim Flach in third, Chuck Weaver in fourth and Bob Tallman in fifth.
In memory of former AMYA President, and long-time Mid-Winter regatta RD, David Brawner, a Sail Like 53 award was presented to the sailor who most exemplifies the qualities and attributes of DB during the regatta as determined by the race committee. This year the award was presented by Glenn Chalder, the 2024 winner, to Jon Luscomb, winner of the Silver Fleet and who provided so much help and support during the event. Jon was a long-time friend and competitor of David Brawner and was quite moved by receiving the award.The RC Laser Class created The Southern Circuit Champion award which is awarded to the top skipper who sailed in the NCR as well as one East Coast and one West Coast Southern Circuit regatta. This year's winner was quite convincing as Barr Batzer basically pitched a shutout winning at Coconut Creek, Punta Gorda, and the NCR. Congratulations, Barr!
Thanks to Charlie Sumner and his drone footage of the Silver Fleet action. See the Judy Bonanno picture link above
Race Results for 2025 RC Laser National Championship
| Type | Place | Skipper | Sail# | Points | City | St | Home Club |
| Gold | 1 | Barr Batzer | 175 | 22.2 | Lighthouse Point | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 2 | Steve Holdeman | 75 | 51 | University Park | FL | SARASOTA MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 3 | Will Van Cleef | 76 | 52.4 | Charleston | SC | |
| Gold | 4 | Howard Kaighin | 757 | 53 | Palm Beach Gardens | FL | |
| Gold | 5 | Bill Bentz | 94 | 53.6 | Fort Lauderdale | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 6 | B Stephen Tedeschi | 101 | 88 | Lighthouse Point | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 7 | Larry Lefczik | 3 | 102 | HOLIDAY | FL | GOLDEN TRIANGLE MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 8 | Scott Rice | 60 | 117 | Boca Raton | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 9 | John Santoro | 36 | 127 | Egg Harbor Twp. | NJ | MID-ATLANTIC MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 10 | Terry Naylon | 165 | 127 | Marco Island | FL | MARCO ISLAND MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 11 | Robert Shapiro (Bob) | 17 | 150 | Wilmington | MA | BOW LAKE SAILING MYC |
| Gold | 12 | Charles Sumner (Charlie) | 90 | 152 | Delray Beach | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Gold | 13 | John Parker | 91 | 170 | Ocean City | NJ | SOUTH JERSEY MODEL YC |
| Gold | 14 | Jacques Rioux | 11 | 188 | Cary | NC | TRIANGLE MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 1 | Jonathan Luscomb (Jon) | 81 | 40 | Jupiter | FL | HOBE SOUND RADIO SAILING CLUB |
| Silver | 2 | Glenn Chalder | 42 | 72 | Simsbury | CT | NOROTON YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 3 | James Flach | 25 | 82 | Norristown | PA | |
| Silver | 4 | Charles Weaver | 34 | 85 | Cumming | GA | NAPLES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 5 | Robert Tallman | 87 | 86 | Margate | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 6 | Myles Loesel | 570 | 110 | Deerfield Beach | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 7 | Tony Corkell | 65 | 117 | Cary | NC | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 8 | Domenick Bonanno (Dom) | 17 | 123.4 | Shrewsbury | NJ | MARBLEHEADERS OF SPRING LAKE |
| Silver | 9 | Michael McGuckin | 99 | 132 | Ocean City | NJ | MID-ATLANTIC MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 10 | Harry Henkel | 79 | 136 | Everglades City | FL | MARCO ISLAND MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 11 | Richard Phelps | 95 | 153 | Victor | NY | ROCHESTER AREA MODEL YACHT ASSN |
| Silver | 12 | Hal Steward | 97 | 165 | Lighthouse Point | FL | SABAL PINES MODEL YACHT CLUB |
| Silver | 13 | Mark Daddino | 153 | 190 | Osprey | FL | RARITAN YACHT CLUB RC LASER FLEET |
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