With the thread started by Brett in December of 2007 (thank you), the concept, design and building here in the US didn’t really take off until mid- January. Here we are just two months later, and the US Group has formed, an owner/builder has established a US website presence, a short “blurb” will be published in the next Model Yachting magazine, and we have seven (7) formal registrations in. Several are AMYA members and several aren’t. No cost to register but there will be a boat registration fee when the class receives AMYA recognition somewhere in the future, either as an AMYA Class or as a Class Owners Association (COA) — to be determined by all owners registered on the website when the magic number of 20 “owners” (not boats) is reached.
Strange that so far, none of our Northern Canadian neighbors have registered, either as website members, or as owners. I volunteered to handle the first group of registrations and sail CAN #1 is still open. Who will be the first Canadian to join/register a boat? I’m keeping Canadian registrations separate from US and they can decide direction if/when they have sufficient numbers.
We already have several boats registered from New Mexico, Minnesota and Massachusetts. I also know of at least three more in the process of being built.
BTW - it isn’t a new class - except here in the US. The class had it’s original start in Argentina in/around 1978, so after about 30 years, it seems logical for the US builders to take a look and give a try.
How about you - interested is a small, development class? :sly:
Hi, Dick,
the roots of the RG65 Class are even older. They go back to the fifties, where the RG65 started as G65, named after Juan Ghersi who invented the class. At this time, of course, there was no suitable RC equipment available. This was introduced in the class middle of the seventies, may be it was 78, and the name was changed to RG65. The additional letter ‘R’ stands for ‘radio controlled’.
Thanks for the update and further historical information.
I’m pleased you and others are providing this background, because like most things, we Americans (often) believe we invented “everything” !
It’s a nice piece of history that lends itself to a class having survived this long, and it is very strange the US never made much of a move toward the class - at least from what I can find. I think Earl (Boebert) an r/c and sailing historian by choice, often brings forth tidbits of ideas that many may have thought to be revolutionary, until Earl cites a historical note to prove it isn’t all that new.
How the class has adopted to new ideas, materials and radio gear is fascinating to me, and the large following of owner/builders outside of the US is somewhat of a testament to the viability and acceptance of the class.
Hopefully in the future we here in the US (and Canada) can add to the international acceptance of the RG65 Class by our own class growth.
Dick, there’s a history of the class translated from the Spanish Wiki article on the User Group files section. The video I posted a few posts back was of the pond where it all started back in the days of vane steering.
that’s where I picked up 1978 - or else it was from the International site.
Anyway -
more work done tonite on keel, bulb and started fooling with mast location. Mast needs to be cut - just setting there for photo. Probably will make a track to allow mast to be shifted fore/aft depending on wind and helm. Tomorrow the start of the sails - perhaps?
Here’s USA 1 with her warpaint on The photo of the run illustrates my point in the “Mariner” thread on the Footy board about having the mast aft of the LCF.
I’m pleased to advise the International Class Association has recognized our US/Canadaian efforts to build a national class (NCA) here in the US.
We have been provided International forum web space for discussions that will provide direct access by the other members of the International Classes from other countries. This recognition on an international basis of our efforts to build a National Class recognized in the US should provide a bit of stimulus to those who are wondering if it’s “just another small r/c boat class”.
And I will be making an effort to update it with “general” information from our US site built/provided by our own Sven. Not all of the local stuff will be updated, but certainly if there are questions of an international flavor this is a good place to post them. Thanks to all of you who have already stepped forward and committed to the class by building and registering your RG65.
Martin
Back to my error about the sail area of the Fiesta. The error was a mistake in typing as the number 5 and % are the same key and I must have hit it twice!The Fiesta sail area is about 1% smaller as you point out. Mea culpa!
The Fiesta foresail is larger than the Puma and the area lost there is what makes up the quite pronounced roach high up on the mainsail. Whilst this looks very nice it is not very helpful in strong wind gusts.
Maybe kinda looking like my 24" Victor America3 hull could fit into the RG65 class as a more than likely non-competitive foot in the door. Or at least some seat time for rig development and getting my sea legs back…
See post #117 - there is a minimum overall length of 64.5 mm (25.4") + a 0.5 mm bow bumper.
Try a Jif65 or a Palo de Agua; 3 sheets of 1/8" balsa should be enough.
Thanks Martin, I didn’t catch that post before. I briefly looked at the rules and must have been off in my metric conversion. The Victor is just my second kit boat, I do want to do some scratch building so an RG65 looks like a good starter for me.
If you do build one, try to build light. I saw on another forum that the designer of the Palo de Agua has been sailing the original model for ten years. It is just doped balsa construction with no glass fibre reinforcement. I think you’ll be surprised at how light they are compared with some similar sized kit boats.
For those who are challenged graphically, I have added two files on the US RG65 web pages. They are in PDF (acrobat) format.
One is a series of numbers scaled to 10 cm and the series runs from 1 through 0, and the style is Helvetica Bold (also known as Arial font style) They are scaled to meet class rules for sail numbers.
The second file is the country USA, also in Helvetica/Arial Bold font, but at 4 cm which also meets class rules. There is a reverse view of the letters USA in case you want to trace them on the back of vinyl, sticky Dacron, Contact paper, etc. so your tracing lines don’t show. The front reading logo and numbers can be placed under mylar or florist wrap and you can trace over them.
If any owners have a desire, I have a lot of different font styles (some easier to read than others ) and if you are a member of the class AND a member of AMYA, I will donate some time to make and send you a PDF file of your selected sail numbers at no charge. Just email me off line for specifics and I’ll send you a sheet so you can see the numbers in the styles available. These and your selected numbers will be sent as a PDF file but you will have to print and transfer to the material yourself, then cut out and apply. I don’t do vinyl die cutting (yet)
I am currently working with a Michigan based hobby shop and hope to be able to confirm a nice AM radio system that is complete - less batteries - for US Sailors in the lower 48 states. It is a 2 channel, 2 stick radio, receiver, crystals, rudder servo, sail servo, battery box holder and receiver switch.
The hobby shop owner, an AMYA volunteer, is considering an April Only Special Discount. We are looking at prices of about $88 plus shipping of approximately $9 (plus tax for Michigan residents). There may be a required payment via money order in order to eliminate possibility of bad personal checks, or credit card fees. More when this is finalized, but you might want to plan now to get in on this special promotion. It certainly helps eliminate a lot of issues and concerns for those who would like to build a boat, but who might be worried about what radio system to get. Maybe buy two, build two - and loan one out to a friend - it’s always nice to sail with someone.
No conflict of interest here - I’m not connected with the shop in any way. Just trying to help new builders find a good deal on a radio system in order to help grow the class.
I finally tracked down and installed this servo. It’s sold in the US as the GWS Micro 2BBMG; 20 bucks from Servo Hut. 28 x 14 x 29.8 mm; 28 g (0.98 oz); 6.4 kg-cm (89 in-oz) at 6v. Under 6v test, held a 1100 sq cm main fully sheeted in all the way over to 90 degree of heel. Quite the cool little servo for smaller boats.
Brett started this thread in late December 2007, and the US began a build effort for the class in mid-January. Here we are in mid April, and I’m happy to announce that we recently passed the U.K. in number of boats registered with the class.
As of today, we have 12 confirmed boat registrations while a peek at the U.K. list indicates a total of 10. This growth indicates that some are intrigued by the size and easy-to-build features of this class here in the US and with more boats soon to hit the water (when it melts) we should start to see some demo activity at local clubs and ponds. This means even more boats.
Thanks to the guys who have made this growth possible - and my invitation to those reading this post ---- take a look and give serious considerations. We would love to have you join us.
Congrats on overtaking us Brits, despite our slight head start and the sly trick of starting the sail numbers at #10 .
The class has the attraction of producing easily, made stored and transportable boats without the enforced stubbiness of the Footies and provides an economical route to the pleasures of RC sailing. Now that RC equipment is ever more miniturised, there are few problems of fitting boats out and I wonder how many RC cars will be cannibalised to make a boat. Add to that the simplicity of the rules and you have a formula for getting more boats on the water. I know that my sailing time was being curtailed by the near impossibility of using public transport to get my 3’ 7lb “Saphir” to the lake.
It has also broadened our horizons and, through it, we have met a lot more sailors out there: in France, Germany, Argentina, Chile and Brazil, among others and learnt that there are boats outside the English-speaking countries; merci, vielen danke, gracias and muito obrigado.
I’ve had a whale of a time taking part in this and other threads and wish you well in promoting the class in the USA.
Without the help, advice and answers to questions, this would not have been possible. The internet has proven to be a valuable tool in the sharing of ideas and photos that help us all to better understand the boat, the designs and the class.
I believe, that once a few of these start showing up a local ponds and sailing venues, the interest level will also kick in for those who don’t frequent the internet. Also, Bill Young, AMYA secretary for the Open Class is planning on introducing the class in the next, or subsequent issues of AMYA Model Yachting magazine. This too will reach about 3700 US AMYA members which will also be a nice promotion and introduction.
Please take high quality, 300 dpi minimum resolution for all photos and your photos may wind up in the magazine - or possibly even the cover. We (at the magazine) are always looking for good color, ACTION type photos.
Earl, Servo Hut is where I have been buying mine. I had my doubts about these at first, started using them in my Footys. Plan on using them in my RG-65 and in my two fast electric boats for the rudder. Since you have has success with them in your RG-65, will pop a couple into mine.
There are some more new boats coming along in the UK, at least two new moulds for grp hulls being in the final stages of build. One almost ready to sail. Builders prefer to check out their designs before registering boats as they have clubmates also possibly keen to build if the boats work well.
I have done some work on my Puma and with the better spring weather started sailing her more.
The idea of starting sail numbers at 10 was to aviod single digit sail numbers with prefixed 0.
Do you ever do any sailing in the UK or are you permanently based in Spain?
The photo of the run illustrates my point in the “Mariner” thread on the Footy board about having the mast aft of the LCF.
