The 1999 U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group National Regatta

Hosted by the Detroit Model Yacht Club
25-26 September 1999


Photographs by Earl Boebert

This was the scene during the Vintage M racing in Independence Oaks park in Clarkston, just north of Detroit. The Detroit Model Yacht Club and our Midwest VP, Al Suydam, put out great effort and the result was a superb event.

In addition to Vintage M and Schooner racing and judging, there were static displays and a dinner featuring a wonderful slide show of the history of model yachting in Detroit. A very special event was a visit to A.J. Fisher, where we saw how those great vintage fittings were made using some great vintage machinery.  [A. J. Fisher is no longer in operation]

Bob Erwin, proprietor of A.J. Fisher, shows how it's done.

The dock from which the skippers controlled their boats. Just about a perfect venue, and the weather wasn't bad either.

Action during the schooner races.

Sometimes there's a little too much action.

The VM winners and their boats. The winning boat, a "Sun Kiss" skippered by Wick Smith, was built by his grandfather and converted to radio by him; the youngest skipper won with the oldest boat.

The winning VM boats.