SRCMYC Yacht Racing in the 1980s

During the 1980s the Yacht Racing section dominated the club with typically 50 to 60 members in contrast to 20 to 30 Scale Section members. At the start of the decade the primary purpose of the club was specifically to sail and race of Marblehead ("RM") yachts similar to those in the photo (left). The 1984 Newsletter reports RM yachts being raced against the Ryde and New Forest Clubs, and by 1987 an annual RM team race event was being staged with the Gosport and Guildford clubs. However the 1980's also saw other radio controlled yacht classes being adopted at Setley.

The adoption of the R36 as a smaller, and originally less expensive, yacht class was discussed in 1984 and in 1987 the Metropolitan and Southern Division R36 Championships were staged at Setley. The R36 Class rules allow the development of different hull shapes (provided they fit into a box of set dimensions), the use of "exotic" materials such as carbon fibre, and the use of multiple sets of sails to allow for varying conditions. This led to a rapid increase in the cost of competitive boats.

The adoption of the 1 metre as a "One Design" class (photo left) was discussed by the Club in 1987. The International One Metre (IOM) eventually became recognised by Yacht Racing Organistaions as a "restricted" class with only limited variations in hull form and materials allowed. A first club IOM event was held at Setley in 1988 (when the RMs were on an "away" match!) and by 1989 IOM racing was included in the Club event programme eventually taking over from the R36s.

Having founded the New Forest Club and steered its reincarnation at Setley as the Solent RCMYC, Club President C.R. ("Bob") Jeffries, passed away in October 1988. Following a business career in radio, he had been one of the pioneers of radio control for UK model yacht racing and had published numerous articles in the Modelling press. He had been a major, if sometimes rather possessive, force in the Club's development. The photo (right) was taken at Setley in 1974 during the RM Southern Championships.