1970s - New Forest Model Yacht Club

In the May 1972 Model Boats magazine an experienced model yacht racing enthusiast, C.R. ("Bob") Jeffries, reviewed the "Star-C", a new type of radio controlled yacht. At the end of his article (see below) he suggested possibly forming a club. By October 1972 the New Forest Model Yacht Club had been formed with members predominately sailing radio controlled Marblehead yachts ("RMs") and Bob Jeffries the acting sectretary, later Commodore (more about Bob Jeffries).

Model Boats Magazine articles (click on images to enlarge)
May 1972: Bob Jeffries suggests club [PDF 1Mb]	October 72: Club has use of Setley Pond	January 74: report of first year; sign erected!	April 74: pond dredged, Southern RM championship

By spring 1974 membership was over 30 members, the "Model Yacht Sailing" sign had been erected, and the pond deepened using a hired excavator (thus creating the "island"). It seems likely that the "launching quay" was also constructed at this time along part of the western shore (see photo, top). Only a single section of these planks remains today. The photo shows the Club Commodore, Bob Jeffries, and David Waugh at the Southern District RM Championship held at Setley in April, 1974.

In these early years it was possible to drive and park along the tracks around the pond and "race control" was in a caravan above the launching area. The photographs shown and more photographs from this period were obtained by Graham Coombs.

Model Boats Magazine articles (click on images to enlarge)
November 1974: the first RM National Championships held by Guildford MYC [article PDF 25Mb]	January 75: Setley events include RM Nats.	April 77: Metro- politan & Southern RM champs.

Six New Forest members competed at the first RM National Championships by the Guildford MYC in September 1974 won by Club member David Waugh. The RM Nationals were hosted at Setley the following year, the photo (right) shows the winning entrants (1st: David Waugh, New Forest; 2nd: Mike Flinch, USA; 3rd: unknown, Canada; 4th: John Cleeve, New Forest).

Sailing at Setley continued in 1977 and David Waugh won the Metropolitan and Southern District RM Championship held in April (photo left, standing in the pond from left are Neil Charman(?), Norman Curtis(Woodley MYC), Bob Jeffries, and David Waugh). However 1976 had been a very dry summer and the area available for model yacht racing in that and similar years must have been very limited. In 1978 the Club divided. The New Forest MYC transferred to Snails Lake near Ringwood and the Solent R/C MYC was formed at Setley.