At Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC), hundreds of races over the last 12 months have been held between fifty avid “sailors” racing remote-controlled yachts.

RFBYC welcomed this new fleet to its racing calendar in 2021. The DF65 Remote Control Sailing group was established by a group of yachting enthusiasts when COVID restrictions prevented close contact within the confines of a cockpit.

Apart from the ability to remain 2 meters apart on shore while racing, the beauty of these boats is the strict one-design class for the DF65, leaving the yachts’ performance totally up to the skipper. That said, it has been noted that skippers can be highly creative in finding excuses for poor performance. Running into some riverweed or crashing into a jellyfish does appear to take its toll on line honours.

The boats have been very popular with a big uptake, due in part to the low purchase cost, currently around $260 AU for a complete DF65 boat including all electrics. The group have been sailing for 12 months now, with weekly social Sunday racing events of eight races over a two-hour period. Sailors of all ages and skill enjoy the friendly races each week. All Club members are welcome to join in and try the activity before committing to buying.

Thinking of starting up a new class for your Club? RFBYC has compiled helpful documents on their website. Check it out:

Guide To Remote Control Sailing