Club History

The Early Years (1977–1981): Birth, Quiet Pause, and Rebirth

The Miami Valley Model Yacht Club first set sail in the summer of 1977 thanks to the enthusiasm of John Bell and Don Theobald. The club started in Vandalia and quickly grew to five members, including Ed Bradley, who remains active today .

Early activities included monthly meetings and fun sails at Eastwood Lake, plus hosting the Midwest Racing Series #3 in 1978 — the very event where Don and Rose Peacock saw an RC sailboat for the first time .

Then… the wind died.

From 1979 to 1980, the club went quiet, with no organized activity and membership never rising above 7 or 8 sailors .

But in 1981, the Peacocks and John Bell rekindled the spark. They sent out letters to local RC sailors, held a rebirth meeting in October, and relaunched the club with six dedicated members. MVMYC was officially back on the water .

Off and Running (1982–1985): Growth, Demos, and the First Races

The club’s first newsletter appeared in 1983, and by 1984 membership had grown to 19 sailors. Much of this momentum came from John Bell, who organized public demos everywhere from the Dayton Mall to Courthouse Square to Wegerzyn Gardens .

The club also navigated early radio‑frequency conflicts with the Wingmasters flying club — a full season of negotiations that eventually led to a shared‑use agreement, thanks to the persistence of members like Paul Galloway and Don Stackhouse .

In 1985, MVMYC held its first official club race, featuring everything from 36/600s to Marbleheads. The club also debuted its first logo and hats, which quickly became popular among members .

Into the Future (1986–1989): Rules, Racing, and a New Dock

The late ’80s were all about sharpening skills. Members held winter classes on rules, tactics, and race strategy, taught by teams of experienced skippers like Don Peacock, Steve Pratt, and Ron Sanderson .

1988 brought the first official club championship races, and 1989 saw MVMYC host Ohio’s first known One‑Meter ACCR. That same year, the club built its first dock — a huge upgrade — and adopted its first Constitution and Bylaws during Rose Peacock’s term as Commodore .

Achieving Greatness (1990–1994): Star‑45s, Regattas, and Rapid Growth

After a rough patch in 1989, the club rebounded to 12 members by 1990. Brochures in hobby shops helped bring in new sailors, and by 1994 membership had doubled to 24 .

A major turning point came in 1991 when Steve Pratt proposed adopting a one‑design class for club racing — the Star‑45. Winter build sessions followed, and by spring 1992, ten new Star‑45s hit the water. The class quickly became the club’s largest fleet .

The club also launched its now‑traditional April Fool Regatta in 1994 and saw members elected to national AMYA leadership positions, including Don Peacock as Vice President .

Trucking On (1995–1998): Big Winds and Big Wins

The mid‑90s were packed with major regattas. In 1995, MVMYC hosted both a Regional and an ACCR for the Star‑45. That same year, members traveled to what may have been the windiest regatta in club history — Lake Cindy, Georgia — where gusts over 25 mph hammered the fleet. Ohio sailors swept the top five spots anyway .

In 1996, Don Peacock became AMYA President.

In 1997, the club hosted the CR‑914 ACCR.

And in 1998, MVMYC took over running the AMYA booth at the Toledo Weak Signals Show .

Enjoying the Hobby (1999–2004): Racing, Building, and Hosting Nationals

The early 2000s brought steady racing and several major regattas. The club hosted the Star‑45 Regional in 1999, combined Star‑45 and One‑Meter Regionals in 2000, and the Star‑45 Nationals in 2001, where MVMYC sailors claimed three of the top four spots .

In 2002, the club partnered with the City of Dayton to build the lakeside shelter that still serves sailors today. In 2003, members built a new dock. And in 2004, MVMYC hosted back‑to‑back EC‑12 and Star‑45 Nationals, drawing dozens of competitors from across the country .

Old Hands at It (2005–2007): Back to Nationals

The club continued to shine on the national stage. In 2006, MVMYC hosted combined Nationals for the One‑Meter and ODOM classes, with strong finishes from Scott Rowland and Craig Mackey