About us

About us

The State College Model Yacht Club is an informal group of model sailboat enthusiasts of greatly varying experience levels and backgrounds. Members range in age from young to not so young (chronologically), (but we are open to all) and all are enthusiastic about a day spent sailing.

We race on the first Saturdays and 3rd Mondays monthly throughout the sailing season. Setup begins around 9am and races typically start at 10am and run until 2pm, with a short break following every 3 races and around noon for lunch and socializing.

"Unscheduled" sailing and even less formal racing, or match racing can happen any time two or more sailors can get together for some time on the water.

Our Boats:

We sail two different classes of boats, the Dragon Force 65 (DF-65) and the East Coast 12 Meter (EC-12), two classes of radio controlled (R/C) sailboats that are registered with the American Model Yachting Association AMYA . The fiberglass hulls of the EC-12 are all produced by certified builders that use molds owned by the Class, so they are as close to identical as possible. The sails, running and standing rigging, mast, booms, servos, and accessories for the EC-12 come from various suppliers. The finished boat displaces about 24 pounds and is 59 inches long. Her draft is just under 8 inches.

The EC-12 class is a restricted design. The class rules maintain the beauty of the boat, yet provide some latitude to the individual crafting the model boat. Hulls are registered at the fabrication point, coordinated by the class, and recorded with the AMYA. The original model mold was intended to lead to construction of a full sized, 1962 vintage, 12 meter sailboat for America's Cup competition.

As a result of being a one design class, older boats NEVER become obsolete. Some of the EC-12s that sail with us are well over 30 years old, and still competitive.

The other boat the club sails, the Dragon Force 65, is one of the most widely sailed RC yachts in the world with over 30,000 sold to date. The US Class Owners Association has over 250 boats registered with 190 boats AMYA registered and fleets have formed at over 50 clubs around the U.S.

Where we sail:

In central Pennsylvania, less than a half hour east of State College is Colyer Lake: just a few miles off Route 322. We sail on the dam side of the lake.

Contact the commodore, Fred Maurer, for more information.