Over the history of model boating on Larkfield Tarn, there has been a long tradition of sailing model yachts.
From the earliest days in the 1930's, when the Bradford Model Yacht Club was racing for the Temple Cup, a challenge for 36 Inch Restricted (36r, Vane controlled model yachts), all the way through to the 1980's when the Leeds & Bradford Model Racing Yacht Club were competing for the John D Atkinson Trophy sailing Marbleheads (M Class, radio controlled yachts), model yacht racing has been an important aspect of the club's activities.
That tradition continues to this day. We have a growing group of dedicated model yacht skippers who sail on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We sail, predominately, IOM's (International One Metre yachts), but we have been known to sail and race the DragonFlite 95 and DragonForce 65 classes of radio controlled model yacht. Occasionally we see "A" Class and "M" Class boats on the water.
Below is a brief description of some of the types/classes of model yacht you may see on Larkfield Tarn. More, in depth, information of each class can be found on the Model Yachting Association (MYA) website. The MYA is the national authority for model yacht racing in the UK.
International One Metre (IOM)
IOM's racing on Larkfield Tarn, Rawdon, 2023.
Since the late 1980’s the International One Metre (IOM) has become the most popular class in the UK.
The boats have a maximum length of one metre, (39.37 inches), hence the class name. This is a very handy size for transporting the boat by car to the lakeside, no matter where you sail.
More information about the IOM class of model racing yachts can be found on the MYA website,
DragonForce 65
DragonFlite 95
The photos show a DF65 and a DF95 at Rawdon MBC.
The boats have an overall length of 65cm and 95cm respectively and they are very easy to transport.
Both have similar underwater profiles.
These classes are aimed at newcomers to the sport of model yacht racing and they are supplied partly built, with winch and servo installed. However the owner will need to complete the mast and rig the sails. The owner will also have to buy the radio transmitter and receiver separately.
More information about the DragonForce 65 and DragonFlite 95 class of model racing yachts can be found on the MYA website,
Marblehead (M Class)
A photo of an M Class yacht on Larkfield Tarn. The designer was Dave Creed.
The design is called "Starkers Cubed".
The boat shown is fitted with a "swing rig" rather than a conventional rig that you can see on the boats in the other photos on this page. If you want to find out more about swing rigs please visit the club and have a chat, you'll be very welcome.
The boat in the photo was sailing on Larkfield Tarn on a very calm, overcast and cold day. Model Yacht skippers are not put off by the weather!
This class restricts the overall length of the boat to 50 inches (1.27m) and sail area to a maximum of 800 square inches. The rule was devised by Roy L Clough of the Marblehead Club in Massachusetts, USA, in 1930 and is one of the oldest classes recognised by the MYA.
There is a video on YouTube of Marbleheads racing on Larkfield Tarn. Please search for Marblehead Racing at Larkfield Tarn 1991
More information about the Marblehead class of model racing yachts can be found on the MYA website,
www.mya-uk.org.uk/kb/marblehead-class/
"A" Class
"A" Class boats are the oldest model yacht class recognised by the MYA.
To quote from the MYA page mentioned below, "Boats in this IRSA "A" class are not limited in length, but are controlled by a formula which demands a balance between waterline length, displacement and sail area. Sails get smaller as displacement reduces and as waterline length increases. The formula was devised in 1922 by the editor of the Yachting Monthly as a testing ground for later use in the full sized 5.5 Metre class rule."
The boat in the photo measures 1.9 metres (75 inches) overall.
More information about "A" Class model racing yachts can be found on the MYA website,
RC Laser
This is a popular “one design” radio sailing class. It is a Radio Controlled version of a full size racing boat. RC Laser is not a MYA recognised class of model yacht.
To quote from the website mentioned below, "The hull measures approximately one metre (39.37 inches) overall length and when rigged with the larger of the three sails, the boat stands over 7 feet tall from the bottom of the ballasted dagger board to the sail head."
For more information about the "Laser", please see www.yachtsandyachting.com/class/RC-Laser/
There are several other websites that discuss it.
Many years ago Larkfield Tarn was a well known and respected venue for Vane Controlled model yachts. There were boardwalks all around the perimeter of the lake where the skipper and crew could launch and recover their boats.
Please see the photo in Photos of Larkfield Tarn showing the lake c1965. The photo only shows part of the lake, but the boards extended around the full circumference of the Tarn.
Vane control is a mechanical system that allows the model yacht to steer a straight course, depending on the wind direction. Please see a description of vane steering on the Vintage Model Yacht Group website.
Please see the YouTube video from the Model Yachting Association for more information about sailing and racing model yachts in the UK.
Please note that Rawdon Model Boat Club can Not be held responsible for the content of other sites.
Please let me know about any broken links or other website problems by emailing rmbc.enquiries@yahoo.com
Thank you.
RAWDON Model Boat Club
Larkfield Road, Rawdon, Leeds. LS19 6EQ.
