About
Welcome to the web site for Coalhouse Fort Radio Yacht Club. Coalhouse Fort RYC is affiliated to the Model Yachting Association which in turn is affiliated to the Royal Yacht Association (RYA), the International Radio Sailing Association (IRSA) and World Sailing.
Anyone who has been to Coalhouse Fort on a Wednesday or Sunday will have seen a small but happy group of people looking out onto the moat; this is the Coalhouse Fort Radio Yacht Club.
The yachts that we sail are not models or scale replicas of large yachts but are highly competitive radio controlled racing sailboats designed specifically for this task. The classes raced at Coalhouse Fort are the International One Metre (IOM); the Dragon Force 65 and the Dragon Flite 95. See the headings above for yacht details.
Radio Control Yacht Racing is very similar to full size yachts or dinghies, only being physically disconnected from your Yacht, providing great fun and fellowship; it is truly a sport for all ages and can be entered into all year round.
Where do I start? If this has “wetted your appetite” you can make a good start by contacting our club by making few visits on race days will show you at first hand how the day is run. Talk to any of our members and they will give you lots of information on the classes of boats sailed and the racing programme. Visiting skippers are always welcome, and new comers can be provided with a boat for a trial sail. Alternatively you can contact the club via our website for more details.
Wednesdays and the 4th Sunday of the month, we sail IOM yachts from about 10.00am through until approximately 2.00pm
The 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month we sail Dragon Force 65 yachts from 10.00 am through until 2:30 pm
The 2nd Sunday of the month is the turn of the Dragon Flite 95 yachts sailing from 10.00am until approx. 2.30pm.
These days may vary when there is are Open race meetings (please see Events Diary page for further information).
Please click on Membership to join Coalhouse Fort RYC. It is a requirement of all members to affiliate to the MYA to provide third party Insurance.
Membership :
Adult – £15.00 plus £10.00 for MYA Affiliation = £25.00
Junior – £7.50 Plus £7.00 for MYA Affiliation Fee = £14.50
Welcome to the world of Radio Controlled Yacht Racing
Radio Controlled Yacht Racing is very similar in performance to full size yachts or dinghies, providing great fun and fellowship; it is truly a sport for all ages and can be done all year. For beginners, radio control yacht racing enables you to learn the basic rules of sailing which you can then carry over to full size racing at a later stage. Maybe you have reached the age where you are having difficulty managing a full size boat, or you can not sail in the winter – if so, why not keep your hand in with a radio controlled yacht?
What is Radio Controlled Yacht Racing?
Radio controlled yachts are controlled from the shore via a radio transmitter and race around a set course. Radio controlled yacht racing follows the same basic racing rules as full size boats except for one or two minor alterations necessary because there is no crew on board. The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS 2021 – 2024), have Appendix E to cover these differences. Racing tactics are very important, but equally necessary is tuning the yacht to achieve its best performance. A stable well-tuned yacht that holds its course without any helm being applied will inevitably be faster.
Take a look at this video from the MYA showing what the sport is about and some of the classes
We no longer see ourselves as a Model Boat Club and now call ourselves a Radio Yacht Club. The yachts that we sail are not models or scale replicas of large yachts but are highly competitive radio controlled racing sailboats designed specifically for this purpose. The class’s raced at Coalhouse Fort are:
The International One Metre (IOM); this class is recognized by the IRSA under its radio sailing division and is sailed around the world. At first glance these boats may look the same but there are only a few dimensions that have to be common to each boat, this is a design to rule class. Overall length = 1 meter, minimum weight = 4Kg, 3 controlled rigs of different sail areas.
The Dragon Force 65 (DF65); this class is a restricted one design, the yachts are all the identical supplied by one manufacturer, sails can be manufactured by anyone. Sailed worldwide but not recognised by IRSA, there is a class association which defines the class rules. Overall length = 650mm, weight = 1.25Kg, 4 controlled rigs
The Dragon Flite 95 (DF95); This is another Restricted one design, and as the name suggests comes from the same stable as the DF65, with the same controls set out in its own class rules, controlled by the same class association. Overall Length = 950mm, Weight = 2KG, 4 controlled rigs. Both Dragon class yacht sail under the same set of racing rules as the IOM.
Where do I start?
If this has “wetted your appetite” you can make a good start by contacting our club by using the email on the ‘Contact Us‘ page. A few visits on race days will show you at first hand how the day is run. Talk to any of our members and they will give you lots of information on the classes of boats sailed and the racing programme. The Cub is run by committee elected by the members annually see here for current committee members.
Coalhouse Fort Radio Yacht Club 