SPECIAL FEATURES – Palma’s most prestigious radio controlled yacht club!
It is on a glorious Sunday afternoon when I finally get to meet the Royal Palma Radio Control Yacht Club, or the RPRCYC as it’s known for short. I’ve been following their exploits on Facebook whilst away and was excited to actually get to see them in action at last.
The brainchild of Hamish Reid, Ronan McCormick and Liam Manning, three sailors with a passion for the water, boats and people, the club was founded in a pub in Palma on October 25th 2020. Not a year known for too many positives, this was certainly one of them. All throughout the winter as restrictions were imposed across the Balearics, the club was quietly growing. A small group following all of the restriction guidelines, thanks to the size of the pond, were giving people a reason to be out in the sunshine under Palma’s most famous monument, the cathedral La Seu. King Jaume I of Aragon clearly knew back in 1229 just what a backdrop he would provide for this most prestigious of clubs.
I hear them first rather than see them, as peals of laughter drift across Parc de Mar, affectionately referred to by the club as The Pond. As I round the corner what I, and many of the locals and tourists who pass by see, can only bring a smile to your face. A multitude of sailboats sailing around in the pond as they limber up for the first race. One would be forgiven for thinking that these are not indeed miniature replicas of their full-sized counterparts, such is the quality of the workmanship. Perhaps I was indeed just very, very far away. But as I draw closer it turns out that it clearly was simply a trick of the light.
First of all, I need to explain what is meant by radio controlled, as you could be mistaken for thinking these were remote controlled boats with engines such as those found on the boating lakes of our childhoods. But in fact, the only motors controlled by the radio unit that are in these One Class Dragonforce 65s are to control the rudder and to trim the sails. The theory behind them is simple: turn the hull to the right by moving the rudder joystick to the right. Turn the hull to the left by moving the rudder joystick to the left. Pull the sail in by moving the sail stick down. Ease the sail out by moving the sail stick up. But this is where the ease ends and the true skill sets in.
As all the boats jostle for their perfect position to cross the line at the two-minute warning a hush settles across the water. All eyes are on the timer and the wind direction, which is not only temperamental across the island’s seas but especially compounded across the pond’s waters. With 5 seconds remaining on the clock most boats are in position. And this is where the fun element kicks in. Whilst everyone is in it to win it, it is not so serious that newcomers, interested parties and the odd extremely talented eight-year-old passer-by can’t join in.
And so the boats are off. Flying (mostly) across the starting line and it’s up to the first top homemade made yellow mark, round it, preferably without incident and it’s time to return to the bottom mark and then repeat. The boys actively encourage the customisation (within the rules) of the Dragonforce models and I’m soon able to distinguish the Wrap Spain wrapped red hull of Hamish’s 88, the black sails and glimmering hull of Ronan’s Irish 600 and the slightly confusing at first, seemingly Arabic numbered 42 from Liam, as well as many of the other sailor’s boats who I slowly come to match to their concentrating faces.
The final race to the line is full of fun and laughter as the wind disappears and it’s now a case of total skill, and the odd bumper-car manoeuvre. Finally, Hamish, who goes on to win this Sunday’s series, crosses the line in a flourish, and this is the beginning of the first official regatta. Eight weeks of sailing comprising of 28 races, two of which you are allowed to miss. Most races take about ten minutes and I ask, this being Mallorca in the spring, what if it rains? Well, then they sail them from the cover of the Guinness bar. The only difference being that depth perception is a little trickier, although it seems that the beer will help with that.
I ask how this all came about and Hamish explains that he and Ronan met over a pigeon in ex-Captain of Nailaya, Ryan Donaldson’s bag (you have to come down and watch to get the full story, but I can confirm that no pigeon was harmed in the forming of the friendship), and Ronan and Liam came from the same county in Ireland, and then met over here in Mallorca. The three of them ended up in the pub and all expressed their love not just of race sailing in the traditional sense, although all of them are, Liam in particular, incredibly impressive race winners and have sailed with, and chased some of the world’s greatest boats. But the fact was that each of them had, or had built, a remote-controlled sailboat and just wanted to get out on the water. And so was born the Royal Palma Remote Control Yacht Club.
From the inaugural race with just three boats, nine months later and at the last count there were 37 fully built and sailed yachts, with an average of three more being bought every weekend. So, as we go to press, they think there will be closer to 45. The largest fleet to come out on the pond so far has been fourteen, but I suspect that over time that is only going to grow and grow. And the reason why this is such an easy to sport to gain entry to is the fact that the boats only cost €250 euros plus shipping and other than building the boat (which takes about four hours) and a keen eye for tuning, you need do nothing more than assign it a number, throw it in the water, say hello, crack open a beer and get sailing.
The club has massive potential and is open to everyone no matter who you are, where you come from or your level of sailing skills, although a good sense of humour is advised. Whilst most of the boats are one class, no-one will be sent away and there are plans afoot for multi class, such as IOM or 3X1 regattas, in fact maybe even a Vendee Pond, Copa del Pond could be in the works. Currently the only prerequisite to joining is you need to own a boat. However, if a travelling clubhouse Anaconda Lounge bar and club shirt needs to be purchased, maybe in the future the club will have a small joining fee. What will never happen however, is an exclusivity that says you can’t come down as a spectator and watch. Week after week the picnics get more elaborate and the numbers of those enjoying a Wednesday afterwork beer or a Sunday lunchtime in the sun to sit, admire and cheer on this most lovely of clubs is only growing – all under the current social distancing guidelines. The emphasis is on sailing, but also having fun and forging new friendships. And with three founders with such charm and charisma and open friendliness, this is only set to grow and grow and grow.
If you are interested in seeing what it’s all about, have a boat of your own, have discovered one of the many that seem to be populating many bilges, or fancy sponsoring some beers with your company’s flag, then pop along for a sailing kick-off at 17:30 on a Wednesday or 13:00 on a Sunday. There is always someone up for lending you a boat to have a go with, and as I found out as I accidentally kissed another boat, sorry is not a word that needs to be said at the club. They are quite forgiving and no damage was done. In fact, after only one event my friend and Islander cohort Mel and I are soon to be proud owners of Shenanigans 51. It’s truly that infectious.
Come and join the boys and the wonderful members of Palma’s most prestigious Royal Palma Remote Control Yacht Club whenever you fancy. It’s going to be epic!
Article by Victoria Pearce
Photo Credit: Anna Boulton
Where to find the RPRPYC and where to buy the boats from:
https://www.facebook.com/RPRCYC
https://www.natterer-modellbau.de
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