50th Anniversary of the first Radio Marblehead National Championship

This coming Marblehead National Championship at Datchet on 1st and 2nd June 2024 is the 50th anniversary of the first one held at Guildford Model Yacht Club’s then sailing water at Elstead Moat on 21st-22nd September 1974.

During the early 1970s, cheap, light reliable radio equipment became available from Japan and radio yachting spread into the smaller classes after having previously been restricted to heavy displacement ‘N class boats, which could carry the heavy valve orientated radio gear and batteries.

In 1973 Guildford club was thriving with record numbers of vane racers at Elstead Moat and a growing interest in radio racing. With many experienced radio sailors in the Guildford & Reading area travelling long distances for their racing, starting radio sailing locally at Elstead Moat was welcomed.

It started at an informal level and the experienced sailors were soon confident that they could run a national championship there.

Roger then put forward a proposal to MYA Council for Guildford to run the first Radio Marblehead National Championship at Elstead Moat in September 1974….

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2024-05-27 50th Anniversary of the first Radio Marblehead National championship