About
Model yacht racing started at Wilton park as ROFWAC or "Retired Old Friends Wednesday Afternoon Club" by members of Kirklees Model Boat Club formed around 2008 to encourage and promote midweek racing of radio controlled yachts on the lake in Wilton Park, Batley. in West Yorkshire.
From small beginnings the group significantly grew to a point where it effectively became the yachting arm of the Kirklees Model Boat Club,
In 2021 ROFWAC was renamed Kirklees Model Yacht Club and became a seperate club focussing on yacht building and racing.
We now have between 8 and 12 members who regularly race every Wednesday at Wilton Park, whatever the weather, even to breaking ice in the lake to permit racing in winter!
As of September 2018 we race four classes of yacht.
The first class is the JIF which is a cheap and easy to build, and works well as a starter yacht.
The second class is the RG65 which, like the JIF, is particularly suited to our lake due to its size, but it offers more flexibility in design.
The third class is our club's experimental 31" design. Here, anything goes in design providing the yacht is wind powered, has a single hull and no longer than 31". Many and varied are the designs, which provide some exciting racing, and are raced on a handicapped system.
The fourth class is the Dragon Force 65, which is a one class boat. This boat is bought ready made to a fixed design providing a level playing field for racing. Being bought rather than made also makes it accessible to those who can't build for whatever reason. This yacht can be raced within its own class but also in the RG65 and 31" classes, again making these more accessible to a wider membership.
We welcome anyone of any age to visit us at Wilton Park any Wednesday and join in the fun. Sailing starts at around noon with the first race underway at 12:30pm .There are no charges to come along and "have a go" but we do think it appropriate to join the Kirklees Model Yacht Club if you catch the bug and want to come regularly. Members would be happy to advise in getting you started in the sport, including tips on building, tuning and sailing.
As of September 2018 we race four classes of yacht.
The first class is the JIF which is a cheap and easy to build, and works well as a starter yacht.
The second class is the RG65 which, like the JIF, is particularly suited to our lake due to its size, but it offers more flexibility in design.
The third class is our club's experimental 31" design. Here, anything goes in design providing the yacht is wind powered, has a single hull and no longer than 31". Many and varied are the designs, which provide some exciting racing, and are raced on a handicapped system.
The fourth class is the Dragon Force 65, which is a one class boat. This boat is bought ready made to a fixed design providing a level playing field for racing. Being bought rather than made also makes it accessible to those who can't build for whatever reason. This yacht can be raced within its own class but also in the RG65 and 31" classes, again making these more accessible to a wider membership.
We welcome anyone of any age to visit us at Wilton Park any Wednesday and join in the fun. Sailing starts at around noon with the first race underway at 12:30pm .There are no charges to come along and "have a go" but we do think it appropriate to join the Kirklees Model Yacht Club if you catch the bug and want to come regularly. Members would be happy to advise in getting you started in the sport, including tips on building, tuning and sailing.