On Sunday the 7th October at 2pm the Model Boat Club will be holding its last event of the year, a tug towing competition, for various sized classes of tug and appropriate towed vessel. It is also anticipated to have “team towing” as well, using some of the fleet of mini tugs used for the “Av-a-Go” boats.

Each competitor has to navigate a complex course, again cunningly devised by the Commodore “Bob Bagshaw”, without either the tug or tow striking any buoys or other obstructions. In the event of a tie on points lost, the winner is decided by time taken to complete the course. Always a spectacle, whether to use the Gough/King approach of slow and careful to ensure a clear round, or the Callow “full steam ahead” and hope no one sees the buoys move!

The team towing might be paired tugs, or more, teams drawn from the hat on the day. Who knows, we could have a juniors versus the seniors just for fun?

There’s a possibility of the William’s new giant tug having its first daylight competition run-out, having made her debut at the Venetian evening, in her illuminated glory. And there’s lots of scope for all members to utilise any one of the ever popular “Av-a-Go” fleet of tugs that have been so well used around the Island this year.

This event is well worth coming to watch, if you have a radio controlled tug why not join the Club and enter. There are classes for tug size (under and over 1m), and junior and senior age groups for each. Sorry, there is no novice class, it’s “in at the deep end” first and every time. See you all there again – what a turn out for the previous event, and thanks for your support throughout this year, it’s been our pleasure to entertain you all.

A quick note to all interested, the Club’s AGM has been arranged for the 29th November at 19:30 in the meeting room of the Archibald Knox

Photo caption - William's new monster tug at ModelBoat Convention, Haydock Park.  Photo courtesy of Jason Quayle.