The 2024 Presidents' day flotilla and parade of boats

By Jack David, Vice Commodore

The West Valley R/C Mariners 2024 Presidents’ Day Flotilla and Parade of Boats featured 12 registered skippers who brought a total of at least 18 boats and one Zeppelin (actually a Zeppelin barge!). The weather was beautiful, but Lake Park was a little scummy this year. That didn’t stop the fleet from launching, just had to wipe down hulls following the event! We had a small group of spectators who enjoyed the event- especially the kids!

Held each year since 2001 except for Covid 2020, the WVRCM Presidents’ Day Flotilla & Parade of Boats is an event featuring electric military, commercial, pleasure and sail vessels. There is a Parade with each boat making a Parade Pass and the Harbor Master/Commentator describing each boat for the crowd followed by free running around the milling oval. The very first WVRCM Flotilla and Parade of Boats was held in 1993 on Labor Day weekend.

The Flotilla & Parade of Boats has proven to be a popular format with both spectators and the skippers. In 2001 the Labor Day event was dropped in favor of events on Veterans Day and Presidents’ Day. The fleet this year represented a good range of boat types with warships, a PT boat, commercial, pleasure craft and of course Barrett Hochhaus’s novelty craft featuring a powered float with a 1/125^th scale HINDENBURG.

The 2024 event was distinguished by the age range of the skippers. At least two of the skippers were grandchildren of one of our scale skippers. The youngest skipper was 9 years old, and I hate to say who the oldest skipper was—let’s just say 70+. In fact, the 9 year old granddaughter of one of our scale skippers actually won an award for Best Pleasure!

This year marks the final year of events that are produced by Jack and Barbara. We have decided to retire from producing events and “pass the baton” on to others.

The WVRCM thanks all the skippers who attended and especially the residents of the City of Litchfield Park and the Parks and Recreation Department for providing the WVRCM with a venue for the event.  

2024 PRESIDENTS’ DAY FLOTILLA AND PARADE OF BOATS AWARDS

Mark Weitzman: PCF 18 – People’s Choice Award
Mike Davis: Wilton Castle– Skipper’s Choice Award

Brett Harper: U.S.S. Arizona – Best Military
Ron Burns: Canelise– Best Commercial
AB: Alena’s Pontoon – Best Pleasure
Ken Sinfield: George W. Washburn - Engineering Award

Mike Davis: Wilton Castle– Engineering Award