veterans' day flotilla and parade
of boats brings out the fleet

By Jack David

The West Valley R/C Mariners 2023 Veterans Day Flotilla and Parade of Boats featured 10 registered skippers who brought a total of at least 17 boats. The weather started out beautifully, but as the event progressed, the wind came up and sea conditions began to get choppy. We had a small group of spectators who enjoyed the event, especially the kids!

The WVRCM Veterans 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. It’s proven to be a popular format with both spectators and the skippers. The very first WVRCM Flotilla and Parade of Boats was held in 1993 on Labor Day weekend. 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 1/72 scale World War II U.S. Navy blimp. One of the highlights of the event was the tribute to "Taffy 3" performed by WVRCM’s DesDiv (Destroyer Division) 1- 1/72 scale Fletcher Class Destroyers that performed various formations. 

One of the skippers suffered a damage casualty when a strong thermal gust hit the pit area and Pat Haber's 1/72 Aquacraft Fletcher Class Destroyer was blown off his boat table and suffered heavy topside damage. We hope Pat will be able to repair the damage and return the boat to the water. His destroyer was one of the three boats performing in DesRon 1. 

The WVRCM thanks all the skippers who attended and especially the residents of and the Estrella Community for providing the WVRCM with a venue for the event.  

2023 VETERANS DAY FLOTILLA AND PARADE OF BOATS AWARDS

Rodney Benner: PT-109 – People’s Choice Award
Janet Benner:  ORCA Fishing Boat– Skipper’s Choice Award
Brett Harper: USCGS Stratton – Best Warship
Janet Benner: ORCA Fishing Boat– Best Commercial
Barrett Hochhaus: SS Pasteur – Best Pleasure
Joe DiCenzo: Deep Trouble submarine - Engineering Award

Click here to see the photo album by Chris Koharik