49th International Radio-Controlled Model Boat Competition

The weather played a major role at the 49th International Radio-Controlled Model Boat Competition, held on Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, at the Monte Generoso Campground in Melano. Strong winds and thunderstorms on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon significantly disrupted the competition, allowing the 25 competitors from Germany, France, and Switzerland to make only one launch out of the three scheduled.

In the F3A-Hydro category, the young German Philip Rannetshauser (13 years old) surprised everyone with a textbook flight, deservedly earning first place. His placement is no coincidence: Philip also leads the German aerobatics championship and—if he continues at this pace—will certainly be one of the champions of the future. Behind him were Georg Thanner, last year’s winner, and Hans Hirschberger. The competitors from Ticino performed well: Renato Buzzi finished 5th, Fabrizio Albonico 7th, and Andreas Laake 13th.

In the semi-scale category, the victory went to Rolf Breitinger (who also won the static display competition with a magnificent Dornier Do-24), followed closely by Andreas Bischel (Beaver DHC-2) and Günter Hückl (Fokker C-11-W). The only Swiss participant, Armin Röthlisberger of Thun, finished in 7th place.

The Lugano Model Aircraft Group is already hard at work on next year’s event, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the first radio-controlled model boat competition, held in 1959—at that time still at the Lugano Municipal Lido.

Additional information and photos of the event can be viewed on the Lugano Model Aircraft Group’s website at www.gal.ch.

Fabrizio Albonico
Photo © by Jürg Hirsiger,
Bern 2008