Boating is all fun and games for a father and son duo, sharing their passion for sailing miniature yachts with people of all abilities.
Every weekend, Ormiston father Don Horton and his son Dean hit the water with their remote-controlled DragonForce 65 boats with the Redlands Radio Sailing Club.
The radio controlled boats are a popular hobby for many avid sailors, and Dean said the activity allowed him to get the thrill of sailing with his father from land.
"I just love that I can race against Dad. He's too old to sail big boats now, but we get the same kind of thrill out of racing DragonForce boats," Dean said.
"It helps me relive my youth and brings back some happy childhood memories from sailing when I was a kid."
With the help of some sailing mates, the Hortons founded the Redlands Radio Sailing Club two years ago to create a community of small boat sailors in the area.
Don said although the races could get competitive, everyone enjoyed their time on the water.
"It's really just about having fun," he said.
"We get to race against each other and at the end of the day someone leaves with bragging rights and they come back the next week to go again.
"It's the same sailing skills that we used to sail a bigger boat, finding the wind, getting the best angles and going as fast as you possibly can."
He said it was easy for people to get involved even if you had never sailed before, with the boats cost effective and easy to use.
"You can buy one of these boats brand new for under $300, so it's a cheap and easy way of going sailing without a big car or a trailer, and you can just put them in the water and off you go," Don said.
Some club members also take part in club events, racing against other avid boaties who are a little more competitive across the south-east.
Dean said a perk of the sport was that anyone, no matter their abilities, could pick up a controller and have a go.
"It can help older people build mental stimulus, and younger people with physical or learning disabilities," Dean said.
"Kids can put these boats together themselves, control it themselves and take complete ownership of the boat, and sail it independently without someone helping them.
"But it's also an opportunity for some older people to get out, socialise and make some friends and try a new challenge."
The Redlands Radio Sailing Club meets every second Saturday afternoon from 1pm at Sovereign Lake at Helena Street Park, Wellington Point.
The group welcomes anyone who would like to give it a try to come down to the lake and is always open to new members.
For more information, contact Don at don@thehortons.id.au or visit the Facebook page.
Emily Lowe
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
