History of Model Boating
on Conservatory Water

After the wooden structure burned down in the early 1950's, a new home for CPMYC was established in 1954: The Kerbs Memorial Boathouse. The new building was sponsored by Jenne E. Kerbs in memory of her parents Alice H. and Edward A. Kerbs, who enjoyed watching the beauty of the boats on the pond from their 74th Street and Fifth Avenue apartment window. 

1960s

Developed further in the 1960's with the proliferation of the transistor.

1970s

It was not until the 1970's, however, that radio control took a firm hold and, except for the larger classic boats, vane sailing for racing purposes, all but faded.

'Skipper,' 15, Outruns Adults In Central Park Sailing Race. Under a sun that wove in and out of the clouds and in a wind that sometimes blew heartily but more often did not, members of the Central Park Model Yacht Club yesterday took the top 10 spots in a national championship race for the "International 10-Rater" class of model sailboats.

Today's elaborate, high-tech models are still comletely powered by the wind, but now chance does not dictate the direction the boat will take, the skill of the on-shore skipper with transmitter in hand searching out the breeyes and developing the proper tack, makes this determination.

CPMYC has a long record of inventive members who have designed models used for testing theories, which have later been implemented into big boats.

Conservatory Waters, along with the yachts of CPMYC, has become the most recognizable model sailing site in the United States. The Club has been written about in many periodicals, including the NY Times, Model Yachting, Offshore, Sports Illustrated, and believe it or not, Popular Mechanics.

They have been see in any number of movies and TV shows, including F-X, Three Men & A Baby, Swicht, Give Me A Breake, The Equaliyer, Kate & Allie & Murder in Black & White. Our boats have been used in scores of background shots for commercial advertising.

During the 1970's full focus was placed in the hands of the Commodores to entice all who were truly interested in model sailing to become members of the club. As a result, CPMYC currently boasts uniquely eclectic membership.

1980s

1990s

Central Park Model Yacht Club, a not-for-profit organization, has histry which includes  and , since 1975, the newly formed American Model Yacht Association (AMYA), currently the national regulatory body that governs the specifications and racing rules for 95 clubs throughout the country, representing approximately 2,500 members. AMYA is a member of the international umbrella orbanization, The United States Yacht Racing Union (USYRU) - Model Racing Division.

If you have additional information regarding the history of conservatory Water, please contact me at contact@cpmyc.org.

Other interesting sources on model boating are:

• "A History Of Model Sailing" by Norman Hatfield at the ISAF webpage
• "Model Yachting in the US" can be found at Earl Boebert's website.