Welcome to Venice Radio Sailing
About Us
Venice Radio Sailing got its start in Venice, Florida in February of 2024. We are a group of people dedicated to the sport of radio-controlled model sailboat racing. Anyone who shares an interest in sailing is welcome to join.
We sail year-round in some of the best weather the country has to offer. We sail at two nearby lakes, which gives us the ability to choose the one with the best conditions on the day.
Our primary lake is the Green Lake Nature Area which was created by the rehabilitation of an old, closed Sarasota County landfill. The lake is nearly perfect for radio sailing with ample parking, 3 floating docks, 360° clear wind, long courses, walkable banks, on-site rescue boat, porta-potty, no weeds and very large and hungry carp to make sure it stays that way. The fenced facility is not open to the public so our equipment stays secure and the fish stay in the lake.
We also sail at the main lake at Downtown Wellen Park. It is a great location for SE winds, with the added benefit of all the on-site restaurants and amenities.
Our organization is sponsored by the Venice Golf & Country Club. The golf course is adjacent to Green Lake and the country club has long maintained a walking trail around the lake. Sailing on Green Lake would not have been possible without the support of the Venice Golf & Country Club, and we deeply appreciate their assistance. Members of Venice Radio Sailing are not required to be members of the Venice Golf & Country Club. We are also grateful to the Sarasota County Solid Waste Department for their willingness to work around their operational issues to make this happen. Thank you to Wellen Park for your fantastic support. And finally, thanks to our core group of initial members who generous donated time, money and the use of your boats to introduce the sport to new members.
Boat Classes and Schedule
Boat Classes and Schedule
Boat Classes and Schedule
Our schedule for the winter of 2025 is sailing DF95s from 9:30 to 11:30 every Tuesday and Thursday. Visitors are welcome and loaner boats are available. Lake choice will be emailed a day before.
The boats are not expensive, generally ranging from $400 to $700. The boats can be purchased as kits to assemble, or ready to race packages from the manufacturers. One of our members is our “Boatyard” and available to facilitate purchasing, building and repairing boats, and he maintains an inventory of parts. Come give it a try!
Skill Levels
Boat Classes and Schedule
Boat Classes and Schedule
You don’t need to know anything about sailing. You don’t need to know anything about sailboat racing. You don’t even need to own a boat. We have experienced members who are happy to teach you everything, and we have club-owned loaner boats to let you try it out. There will be plenty of practice days where we don’t keep score. Being a new club, there are lots of new members with little to no experience. Maximize the fun and minimize the competition.
For the experienced sailors, we offer a high level of competition. Many of our members are very experienced sailors, including current and former class champions. We have state-of-the-art remote-controlled marks allowing us to set great courses. With remote-controlled marks, clear air, and zero weeds, the racing will be outstanding every time.
Social
Boat Classes and Schedule
Membership
Our club is as much about the time we spend together as it is about the racing. We are all drawn together by a common interest, but it’s not just about the sailing. We get together for regular lunches before or after racing, and the entire organization gets together to hand out awards, make fun of those who deserve it, and recognize those who have put in the extra effort to make the club go.
Membership
Founder's Club
Membership
If you don’t own a boat, you will receive a free trial membership. Try it out, learn to sail and learn to race with no obligation to join. Radio sailing is not an expensive sport, so dues for 2025 will be around $75 per year and about that much every year thereafter. There is a thriving used boat market so you will probably get back a lot of the money you spent if you ever decide to sell. It is very hard to find so much entertainment for so little money!
Venice Radio Sailing has also partnered with Grouper. We now offer those with an eligible health plan a chance to enjoy our club without the hassle of membership fees. If you're on a qualifying Medicare Advantage or Supplement plan, Grouper will cover your dues, sending a check directly to you! This partnership is all about keeping you active and engaged in our vibrant model sailing community at no cost. Ready to jump in? Simply check your eligibility at the link below and get ready to enjoy all the benefits of model sailing, courtesy of this fantastic collaboration. Join us now and make the most of this amazing offer!
Founder's Club
Founder's Club
Founder's Club
Venice Radio Sailing would not exist without those who's contribution of time, money or effort in the early stages helped get the club off the ground. In an effort to recognize those extraordinary contributions we have established this "Founder's Club" so that current and future club members will know the names of those who made their club possible. Thanks to each and every one of you.
Barry Blaisdell
Ron Casciato
Bob Earley
Peter Feldman
Joe Hayden
Chad Kasten
Curt Kasten
John Langley
Jon Metzger
Marshall Pardey
And many others who wish to remain anonymous.
Sign Up Now!
Founder's Club
Founder's Club
Sign up below and you will be the first to hear about future open houses, learn to sail clinics, learn to race sessions and racing schedules.