Toy sailors battle the seas of Central Park
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Pat Dworzan places Incognito, a boat he built, into the pond August 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Jon Elmaleh from the Central Park Model Yacht Club uses a radio remote control device to turn the rudder and sails as he races his model boat Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Jon Elmaleh from the Central Park Model Yacht Club places his model boat into the water Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Three model boats from the Central Park Model Yacht Club race Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A duck swims past model boats Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. Many people sail their wind-powered boats on the pond and visitors can rent model boats at a nearby boathouse. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A family sails a model boat Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. Many people sail their wind-powered boats on the pond and visitors can rent model boats at a nearby boathouse. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pat Dworzan places Incognito, a boat he built, into the pond August 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
Jon Elmaleh from the Central Park Model Yacht Club uses a radio remote control device to turn the rudder and sails as he races his model boat Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
Jon Elmaleh from the Central Park Model Yacht Club places his model boat into the water Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
Three model boats from the Central Park Model Yacht Club race Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
A duck swims past model boats Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. Many people sail their wind-powered boats on the pond and visitors can rent model boats at a nearby boathouse. -- PHOTO: AFP
A family sails a model boat Aug 11, 2012 at the Conservatory Water in New York's Central Park. Many people sail their wind-powered boats on the pond and visitors can rent model boats at a nearby boathouse. -- PHOTO: AFP
NEW YORK (AFP) - Sniffing the wind, the hardened racing sailors eye their rivals. That the water's waist deep and the boats are toys does nothing to lower the intensity at this century-old sailing club in New York's Central Park.
The CPMYC - that's the Central Park Model Yacht Club - makes a big thing from miniature voyages.
Every Saturday for as long as anyone can remember members have shown up at the Conservatory Water to pit their wits against each other in the baffling winds swirling through the park's trees.
"This is a very pure form of sailing," said Mr Jon Elmaleh, a wiry 52-year-old, who with his chin stubble, mountaineer-style sunglasses and polo shirt, looked as if he might already be halfway across the Atlantic.
