Every Saturday morning a fleet of classic ships invade Mission Bay to parade up and down the Model Boat Pond. These floating works of art range from a two-masted schooner, an aircraft carrier, and a turn-of-the-century steam-powered paddle boat, all built to scale.

“All of the boats in our club are built off of real boats and the dimensions are scaled down to create a replica of that craft,” said Kurt Sellen, vice commodore of scale for power boats. “For example, this tug boat I’m holding is 1/24th scale, meaning for every inch that’s 24 inches full size; and we use a hand-held remote control to guide our power boats around the pond.”

The model boat club is named Argonauts, after the sailors in Greek mythology. However these modern-day Argonauts aren’t searching for Jason’s Golden Fleece, they are putting their vessels to task just for fun. The club has three divisions: Scale, Sail, and Power, each has its vice commodore to oversee that specific venue.

“We have a division for the sail guys that come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays to do free sailing,” said Sellen. “These boats have no remote control equipment, they set a weathervane on the ship and set a course across the pond and back, just like it was done in the old days.”

Everyone is welcome to join the Argonauts as they cruise the friendly waters of the Model Boat Pond. The members love talking about their boats and their history.

To get the public more interested in their club the Argonauts are adding a new event each month. That includes Tug Boat Tug Of War, Races, Obstacle Course skill run, and a scene right out of D-Day.

“We have an event called Day Of Grey, a military-themed event with battleships, carriers, landing craft along with an assortment of navy boats,” said Sellen. “It’s as close as you can get to being in a battle without going to war. Then in December, we have one of our most popular events, the annual Parade of Lights. Our boats are decorated with Christmas lights; it’s our most popular event and draws many people.”

The San Diego Argonauts have a must-see event coming to the pond Aug. 2-11. They are hosting four countries to compete in their 15th consecutive Tri-Annual Race Week Regatta.

The Argonauts is an International organization dating back to before 1939. Sellen has taken on the job of researching the history of the club and the pond it calls home. But that’s another story for another time.

The Model Boat Pond is located on Vacation Isle, between Vacation Isle East and Vacation Isle West, just south of the Paradise Point Resort & Spa.