Subfest 2026 Recommended Locations

[Davjacva]

Are we thinking about a date for Cahutta yet? April/ May 2026? Weather's roll of the dice is a far better chance than the Spring.

[Das Boot]

I think Red Clay is the best venue. It’s great. If we could just decide if it’s going to happen again. If not, I’ll just use my local pond.

[Das Boot]

If I was an expert, I wouldn't be asking about required pool dimensions would I? I want to understand what the requirements are so that they can be documented here and so folks can learn and think about all the requirements that go into finding a venue.

Ok. Let’s see.

[Subculture]

It's not simply about pool size, but cost, location and availability.

Not sure what experience you have of running boats, but a big puddle isn't that big of a deal even for larger boats- as you simply can't accurately see what is going on beyond a few metres from the poolside. To go far out then you need to bring the boat to periscope depth, and much of the benefit of operating in a pool is lost, in which case save your dough and find a normal lake to run in.

Years ago I organised events at Brockwell Lido, which is an Olympic sized pool 50mx25m, I'd say we barely used a third of it, most sailors stayed at one end, and they would crowd together to natter. A Summer event at a much smaller pool about half the size had much the same effect.

In short you don't need a huge puddle, the main thing you need is plenty of enthusiastic people willing to attend and hopefully a few willing to lend a hand with running it.

[NicholasRadzykewycz]

Oh good God. Come on, dude. 14 posts and you’re an expert? Give us your real name. I think you’re just wanting people’s email addresses for spam.

If I was an expert, I wouldn't be asking about required pool dimensions would I? I want to understand what the requirements are so that they can be documented here and so folks can learn and think about all the requirements that go into finding a venue.

[Das Boot]

Can I get some dimensions on what a sufficient distance measurement is for a large sub? I am wondering if this place is too small for the big subs

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Towne+Lake+Community+Pool/@29.9248353,-95.688386,151m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m9!1m2!2m1!1slarge+venues+for+rent+ near+me!3m5!1s0x8640d7eb5ca37baf:0x2b18745544db79f 9!8m2!3d29.924579!4d-95.6879685!16s%2Fg%2F11t2c5rvbg?authuser=0&entry=t tu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Oh good God. Come on, dude. 14 posts and you’re an expert? Give us your real name. I think you’re just wanting people’s email addresses for spam.

[NicholasRadzykewycz]

Can I get some dimensions on what a sufficient distance measurement is for a large sub? I am wondering if this place is too small for the big subs

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Towne+Lake+Community+Pool/@29.9248353,-95.688386,151m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m9!1m2!2m1!1slarge+venues+for+rent+near+me!3m5!1s0x8640d7eb5ca37baf:0x2b18745544db79f9!8m2!3d29.924579!4d-95.6879685!16s%2Fg%2F11t2c5rvbg?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[Das Boot]

There’s already a sub regatta in Groton called SUBEX.

[Subculture]

My personal opinion is that square rectangular pools don't make for the greatest cinematography.

another question I have is wave pools for film studios and naval architecture testing

The snag is you can’t see a what’s going on with a submerged model in choppy water. Negates much of the advantage of operating in a pool with clear water. So in order to make it attractive I think you’d need to have a certain slot for choppy water then the rest like a mill pond.

[Subculture]

Here is one example. Forestgate pool just down the road from Bob. Prices are not cheap at around $400 for two hours rental, however that is during the season, perhaps they would be open to use in the autumn or early spring at a discount?

If you could get ten attendees, that would be $40 per person if full rate- too much?

https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx....s/Pool-Rentals

[NicholasRadzykewycz]

My personal opinion is that square rectangular pools don't make for the greatest cinematography. If I'm going to journey to an event I want it to be a venue that's different than what I could get by going to my local HOA pool or otherwise make it worthwhile to journey or take a flight. I know this is a bit of a far stretch, but there are a couple of pools new Gorton, CT where the east coast submarine pen is and the museum where the USS Nautilus is docked. I think if our focus is to locate the epicenter(s) of where there is a high concentration of skippers are and we could locate a submarine museum nearby that we could tour as either part of the event or separately after the event I would find it a lot easier to justify going. Also if we could find trusted folks who I could ship my boat to and have them store it locally and bring it with them to the event that would save me from having to drive. I don't know how others feel about the idea of integrating a museum tour into Subfest though.

I do agree with the concept of a west coast and east coast and maybe even south coast event though, so that folks can go to something closer to them.

another question I have is wave pools for film studios and naval architecture testing. These can make water that looks like the actual ocean and so I would think it would be a ton of fun to run models in those tanks and film them there, but I am cautious about suggesting them because I don't know how other skippers will feel about running in rougher water if that's something their subs can handle or if the group would be interested in or if it is just me. I don't want to sink a ton of time into researching large wave tanks and talking to folks about using them if it is not something most skippers are intrigued by. In terms of filming opportunities though I don't think you will get better than a wave tank for epic photos.

[Das Boot]

I’ve got a call in to Point Mallard in Decatur, Alabama. That would be central to a lot of people, especially from Texas, Georgia, Tennessee the Carolinas and Virginia. I don’t have a clue to what the price would be. I’ve got a call in, but they’re only open on the weekends now. They open back up in the latter part of May, so an event from the end of April to the middle of May would be good if they agree, and if I can get a price. This is a very nice venue, and there’s a campground adjacent to it, a golf course, the place even has a wave pool, but I don’t think we’d be interested in that. Let me see what I can work up and get a price and I’ll get back. Can someone message me and let me know how much you have been paying for Red Clay to give me an idea what has been spent in the past. Here’s a few pictures, although you can look it up there’s plenty of videos online.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

When I was searching for venues for pool runs years ago, I used google maps and also the internet to find venues. Nine times out of ten I came up with a blank or the venues were just too expensive unless I was willing to make up the difference, as you can usually only count on a handful of modellers to make any kind of commitment to attend let along contribute in any financial capacity.

I can’t comment on what will or won’t work in your locale, but I have seen half a dozen or more pools within The Woodlands area, and might be worth considering if you like he idea if of a simpler event of maybe a couple of hours sailing perhaps with some extra time elsewhere for socialising. When I ran pool events I got the venue for six hours, and most modellers tended to sail for two to three hours at the most.

The best of all worlds is if you can find a pool manager who finds the hobby interesting or wants to participate, but it’s rare.

I haven’t organised an event in a long time now, as securing venues at rates modellers found agreeable was proving increasingly difficult, and since the days I organised events in London new hurdles have been introduced like congestion charges for drivers, low emission zones etc. basically crude taxes designed to discourage drivers which really push up costs for anyone travelling into central London.

However modellers on your side of the pond seem to have deeper pockets, and you probably have more driver friendly administrations. If the events are kept smaller in scale you only need half dozen committed souls to keep costs within reasonable bounds and things can quickly mushroom.

Andy's real-world experience and clarification of what works and what does not work points us in this direction:

More regattas, spread out, smaller venues, and only one or two-day events. But each venue -- even if it fits all our special criteria -- needs a local 'spark plug'; the type who is responsible, can effectively sell us to a pool/lake manager/owner, is an organizer, has time-on-his-hands, is cash flush if the need arises to cover any red-ink left once the circus departs the event, and is local to the proposed event.

And that's the problem: finding that type of guy. We have it in Bob Martin, Joe Oliver and Ray Mason, me, Dave Hampton, the Rocky Mount mob, and a precious few others. Anyone else willing to make their life miserable on behalf of the many?

Anyone want to play?

Anyone...?

David

[Subculture]

When I was searching for venues for pool runs years ago, I used google maps and also the internet to find venues. Nine times out of ten I came up with a blank or the venues were just too expensive unless I was willing to make up the difference, as you can usually only count on a handful of modellers to make any kind of commitment to attend let along contribute in any financial capacity.

I can’t comment on what will or won’t work in your locale, but I have seen half a dozen or more pools within The Woodlands area, and might be worth considering if you like he idea if of a simpler event of maybe a couple of hours sailing perhaps with some extra time elsewhere for socialising. When I ran pool events I got the venue for six hours, and most modellers tended to sail for two to three hours at the most.

The best of all worlds is if you can find a pool manager who finds the hobby interesting or wants to participate, but it’s rare.

I haven’t organised an event in a long time now, as securing venues at rates modellers found agreeable was proving increasingly difficult, and since the days I organised events in London new hurdles have been introduced like congestion charges for drivers, low emission zones etc. basically crude taxes designed to discourage drivers which really push up costs for anyone travelling into central London.

However modellers on your side of the pond seem to have deeper pockets, and you probably have more driver friendly administrations. If the events are kept smaller in scale you only need half dozen committed souls to keep costs within reasonable bounds and things can quickly mushroom.

[SubSteve]

Bob, any plans to return to Red Clay/Cohutta this fall - next spring?