Fall Off-Soundings Series
J/95 BANJO Wins Overall
(Stonington, CT- September 12-13)- Rodney and Alan Johnstone sailed their J/95 BANJO to an overall win in this year's Eastern Long Island Sound classic, the Fall Off-Soundings Series. As Alan commented, "We think we won it all today by ducking out of the flood current near the ruins out in Gardiners Bay a little bit better than the J/105s and J/109s. It was nice that we also win the season award. We sailed with 155% genoa and the boat (with board down) is about as fast as a J/105 one-design configuration upwind in 8-12 knots. We (the boat) were able to battle back from a couple of otherwise deathly mistakes and finish a minute or two behind a J/105 with 155% genoa and 110 sq.m. kite and ahead of three 105s in class config."Regatta Schedule
Sept. 17-20- J/105 Great Lakes- Lake Erie- Mentor Harbor YC- more info.Sept. 18-20- J/80 France Cup- Bay of Biscay- Lorient, France- more info.
Sept. 19-20- J/24 Western Regionals- San Francisco Bay- Berkely YC- more info.
Sept. 23-27- J/24 US Nationals- San Francisco Bay- San Francisco YC (more info below).
Sept 29-Oct 2- J/22 North Americans- Lake Ray Hubbard- Rush Creek YC- more info.
Oct 23-25- J/80 North Americans- Galveston Bay- Lakewood YC- more info.
Oct. 24-30- J/24 European Championships- Eastern Mediterranean- Chania, Greece- more info.
Nov. 18-21- J/24 South Americans- Porto Alegre, Brazil- Veleiros do Sul- more info.
J/Regatta News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
The September sailing season in the Americas continues along at a furious pace as various offshore and one-design events kick in for the fall sailing season. While Europe is preparing for their seminal fall events, two of the larger, more renowned American events took place this past weekend, the ROLEX Big Boat Series in San Francisco, California and the Sailing World NOOD Regatta in Long Island Sound, New York. Read on! More importantly, if you have more J Regatta News, please email it or upload onto our J/Boats Facebook page! Below are the summaries.
ROLEX Big Boat Series
J/105 GOOD TIMIN and J/120 CHANCE Winners
(San Francisco, CA- September 10-13) - This was not your typical Big Boat Series. It only got into the 25 knot range on one of the four days, lots of 10 to 20 knot sailing, and the wind was so light on the final day that racing was abandoned for the IRC divisions and the J/120 one-design class starting on the City Front. However, the J/105s had an outstanding final Bay Tour Sunday race to conclude the series in this tightly fought class. The ultimate winner of the J/105 class was Chris Perkin's GOOD TIMIN with Bruce Stone's ARBITRAGE in second (pictured together above). Barry Lewis's J/120 CHANCE from Atherton, CA won the J/120 fleet. In the US IRC Nationals, the only two J's sailing faired well with the J/44 GOLDEN PHOENIX raced by Jim Bishop (with Steve Benjamin calling tactics) finished 2nd in IRC C Class and the J/122 RESOLUTE raced by San Diego Yacht Club's Tim Fuller (with Jeff Madrigali as local hotshot tactician) finished third.
Ninety seven boats came to compete in this years Rolex Big Boat Series. Enthusiastic J owners accounted for 42% (or 40 boats) of the regatta. While many of the competing boats are from the Bay Area and California, some hail from ports across the US and abroad. Lorenzo Berho and his J/145 RAINCLOUD (pictured right) hail from Mexico City, Mexico and are sailing in IRC B. 'RAINCLOUD is a Mexican family and friends boat that has changed our lives, and also has helped us fulfill several dreams,' said Berho, who only started sailing five years ago. 'We had a great experience in last year's Rolex Big Boat Series that we decided to come back in spite of the difficult economic times, and for most of us that means traveling from Mexico City. The organizers are great and the competing boats are really friendly. Last year we got fourth place in our fleet so we would love to get a third place this year. We know that most of the fleet is very competitive and there are many experienced sailors with local knowledge. I am turning 50 years old on September 15, so I chose this regatta as my birthday present. There is nothing better than sailing with my family and best friends in the most outstanding Bay of the world.' The Commodore's Cup, which was established in 2004 to be awarded to the largest one-design fleet, was awarded to the winner of the J/105 class, Chris Perkins' GOOD TIMIN. "Honestly, Bruce Stone sailed a great series," said Perkins of the fleet. "He only had one bad race and won three out of seven sailed. His ARBITRAGE is clearly one of the quickest boats. Everyone would agree he is quicker than us." So what would Perkins credit his team's win to? "The challenge in a 25-boat fleet is consistency," he continued. "We didn't have any big mistakes and that is what made the difference for us." Jeff Littfin's and John Case's MOJO sailed very consistently to finish third in the regatta. In fact, MOJO was winning after the first day with a 4-2 finish. Both GOOD TIMIN and ARBITRAGE had 2-7 and 1-15 finishes, respectively, to start out the series out of the top three on Thursday. By Saturday, both of these leaders
climbed up the fleet ladder to be leading by the end of the regatta with ARBITRAGE accumulating three 1sts and a second to make up for their one deep finish on the first day.For the J/120 class, the expected leader before the series happened to be the ultimate winner, Barry Lewis's CHANCE (pictured right). But, CHANCE's win was not without a strong challenge from John Wimer's DESDEMONA from Half Moon Bay, California. The outcome of the last race determined the overall winner of this very competitive class; CHANCE won the race and DESDEMONA finished third, losing their lead from the day before to CHANCE. Just off the pace was previous year's winner MISTER MAGOO sailed by Steve Madeira in fourth and Don Payan's DAYENU in third-- again the outcome of who placed third on the podium coming down to the last race on Saturday. Had there been the one last race, the infamous Bay Tour on Sunday, the results could've very likely been quite different as the Bay Tour often is credited for upsetting the chances of many well-sailed boats in such a capricious race. Photo Credits- Rolex/ Daniel Forster. For a complete report. Catch all the action on Bruce and Tucker's T2P.TV video.
Larchmont Sailing World NOOD
J/109 STORM, J/105 SAVASANA, J/122 PLUM CRAZY Are Class Winners
(Larchmont, NY- September 12-13)- Rick Lyall's J/109 STORM, from Cedar Point YC (Conn.) has been a perennial participant at the Sperry Top-Sider Larchmont NOOD Regatta, but somehow every year the math used to determine the overall winner just hasn't fallen in his team's favor. But, the ten boat J/109 class is plenty competitive and this year it was real tight at the top, tight enough for Lyall's squad to earn the overall title, awarded to the winner of the regatta's most competitive fleet. The win, of course, earns Lyall and crew an invitation to the Sperry Top-Sider Caribbean NOOD championship in November where they'll race against winners from the other eight NOOD regattas.STORM entered the second day of racing on Long Island Sound 3 points behind Greg Ames and Steve Kenny's GOSSIP, but on a day with brilliant sunshine and shifty 10-knot northerly Lyall's team excelled, winning both races and setting themselves up on the better end of a 10-point tie-breaker. Lyall's STORM has been on a roll all season long in the J/109 one-design class events, having won Storm Trysail Club's/ Rolex Block Island Race Week, New York Yacht Club Regatta and the J/109 North Americans in Chicago. Finally, third in the fun J/109 one-design racing class was Adrian Begley's MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN.
The largest class in the Larchmont Sailing World NOOD event was the twenty-one boat J/105 one-design class. It was difficult to outsmart Joerg Esdorn's KINCSEM, which aced the last day with a pair of bullets (and won three of seven races). However, KINSCEM's collision on the opening day, and subsequent retirement, was too much to make up to be on the leaderboard, so the real battle went down between Damien Emery's ECLIPSE and Brian Keane's SAVASANA. SAVASANA, overall winner from the Annapolis NOOD, put in a solid effort match racing ECLIPSE and keeping the right amount of boats between them to win the regatta. No doubt they'll be the team to beat at the J/105 North Americans in November. Finishing third in this tightly fought class was George and Alex Wilbanks' REVELATION.The seven boat J/122 class was also a very closely fought and competitive fleet with the top three podium finishers only separated by five points, the outcome resting on how they all finished in the last race. Coming out of the fog of war and taking the lead after a very shifty, tactical last day of racing in the moderate Northwesterlies on Long Island Sound was Andrew Skibo's PLUM CRAZY II. Despite two firsts on the last day, the trio of Mike Bruno, Tom Boyle and Jim Callahan onboard WINGS could not overcome a slow start for them on the first two days and finished second overall. Just behind them having a very strong finish to their regatta, too, with two seconds was perenial campaigner David Askew and his indefatigable team onboard FLYING JENNY VI. Photo Credits: Tim Wilkes. For more Sailing World NOOD results and info.
J/24 Nationals San Francisco
Gotta Race Those "Little Pain Boxes"
Courtesy of our colleagues at Sailing Anarchy, here's a somewhat unique regatta announcement from the host of this year's J/24 Nationals at San Francisco Yacht Club--"Speaking of regattas and Sailing Anarchy, the J/24 Nationals are going to be held in 'Frisco September 23-27. SA is one of the sponsors, and the organizers want you J/24 sailors to get up and get down:
Top Ten Reasons to Race in the 2009 J24 Nationals September 23-27, San Francisco Bay
- Facts is Facts Folks: The J/24 is “The World's Most Popular One-Design Keelboat” – it says it right there, and boats are competitive & cheap.
- Fresh, Yet Old-School. Everybody on board a J/24 has a job and everybody is important to the team – it’s like t-ball with mixed drinks and way more bruising!
- Tough Crowd, Honored Alumni: Scott Allen, Terry Hutchinson, Vince Brun, Augie Diaz, Neal Fowler, John Kolius, Dave Ullman, Paul Cayard, Dave Curtis, Ed Baird, Ken Read, Ed Adams, Eddie Warden-Owen, Jonathan & Charlie McKee and John Kostecki just to name only a few – they all raced J/24’s at one time.
- Combine your visit with other regattas out here, especially the J/24 Western Regionals Sept. 19-20
- Location, Location, Location – the San Francisco Bay Area. You all know what we are talking about – world class winds, currents, courses and race committees! SF is a top tourist destination for good reason. Bring the family, there is plenty to do. Napa is nearby if you get tired of all the microbrews.
- The J/24 is Dennis Conner’s least favorite boat – no kidding! That’s gotta count for ashitload among you real anarchists! The dude probably kicks puppies…
- It’s Not Annapolis. It's max hike, max back-stay, max twings and max sphincter tension. Rodeo-ride upwinds and death-roll downwinds! You’ll get to use you’re your headsails! Racing in San Fran is the real thing people, however winds in September are more likely to be a bit milder than the standard Summer nuclear option.
- Krazy Kurrents. No kidding here folks. Just when you thought is was safe to go to the lay-line… Here is where we make an depraved pitch for you all buying us locals lots-n-lots of drinks so that we might share the many mysteries of our fickle flow fields (the old guy says just go right).
- Amazing Venue and Host Fleet: The San Francisco Yacht Club in Tiburon is in a sweet location and has a top-level Race Committee, guest, and boat launch facilities. San Francisco J24 Fleet 17 manages to be both extremely competitive yet supportive at the same time. We love to help new sailors to get up to speed quickly.
- The Sponsors – to name a couple early and enthusiastic supporters: SailingAnarchy - they have fondly described the J/24 as “pretty crappy little things” and “little pain boxes” - and the love affair continues with generous support of the 2009 J/24 Nationals at the San Francisco Yacht Club. GU Energy of Berkeley, CA – are suppliers of pure performance energy to the likes of the ‘08-‘09 PUMA Ocean Racing Team, and are big supporters of J/24 Fleet 17 on SF Bay. They are Nationals sponsors and will also supply dockside optimized sports nutrition to the sailors during the racing. Not surprisingly we are still eager for more corporate sponsors who can think outside the box and supply cash to support for regatta festivities and product support for sailors. Photo by Peter Lyons.
J/Community:
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide
* Six Meter Worlds Won by SOPHIE - Friends Jonas and Hugo (SWE) sailing SOPHIE III and Cam Lewis (Lincolnville, Maine), the 1993 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year won this remarkable event that was recently run in Newport, Rhode Island-- last American home of the America's Cup. It was a beautiful sight to see these "mini-12 meters" racing around Naragansett Bay and dream wistfully of the old days when the old 12 Meters raced their final America's Cup in 1983.
* In addition to the huge one-design turnout of J sailors aboard their J/105s and J/120s in this year's edition of the ROLEX Big Boat Series in San Francisco, some J alumni were making their mark felt in the IRC handicap classes. J/West owner Norm Davant sailed as local tactician aboard the RP52 VINCITORRE, owned by Chicago's Jimmie Mitchell, winning IRC Class A against some notable competitors like Paul Cayard aboard FLASH. Jeff Madrigali was helping the San Diego team aboard the J/122 RESOLUTE cruise around the capricious San Francisco Bay winds and currents, garnering a well-earned third place in their IRC C Class. Steve Benjamin teamed up with perennial J/44 sailor Jim Bishop from Jamestown, Rhode Island to get a second in their IRC C Class- job well done, mates! * Numerous members of the J/Community are also making their mark felt in the New York YC Invitational Cup currently being sailed in Newport, RI. Leaders of the first race were the Canadians racing DARING and hailing from Royal Canadian YC of Toronto, Ontario- they have Terry McLaughlin steering with the owner John Millen and local tactician Geoff Moore aboard (all J/24 Champions of sorts in Canada and USA). Hanging tough after a difficult first beat was the NYYC team that includes friends Phil and Wendy Lotz in their boat ARETHUSA along with tactician Kenny Read (PUMA Man, Rolex Man, J/24 God). The RORC Team has past British/ European J/24 Champion Eddie Warden-Owen helping them get around the course, but not in such great shape. St. Francis YC's team Craig Healy is steering with U.S. Olympian Russ Silvestri as tactician- they went the wrong way and got stuck in the right corner (we hope you didn't learn this racing J/24s in San Francisco Bay!). The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda team with a largely Italian crew has George Andreadis's son Stratis (J/24 Greek Champions) aboard and American Dyer Jones helping out. Royal Cork YC team has the O'Leary's (Tony and Nick) aboard, veterans of offshore racing on J/39s and J/24s off Dublin, Ireland. Yacht Club de France's Bruno Trouble is hanging in there despite having little local knowledge aboard his entirely French team of sailors. Real Club Nautico de Barcelona from Barcelona, Spain has a smattering of J/80 sailors fresh from their J/80 Worlds helping their skipper Jordi Tarre get their boat around the track in reasonable shape. The Japan Sailing Federation Team has various J/24 alumni aboard getting skipper Makoto Uematsu going very fast, rounding the windward mark of the first race in first-- a first for Japanese sailors in world-class level competition?! Finally, Yacht Club Italiano has friend Elio Petracchi and numerous J/24 alumni from Italy keeping their boat in gear most of the time.
Featured Boat
Stock J/80s are 1-2 at the 2009 J/80 Worlds
“Race-ready” and “fast out-of-the-box” take on a whole new meaning with the J/80. Consider that in this year’s J/80 World Championship in Spain, the 1st and 2nd place teams (out of 132) raced newly built, un-modified charter boats supplied by the local J/Dealer. No time in advance with the boat, no time to even think about changing anything – just add sails and go. The Worlds winners sailed an incredible regatta in dynamic conditions, but isn’t it great to know you can hop aboard a new boat in a competitive class without having to complete a laundry list of items to get up to speed? Several are just completing in Bristol, RI - Base Price- $49,900. Please contact J/Boats or your nearest J dealer for details.About J/Boats
Started in 1977, J/Boats continues to lead the world in designing fun-to-sail, easy-to-handle, performance sailboats that can be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of sailors. The International J/24 has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world with over 5,400 J/24s cruising the waves. Today, there are 13,000+ J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65 and ranging in style from one-designs to racers, cruisers to daysailers and, of course, the ubiquitous J sprit boats- J/Boats' innovation in 1992 for easy-to-use asymmetric spinnakers and retractable carbon bowsprits (J/80, J/92, J/95, J/105, J/109, J/110, J/120, J/122, J/130, J/133, J/125, J/145, J/160).J/Boats has the best track record in sailing for innovation and design as evidenced by: 11 Sailing World/ Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards in 14 years; 2 SAIL Awards for Industry Leadership; 2 American Sailboat Hall of Fame Designs (J/24 & J/35); and the three largest ISAF International One-Design keelboat classes (J/22, J/24, J/80).
Counting crew, every year there are over 100,000 friends to meet sailing J's, populating the most beautiful sailing harbors in 35+ countries around the world. Sailing is all about friends. Come join us and expand your social network everywhere!
For background info:
http://www.jboats.com/intro.htm
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