Newport Sailboat Show Next Week!
September 17-20th- Newport, RI
We’re excited to debut the J/95 and J/97 together at the Newport show. The J/95 is a breakthrough design, with twin rudders and shoal draft keel and carbon rig, it's no wonder sailors are raving about a shoal-draft boat that has such a great turn of performance. Not to be outdone, it's newly introduced sistership, the J/97, has simply torn up the European IRC regatta circuit and combines fantastic cruising amenities with a serious turn of performance. We will also have a gorgeous J/100 available for show and demo sails in Newport Harbor. Please contact J/Boats (phone- 401-846-8410) or a J/Boats dealer.
J/105 North Americans
October 29-November 1st- Rye, NY
American Yacht Club is hosting the J/105 North Americans. Over 50 boats are expected from the West and East Coasts, Midwest, South and Canada. Several past winners of premiere racing venues such as Key West, Annapolis and Block Island have already signed up to compete this year. October and November are among the best months for sailing in Long Island Sound. Wind speeds of 20-30 knots and beyond can be expected on frontal boundaries. AYC is located on the tip of a peninsula, overlooking Western Long Island Sound with the New York City skyline in the background. Register now to insure your participation. Entry fees increase after October 16, 2009 and the deadline for entry is October 23, 2009.
J/Regatta News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
The September sailing season has a number of significant events on the international racing calendar. The European circuit saw the close of the RORC racing season with the Cherbourg Race and the Dartmouth Royal Regatta. And, the American events were highlighted by the 75th Stamford-Vineyard offshore ocean race and the start of the famous Rolex Big Boat Series in San Francisco, CA 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. 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.
Dartmouth Royal Regatta
J/97 Wins In Comfortable Fashion
(Darmouth, England- August 28th)- Alastair Walton, a sailor who works in the Boats.com/YachtWorld.com office in Fareham, U.K., sent a report of his experience sailing on the new J/97 at Dartmouth. “Having just gone from winning the prestigious Black Group at Cowes Week to scoring eight 1st places in the recent J/Cup, the new J/97 has certainly made a strong entrance in to the UK racing scene. Your humble correspondent was therefore delighted to be asked by UK agent Paul Heys to race with him at the Dartmouth Royal Regatta, which started on Thursday. The rating bands for this event put the J/97 right in the middle of IRC 4.“At first glance, the J/97 bears a family resemblance to the J/109 and J/122, two highly successful collaborations between the J Boats design team and J Europe of Les Sables D’Olonne in France. The cockpit features full length seats with back rests, tiller steering, and a unique, partially open transom. All the key controls are within reach of the helm and a retractable bow sprit with masthead asymmetric spinnaker allows great all-around performance for the cruising family or the full racing crew. The low VCG keel provides exceptional upwind stability, and she needed little trimming to maintain between 6.5 and 7 knots up the beats. Some smart crew work and well-chosen tactics saw us secure 1st place in both races, setting the crew up well for the remainder of the regatta.
“There is certainly no doubt as to her performance, so the question was, how would the J/97 fare as a cruising boat? I wasn’t going to find out on this trip, but the J/97 is the first J for a decade to combine 6-foot headroom with a boat under 32 feet, so the indicators are that cruising comfort has been a priority for her designers. Indeed, the interior is laid out for one or two couples cruising, including a spacious main cabin with two settees, galley, forward-facing navigation station, enclosed aft head, V-berth and aft owner’s cabin. Cruising stowage includes a large “garage” aft of the head, accessed through the cockpit seat locker.” -- John Burnham
75th Stamford-Vineyard Race Dominated by J's
J/122 PARTNERSHIP Wins IRC Class & Overall
(Stamford, CT- September 4th)- The 238-mile Labor Day weekend race has always been one of the highlights of the racing season on Long Island Sound. The Vineyard is also the culmination of the Doublehanded Ocean Racing Trophy (DHORT) awarded to the best doublehanded crew racing under IRC in the same events as those for NORT. Five boats are in the running for the trophy with two entered in the Vineyard Race: Jason Richter’s J/35 PALADIN and James Wilson’s J/42 CEOL MOR.With light winds forecast for the weekend the Vineyard Race Committee decided to use a shortened course to ensure boats would finish in a timely manner. The 65 boats racing the Vineyard course will now stay within Long Island Sound for a total of 143 nautical miles instead of the traditional 238 miles out to Buzzards Bay and back. “We talked to a lot of competitors before the race and the consensus was that a shortened course was the way to go,” Goodrich said. “The number of boats that withdrew due to the lack of wind and the comments we received by those who finished I think show that the right decision was made.”
Seventy six boats started the race Friday afternoon off Bell 32 at Stamford, CT. Fifty-five of those boats raced under IRC. The J's that raced did well, winning six of the eight divisions.
The J/122 PARTNERSHIP, sailed by David and Mary-Ellen Tortorello from Fairfield, CT, won the Stamford Vineyard Race in IRC40 Class and IRC Overall. Rick Oricchio's J/120 ROCKET SCIENCE from Fairfield, CT finished third just ahed of George Petrides' J/120 AVRA in fourth. In the IRC 45 class, Philip Gutin's J/44 BEAGLE from New York NY won its class. Another J/44 VAMP X raced by Len Sitar of Holmdel, NJ was third.
The IRC Doublehanded division saw Jason Richter's J/35 PALADIN from Mt. Sinai, NY win class and the overall Doublehanded Ocean Racing Trophy. In third was Andrew Berdon's J/109 STRIDER from Hartsdale, NY. Just behind in fifth was Hewitt Gaynor's J/120 MIRELLE from Fairfield, CT and in seventh was Mike McCormick's J/105 GAUCHO.
The J/32 AMY BETH II, raced by Dana O'Brien of Riverside, CT won PHRF Non-Spinnaker and Michael Sullivan's J/33 SIRIUS from Fairfield, CT ended up third.
In PHRF Spinnaker, Adrian Little's J/100 FLASHPOINT from Westport, CT won with Todd Aven's J/92 THIN MAN from Brooklyn, NY was fourth and David Spence's J/105 SYNERGY from Maplewood, NJ was fifth.
David Rosow's J/109 LOKI from Southport, CT won the IRC35 Class. Another J/109, Paul Steinborn's 3 CHEERS finished in third place. Yet another J/109, Jeff Warren's ARIEL from Easton, CT finished seventh.
For more regatta info.
Rolex Big Boat Series
Strong Turnout for J/105 and /120s
(San Francisco, CA)- This fall classic sailed on San Francisco Bay and hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club is a special year. For starters, it's commemorating Tom Blackaller's 20th anniversary of his passing in 1989 at the age of 49. It's also the USA IRC Nationals for offshore keelboats. The largest class is the J/105s with twenty six boats sailing one-design and another large one-design class are the J/120s.A great description of the event comes from veteran San Francisco sailor, John Kilroy. Reflecting on his history with Rolex Big Boat Series, over the past 45 years, Kilroy said. 'I consider the Rolex Big Boat Series one of the preeminent regattas in the world. San Francisco is one of the great venues, recognized by anyone who has raced there. There is always great wind, a lot of challenges with the current, and all the variables that make sailing superb. I think it is the best yacht club and with Rolex, the preeminent sponsor, and the magic of San Francisco and the Bay, it brings out the best sailors. Everybody loves being in San Francisco.'
Principal Race Officer John Craig and the StFYC Race Committee have mapped out a variety of courses on San Francisco Bay - from 8- 32 nautical miles - which will be run on two different areas, the City Front Course and North Course. Competitors race within view of the stunning San Francisco city front, Crissy Field, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Racing finishes each day in front of the StFYC, set upon the rocky shores of the Bay.
The largest one design class is the J/105 class with over 26 entries. Defending class champion Scott Sellers' DONKEY JACK, the 2008 J/105 North American champion, returns and faces competition from Bruce Stone's local J/105 ARBITRAGE, which won its class in Richmond YC's Sarcoma Cup, in August, the Buzzards Bay Regatta and Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex. 'BLACKHAWK and JAM SESSION have moved up to the top of the J/105 fleet this year, and should be leaders, along with the usual standouts GOOD TIMIN, AQUAVIT, MOJO and RACER-X,' said Stone.
In the J/120 class, Barry Lewis's defending class champion CHANCE is the boat to beat. According to John Wimer, who campaigns DESDEMONA, the fleet will be tough this year. 'We expect very tight racing with plenty of lead changes,' he said. 'As usual, we have great expectations for a well-run regatta in an outstanding venue. We look forward to this event every year.' For more information about the Rolex Big Boat Series, including entry lists and results. For Rolex/Daniel Forster photos.
Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge
Americans Show Strength in J/24s
(New York, NY- August 19-22)- The Third "Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge" was held in New York Harbor with nineteen teams competing from 13 countries-- a unique event which promotes international goodwill through friendly competition. Countries represented included: Bermuda, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Spain, United Kingdom & United States.This regatta is organized by the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation and held at the Manhattan Sailing Club in Lower Manhattan. This regatta is unique because it brings together amateur club sailors from around the world. The competition is excellent but the main focus is on international goodwill. The host club provides race ready J/24 sailboats for all teams making it easy for club sailors to participate. During the regatta, protests are discouraged, unlimited crew changes are permitted and some clubs field 2 teams of sailors. At the end of the regatta, teams present their own gifts to teams which finish directly behind them in the standings. All in all, it makes for a super friendly regatta and an incredible international experience.
Eight races were held over 3 days. Five different teams won a race. The overall winner was decided in the final race with Yacht Club de Monaco, Royal Bermuda and Manhattan Sailing Club separated by just a few points. Monaco and Manhattan were over the line early which opened a window for the Royal Bermuda team. But midway through the final race, Manhattan passed Monaco and Royal Bermuda and then held on to win the challenge. It is the first time Manhattan Sailing Club has won the Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge after hosting many events. For more regatta info.
RORC Cherbourg Race
BATFISH III Clinches RORC Season Championship
(Cherbourg, France)- The end of season finale for the RORC offshore championship is the Cherbourg Race. The race was as quick as anticipated with almost the whole fleet in Cherbourg for breakfast. The wind angle was too tight for spinnakers, it was very gusty and there were big waves. Most boats had at least one reef in the main and a No. 3 or No 4 headsail.Third in IRC Class Super Zero was Bill Blain's J/133, BATFISH III who celebrated winning the RORC Season's Points Championship overall in Cherbourg. In the RORC Double-handed divsion, second place in the Cherbourg Race went to James Heald's J /105, FLAWLESS-J. In IRC Two, Luca Rubinelli's J/109, ARIA, was second and Robin Taunt's J/109, JIBE, was third. For more regatta info.
J/Community:
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide
* Record Overnight Match Race- In a race for the record books (literally), Kevin Grainger and crew on J/105 GUMPTION 3 took part in an extreme version of match racing and long distance racing to win first in division and second overall in the 2009 Stamford Yacht Club Annual Overnight Race. Grainger's team defeated the only other J/105 ECLIPSE by 15 seconds after 47.6 miles of unfavorable tides, squalls and no wind. The race is the longest/closest J/105 match race in history, earning the GUMPTION team two new J/105 Hall of Fame honors.
* A thoughtful note from a "new" J/41 owner in Europe- "Perhaps you´ll find it interesting that we have a J-41 One Ton racing in European waters. We purchased the boat in December 2007 on Long Island in a very poor state, shipped her to Holland the following spring and began a one year refit-period. The boat is now back in the water for a couple of weeks and she goes like a rocket. We managed a number of wins under IRC in the first races although the boat is still far from race ready. As far as I know she should be the only J-41 over here in Europe an she turns heads in every harbour. Thanks a lot for this beautiful design. With kind regards, Jan Kuffel/ PALSTEK-Redaktion"* Big Breeze Challenges Six Meter Worlds Fleet - Friends Jonas and Hugo (SWE) sailing SOPHIE III and Cam Lewis (Lincolnville, Maine), the 1993 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year were tied for first after two races.
* NYYC Invitational Cup- numerous members of the J/Community will be competing in this interesting new event hosted by NYYC in Newport, RI. The NYYC team includes friends Phil and Wendy Lotz in their boat ARETHUSA along with tactician Kenny Read. St. Francis YC's team will have both U.S. Olympian Russ Silvestri and U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist Jeff Madrigali as tacticians. The Canadians hailing from Royal Canadian YC of Toronto, Ontario include Terry McLaughlin and John Millen and local tactician Geoff Moore.
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.
