2010 J/80 Worlds PreviewThe Spanish Armada Are Coming!
(Newport, RI)- The 2010 J/80 World Championships, hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club and Sail Newport, promises to be one of the most competitive J/80 events to date. 66+ boats from nine countries are currently registered including boats from Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and USA. Seven past World Champions are participating.
Outside of a strong US contingent, the Spanish J/80 Class is showing up in force with ten sailing teams. Amongst them are 2010 J/80 European Champion Carlos Martinez sailing PERALEJA GOLF from Santiago, past World Champions Jose Maria Torcida sailing Team ECC VIVIENDAS from Cantabria, Rayco Tabares on HOTEL PRINCESSA YAIZA from Las Palmas, and Ignacio Camino Rodriguez on NEXTEL ENGINEERING from Cantabria. In fact six of the top ten teams at the 2010 Europeans (Lake Garda, Italy) are competing. Other top European teams include Tom Whitmore (the J/80 Swedish Champion), Federico Rajolas of Italy, Thomas Klok of Denmark, Jurgen Waldeim of Germany and Bruno Trouble from France.
The American fleet is the deepest it's ever been and well tuned up after a busy nine month USA Tour including the recent North American Championship. Teams from 12 different states are represented. While all eyes will be on past World and North American Champions Jay Lutz/Gary Kamins (Houston, TX), Glenn Darden (Ft Worth, TX), and Kerry Klingler (Larchmont, NY), they will be pushed hard by other top ranked teams including John Storck on RUMOR (2010 North American Champion), Terry Flynn & Scott Young (Annapolis NOOD Champion), Chip Johns (Marion, MA), Allan Terhune (Arnold, MD) and Bruno Pasquinelli (Dallas, TX). For more J/80 Worlds sailing information. Sailing photo credit- ChapiFoto
J/95 Ready for Key West!(Key West, FL)- The perfect holiday present! Race-ready J/95 number one is seriously for sale and priced to include delivery to Miami by year-end for sailors wanting to make her the fifth boat planning to attend the first J/95 one-design gathering this coming January 17-21 at Key West Race Week. The most extensively equipped J/95 built, she is capable of kicked back shoal draft daysailing or happily romping around the buoys. Please contact Craig Crossley at 401-330-6135, craig@crosscurrentmarine.com for more information.
J/Regatta News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
With the autumnal equinox and harvest moon upon us "in the north", the fall sailing season kicked in with some epic sailing conditions in major events around the world...seeming National Championships being run everywhere! On the European side of things, the J/80 class in Spain have started their highly competitive fall/winter series of trophy regattas. In the UK, the J/24s sailed their Autumn Cup/ Nationals and the J/105s had their Nationals, too. And, on the Continent, the French had fun racing their J/22s in the French Nationals off Nantes and the Dutch did the same in J/22s for their Netherlands Nationals off the historical Hague. Over in the America's, a Canadian contingent and others from afar (like California) raced in the J/105 North Americans in Chicago, IL. The J/24s sailed their US Nationals in Marblehead, MA and the J/22s sailed a lightish East Coast Championship in Annapolis, MD. Out West, the St. Francis YC held another fun and challenging Rolex Big Boat Series on San Francisco Bay (future home of America's Cup 34?). Plus, you have to read the account from the Australian J/24 crew that sailed the J/24 Worlds recently in Malmo, Sweden- check out the J/Community section for a few laughs. 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. Don't forget to visit the J/Cruising Community section below.
Regatta & Show Schedules:
Sep 25-26- American YC Fall Series- Rye, NY- http://www.americanyc.org Oct. 3-9- J/80 Worlds- Newport, RI- http://www.j80worlds2010.org/
Oct 7-11- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, MD- http://www.usboat.com/us-sailboat-show Oct 16-17- J/Fest Southwest- Houston, TX- http://www.lakewoodyachtclub.com
Jan 17-21- J/80 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.j80.org
Jan 17-21- J/105 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.j105.org
Jan 17-21- J/95 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.jboats.com/j95
Jan 17-21- Key West Race Week- Key West, FL- http://www. premiere-racing.com
For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
Oct 7-11- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, MD- http://www.usboat.com/us-sailboat-show Oct 16-17- J/Fest Southwest- Houston, TX- http://www.lakewoodyachtclub.com
Jan 17-21- J/80 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.j80.org
Jan 17-21- J/105 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.j105.org
Jan 17-21- J/95 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.jboats.com/j95
Jan 17-21- Key West Race Week- Key West, FL- http://www. premiere-racing.com
For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
CONVEXITY Dominates Blustery J/105 North Americans(Chicago, IL)- Don Wilson on CONVEXITY never gave up his hold on first place through four days and eight races at the J/105 North American Championship. Sailing with Nathan Hollerbach, Milosz Mogilnicki, Hans Pusch, Mauro Matias and Tod Reynolds at the Chicago Yacht Club, Wilson concluded the event with five bullets, two second-place finishes, and a ninth for a total score of 18 points.
Following CONVEXITY in the overall standings are David Wagner on GIGI (26 points) and Jim Rathbun on HEY JUDE (2nd in last year's J/105 NA's in Larchmont, NY with 35 points). Twenty boats competed. The regatta saw a wide variety of conditions, starting with strong winds up to 30 knots and large waves on day one, and concluding with a light day Sunday with breeze mostly 5-8 knots and flatter seas. As the event came to a close, local Clark Pellett won the day's first race, trailed by Rathbun's Hey Jude and Bernie Girod's ROCK & ROLL on the come-back trail for redemption. In the closing match, Wagner's GIGI took the top spot, with Wilson's CONVEXITY and Girod's ROCK & ROLL in second and third respectively. Current J/105 Class President Bernie Girod had a tough go of it this year, suffering a breakdown and some difficulties on the windy day (an account from one of Bernie's crew on ROCK & ROLL is below). The top five overall all are: Don Wilson sailing CONVEXITY (18 points), David Wagner skippering GIGI (26), Jim Rathbun racing HEY JUDE (35), Carter Williams on CREATIVE DESTRUCTION (60), and Blane Shea skippering STRIKING (67).
For those of you who sailed, you'll appreciate a report from the Santa Barbara, CA ROCK & ROLL crew (pictured here) on sailing the J/105 NA's in Chicago- "Crazy day on the water. Forecasts came true - we had over 30 before the first start and 20 - 25 for the first race. Second race (which was abandoned by RC just as we were getting to the weather mark) had us in 17 - 20 most of the way and the third race (which became the second race officially) had us in 20 - 25 knots of breeze.Our first race (10th place finish) was a good one except for the first takedown (two lap race) which we left too late and lost several boats as we floundered about. Picked up a couple of those that passed us and would have probably been top five with a good takedown. The cancelled race was looking good for us and we figure we were in 4th when it was called.
The last race was really good for us. Two lapper with us in second ahead of CONVEXITY at the first gate rounding. Unfortunately, our spin halyard box pulled out of the mast somewhere on the run and we couldn't get the chute down. Ran off deep and with three of us pulling on the kite we finally managed to get the sail in the hole. Debated continuing to race but figured we'd need the time at the dock to get the mast fixed and we were five miles out from the harbor. Came in and began working on things. Hit the dock about 3:30 and finally got things fixed up by about 7:30. Fortunately, our breakdown was the final blow for the RC and they didn't hold the scheduled 3rd race of the day. Instead of only 8 races left for the regatta we have 9.
We may have had a chance for a top 5 result before the breakage but now it's probably not in the cards. We've been fast both up and down wind as especially down. Been fun and is supposed to go light tomorrow and then be an even heavier day on Saturday than today was.
Nice to come in on a windy, rough day and not be caked with salt. 105 N.A.s are now over for 2010. Interesting event with a myriad of conditions and challenging racing. Huge thanks to the Chicago Yacht Club, Columbia Yacht Club, J/105 Fleet 5 and the RC team. Excellent event, good racing, super parties and very warm and friendly people. We had a terrific time.
I love Chicago. We saw a wide range of water and wind conditions, hot sunny days to (Santa Barbara like) cold and overcast. Competition from Chicago, Canada, Texas, Missouri and (of course) us from California. We ended strong with two third places and pulled ourselves up from 15th after a very difficult Saturday to an overall 9th when Sunday closed the event." For more J/105 North Americans sailing information
J/105 ARBITRAGE Wins Rolex Big BoatJ/120 DAYENU and J/109 ELECTRA Win, Too
(San Francisco, CA)- As San Francisco awaits the verdict on whether or not the next America’s Cup will be held on its shores, the St. Francis Yacht Club’s Rolex Big Boat Series, in its 46th year, has been reminding the sailing world why the city’s namesake bay is the perfect arena for world-class racing. Sunday's “Bay Tour” race sent 98 teams on a picturesque circuit around San Francisco Bay. It included legs that featured Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge as iconic backdrops and a downwind finish set directly in front of St. Francis Yacht Club, which allowed a parade of spinnakers to pass within shouting distance of the seawall. This was the fourth and final day of the event, which has become a hallmark of racing excellence and awarded perpetual trophies as well as Rolex Oyster Perpetual Stainless Steel Submariners to winners in six of the nine classes competing. And, with a huge turnout of J's, including the two J/125s AUGUST ICE and DOUBLE TROUBLE, the J/109 ELEKTRA and the 105/120 classes, meant the 36 J's competing in this year's RBBS comprised nearly 40% of the fleet!
“People come from all over the world to sail in this event, because it’s one of the most challenging sailing venues on the planet,” said Event Chairman Norman Davant (and the J/Boats Northern California dealer- Sail California). High winds prevailed on day one but dwindled progressively over subsequent days. Thankfully, so dwindled heavy fog, but its benefit was that it added great drama to the racing. “We sailed in fog like I’ve never sailed in for 25 years here,” said Norman, “and there were weather systems that don’t normally happen at this time of year. A lot of local-knowledge guys were scratching their heads, but it just added to the technical challenges that inspire the top people in our sport to show up and race here.”
The twenty four strong fleet of J/105s were racing for a Rolex Submariner watch and the StFYC Atlantic Perpetual Trophy. After having a rudder bearing fail (and ultimately become irreparable) on the first day, Bruce Stone (San Francisco), skippering ARBITRAGE, still managed a victory in the first race of his seven-race series, albeit with great difficulty steering. He went on to finish out the next three days with a borrowed boat from a friend (Tom Coates' successful MASQUERADE) and finished consistently enough to lead his 24-boat fleet at the end of every day. “We transferred sails, tuned the rig and kept racing,” said Stone, who has further distinguished himself this year by winning J/105 fleet series (Fleet 24 in San Francisco and Fleet 14 in Newport, R.I.) on both coasts this year. “Even though we switched to a boat we’d never sailed before, we managed to make it go fast.” TEAM ARBITRAGE finished the series with 27 points to Scooter Simmons’s (Belvedere, Calif.) 33 accumulated aboard BLACKHAWK. The balance of the top five included Jeff Littfin and John Case sailing a very nice series on MOJO to finish third, Chris Perkin's GOOD TIMIN finished fourth and Rolf Kaiser's DONKEY JACK was fifth.
The IRC D division was also racing for a Rolex Submariner watch and the StFYC Keefe-Kilborn Perpetual Trophy. Tom Brott’s (Cypress, Calif.) J/109 ELECTRA knocked Gerard Sheridan’s (San Francisco) Tupelo Honey out of first place today in IRC D (seven boats) by finishing second to Tuplelo Honey’s fifth in the last race. “We just had to put a boat between us and Tupelo, which we did when we got an advantage on them at the start,” said ELECTRA's tactician Harry Pattison (Laguna Niguel, Calif.). “Then they had trouble with their spinnaker set and jibed, taking a gamble that didn’t pay.” He described the first race of the series, a bad one for them right off the bat, with a jib halyard problem before the start that made it impossible to sail. “With a DNF that first race, we were coming from behind the whole regatta,” added Tom Brott, “but it was having a great crew and being able to concentrate on driving that did it.”
With a strong local showing of eight boats in the J/120 class, it was a tough go to stay amongst the leaders. However, with three victories in his score line, Donald Payan (Hillsborough, Calif.), skippering DAYENU, maintained his early class lead to top the eight-boat J 120 class. “Usually at this regatta it’s a nail biter going into the last leg, but going into today, we knew we could win it, since we had had fantastic boat speed,” said Payan. “The trick was execution, and it’s the old paradigm of teamwork: everybody had to be in sync.” Second overall was past winner Steve Madeira's MR MAGOO and third was John Wimer's DESDEMONA (also a past Rolex BBS winner!). BTW, the J/120's are the J/Calendar's 2010 Rolex BBS September "poster childs" (see http://www.jboats.com/sailing-calendar).
In IRC C, the two J/125s competing had a fantastic time racing each other. Flying upwind and downwind and seemingly racing amongst themselves, attached to each other by a shoe-string. In the end, Lake Tahoe sailors aboard Rick Ferris' AUGUST ICE just nipped local San Francisco favorites, Andy Costello and Peter Krueger's fire-engine red DOUBLE TROUBLE, to finish 2nd and 3rd in class. Next year they hope to get the other five or so J/125s showing up from "down the coast" to sail the Bay!For more Rolex Big Boat Series sailing information. Sailing photo credits- Erik Simonson and Heike Schwab and Rolex/ Daniel Forster.
Welles Takes J/24 US NationalsMarblehead, MA (September 19, 2010) - The three day J/24 U.S. National Championship was hosted by Corinthian Yacht Club, with a very strong fleet of 48 boats competing in eight races. After the seventh race, the teams led by Jens Hookanson on SALSA (2004 World Champion) and Will Welles on FAWN LEIBOWITZ were the only boats to still hold all top ten scores, and fittingly were tied on points with one race to go. But it was Welles who had the hot hand on the final day, rolling a 2-3 to take the title with Hookanson finishing second and Carter White winning the final race to move into third.
A wide range of conditions from 17 knots and waves to 6 knots and flat water provided a perfect playing field for the 48 boats at this years championship. Day one included a 17 knot north easterly breeze with chop and swells, making getting off the line challenging, that diminished to 10 knots by the end of the day. Three long championship length races ranging from 1.7 mile legs to 1.4 mile legs were run. Tim Healy and crew fresh off their win a J/24 Worlds came out strong posting a 1, 3, 3 to post an early lead but just ahead of Jens Hookanson by a point and Will Wells by three points.
On day two the swell and chop calmed down a bit but not completely. A light easterly wind with large oscillations from northeast to east and major pressure differences from the left and right sides of the course provided difficult choices to make upwind and down for the competitors. Jens Hookanson and team on SALSA had the best strategy and amazing speed posting an awesome 1,2,1 to claim the lead after day two.
Day three brought a decent southwest breeze and a bit of lump from the previous two days of easterly type winds. However three quarters into the first race the southwest breeze died and a southeast sea breeze started to build. During the wind shift a few boats got caught in a hole and missed the time limit as TEAM MOOKIE with Pete Levesque had legged out to a convincing and fast win. Will Wells and crew on FAWN LEIBOWITZ were the most consistent on day three posting a 2nd and 3rd to win the regatta by four points.
Final results saw the Welles team eking out a win over Hookanson. Carter White finished third overall, finishing the regatta with a first in the 8th race. Fourth was Levesque and 5th was Mark Hillman. Current J/24 World Champion Tim Healy couldn't maintain their first day's performance, not making sense of the shifty, streaky Marblehead breezes to finish 6th-- fame is fleeting, as they say! For more J/24 US Nationals sailing information. Team sailing photo credit- Leighton O'Connor.
JAVA TEAM GILL Smoke J/105 UK Nationals
(Darmouth, England)- The J/105 class’s UK National Championships was held concurrently with the 166th Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta. Local boats Mary Sturgess’ JALDI and David Sheehan / Peter Sandover’s JACANA welcomed the Solent fleet for the a series of 8 windward-leeward courses in the Western end of Start Bay, and a coastal race.
Racing commenced in the traditional way for a bank holiday weekend with grey skies, rain and a blustery 12-20 kts from the North East, and after a long day on the water Class Captain Chris Jones in JOURNEYMAKER 5 showed the best form with 2 wins out of 3
Day 2 bought the coastal race, variously viewed as either an opportunity for a shorter day and an early return to the hospitality of RDYC, or an eccentric intrusion on the normally ordered world of the one designs. Shifty and gusty conditions again from an unstable northerly airstream gave plenty of opportunities for gains and losses, but after almost 3 hours of racing James Heald in FLAWLESS J took the gun by 3 seconds to JOURNEYMAKER 5, putting JOURNEYMAKER 5 in front of the series with only 4 points separating the top 4 boats for the start of Day 3.
Saturday bought fine weather at last and an oscillating North-Westerly 15-20 kts, which rewarded boats that found space to use the shifts. Lymington-based reigning National champion William Newton in JELLY BABY found consistency with two 2nds, but was thwarted by an OCS in the last race. It was Hamble based Warsash Spring Series and J/Cup winners Rob Dornton-Duff’s JAVA TEAM GILL, however, that found pace and took 3 wins and the series lead overnight. That evening the class hosted other Dartmouth Sailing Week J teams on a party boat on the River Dart, for dinner and a prime viewing location for the regatta fireworks.
Sunday dawned with similar conditions to the previous day and the top place still open. A 2nd place by JAVA TEAM GILL however sealed their win, and left JELLY BABY, FLAWLESS J and JOURNEYMAKER 5 to fight out 2nd and 3rd. A tightly fought final race between JAVE and JELLY BABY gave JAVA TEAM GILL its 5th win of the series, JELLY BABY overall runner up and FLAWLESS J 3rd. Rounding out the top five were JOURNEYMAKER 5 in 4th and Ivan Trotman's JOLENE in 5th. For more information about J/105 UK sailing.
MABLE Winning TROPHY NEXTEL J/80(Santander, Spain)- The J/80 fall racing season for the Real Club Maritimo de Santander recently started with competition for the Trophy Nextel Engineering, a series of races held over several weekends.
As one might expect from one of the world's more competitive J/80 fleets, the class leaders were out in force as early training for their participation in the upcoming J/80 Worlds in Newport, RI. After two days of racing with very close situations creating a lot of passing amongst the top five boats, it was MABLE-EDICIONES ENCUENTRO sailed by Jose Miguel Oriol and Alberto Padron as the early leader in the series.
A total of sixteen J/80s are competing. Pichu Torcida's team on ECC VIVIENDAS is doing well, as is Herreria's team on Groupe Rhine. Currently, MABLE leads with 4 points followed by GROUPE RHINE with 5 points, ECC VIVIENDAS with 7 points and NEXTEL ENGINEERING with 8 points! Next weekend promises to be a very good test of these teams, the last before they many fly over to America to sail the J/80 Worlds. For more J/80 Spain sailing information.
J/22 Netherlands NationalsQuantum Racing Repeats World's Win
(The Hague, Netherlands- Sep 17-19)- Quantum Racing Team NED 1364 sailed by Nic Bol is not only the World Champion, but now the Dutch Champion!
It was exciting race this past weekend sailing in front of The Hague, a monumental and historical waterfront city. Autumn often means lots of wind, rain and cold in the area. No one was disappointed by the forecast- winds of 20 knots and gusting above 25 knots all day. Three races were held in these demanding conditions. There were many tough stories about planing, broaching equipment failure in conversations at the Restaurant Ektaboer over many a pint and a few suffering from bruises.
Saturday started with more wind and rain, but by the start of the first day's racing, it was fantastically beautiful autumn weather with sunshine and a nice breeze, so the less experienced sailors J/22 could compete more favorably and still have fun.
Although the top three teams after the first day didn't change, the battle at the top was very exciting. After the first day, first was MOJO sailed by Roy Heiner with 4 points on top, followed by Team KESBEKE and third was Quantum Racing Team. After two days of racing, these top three teams had equal points! Talk about a "horse race"!
On the last day of racing, the brand new World Champion, Nic Bol and his team Quantum Racing, sailed the most steady series and avoided the many dangers on the race course to win overall. Second place was Team KESBEKE sailed by Eelco Blok, Bart Fast and Niels Blok. THird was Team MOJO sailed by Roy Heiner, Ronald Veraar, Robert Janssen and Joost Brouwer. For more J/22 Netherlands Nationals sailing information.
Jaffrezic Wins J/22 French Nationals(Nantes, France)- Over the weekend of September 4th and 5th, the French J/22 class held their Nationals, competing for the Trophy Dominique Doucet. The setting was gorgeous and the sixteen boat fleet took full advantage of the beautiful conditions to get in six races over the two days.
In an unusual scoring scenario, the regatta had a two throw-out six race series! As a result, the scoring was extremely close for the top three spots as it was difficult to compute who was going to win until the last leg of the last race-- even then some of the sailors simply threw away their calculators and just sailed around the race course, praying for the right combinations to win.
After sailing in 3-6 knots south-southeast winds all weekend, it was the team of APCC2 sailed by Jean Yves Jaffrezic that took the top step on the podium, winning with a counting score of 1-3-3-1, throwing out two 4ths. Jean Yves was the only team to score all top five scores in the regatta. Benefitting from the high throw-out count was Frederick Mouchet, tossing a 16-9 and counting a 2-2-1-4 for nine points, just one point from first. Third was early regatta leader Jean-Francois Guionet, starting strongly with a 3-5-2-1 and tossing an 11-7. The local Nantes-based J/22 teams dominated the top five. For more J/22 French Nationals sailing information.
RELOADED Ices J/24 UK Nationals
(Cornwall, England- A strong turnout of twenty-two J/24s showed up the the classic Autumn Cup Championship in Falmouth, doubling as the J/24 UK Nationals 2010. A few class stalwarts attended, including long-time class champion Stu Jardine racing the latest incarnation of STOUCHE.
The Royal Cornwall YC were wonderful hosts, ensuring the sailors had plenty of food, drink and racing, though not necessarily in that order! The RCYC PRO conducted an fantastic series, getting in ten races over three days of racing off the gorgeous, undulating green coastline of Cornwall. Good breeze, reasonable seas made for good close racing.
Nevertheless, it was G Watson's team on RELOADED that showed top UK 24 sailors how it's done, starting off the first day with three straight bullets and picking up two more on the second day to lead the regatta by a comfortable margin. In fact, RELOADED didn't sail the last race on Saturday as they'd won the regatta by race 9.
Not to be denied from a strong podium showing was Stu Jardine sailing STOUCHE, himself a multiple J/24 UK Champion. After sailing a solid series in races 1 thru 7 and leading the regatta, Stu and crew took an unfortunate nose-dive in race 8 (getting a 16th) and after a 5th in race 9 couldn't recover enough to win the event, finishing second just three points shy of first. Third was Roger Morris sailing the well-known JOLLY ROGER. Fourth, Duncan McCarthy on MADELINE and fifth Nick McDonald on LEAGEL ALIEN. For more J/24 UK Nationals sailing information
FUNHOUSE Wins J/22 East Coast Championships(Annapolis, MD)- Fall is in the air and down in the Chesapeake Bay that means the fall sailing season is kicking into high gear. With its gorgeous tree-lined shores turning brilliant colors of flaming red, burnt orange and screaming yellow, it has to be one of the world's more beautiful places to sail, especially in a "clear as a bell" puffy northwester.
The J/22s enjoyed the first of the fall sailing weather this past weekend racing their East Coast Championship, though this year it was a bit more painful. The last time AYC was due to host this event, it was postponed due to an impending Tropical Storm that was working its way up the Coast. This year they could have used a bit of that blustery weather! Three races were held on Saturday with the first two in trying conditions with major wind shifts which in the light air proved frustrating for RC and competitors alike. With the chance of a 3rd race seeming bleak, PRO Mark Murphy patiently waited for even the slightest sea breeze and was rewarded with a comfortable, steady breeze and the best sailing of the day to round out the first day or racing. On Sunday, the RC posted the AP Flag and kept everyone ashore hoping that once again there would be a light at the end of the tunnel but it wasn’t to be.
In the end, it was a "foreigner" from way south of the Mason-Dixon line that strode into town and demonstrated to everyone who was the new posse in town. Collin Linehan's FUNHOUSE MIRROR took the top spot, winning the racing with a 2-1-3 record to just beat out local Annapolis sailor, Brad Julian, sailing JULIAN ASSOCIATES to a 3-2-2 tally. The regatta came down to the last race and if Brad could push the FUNHOUSE gang further down the ladder and place a boat in between them they'd take home the gold. However, it was not to be. Finishing third overall was a local Annapolis favorite, Jeff Todd racing the famous HOT TODDY, garnering a 5-3-1 score. For more J/22 East Coast Championship sailing information. Sailing photo credit- Tim Wilkes.
J/Community
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide
* "Eight Bells"- The J Community is sorry to hear about the recent passing of Dave Kirby, owner of J/122 TKO in California. Dave, who won his class in the St. Francis Big Boat series two years in a row with his J-122 TKO (see here at right), died on Saturday after a long battle with prostate cancer. He had just turned 56. Dave was president of The Kirby Organization 
(TKO), one of the most successful band booking agencies in the world, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he grew up racing International 14s and then Lasers at the Britannia Yacht Club. When he moved to the U.S. and worked in New York he raced on Long Island Sound and cruised in his 35-foot Nightwind. The music agency business took him to Los Angeles where he immediately became a force to contend with in Southern California racing. He leaves two teen-aged sons, his wife Christine, his mother Betty and three sisters. His father, also David Kirby, one of North America's finest International 14 sailors of the 50s and 60s, died in 1970 at the age of 42 of melanoma. Dave was the nephew of Laser designer Bruce Kirby.
(TKO), one of the most successful band booking agencies in the world, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he grew up racing International 14s and then Lasers at the Britannia Yacht Club. When he moved to the U.S. and worked in New York he raced on Long Island Sound and cruised in his 35-foot Nightwind. The music agency business took him to Los Angeles where he immediately became a force to contend with in Southern California racing. He leaves two teen-aged sons, his wife Christine, his mother Betty and three sisters. His father, also David Kirby, one of North America's finest International 14 sailors of the 50s and 60s, died in 1970 at the age of 42 of melanoma. Dave was the nephew of Laser designer Bruce Kirby.* Australian 2010 J/24 Worlds Report- you have to read this report from an Australian crew that sailed the recent J/24 World's in Malmo, Sweden. If you thought Moose's accounts were fun and informative, Hugo's account is simply hilarious-- particularly for any of you that have traveled to foreign events and chartered boats. Here's his account:
Part one – pre regatta. Our 2010 Worlds campaign started 12 months ago, this included organizing a crew who would sail in the 2010 Nationals and commit to the worlds. We had all won nationals and competed in many world championships.
With this depth of experience the work required to prepare for a worlds was spread amongst all the crew. This involved finding a good boat, sail design that was suitable for the Swedish conditions and covering every issue that can and has impacted on past campaigns. We seriously looked at all the things that had worked or failed in previous campaigns.
We included a Danish sailor in our crew who sailed in Malmo Sweden in J’s and is regarded as one of Denmark’s finest. Our Danish crew assisted with local logistics, finding bikes, driving us around to get sails repaired, hotels and advising on the local conditions which included a current that changed direction during each day.
We discussed our sail design with local Olympic sailor from North Sails who discussed the best designs with his counterpart from North Sails one design in San Diego. We ordered the latest Kevlar Genoa and spinnaker from North’s which was made by the One design loft in U.K. We shipped an equipment box to Sweden which had spare parts, sheets, blocks and sails. Our accommodation and flights were secured 6 months prior to leaving. Our “Special” Charter boat was investigated and secured early in the charter pool.
When we arrived and inspected our charter boat, we discovered that our boat which had great results under its previous Italian owner, had a "very special custom" set up. After sailing in so many J regatta’s I had never sailed a “special J/24″, and as such didn’t understand what “Special”(in the European context) meant.
I strongly encourage you to read the rest of the story here--- too funny to be true-- especially the account of one boat getting into a collision and also losing two outboard engines overboard!
The J Cruising Community
J Cruisers continue their adventures around the world, below are a selection of most excellent "blogs" written by their prolific publishers.
* The J/42 JARANA continues their epic voyage around the Pacific. Continue to read about Bill and Kathy Cuffel's big adventure cruising the South Pacific headed for New Zealand. Their blog is here: http://www.svjarana.blogspot.com/
* Prolific writers, Bill and Judy Stellin, sailed their J/42 JAYWALKER around the Mediterranean and Europe and back across the Atlantic for nearly three years. Their blogs/journals can be found at- http://blog.mailasail.com/jaywalker. The earlier journals have been compiled into two self published books which can be found at: http://www.blurb.com. Search for "SEATREK: A Passion for Sailing" by Bill Stellin or William Stellin." Fun reading when rocking back in a chair watching your storm-lashed windows take a beating in the gale roaring outside and listening to the crackle of a roaring fire. It is winter "down under" you know. The Argentineans are freezing.
* John and Mary Driver are sailing their J/130 SHAZAM for extended cruising in the Atlantic basin. At this time, John and Mary will have just finished their double-handed crossing of the Atlantic, landing in Portugal on their J/130 Shazam. Read the latest news at http://www.sailblogs.com/member/shazam/.
* Several J/160 owners are island hopping across the world's oceans, fulfilling life long dreams to cruise the Pacific islands, the Caribbean islands, the Indian Ocean and all points in between. Anyone for Cape Horn and penguins?? Read more about their adventures and escapades (like our J/109 GAIA, J/42s PAX and JAYWALKER and J/130 SHAZAM friends above). SALACIA, the J/160 owned by Stephen and Cyndy Everett has an on-going blog describing some of their more amusing experiences (http://www.salacia1.blogspot.com). Bill and Susan Grun on the J/160 AVANTE are also sailing in the Pacific archipelago, read more about their great adventures on their blog (http://web.me.com/susangrun).
Said Susan recently- "At an imposing 8’, Takaii (pictured at right) is the largest tiki in existence. There are many other tikis scattered around the area. Even with the extensive overgrowth, we are able to piece together how large this ceremonial area once was and can well imagine its significance to the former worshippers, especially those with a sacrificial or cannibalistic orientation.
* The J/42 JARANA continues their epic voyage around the Pacific. Continue to read about Bill and Kathy Cuffel's big adventure cruising the South Pacific headed for New Zealand. Their blog is here: http://www.svjarana.blogspot.com/
* Prolific writers, Bill and Judy Stellin, sailed their J/42 JAYWALKER around the Mediterranean and Europe and back across the Atlantic for nearly three years. Their blogs/journals can be found at- http://blog.mailasail.com/jaywalker. The earlier journals have been compiled into two self published books which can be found at: http://www.blurb.com. Search for "SEATREK: A Passion for Sailing" by Bill Stellin or William Stellin." Fun reading when rocking back in a chair watching your storm-lashed windows take a beating in the gale roaring outside and listening to the crackle of a roaring fire. It is winter "down under" you know. The Argentineans are freezing.
* John and Mary Driver are sailing their J/130 SHAZAM for extended cruising in the Atlantic basin. At this time, John and Mary will have just finished their double-handed crossing of the Atlantic, landing in Portugal on their J/130 Shazam. Read the latest news at http://www.sailblogs.com/member/shazam/.
* Several J/160 owners are island hopping across the world's oceans, fulfilling life long dreams to cruise the Pacific islands, the Caribbean islands, the Indian Ocean and all points in between. Anyone for Cape Horn and penguins?? Read more about their adventures and escapades (like our J/109 GAIA, J/42s PAX and JAYWALKER and J/130 SHAZAM friends above). SALACIA, the J/160 owned by Stephen and Cyndy Everett has an on-going blog describing some of their more amusing experiences (http://www.salacia1.blogspot.com). Bill and Susan Grun on the J/160 AVANTE are also sailing in the Pacific archipelago, read more about their great adventures on their blog (http://web.me.com/susangrun). Said Susan recently- "At an imposing 8’, Takaii (pictured at right) is the largest tiki in existence. There are many other tikis scattered around the area. Even with the extensive overgrowth, we are able to piece together how large this ceremonial area once was and can well imagine its significance to the former worshippers, especially those with a sacrificial or cannibalistic orientation.We return to the harbor taking the by-pass that the taxi driver had indicated to us. We need to get going if we hope to move to a more sheltered anchorage before dark. These south Pacific islands are close to the equator which means that days end consistently early all year long. Sunset is at or just before 6:00, and total darkness follows very quickly. It may feel like a long summer day to us, but it is not. If we do not want to risk a nighttime approach to a strange bay, we better be in there and anchored by 5:30."
Featured Boats
J/65 at the Newport International Boat Show
If you have a passion for speed and comfort, the J/65 BRAND NEW DAY is in a league of its own. The J/65 is the flagship passage maker in the J Boat line-- the ultimate private sailing yacht for sailing enthusiasts. The J/65 has exceptional 
performance under non-overlapping headsails, double-handed ease of operation, minimum on-deck maintenance, luxurious accommodations, stunning aesthetics, and great value. Finishing 2nd in IRC in the 2010 Newport – Bermuda Race, sailing with air conditioning and wine with each meal, the J/65 is a yacht that performs exceptionally well and in style and comfort. For more on the race experience, visit this sailing blog. Brand New Day will be at the Newport International Boat Show September 16 – 19 in Newport, Rhode Island. To arrange a viewing, contact Jeff Brown at email- jeff@jk3yachts.com
performance under non-overlapping headsails, double-handed ease of operation, minimum on-deck maintenance, luxurious accommodations, stunning aesthetics, and great value. Finishing 2nd in IRC in the 2010 Newport – Bermuda Race, sailing with air conditioning and wine with each meal, the J/65 is a yacht that performs exceptionally well and in style and comfort. For more on the race experience, visit this sailing blog. Brand New Day will be at the Newport International Boat Show September 16 – 19 in Newport, Rhode Island. To arrange a viewing, contact Jeff Brown at email- jeff@jk3yachts.com 
J/95 #1 Available in Florida!
J/95s are on a roll in the southeast with five boats sailing in the area by this fall (at least four planning to participate in the January Key West Race Week). Sarasota Yacht and Ship is the brokerage side of the J/Southeast dealer CrossCurrent Marine, and they are thrilled to have landed the first brokerage listing for this wonderful shoal draft performance daysailer. Boat is fully optioned with carbon sails, mast, V boom and sports an extension electronics suite. Please contact Craig Crossley at 401-330-6135 craig@crosscurrentmarine for more information.
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: 15 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 and sailing the waters of 35+ countries around the world. Sailing is all about friends. Come join us and expand your social network everywhere! For more information on J/Boats.
