J/111 Speedster At Irish Boatshop Open HouseSt. Patricks Day in Harbor Springs, MI
(Harbor Springs, MI)- If you have an inclination to take a quick trip to see how summer plans are unfolding for one of the Great Lakes most beautiful summer resorts, then waste no time jumping into your car and race over to Harbor Springs. On display will be the latest J/111 speedster to hit the Great Lakes. Print this "coupon" here for a free "green" beer and brat at the Irish Boat Shop open house. Take a tour and you're sure to get invited (or volunteered) to participate in this summer's UGOTTA REGATTA that will take place in Harbor Springs after the Chicago Mackinac Race-- 6-8 J/111s are expected to compete from J/111 Fleet #1 on the planet. For more Irish Boat Shop J/111 open house information. For more J/111 sailboat information
Copa del Rey Invites J/80 class(Palma de Mallorca, Spain)- The J/80 class has been invited to participate in one of the most prestigious events on the Spanish sailing calendar, the eponymous Copa del Rey held on the beautiful bay and waters off Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The event is hosted by the Real Club Nautico de Palma e Mallorca and includes select one-design classes, IRC and Maxi boats. The regatta will run from July 30th to August 6th. The entry limit is 40 boats and 5 berths have been reserved for foreign (non-Spanish) competitors, so please chose your best team and make an early entry. If you wish to sail, you can find more information on sailing a J/80 in Copa del Rey.
Topsport Flanders RegattaJ/22 & J/24s & J80s Invited
(Nieuwpoort, Belgium)- Every year the week of racing off Nieuwpoort brings great camaraderie and excellent competition. This year, the Topsport Flanders Week organizers are extending invitations to participate to all J/22, J/24 and J/80 sailors who wish to avail themselves to wonderful Belgian hospitality. The regatta runs from July 2nd to 6th. If you wish to participate in the competition, you can find all information here- http://www.nieuwpoortweek.be
Classic Cabo RaceJ "Musketeers" Speeding Down The Beach!
(Newport Beach, CA)- Forecasts are looking good for a classic offshore California event, the Cabo Race to take place this coming weekend. That classic sprint going south down the California and Mexico coastline to that quintessential beach town called "Cabo". With any luck, the fleet will be treated to early jib reaching that turns into more high-speed spinnaker reaching as the fleet moves south and winds typically move more into the NW quadrants.
For the J trio participating, leading the charge down the track should be Tom Hothus' J/145 BAD PAAK from San Diego, CA. BAD PAAK is a veteran SoCal offshore racer and is a known speedster in these conditions, hoping to add a bit more silverware to their already impressive collection that includes TransPac Race wins. Running neck and neck down the coast may be the veteran J/124 GOOD CALL sailed by Tom Barker from San Diego and the "new kid on the block", the J/111 speedster INVISIBLE HAND sailed by that fun-loving crew from San Francisco Bay, Frank Slootman and crew. Given the fact that winds could hit 15-20+ knots with TWA's on starboard tack running around 110 to 140 degrees, it could be an epic ride down the coast for this gang of serious speedsters- a den of trophy-hunting thieves thicker than the "three musketeers." We wish them luck and look forward to following their progress down the track.
For more Cabo Race tracking and sailing information.
San Diego NOOD RegattaA J/Festival of J/24s, 80s, 105 and 120s
(San Diego, CA)- Starting this weekend, the Sperry Topsider NOOD Regatta in San Diego expects to have some good winds and weather. There's a strong turnout of J's, particularly the J/120 and J/105 classes, including the J/24s and the J/80s, making up most of the biggest fleets at this years' STNR-SD.
As the largest fleet in the regatta, the seventeen boat J/105 fleet has attracted a good out-of-town contingent, including teams from Chicago, Blane Shea on TEAM STRIKING and Clark Pellett on J-OK. The local California contingent will be strong as always, including John Howell on BLINK!, Don Poppe on the champion ROCK & ROLL from Santa Barbara, past champions Dennis and Sharon Case on WINGS and Rich Bergman on ZUNI BEAR. There's no telling with this fleet how the results will pan out but, as in past San Diego NOODs, it often comes down to the last race!
The J/120 fleet has a strong turnout with eight very competitive boats. Sure to be in the hunt for class honors will be past champions Chuck Nichols on CC RIDER, John Laun's CAPER, Peter Zarcades MELTEMI and perhaps even Jed Olenick on DOCTOR NO.
Showing great resilience, the local J/24s gang are showing up in force with an excellent fleet of twelves J/24s showing up to vie for top dog in SoCal. Hard to handicap this group, but certainly amongst the leaders will be current North American Champion Pat Toole on 3 BIG DOGS from Santa Barbara, past National/ NA Champion Chris Snow on BOGUS (one of North Sails top one-design leaders) and past NOOD Champion Susan Taylor on TAKE FIVE. It should be quite a fight amongst these three boats for the top three.
Finally, the J/80s have showed up in force as well. Talk about out-of-towners, the long-distance award must surely go to Nizar Abuzeni sailing ARROW from St. Paul, MN and the St. Croix Sailing Club (USVI). Past NOOD Champion Curt Johnson sailed AVET will be a contender as most likely will be John Steen on UNDERDOG, Kurt Wiese on 1316 and Mark Hunter on IN-APPROPRIATE. For more Sperry Topsider NOOD Regatta- San Diego sailing information.
Rolex Block Island Race Week(Block Island, RI- June 20-24)- This year's Rolex Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race Week serves as both the 2011 IRC East Coast Championship and the J/122 National Championship. The event also will feature the debut of a new J/111 class and has eliminated former PHRF restrictions that will open up the event to more sailors. Boats will be competing for individual class trophies daily and Rolex watches as overall prizes for top performances on each of the racing circles. A traditional around-the-island distance race will also be included, with a Rolex watch to be awarded to the top IRC boat.
The J/105 class, which is known for holding the longest one-design participation record in the history of the regatta, has always had a strong fleet and already six boats, out of an expected 24 or more, have signed up. 'There has been J/105 class racing at Block Island since 1996, and we have been there every year,' said Nelson Weiderman (Wickford, R.I.), owner of the J/105 Kima. 'It is a family vacation for us, and I’m hoping to have my daughter and two sons join us with their children. The family thing is big for me, and a week-long event is highly unusual, so there will be beach time for all who do not race.'
Weiderman, who sailed Kima to victory in the 2010 New England Solo/Twin, said he isn’t necessarily expecting to win at Block Island the year. 'Our best year at Block Island was when we came in second (1998),' said Weiderman. 'Coming in top half would be great, but having fun is of primary importance.'
Unlike the veteran J/105 class, the J/111 class will be testing out Block Island Race Week waters for the first time in history. 'There won’t be too many boats at Block Island, since it is the first regatta for the class and only around sixty hulls have been sold,' said David Tortorello (Fairfield, Conn.), owner of the J/111 PARTNERSHIP. 'We sold our J/122 of three years and are waiting on the new PARTNERSHIP, which is still in the box.'
Tortorello is no stranger to the regatta and has participated for many years, including in 2007 and 2009 aboard the J/122 PARTNERSHIP. 'It is more fun than you’ll ever have. The whole group is one big happy family, and Block Island is the best venue around here.' For more Block Island sailing information.
J/Sailing News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
As we approach the Spring Equinox, activity continues to increase in Europe, in particular the J/80s in the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark and Spain as they prepare for the J/80 Worlds in Copenhagen, Denmark in mid-summer. Most heartening, the French hosted a "Because I Am A Girl" charity regatta on J/80s to support dis-advantaged women in France. Starting to accelerate the spring offshore program in England is the Warsash Spring Series with both IRC handicap and one-design racing for J/80s and J/109s. In the America's the J/24s completed racing in the Bacardi Cup Race Week. Remember to watch out for the three J's sailing in the Cabo Race, it should be a thrilling event for those racing. Read on! The J/Community and Cruising section below continue to enjoy the Caribbean and the South Pacific, staying warm while others are trying to stay warm up north. Check them out! More importantly, if you have more J/Regatta News, please email it or upload onto our J/Boats Facebook page! Below are the summaries.Regatta & Show Schedules:
Mar 13-Apr 17- Warsash Spring Series- Hamble, UK- http://www.warsashspringseries.org.uk/Mar 18-20- SW NOOD- San Diego, CA- http://www.sailingworld.com
Apr 14-17- Charleston Race Week- http://www.charlestonraceweek.com
Apr 16-23- J/24 South Americans- Montevideo, Uruguay- http://www.ycu.org.uy
Apr 21-25- SPI Ouest France- La Trinite Sur Mer, France- http://www.spi-ouestfrance.com/
May 1-6- Bermuda Race Week (J/224 & J/105)- RBYC, Bermuda- http://www.biirw.bm
May 10-14- J/24 Nationals- Dallas, TX- http://j24texas.com/
May 14-15- J/109 Vice Admirals Cup- Cowes, England- http://www.rorc.com
For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
Light Start to Warsash Spring Series(Warsash, Southampton Water, England)- The Warsash Spring Series lived up to its name on Sunday 12th March, when the first day's racing was held. Early risers may have been greeted by the sound of foghorns and a fine if persistent drizzle but as some 1,000 sailors made their way to the sailing area, conditions steadily improved. The fog lifted and the sun appeared. The breeze however was very light at times.
On the Black Group committee boat, stationed on the Ryde Middle bank, the race officers were pleased that the forecast veer from south to north-west happened early. A short postponement of 30 minutes enabled the wind to steady and satisfactory courses could be set. Initially these included a cascade of windward/leeward legs finishing off Lee Point. In the event, with the development of windless patches and with time marching on, Black Group courses were shortened at the fourth or sixth mark. All competitors were pleased to complete within the limit and gain their first result on a difficult but challenging day. Back at Warsash Sailing Club competitors were able to relax in the clubhouse garden where the weekly champagne prizes for class winners were presented in the balmy spring-like conditions.
In
Black Fleet IRC 1 Class, Nial Dowling's J/111 ARABELLA had a tough go
of it in the crazy conditions as one of the little boats in the big boat
class, getting a 5th correct. As one competitor put it, "very light
5kt winds with big holes this week. We were fully parked with all the
zeros on the log for about 20 min. Obviously a lovely 12 knots filled in
as we motored in…" In IRC 3 Class, the J's faired a bit better, managing to navigate around the "black holes" that developed on the course a bit better than most. John Taylor's J/92 J'RENIMO was third and Mike, Jamie Holme's J/97 JIKA-JIKA was fourth and Andy Howe's J/92 BLACKJACK was seventh. However, after Bill Blain's J/97 BATFISH IV and Chris Jones' J/105 JOURNEYMAKER V get their IRC ratings squared away, we might see the standings jumbled yet again!
The
sixteen boat strong J/109 class had another strong start to their
highly competitive series. After the dust settled, the top three
finished with a minute of each other. Leading the charge home was
VELVET ELVIS in first, followed by Paul Griffith's JAGERBOMB in second,
JUST SO in third, Paul and Kirsty Apthorp's champion J-DREAM fourth and
SHIVA fifth. The J/109s had the benefit of watching the starts of IRC 1
& 2, when many of the boats had been late due to the strong tide
keeping them back from the line. The J/109 Class hit the line on time
and at speed and saw J-DREAM (David & Kirsty Apthorp) and VELVET
ELVIS (Velvet Elvis Racing) continue their battle from 2010. Whilst
that battle ensued JAGERBOMB (Paul Griffiths) who were new to the fleet
in 2010 rounded the windward mark, hoisted their spinnaker and set off
downwind to the first passing mark. VELVET ELVIS and J-DREAM were left
in their wake. JAHMAIL (Mike & Sarah Wallis), SHIVA (Matt Boyle)
and DESIGNSTAR (Roger Phillips) were all hot on their heels. JAHMAIL
was caught out by the passing mark and had to drop her spinnaker to make
it round – costing her 4th position. During the long run to
craftinsure.com JAGERBOMB had disappeared into the distance and did not
appear to suffer from lack of wind which affected most of the fleet.
JUST SO (David & Mary McGough) and JUMPING JELLYFISH (David
Richards) maintained momentum and made big gains. A further beat saw
newcomers to the fleet JET (Alan Neilson) overtake DESIGNSTAR and
AUDAJIOUS (David Jobson) before engaging with ME JULIE (Dom Monkhouse)
and JAHMAIL. This battle continued to the finish when ME JULIE was the
middle of the sandwich and crossed the finish line 24 secs behind
JAHMAIL and 28 seconds ahead of JET.The final beat saw JAGERBOMOB and VELVET ELVIS push each other off Ryde Bank into the tide which left J-DREAM unsure whether to go with them, or to cover JUST SO, SHIVA and OFFBEAT (David McLeman) who had all chosen to stay on the bank out of the tide. VELVET ELVIS and JAGERBOMB were having a great battle. VELVET ELVIS managed to climb above her, preventing JAGERBOMB from tacking to cross the finish line. A quick tack from VELVET ELVIS allowed them to snatch victory.
The
J/80s are again sailing multiple races and managed to get in three
before retiring for the day to the Shore House for Pimms and Guinness
and to watch the England vs Scotland International rugby match. Simply
dominating the first day of racing for the dozen sailors on the
Southampton Water was none other the SPITFIRE gang, they were absolutely
on fire! Skipper Tony Hanlon of the Spitfire Team managed to fire off
three 1st to win the day with a measly 3 points. A tough hombre behind
them was John Cooper on OI! rattling off a 2-6-3 in the goofy wind
conditions to get second for the day. Patrick Liardet sailing AQUA-J
was third only one point back with a 6-4-2. Fourth was Terry Palmer on
JUST DO IT and fifth was Dan Brown on HENRI LLOYD SHOCKWAVE.With eager anticipation race 1 got underway and it was clear that the tide over Hill Head plateau was just as dubious as the 30deg wind shift up the first beat. The fleet came together at the windward mark which was really exciting for the hoist battle. A reach to the next mark certainly reminded everyone how important it is to trim trim trim but still the fleet was incredibly close together. Fast forward to the final down-wind leg – the fleet were still really close but at the finish it was Tony Hanlon’s “Spitfire” taking line honours, followed by John Cooper’s “Oi!” and Stewart Hawthorne’s “Jumpin’ Jenga” 3rd.
Race
2 saw pretty much the same conditions with much more tide – many boats
elected for the committee boat end but struggled to cross the line on
starboard, a rather cheeky port tack flyer by Terry Palmer’s “Just Do
It” gave the needed boost for the first beat with many boats tacking
onto port as soon as a gap appeared. Many boats went hard inshore up the
beats which should have aided with cheating the tide but this wasn’t
the case. At the first windward mark it was Cowes based Douglas
Neville-Jones with “Jasmine” leading the fleet chased by “Spitfire” then
“Just Do It”. A matter of picking your gybe correctly was the call and
“Spitfire” edged into the lead. On the next beat it was all about
drag-racing and who could speed up towards the windward mark, “Spitfire”
held the lead but closely chased by “Just Do It”. On the run a
shortened course was called by the Race Officer and “Spitfire” took her
second win of the day followed hot on her heels was “Just Do It” and
then “Jasmine”In an effort to get the fleet home, the Race Officer repositioned the start at the leeward gate of the SB3 course and a new course was issued for the final race. No one can argue that the J/80 fleet aren’t competitive as Race 3’s first attempt saw many of the fleet OCS and a general recall was called. The second attempt got away with only an individual recall and just after the start the wind decided to back 30 degrees thus making those on the left hand side of the beat control the windward mark. The fleet like in Race 1 was incredibly close throughout the race until the final beat to the finish. Patrick Liardet and “Aqua-J” performed what can only be called a master-class as she sailed out to the right hand side of the course and performed a slingshot into the finish pretty much overtaking everyone. But it was the team of “Spitfire” again showing her transom to the fleet taking the final race (and a clean sheet may I add) of the day with “Aqua-J” second and “Oi!” third. For more Warsash Spring Series sailing results
Sailing Photo credits- Eddie Mays
Torcida Leading Trofeo Avega(Santander, Spain)- The first day of racing for the Trofeo Avega in Santander, Spain could not have counted on a better day to start. Sunny afternoon, wind about 12 knots average foam the northeast and Santander Bay at high tide greeted the 25 J/80s. Presented with such spectacular conditions, the Race Committee ordered two excellent windward-leeward courses three times around in the area of the moors-- a spectacular, if not challenging part of the Bay to go sailing.
The early regatta leader was Pichu Torcida on ECC VIVIENDAS, putting an early bid to be one of the winners of the ginormous 60" SHAPR LED TV set that goes to the overall regatta winner. However, not too far behind are Javier Lopez-Vazquez on BANCAJA-AVIVA and Cesar Obregon on LUPA, both also race winners for the day.
In the first race, it was a real battle for first between Obregon on LUPA and Torcida on ECC VIVIENDAS. LUPA rounded first at the windward mark, proceeded to lose ground, fall back into third, then played a few strong shifts on the last windward leg on the right side of the course to pass Torcida to win the race. Finishing third was Jaime Piris on FONESTAR, fourth was Santi Lopez-Vazquez on CENTRALE OPTICA and fifth Ignacio Camino on NEXTEL ENGINEERING.
In the second race, four boats were left out of the game as they were Black-flagged right at the start. As in the first race, the right hand side of the course was clearly favored as in the northeast wind on Santander Bay often sees large puffs filter down from the beach, both velocity and a shift right. First around the mark was MABLE, then BANCAJA-AVIVA, ECC VIVIENDAS, SLAM RACING and RAITA. This group stuck together for most of the race and in a thrilling finish with many boats overlapped, BANCAJA-AVIVA just won followed by the clever, hard-charging Torcida on ECC VIVIENDAS, MABLE, SLAM RACING and RAITA.
Overall, Pichu's ECC VIVIENDAS is winning with 4 pts, followed by Javier on BANCAJA-AVIVA with 8 pts, third is Madrazo's LUPA with 9 pts, 4th in a tie are Perez's CENTRALE OPTICA with 11 pts and Jesus Amailach's RAITA with 11 pts. For more Trofeo Avega J/80 sailing information
J/80 Italian Winter Championship
(Santa Margherita, Italy)- Like their friends over in Santander across azure blue Mediterranean Sea, the Italian J/80 fleet found themselves sailing off Portofino an Santa Margherita with spectacular sailing conditions. It was the order of the day, go forth, have fun, savor the deliciously sweet breeze and sunny day. WIth a steady 12-15 knot wind, the fleet was treated to two excellent races.
At the end of the first day, it was JENIALE! that was leading the fleet, despite having to overcome an earlier DSQ in the first race. They are followed by MONTPRES and ORSO J. After being spoiled the first day, the fleet had to contend with a grey Sunday with a shifty wind and a heavy rain. After a long postponement only one more race was sailed Sunday afternoon. With three races under their belt, the fleet leader is MONTPRES with three 2nd places, followed ORSO J in second. Third to fifth is a battle between four boats separated by only two points- JBES, SCRATCH, JENIALE, and GARIBOTTO. The next weekend for the winter series is Sunday, March 27. For more Italian J/80 Winter sailing information.
J/80 Challenge Regatta La Trinite(La Trinite Sur Mer, France)- An increasingly popular regatta on the French J/80 circuit is the J/80 Trinite Challenge Regatta held each spring. This year, a record twenty-one boats are participating that include some of the best J/80 teams in France, some famous ones, too!
On Saturday, one might call it a "muscle-training day" as the fleet was met by a southerly 20-25 knot breeze. Both sailing coaches, Aymeric Belloir and Arnaud Walter proposed a series of sailing exercises on the theme of many practice starts, then throwing in a half dozen short races of 1 or 2 laps. Finally, at the end of the day, a multitude of jibes downwind in the channel for a beautiful finish under spinnaker at the harbor entrance! It was an enjoyable, if not exhausting, day for the fleet. A lot was learned and many learned how to plane faster as well as gybe more efficiently.
Sunday's sailing out on the waters off Societe Nautique Trinite were beautiful. Sunny day with very shifty 4-6 knot westerly winds. It was a challenging day for the tacticians. Nevertheless, while some teams managed to stay out of trouble and play the shifts and puffs well, others faltered badly. Keeping their record clean was Yves Tabarly on DAITEM-ALARME with a 1-1 record (yes, same famous Tabarly family keeping up the tradition of success on the sea). Second is Ponroy sailing JINGLE with a 2-3, third Mack on GIGO with an 8-2, fourth is Bruno Trouble on COYOTE with a 6-8 taking some fun time-out from his Louis Vuitton America's Cup 34 duties and fifth is Waiter on ARNO SKIPPER sailing to a 12-4. One more weekend left of racing and training for this tough group of competitors getting ready for the J/80 Worlds in Denmark coming up very soon. For more J/80 France sailing information.
Women's Cup France"Because I Am A Girl" Charity
(Lorient, France)- A fantastic new event was created this year to benefit a leading women humanitarian charity program in France. Seventeen women's teams from across France, including some famous one's like Morgane Fountaine, sailed J/80s under a warm sun to support the women's projects called "Because I Am A Girl" managed by the Association PLAN throughout France.
On shore, the yacht club was completely dressed in pink, the colors of the "Because I Am A Girl" project. A booth was host to members of Association PLAN to further help support this humanitarian program through the sales of cool pink t-shirts.
Blue sky and wind of 10-15 knots was the perfect background for the women dressed in pink to enjoy their first Women's Cup. The westerly land breeze was oscillating back and forth and kept the girls anxious as they sought to free themselves from the pack and sail amongst the leaders. The racing was ver tight for the three races sailed. However, it was one of the top French women sailors who led the pack- Morgane Fountaine, accompanied by Sophie Blanckaert, Eve Pajot, Sigrid Longeau Bertho and Sandrine- looking pretty in pink these girls won the first edition of this regatta open to all women. Second was "The Galerne Chikabreizh" sailed by Anne Claire Le Berre, third was "AMC Composite Team" of Anne Solomon Helley. Samantha Davies, sponsor of the event, was sailing with the "Daughters of the Water" and finished in 8th place. For more J/80 Women's Cup sailing information.
J/24s Relish Miami SunshineBacardi Miami Sailing Week Fun For J/24s
(Miami, FL)- It was 'game on' for sailors in the J/24 classes as they headed out to Biscayne Bay for their first day of competition at the 2011 Bacardi Miami Sailing Week presented by EFG Bank. While the Stars were canceled due to thunderstorms in the area, the other classes were competing on two circles closer to shore where the overall conditions delivered water that was surprisingly smoother than yesterday when there had been high chop due to a strong south-southeasterly wind. "We've got a front coming in that went through Orlando and we've got a feeling that this is all going to turn nasty real quick," said one sailor. However, on the J/24 course the breeze from the south around 15 knots greeted the fleet, along with a sharp drop in temperature as a cold front made its way across the bay. On the first day, Florida teams captured the top-three spots: Brian Kamilar (Miami) with Fran Bellocchio, Fabio Galarce, Mauricio Galarce and Enrique Quintero placed first; Patricia Walker (Vero Beach) with Richard Jarchow, Bill Scheureman, Gary Sprague and Thomas Wenzel were second; and Robert Pincus (Miami) with Patricia Amaducci, Eammon Delisser and JB Slater placed third.
For the second day, the air temperature cooled slightly, but not the action. A north-northwesterly breeze and calmer weather on Biscayne Bay allowed four additional races by the J/24 gang. How sweet it was. With gusts, at times, to 20 knots, sailors that positioned themselves too far to the left suffered a lot. Those who were successful positioned themselves to the favored side on the right with the wind coming in from the right. Two teams did all the winning in the J/24 fleet: Kris Werner (Rochester, N.Y.), sailing with John Enwright, Michael Mansfield, Fred Meyer and Kiki Werner won the first two races on the day, and Robert Pincus (Miami) with Patricia Amaducci, Eammon Delisser and JB Slater won the last two races. Pincus moved into first overall with seven points. Werner is second, tied on points, with Brian Kamilar (Miami), sailing with Fran Bellocchio, Fabio Galarce, Mauricio Galarce and Enrique Quintero.
On the final day, for the 472 sailors from 25 countries, conditions on Biscayne Bay were ideal as temperatures in the low 70s and sunny weather combined with shifty breeze to challenge them on the final day of racing at BACARDI Miami Sailing Week. In the J/24 fleet: Brian Kamilar (Miami), sailing with Fran Bellocchio, Fabio Galarce, Mauricio Galarce and Enrique Quintero, finished 1-2-3 today to win the series with 12 points, one point ahead of Robert Pincus (Miami), with Patricia Amaducci, Eammon Delisser and JB Slater, who posted finishes of 2-1-4 over the final three races. Kris Werner (Rochester, N.Y.), sailing with John Enwright, Michael Mansfield, Fred Meyer and Kiki Werner, was third overall with 18 points. For more Bacardi J/24 Sailing information.
J/Community
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide
* "Where are all the other J/122's!?," said Jim Dobbs aboard his J/122 LOST HORIZON.
After a great time at St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Jim and gang are
headed down to St. Barts. Jim is secretly hoping the 122s have a World
Championship "down island", perhaps it can start with Key West and
simply travel down island and end up where he lives in Antigua-- now
that would be one unbelievable and unforgettable event, eh? Next up on
the Caribbean "J/122 LOST HORIZON Island Tour" is Les Voile de Saint
Barth-- not a bad place to drop the hook, hang out, and do some serious
racing against the locals who are sure to show some good programs where
NOT to go! BTW, Tom Mullen's J/95 SHAMROCK VI will be participating as
well. When the stage lights are switched on for the second annual Les Voiles de St. Barth, it is a sure bet that the production, set for April 4-9, will deliver an unforgettable experience for its participating sailors, their friends and families. After all, what other regatta claims Jimmy Buffett as its “godfather” or the world-famous French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier as one of its devotees? And what other regatta reaps the benefits of being held on an unspoiled yet sophisticated island, during its off-peak tourist season, no less, when fine French food and wine are in abundance without the wait at popular harbor-side restaurants and where accommodations at boutique hotels and private villas—the most stylish of which are coveted by celebrities in the high season--are easier to come by and, better yet, less pricey?
“The Les Voiles de St. Barth is about the whole island of Saint Barthelemy in the shoulder season and how it represents a West Indian paradise like no other,” said Donald Tofias, a Newport, R.I. (USA) resident. “It is about the island’s personalities, the local bands playing every night on the docks, the top chefs and wine cellars being involved, and the entire community being involved in the experience of a friendly, easy-going regatta.”
Since the late 1970s, Demarchelier has photographed covers for nearly every major fashion magazine in the world, including VOGUE and ELLE, and has—better than anyone perhaps--brought global attention to the island’s idyllic settings by his own through-the-lense infatuation with them. “I have not too much time to do other regattas, so this is special to me,” he said about his upcoming get-away from his busy schedule and studio in New York. “The conditions are always fantastic, with 15-20 knots, blue sky and beautiful waters.”
Jim Dobbs of Antigua, who races and lives aboard his J/122 LOST HORIZON in the Caribbean in the winter, will be one of Demarchelier’s main competitors, as he won his class here last year, and he has every intention of doing so again this year. Even with only just one year under its belt, the Les Voiles de St. Barth is already a fixture on Dobbs’ competitive racing schedule. “For me, it is on the way back to Antigua,” said Dobbs. “I enjoy it because it has a different French flair to it.”
That is not to mention the intimate harbor of Gustavia serving as regatta central or the magnificent Caribbean Sea, which serves up dependable trade winds and stunning vistas with every new tack—those are at the very core of every racing sailor’s best dreams.
“The regatta got a great start last year, and you will see a whole range of sailors and boats that typically race in Europe, New England and the Caribbean showing up here,” said Donald Tofias. “Word has gotten around, people love coming here, and all the right things are in place. Soon it will be the size of some of the other Caribbean events; that is my prediction.”
And where will Jimmy Buffett be in all this? Suffice it to say, he owns a home in St. Barth, is an avid sailor, and often jams with local musicians. His blessing of the regatta is inherent in his “godfather” title, so other than that, the organizers are being hush-hush. Like fine wine, some things uncorked are better if they sit for a bit before being savored with the main meal. For more sailing information on Les Voiles de Saint Barths.
* Ken Read's PUMA Team
is getting ready to roll. A good bunch of guys with him to get it
around the 39,000 mile race track known as "Earth". While only two
"Newporters" are aboard, Kenny plus Rome Kirby (Jerry's son), the
balance of "convicts" from Australia (4) and New Zealand (3) call
Newport "home" for the better part of the sailing year. They will need
all the help they can get to combat against some of the world's best
offshore sailors in a 39,000 nautical mile ocean race stopping in ten
ports of call over the course of nine months. The team is currently training aboard George David's and Alex Jackson's 100' Maxi RAMBLER 100, which most recently broke the Caribbean 600 course record. The new PUMA Volvo Open 70 racing boat comes out of the shed of New England Boatworks in early spring and will start its shakedown program on Narragansett Bay immediately thereafter. Once the new boat is pert thoroughly "debugged" in offshore trials from Newport, the crew will bring the boat to Miami for on and offshore training. In July, Read and his crew will head back to Newport to participate in the Transatlantic Race beginning in Newport, Rhode Island and finishing in Plymouth, England. The training program will finish when the boat is brought
to Alicante, Spain in October for the race start.
Cumulatively, the management and sailing team for PUMA Ocean Racing shares a level of success difficult to match with 22 Volvo Ocean Race entries and 20 America's Cup editions. Collectively, the core team have sailed as crew on seven 24-hour mono hull speed records and seven Around the World Races of various kinds (Volvo, Whitbread, IMOCA 60, etc). Meet the PUMA crew- http://www.pumasailing.com
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. Some terribly amusing anecdotes and pearls of wisdom are
contained in their blogs. Read some! You'll love it.* 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." UPDATE- Just a short note to update from Bill- "Our cruise began in May of 2000 and ended in May of 2008, some 8 years later. I have just finished and published my third and final book covering the last three or so years including our double handed crossing in 16 days and one winter in the Caribbean. Like the others, "Sea Trek- A Passion for sailing- Book III," can be found at www.blurb.com. Thanks, Bill and Judy"
* John and Mary Driver are sailing their J/130 SHAZAM
for extended cruising in the Atlantic basin. At this time, John and
Mary finished their double-handed crossing of the Atlantic, landing in
Portugal on their J/130 Shazam after completion of their ARC Rally. 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). Check out there recent travels- now past Fiji!
- Eric and Jenn on the J/160 MANDALAY also sailed the Pacific archipelago, read more on their blog at http://www.sailmandalay.com. Eric and Jenn are J/World alumni took MANDALAY up and down the West Coast (Mexico, CA)
,
then to the South Pacific and New Zealand. MANDALAY is back in San
Francisco now, and in the J/World fleet--she is available for skippered
charters, private instruction, and corporate/executive groups.* The J/109 GAIA (seen right in the Java Sea) was sailed by Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay around the world. In February 2011, their cruising adventures came to an abrupt, sad ending. As a tribute to them and their cruising friends worldwide, we hope their chronicles on their GAIA website remains a tribute to their warm-hearted spirits- read more about why many loved them dearly and will remain touched by their loving spirit forever- http://www.gaiaworldtour.net/
Featured Boats
Race-ready J/105 San Diego Buy it now! Sail The 2012 North Americans in San Diego!
Hull #130 is essentially a brand new J/105 with every imaginable upgrade completed in September of 2009. Everything has been done to the highest standard, and within class rules for J/105 one design racing. The owner has spared absolutely no expense to make this J/105 better than new in all aspects. Hull #130 has undergone a complete and meticulous overhaul from the top of the mast to the bottom of the keel. From its Fitzgerald Grand Prix bottom job (completed prior to the 2009 refit) to the complete stripping and painting of the deck and nonskid and new deck hardware, this 105 is the most perfect 105 conceivable. It is hull #130, making it a very competitive hull to begin with and the upgrades ensure that it is the fastest 105 out there. The full specs include only the work that has been done this year, and even the extensive list does not do justice to the perfection of this boat. An absolute must see. For more information, view the complete listing on Yachtworld.com. Or contact Jeff Brown jeff@jk3yachts.com 619 224-6200. Photo is of sistership.
