J/111 World One-Design Growth(Newport, RI)- Reports from the frontiers of sailing around the world indicate that interest for 111's is strong, with dozens of prospective sailors/ owners looking forward to their first experiences racing this new rocketship in the 2011 sailing season. By summer, J/111 speedsters will be sailing in at least ten countries on four continents- USA and Canada for North America; Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand Down Under; Cartagena, Columbia for South America; and United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland for Europe-- a remarkably strong debut for the next generation international one-design off the J drawing boards and the first J to go global in less than twelve months!
Supporting this worldwide one-design roll-out is JB Composites in Les Sables'd'Olonne, France. President Didier LeMoal is excited about the 111s' prospects for Europe and is looking forward to the launching of the first European-built J/111 in April. With over a dozen boats ordered from the French facility alone, the fleets in both the UK and France are well on their way to having one-design events rolling in Europe for 2012.
For those of you who wish to see a 111 soon, they will debuting in Charleston Race Week, Strictly Sail Pacific show, Warsash Spring Series (UK) and BMW Auckland Race Week (New Zealand) all within the next month. And, look for the 111 to debut in Australia at the Sydney Boatshow in July. Other 2011 events the 111 will be sailing include Rolex STC Block Island Race, Rolex Block Island Race Week, Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex Big Boat Series, Rolex Middle Sea Race and Rolex RORC Caribbean 600 in 2012. For more J/111 sailboat information
J/120 North Americans On The BayGet Ready For A Shootout in San Francisco Bay
(San Francisco, CA- August 13-14)- What do AC34 45 foot catamarans and the J/120 class have in common? An addiction for fun and games when it's going nuclear out on San Francisco Bay! However, betting's good that a J/120 will fair a bit better when it's blowing 20-35 knots versus a carbon cat suddenly turned into a three-legged cartwheel!
Sailing on the Bay in August is an experience not for the faint-of-heart. In fact, only "manly mans" and no "drama queens" need apply. You gotta be able to sail all day in some of the coolest summer sailing conditions in America. That said, the venue is spectacular and the weather can be breath-taking. Sun, lotsa wind, ginormous 3-5 foot chop and big fog banks enshrouding the gorgeous hills surrounding the Golden Gate Bridge make for a photographers dream. It can be epic, to say the least. With full-on ebb, winds blowing 20-35 knots from the West, the ride to the windward mark is almost as thrilling as the wild-planing rides downwind. What's not to like about sailing on the Bay in August? Go for it!
The J/120s are again hosting their North American Championship on these fabled waters. So, make sure to pack your bags, sails tossed over your shoulder, and "go West young man (and girl)"! The J/120 fleet on SF Bay will welcome you with open arms and provide you a boat! Just call them. And, with Kattack Systems attached to each boat, you'll learn a lot about how to sail around SF Bay faster-- note to some wannabe America's Cup sailors, this is a good deal! So, you Detroit, Long Island, Chicago and San Diego guys gotta join us!! For more J/120 North American Championship sailing information.
J/Sailing News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
While the Middle East is seemingly embroiled in chaos and American state governments are learning how to balance budgets (also chaotic), it was all hands on deck to hold the "greenies" steady and maintain "cruise control" not just in the Heineken Regatta in St Maarten, but in the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta Down Under. While J/122s (and even a J/30) were cruzin' in the islands, J/80s, J/92s and J/24s were showing the boys in OZ what it takes to have fun and win, too. Meanwhile, over in continental Europe, the Spanish were honoring their World Champions while training their kids how to win on J/80s, with teams qualifying for the inter-collegiate European Cup sailed on J/80s in Cherbourg, France. The French J/22s were sailing their first event of the year off Nantes with some help from the French Navy. And, over in the Americas, the Southern California offshore sailors sailed their latest edition to the SoCal offshore circuit, The Islands Race- go west young man, then turn left at Catalina and head for Point Loma-- easy, right? Not, find out why. 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 10-13- Mardi Gras Race Week- J/22 & J/24- New Orleans, LA- http://www.mardigrasracing.org/blog/Mar 10-12- Bacardi Miami Sailing Week- Miami, FL- http://www.miamisailingweek.com/
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.
J's Crush St. Maarten Heineken RegattaJ/122 OTRA VEZ and J/30 BLUE PETER Dominate
(Simpson Bay, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles- March 6th)- It was a challenging year for the 31st St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. The conditions were hardly the postcard, chamber of commerce conditions often associated with the event. Instead, it took a dash of luck and skillful sailing to avoid the massive holes, navigate the shifty winds and not get buried under a flood of rain from the squalls that floated across the islands.
Despite the difficult conditions, the J/122s led their fleet home to finish 1st and 5th. Racing in the CSA 5 Division, first was the J/122 OTRA VEZ sailed by Bill Coates with a tally of 1-1-2-9 for 13 pts. They were winning the regatta quite handily until a not so good last race, but hung in there to win! Finishing fifth was the J/122 LOST HORIZON sailed by local favorite Jim Dobbs with a record of 2-5.5-8-13 for 28.5 pts. Unfortunately, LOST HORIZON were easily in second place until their 13th place on the last windless, goofy day. Having a lot of fun and hanging in for ninth overall was Rick Wesslund's well-traveled J/120 EL OCASO, a previous Key West Race Week Overall PHRF Boat of the Week. Finally, the team of Bultena and Hins on the J/105 NO RUBBER NO GLORY followed the pack around the course taking into account all the ambiance and fun one could have partying while sailing.
Another celebration was in store for the veteran local campaigner, the J/30 BLUE PETER sailed by Tanner Jones. Their 1-2-1 record for 4 points dominated their CSA 8 class, winning triumphantly on their last day! Just off the pace was the J/95 SHAMROCK IV sailed by Tom Mullen with a 4-4-12 tally for 20 points for sixth place-- they took a DNF in the last race, which was too bad since they were 3rd overall going into the last day! A good show for a shoal-draft performance day-sailer, cruising boat.
Also participating in this year's Heineken Regatta in CSA 2 Division was a the J/125 AUNT JESSE sailed by Jordan Mindich to fourth place with a 5-3-3-9 scoreline for 20 pts-- like their sisterships, they too were in third overall until a bummer of a last race. Always having a lot of fun in CSA 6 Division was the J/40 NEPENTHE sailed by Bob Read. This year Bob was without either of his famous sons aboard, Ken Read or Brad Read. They got a 6-9-16-16 score, seemingly starting out strong but after the reggae party night slowed down quite a bit…who can blame them, it was a FUN regatta.
For
the first day of racing, it was clear the weather for this year's
Heineken Regatta was going to be unusual in that the generous
trade-winds were going to be squashed by a goofy weather pattern. At
the mid-morning start it was an east-southeasterly breeze of 6-8 knots.
The race committee sent the fleet on a short windward leg before
everyone eased sheets for a downwind run to a mark off Basse Terre at
the island’s westernmost point. As the fleet sailed into the Anguilla
Channel they were met by a squall, then the breeze faltered and then,
for some of the trailing boats, died altogether. Off Marigot Bay, as a
second squall sucked the wind out of the skies, right up to the next
mark on the course, off Grand Case, the scene was reminiscent of painted
boats upon a painted sea. In CSA 5, it was a very good day for the
J's— that is, a pair of J/122’s, William Coates’s OTRA VEZz and Jim
Dobbs’s LOST HORIZON, which earned a first and second in the 15-boat
class, respectively. Other winners on the opening day of racing were
Tanner Jones' J/30 BLUE PETER in CSA 8.The second day is known by the Racing sailors as "Moving Day", the midpoint in a regatta when the time has come to make a move, either to solidify your place in the standings or, for boats that have not yet sailed to their potential, to elevate your position in the fleet. And on Day 2 in the 31st running of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, with a pair of contests conducted for the CSA racing classes 1-6, the opportunity to move up—or down—was at hand. For CSA Classes 1-6, the second day of action brought two very different races, a morning windward/leeward affair around the buoys off the south coast of St. Maarten, and the traditional Saturday afternoon point-to-point destination race from a starting line off the Dutch harbor of Simpson Bay to a finish off Marigot on the Caribbean isle’s French side. As on Day 1 of the proceedings, a light easterly breeze of 8-10 knots—with a brief rise in air pressure to around 15 knots in the morning racing—fueled the competition. But it was another challenging day for both the sailors and the race committees.
In the afternoon racing, under crystal-clear blue skies, colorful spinnakers dotted the horizon as the racers flew downwind to a mark off Bass Terre and then into the Anguilla Channel. In CSA 5, as the old Led Zeppelin song goes, “the song remained the same.” Bill Coates racing the J/122 OTRA VEZ retained their grasp atop the leader board with a first and second to go along with their victory on Day 1 of the regatta. Just behind them in third was the J/122 LOST HORIZON skippered by Jim Dobbs. The CSA 8 classes sailed a single race and when it was finished Tanner Jones’s J/30, BLUE PETER, from Antigua continued as class leader
The
final day of racing was a strange, squally day where it rained early
and often— and in many divisions, both skill and luck, sometimes in
heavy doses, played a major role in the final results. The last race was
an extremely taxing point-to-point race from Marigot to Simpson Bay.
Every edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta takes on its own
personality, and Number 31 in the annual series will be remembered as a
largely light-air affair. Ironically, it’s been a very windy winter on
the idyllic Caribbean isle, but for the most part this weekend, the
usually reliable trade winds were fitful and elusive, and racing was
conducted in breeze of ten knots or less. In nearly every class, those
sailors adept at eking out every last tenth of a knot of boat speed;
sniffing out every last zephyr, no matter how gentle or transitory; and
capitalizing on the constantly shifting breeze, particularly in the wake
of passing squalls, were the ones who topped the podium in their
respective divisions. Yes, there was a bit of everything: gusts, lulls,
showers, shifts. From a spectator’s point of view, it was also highly
entertaining and at times almost unbelievable. For instance, it’s not
every day you see an Air France Boeing 747 airliner alter course while
approaching a runway— like one did in the afternoon— to avoid a 77-foot
Swan (in this instance, Fred Smithers’ La Forza Del Destino) coursing
through the water under spinnaker in front of the runway along the
beach!
Due
to the unstable conditions, it was remarkable that the race committee
managed to get action started precisely on schedule the last morning at
10:30 a.m. All classes got rolling, but were not moving terribly fast
down the course. In the wake of a grey squall with east-southeast winds
registering a mere 4 or 5 knots, the fleet moved slowly on. Then the
breeze died altogether-- and not for the first time. When the breeze
swung into the east-northeast approximately a half-hour later in the 5-7
knot range action again resumed in the CSA racing classes. Once again,
there were many opportunities to gain and lose places. Then came the
second squall. At the front of the pack, as the leaders closed in on a
turning mark off Basse Terre, the fleet ran completely out of wind.
Meanwhile, the fresh breeze filling in from the northeast, though not
particularly strongly, allowed the trailing boats to close in on the
front-runners as they wallowed in a windless hole. It was like pushing a
reset button-- the classic "fleet compression puff"! Off Basse Terre, a
new race began giving some tail-enders a new lease on life and forever
frustrating the original race leaders. As the boats rolled down the
south coast of St. Maarten, they did so in exceedingly unbalanced
breeze. Some boats managed to fly kites for a time while others resorted
to jibs and genoas. A third squall at the second-to-last mark before
the finish brought fresh breeze and it seemed as if the entire fleet
converged together at the same time. Meanwhile, the boats that avoided
problems close reached to the final turning mark and then hoisted
spinnakers one last time before crossing the finish line off Simpson
Bay. It had been one memorable race.Once the results were finalized, a full slate of worthy victors were revealed. The J/122 OTRA VEZ had enough in the bank (two firsts and a second) to triumph in CSA 5, but her sistership LOST HORIZON sailed by Antiguan Jim Dobbs got the short end of the lucky stick in the last two squalls to drop to fifth. In CSA 8, Antiguan Tanner Jones’s BLUE PETER sailed his venerable J/30 to a well-deserved win in the 11-boat fleet. Sailing photos by Tim Wright- Photoaction.com For more Heineken Regatta Sailing results.
J/44 PATRIOT Wins Islands Race(Newport Harbor, CA- Mar 4-5)- The Islands Race, a "newbie" on the SoCal offshore sailing circuit, is proving to be a fun, challenging race for experienced offshore racers in Southern California. Starting at Newport Harbor YC the fleet sails offshore out around the beautiful Channel Islands of Catalina and San Clemente and finish off the end of Point Loma before heading into San Diego YC. This year's event drew a strong contingent of well-sailed SoCal offshore sailors.
There
were a number of J's racing in this year's event and their crews were
not only successful, but had a lot of fun in the process. Good winds
made for a fast passage this year. The biggest J, the J/160 INNOCENT
MERRIMENT sailed by Myron Lyon from San Diego YC, lead the J contingent
home in an elapsed time of 21 hours 37 minutes to finish 5th in PHRF 2
Class. Just behind them sailing in a very competitive PHRF Class 3 were
a J/44, J/124, J/120 and J/109! All a bunch of tough hombres. Leading
the pack home was Paul Stemler's J/44 PATRIOT from Newport Harbor YC in
just 22 hours 58 minutes elapsed, good enough to take first in class!
Third was the J/120 SHENANIGANS sailed by Gary Winton from Coronado Bay
YC, fourth was Seth Hall racing his J/124 MARISOL from BYC and eleventh
was the J/109 GREAT BALLS OF FIRE skippered by Daylen Terren from CRA.
For more Islands Race sailing information.
J/92 JOUSTS Sydney Regatta(Sydney, Australia- March 5-6)- Hot off the wires, we got a note from Ray Entwistle from Sydney regards the recent success of the J/92s JOUST sailing in the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta: "A delighted Nigel Smyth and family, owners of JOUST, a J/92s sailing out of Middle Harbour Yacht Club on Sydney Harbour, proved once again just how easy J/Boats are to sail. Taking a break from full-on racing crew and regattas and due to very little regular spinnaker racing over the last year, Nigel entered JOUST in the PHS white sails fleet in the Audi Regatta over the weekend of 5th - 6th March. Sailing with family (his wife, son, sister, nephew) and a couple of friends, he won Class 2 of the PHS white sail fleet. JOUST were first across the line in every race but under PHS scored a 1st, 7th, 2nd and 3rd. They didn’t win the Audi car on Monday but had a great weekend and JOUST performed perfectly in the weekend’s varied conditions.
J/80 Sailors Honored in Spain(Madrid, Spain)- On Friday, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV) held its Annual Sailing Gala in Madrid for the RFEV's "sailors of the year" awards. The "Cantabrian" sailors were some of the great stars of the show, including the J/80 World Champion and Class 40 Champion, Pichu Torcida, and his team. There was special recognition for sailing achievement that included the Cantabrian duo of Pachi Rivero and Tono Piris-- both J/80 Cantabrian fleet competitors racing in the Barcelona World Race, the double-handed around-the-world race on the IMOCA 60s.
The event was chaired by Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Theresa Zabell, vice president of the COE, Teresa Lara, vice president of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), and Gerardo Pombo, president of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation. The celebration also marked the successful bid for Santander, chosen to host the ISAF World Sailing Championships in 2014, an event that brings together some 1,500 sailors from 95 countries
One final special note, the two top sailing clubs in Spain ranked on a variety of measures included the two leading J/80 fleets in Spain, both producing J/80 World Champions- 1st- Real Club Nautico de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) and 2nd Real Club Maritimo de Santander. For more J/80 Spain sailing information
J/80 Spanish University Cup(Santander, Spain)- As part of their sailing development program in Spain, the local J/80 fleets support and help train not only youth sailors, but their college sailors to compete in regional, national and European collegiate events.
This past weekend, the Santander J/80 fleet played host for the European Cup collegiate qualifier for Spain. The sailors had a great sunny day racing three races in 10-14 knot northeast winds. It was a good test to determine the top two qualifiers for the university European Cup. All the racing was windward-leeward courses set in the Windward Channel and off the beach of La Magdalena in Santander.
The crew from the University of Cantabria skippered by Jesus Gonzalez-Amaliach have earned the right to represent the University of Cantabria in the European Cup, the top intercollegiate keelboat regatta in Europe to be sailed in the J/80 class and held in Cherbourg, France later in March.
Sailing
their J/80 RAITA, Jesus and crew managed to win all three races,
although the Team University RHINE, with Victor Paya at the helm, did
not make things any easier for them! In the last two races the two boats
finished overlapped! There was a nice race for third place among Team
MERCEDES BENZ and Team POPPEA. Ultimately, it was Jose Francisco Garcia
de Soto on MERCEDES BENZ that took third place with a 4-3-3 score over
friendly rivals Ignacio Pereda on POPPEA that sailed to a 3-4-4 record.The Race Committee of the Real Club Maritimo Santander ran a great event, getting all three races off in less than four hours. Chair of the event was the manager of the RCMS and president of the Spanish Association of J80, Alejandro Diaz. For more Spanish J/80 College Racing information.
J/80 Australia Introduction(Sydney, Australia)- "The J/80s introduction to Australia could not be going better", according to Ray Entwistle, the J/Dealer in Australia. "In the mixed twilight division consisting of Etchells, Roberts 950, Masram 920’s and Young 88s, Ray and Sandra Entwistle’s J/80 (with class rigged non overlapping sails) has so far scored 6 firsts on elapsed and 6 firsts on handicap after sailing 6 races. In the weekend mixed spinnaker division, racing as the smallest boat in the division, the J/80 has scored 4th, 2nd and 3 1sts. All these results have been achieved with at least SIX different helmsman as the boat gets tested by interested parties!"
"It's incredible," said Ray, "it doesn’t matter who steers her she just gets up and goes. The weather has been as mixed as you could get during the past 6 weeks too. From gusting over 30 knots and planing past Goat Island doing 14 knots in a non spinnaker twilight to almost sucking wind, she simply leaves all in her wake. “The boat is just so easy and balanced” commented one guest helmsman, “incredibly balanced and quick” commented a seasoned Etchells 22 sailor who helmed the boat in another race, “never thought a boat this size with such strong build quality would be so fast, a dinghy feel but smooth, stable and incredibly quick” said another. Learn more about what's happening with the J/80 debut in Australia, you can contact Ray at http://www.yachtspot.com.au
BEASTIE BOYS Win French J/22 Regatta(Nantes, France- Feb 13th)- The French J/22 class continues to enjoy spirited competition, particularly in their Nantes fleet that has a combination of a local club program plus the French Navy using the J/22s as a trainer.
A competitive fleet of eight J/22s sailed in the Trophy Banque Populaire Atlantique No. 1 event. For this first regatta, the conditions were ideal: wind 15 knots flowing down the river and mild temperatures. There was a great battle for first place. Ultimately, BEASTIE BOYS sallied by Jean Francois Guionet won with a 2-1-1 record, the last race determining who would win the event. Second was Antoine Royne on EUROPEAN HOMES with a 1-2-5 record. Claire Pouteau sailed here SOFFE to a fast and well-deserved third overall with a 3-4-3 record, giving away little to the two leaders-- a puff here a shift there and she would've been contending for the top spot. Fourth was Phillipe Thome on JULIE and fifth was Fabrice Cahierc on J'M. For more French J/22 sailing information
J/24s Tie For Audi Test Drive!Fun @ Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta
(Sydney, Australia- Mar 8th)- The report from our J/24 sailing friends from Down Under- "Last weekend saw some 300 boats over 13 divisions compete in the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta – we managed to get a J/24 fleet together with 6 boats on the Saturday start line! A solid 18 knots – some decent gusts – some great wind shifts and a huge tide-- mmmmm- not the easiest day!
Marc Tromp steering WATERBORNE again came out with a great lead in race 1, followed by a win for KAOTIC and a win for ACE. Seeing KAOTIC's crew half under water at one point was pretty funny after a big gust and shift -- only to find ourselves on WILDFIRE also suddenly very wet too and fighting to stay on board. Brett claimed he couldn’t get the main sheet off quick enough but I reckon it was something to do with me being his tactician for the first time. Even funnier was then seeing David West do the same to his crew-- but didn’t settle for just once!!! Twice, in fact! At least the water is still 23 degrees!!
Day 2 saw lighter winds, but still a bit flukey. Unfortunately, WATERBORNE again couldn’t race so we were down to a fleet of five. FUN and WILDFIRE trying hard to catch KAOTIC and ACE who won race 4 and 5, and MADDER'N'BADDER who picked the right side well to win the last race of the regatta!
Great sailing everyone. Tight results. Janette Syme steering Arthur Crothers KAOTIC finished equal first with David West on ACE!! On the tie-breaker (a.k.a. "countback") David just clinched it on ACE! Lucky guy-- he now gets to go car racing at Eastern Creek in the challenge for a new Audi – we’ll let you know if he wins!! Yahoo!!"
Of note, coming soon are the J/24 Victoria State Championships (fleet pictured here). Jump aboard and take on some of the best J/24 sailing that Australia has to offer. More information and NOR for the races on the site below! For more J/24 Australia Sailing info.
J/Community
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide
* From our J sailing community Down Under, we recently got a nice note from Mark Rhodes in Sydney Harbour. Mark commented, "I have owned my J/24, JAYTRIPPER (seen right under shadow of Sydney Harbour Bridge), for almost 17 years and have enjoyed every minute of it. We race with Greenwich Flying Squadron,
a great little boatshed nestled into a little bay west of Sydney
Harbour Bridge. If you are curious have a look at our website http://www.gfs.org.au and check out our gallery for photos and Youtube videos.
You
will see our J/24s racing in White Division on Wednesday twilights. As
well as a handicap series the J/24s have their own trophy based on
scratch results so the 8 boats can also enjoy one design competition.
We also have two J/122s and a J/35 in Blue Division and a J/80 in
Yellow. I think we also have a J/92s that races occasionally. Thanks
again for a great newsletter, Regards, Mark Rhodes".* For you J/27 owners or J/27 owner "wannabes", you can catch up with your fellow aficionados of this classic J by joining the J/27 Groups on Yahoo. Click on over to this group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/J27Sailors/ and join in. It looks like they've got over half of the 200+ odd J/27 owners as members. If you're looking for a used J/27 to go racing or daysailing they're your best resource and if you need tips on taking care of your J/27, can't imagine a better place to start. Photo at left is a J/27 smoking off Capetown, South Africa's Table Mountain, neary the infamous Shark Island (jumping great whites!!).
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.
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.
Read Kimball Livingston's SAIL update on the J/Boats story- A Band of Brothers
