The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
What a difference a year makes in our collective lives across our little blue planet Earth. Who knew, right? This past week marks the anniversary of the bizarre scenario that was unleashed on the world from the little-known city of Wuhan, China. It marks the discovery of an alien virus in Seattle, Washington and La Rochelle, New York, as well as other parts of Europe (like Italy) and was soon to be described as covid-19 coronavirus. Sadly, some of our sailing friends passed. But, hope is now on the way with numerous vaccines to help overcome the pandemic... the faster that happens, the better.Sailing events suffered, as did countries, islands, and events when the prescription was to "lockdown" all human activity and just sit at home. In the end, as we learn to overcome the 21st century version of the infamous Black Plague of the 1920s, there is no question that human ingenuity will tackle such problems with open-minded, serendipitous, ingenious solutions.
This past week saw some amazing performances by J/Teams in various events. For one, the Bacardi J/70 Winter Series held their second event in Miami, Florida sailing on Biscayne Bay. A deeply talented fleet enjoyed a full day of racing on an abbreviated weekend. Then, the SORC's Lauderdale to Key West Race took place with light wind conditions, but J/Teams certainly enjoyed their silverware. Finally, our friends Down Under had some great racing in Australia, with the embryonic J/70 fleet in Victoria enjoying fun, close racing.
And, in the J/Community section we have a tribute to our dear friend Bob "the Fish" Fisher, we're sad to see him go. As Fish often said to me, "best place ever to lift a cold one and enjoy the sunset"- sitting on a deck chair on the lawn at New York Yacht Club (see photo above).
Block Island Race Week Announcement
(Block Island, RI)- With 81 boats already registered for Storm Trysail Club’s 29th Block Island Race Week presented by Margaritaville; the 2021 edition is shaping up to be one of the biggest turnouts in recent years. J/Boats teams are clearly enthusiastic about getting back out to Block Island and enjoying a week of sailing and camaraderie! Forty-nine J's signed up, where are you?!So far, here are the highlights for J/Teams. In the one-design classes, there are six J/88s, thirteen J/105s, twelve J/109s, and five J/44s. In the ORC Division are two J/121s. In the PHRF Division are three J/111s, two J/122s, a J/35, a J/33, two J/29s, a J/80, and a J/24. In the PHRF Pursuit Race division is a J/125 and a J/133.
Storm Trysail Club and Margaritaville today announced that for the second time, Margaritaville, the global lifestyle brand known for escapism and fun, will be the presenting sponsor of the 29th edition of Block Island Race Week, one of the largest and most prestigious big boat regattas in the United States.
“We are elated to be partnering once again with Margaritaville,” says Event Chair, Ray Redniss. “Storm Trysail Club is honored they are continuing to be a part of the iconic tradition that is our 29th Block Island Race Week. Our goals and passions align to create a fun, safe escape for our sailors to kick off their summer.” Redness added, “This event was founded on the idea that it should be more than just a competitive regatta; there has always been an emphasis on fun, camaraderie and an openness to all kinds of boats and crews. The vibe that Margaritaville adds to Race Week is a natural fit.”
“As we look to lift spirits in 2021, we are thrilled to bring the Margaritaville state-of-mind back to Block Island Race Week,” shared Tamara Baldanza-Dekker, Chief Marketing Officer at Margaritaville.
Sailors are encouraged to register and learn more at blockislandraceweek.com. Storm Trysail Club and Margaritaville are committed to putting attendee health and safety at the forefront of the event and are continuously monitoring health guidelines as provided by the CDC and local entities. Sailing photo credits- Steve Cloutier. "Block Island Steve" To learn about Margaritaville’s commitment to health, safety and sanitation, please visit us online. For more Block Island Race Week sailing information
Safe Harbor Race Weekend Announcement
(Newport, RI)- The inaugural Safe Harbor Race Weekend is a three-day sailing regatta geared toward the enjoyment of boat owners, families, and crew members. Scheduled for August 13th to 15th, sailing will take place on Narragansett Bay.The goal of the organizers and local marina managers is to provide an event that delivers good sportsmanship, enjoyable competition, and sailing camaraderie over three fun-filled days with racing and exciting shoreside social events at Safe Harbor Marinas in Newport, Portsmouth, and Jamestown, RI. The regatta PRO will be Peter Craig from Boston, MA- yes, the same person that ran so many epic Key West Race Weeks for years.
Social highlights will include an opening Friday evening Coastal New England Dinner on The Point at Safe Harbor New England Boatworks overlooking Narragansett Bay, and a celebratory Talk of the Town Saturday night Crew Party and dinner featuring live music at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard in the heart of downtown Newport.
Come one, come all! Sign-up now at the link below. The Notice of Race is already posted. For more Safe Harbor Race Weekend sailing information
J/105 Valentine's Day Doublehander Announcement
(San Francisco, CA)- The San Francisco J/105 fleet is pleased to continue with our monthly gathering of J/105s for a double-handed event, no entry fee.We had eight teams racing in the Tandem-Baum Regatta on December 10, won by Ne*Ne, and nine racing in the Bittersweet Regatta on January 10, won by Doug Bailey in Akula, and are now going to meet up on Valentine's Day February 14 in front of Golden Gate YC.
In each case, we're scheduled for the day after RegattaPro Mid-winters, so you can race fully crewed on Saturday and then leave your boat rigged, making it easy to hop on board and go out double-handed on Sunday. Here's a link to the Notice of Race.
Next double-handed event after this will be on 14 March 2021 - Pi Day. We'll then launch the regular fully-crewed season on March 20-21 with the J/Go Regatta, a more upbeat name than J/Stop...
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions: Bruce Stone- email- bruce@brucestone.com or phone- 917-822-4060. For more information about J/105s.
February Special- Marmot Jacket!
(Newport, RI)- The J/Thermo Jacket is by Marmot and is a stuffed lightweight, highly compressible and enviably warm Primaloft ® Black insulation — a synthetic insulation made with 60 percent recycled fibers that boasts warmth without bulk and a soft feel — the outer is from a durable nylon ripstop fabric. Elastic hem and cuffs keep the jacket in place and Angel-Wing Movement™ allows you to move without the jacket riding up. Zippered pockets offer a warm place for your hands to rest. Wear under a shell or on its own. Perfect for packing and stylish for cool weather. Click here to enjoy a 20% discount on this gorgeous Marmot jacketSailing Calendar
Feb 4-7- Monaco J/70 Winter Series- Monte Carlo, MonacoFeb 17- SORC Miami to Eleuthera Race- Miami, FL
Mar 4-7- J/70 Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse- Monte Carlo, Monaco
Mar 5-7- J/111 Key West Winter Series- Key West, FL
Mar 5-8- St Maarten Heineken Regatta- Simpson Bay, Saint Maarten
Mar 10-13- J/70 Bacardi Cup- Miami, FL
Mar 19-21- J/70 Davis Island Winter Series III- Tampa, FL
Mar 19-21- San Diego NOOD Regatta- San Diego, CA
Mar 26-28- St. Thomas International Regatta- St. Thomas, USVI
Mar 29- Apr 4- BVI Spring Regatta- Road Town, Tortola, BVI
Apr 2-4- St Petersburg NOOD Regatta- St Petersburg, FL
Apr 11-17- Les Voiles de St Barth Regatta- Gustavia, St Barthelemy
Apr 8-11- Charleston Race Week- Charleston, SC
Apr 24-30- Antigua Sailing Week- English Harbour, Antigua, West Indies
For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
McKillen Family Wins J/70 Bacardi Winter Series II!
Girl Power! Women Skippers 2-3!
(Miami, FL)- It's a story right out of a fairy tale. Man and woman meet three years ago, get married, learn to sail, buy J/70s, and each steer their own boats to victory! Who knew that would ever happen!? Certainly not Ryan and Maggie McKillen, the couple that went 1-2, respectively, in last weekend's J/70 Bacardi Winter Series on Biscayne Bay. While Ryan's crew on SURGE certainly had a head start on Maggie's team on MAGATRON in terms of experience and podium finishes, no one expected her to be at the top of the leaderboard when the smoke cleared on the race track!Hosted principally by the Bacardi Event management team and Shake-A-Leg Miami's beautiful facilities in Coconut Grove (Miami), Florida, the second of the three event Bacardi Winter Series took place this past weekend from January 22nd to 24th, 2021.
While the first regatta in mid-December featured just one race, this past weekend tripled that number. While an improvement over the first event, the three beautiful races on Saturday were welcomed by all competitors. Who's complaining? No one. Just the fact that you can be on Biscayne Bay, enjoying warm temperatures, sailing/ floating on azure blue waters, being around friends was just a victory in itself! The J/70 fleet is a fun-loving, social group of sailors, despite the amazingly talented collection of World Champion sailors on hand.
By any one-design class standards, the deeply talented fleet counted well over two-dozen World Champions in various classes amongst them. Fast out of the blocks in the first race was Ryan McKillen's SURGE. With Olympic Silver Medallist Lucas Calabrese calling tactics, their solid start and conservative strategy kept them in the hunt, playing the left-hand side of the course to a well-earned win. Second in that race was Pamela Rose's ROSEBUD with Bill Hardesty calling tactics. Third was David Janetti's VERY ODD with Travis Odenbach giving random advice.
The second race saw more of the same in terms of course strategy, the left predominating as the breeze curved over Key Biscayne Island on the left-hand side of the course. Winning that race was class newcomer Doug Newhouse. No stranger to sailing fast and smart in various J's, like his recent J/88 YONDER, Doug and tactician Jeremy Wilmot got dialed in and never looked back. Second was Maggie McKillen's MAGATRON with Brian Kamilar calling the shots and third was World Champion Joel Ronning's CATAPULT with Morgan Reeser providing traffic directions.
The third race was a shocker for many veteran J/70 teams. Two women skippers got podium finishes, propelling both of them onto the podium overall. Bounced out of the starboard end start by her husband Ryan on SURGE, Maggie's MAGATRON bailed right to clear and after a few minutes, flipped back onto starboard and carried more pressure and a right shift to lead by a country mile at the first weather mark. In the end, she won the race comfortably, her first race win ever. Third in that race was Pamela Rose's ROSEBUD, sandwiched in between was John Brim's RIMETTE with Zeke Horowitz calling the shots.
As a result of at least one good day of racing on gorgeous Biscayne Bay, it was the McKillen family (pictured at right) dueling for the top of the podium! Ryan's SURGE team of Lucas Calabrese, John Wallace, and Sam Loughborough took the win by just one point! Yes, over his wife Maggie! The Ladbroke's betting parlours in England were having a field day betting on these horses. While Ryan's team had some pedigree based on previous events, the MAGATRON team was probably a 1,000:1 bet. Nice payoff. The SURGE team won with a 1-5-4 tally for 10 pts. One point back was MAGATRON with an 8-2-1 record. Third was Pam Rose's ROSEBUD with crew (pictured below) of Bill Hardesty, Alec Anderson, and Chris Watters, posting 2-9-3 finishes for 14 pts.
Rounding out the top five was Joel Ronning's CATAPULT team (Patrick Wilson, Chris Stocke, Morgan Reeser, Erik Shampain) in fourth, with Doug Newhouse's YONDER team (Ted Hackney, Jeremy Wilmot, Tomas Dietrich) in fifth position.
In the Corinthians Division, winning was the Brazilian team on CLOUD NINE, skippered by Toribio Tedin. His crew included Emilio Miguel, Javier Carbi, and Enrique Dillon. Second was USA 1154 skippered by Zachary Segal, with crew of Enrique Quintero, Ashton Hamerlin, and Blake Cabasa. Rounding out the podium was Kelly McGlynn's BEARNARCHY with crew of Luke Adams, Jim Barry, and Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick. For more Bacardi Winter Series II sailing information
J/Teams Sweep Lauderdale to Key West Race!
(Fort Lauderdale, FL)- With a time limit of 48 hours, the 29 starters for the 2021 Lauderdale to Key West Race were on the clock as light winds plagued the 155.0 nm course. In the end, it was a matter of perseverance.
In what has to be a "first" ever for any offshore race around the world, J/Teams won every division they entered. In ORC 2, Chris Lewis's J/44 KENAI continued their winning ways in the SORC Island in the Stream series. Second was Ashley Maltempo and Bill Wiggins's J/121 WINGS. In ORC 3, Andy Wescoat's J/109 HARM's WAY won and was the only finisher in their class. In PHRF Division, the Schaedler/ Taylor duo on the J/105 WHISTLER took the gold medal and were also the only finisher in their class. Congratulations to these crews that persevered, job well-done! Watch how the race replay unfold here on the Kattack Tracker Check out the Key West Harbor webcam here Follow the SORC Sailing Facebook page For more Key West Race sailing information
J/70s Growing in Victoria, Australia
(Victoria, Australia)- The J/70 class continues to make inroads in Australia. The most recent fleet developing has been at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron in Victoria. Here is a report from Down Under on their growing fleet from Andrew Little."Heats 1 to 4 of the Juno Trophy were sailed last Sunday 17th January. What a fantastic day! We had 15-20 knots from the south, flat water, a steady breeze, sunshine and six J/70s lining up on a short start line. It was a lovely sight to see the rapidly growing BYS fleet participate in tight and close racing all afternoon.
Thank you to Tony Landgren for making his second boat Spike available to a pick-up crew of Alister Danks, Sean O’Brien, Steve Cowell and Fingers Vinck. It was great to welcome new member Rod Warren to the club, who had three solid second placings in his first hit-out at BYS.
The Youth team of Laura Harding, Ella Grimshaw, Hayden Brown, Hannah Danks and Mitch Harding was very impressive sailing Notte Bianca to three wins, with Jumpin’ Jack Flash (Doc, Marty, Andy Mac and a first-timer J70 crew member Batsey) winning the other heat.
A big "thank you" to Alex Bolton, Zoe Blochlinger and Gordon Hyde for the race management.
Australia Day Regatta report:
Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron held their inaugural J/70 Australia Day Regatta on 26th January with six races held on southern shores of Port Philip Bay. Rod Warren on JOUST 70 won overall, closely followed by JUMPIN' JACK FLASH and JAVELIN. Everyone commented on what close fun racing it was. The teams are looking forward to the New South Wales and West Australian crews heading to Blairgowrie over Easter for the J/70 Nationals. Sailing photo credit- Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron For more J/70 sailboat informationJ/Community
What friends, alumni, and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide
-----------J/Net Brokerage Specials! Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world here.
Freshwater 1997 J/120 For Sale. Owner wants an offer! Fresh Survey. Hull Wrap Removed! Storm Warning is a very well-kept J/120 that shows pride of ownership. She has a long, successful racing history. Originally sold new by RCR in 1997 and then sold to the current owners in 2015. Always sailed onfreshwater Lake Erie. She has an original white gelcoat hull with blue double-boot stripe. She has a faired bottom and standing rigging is pulled every fall for winter land storage. She has a custom-made canvas cover with access door to cockpit. Learn more about the J/120 Storm Warning here
Meet Jim Burge @ Warrior Sailing
Retired US Army 1st Sergeant James Burge explains how his life has changed by participating in Warrior Sailing and how the 2020 Great Lakes tour was a bit different from other years, but still effective. Jim's 26-year career in the Army has led him to many adventures, but chooses Warrior Sailing for its comprehensive and hands-on approach to changing lives.The Warrior Sailing Program is dedicated to maritime education for wounded, ill, and injured service members of the US Military. Getting military service members on the water can provide physical, mental, and emotional therapy for a variety of injuries and illnesses. Sailing is an outlet to cope with the long-term effects of PTSD, brain injury, amputation, paralysis, and nerve damage. It’s also an exciting way for our Warrior Sailors to express their most natural abilities: teamwork and competitive drive.
Watch this story of Jim's experience at Warrior Sailing YouTube channel here. If you’d like to learn more about Warrior Sailing click here.
Eight Bells: Bob Fisher
Bob Fisher, the larger-than-life yachtsman, journalist, and author, crossed the bar peacefully on January 25 surrounded by family in Lymington, Hampshire UK. He was 85.Bob Fisher was born and bred in the coastal town of Brightlingsea, Essex UK and made sailing his life, engaged by stories from the professional Brightlingsea fishermen who crewed the big yachts of their day, including Sir Thomas Lipton's two British J Class America’s Cup challengers Endeavour and Endeavour II in 1934 and ’37.
He first made a name as a top crew, winning seven national and world titles in the National Hornet and Fireball high performance dinghy classes. He also won the International Yacht Racing Union trials to select a 2-man trapeze catamaran trials with his Brightlingsea friend Reg White, which led to the Tornado being chosen as the first Olympic multihull class.
Bob's team at J/105 Master's Regatta- San Diego YC- L-R: Brent Draney, Stu and Julia Johnstone, the Fish himself, and Phil Lawrence
White was Britain’s top multihull sailor, and it was on his recommendation that Bob went on to claim international fame, winning the 1967 Little America’s Cup in C-Class catamarans, racing the British defender Lady Helmsman with Peter Schneidau against the Australian challenger Quest III, winning the series in dominant style 4:1.
Bob’s prize was an all-expenses paid trip to Newport, Rhode Island to watch the American 12m yacht Intrepid beat the Australian challenger Dame Pattie in the real America’s Cup. It led to a life-long obsession with Bob covering all the matches since, bar the current racing off Auckland.
The author of 30 books on all aspects of the sport, they include eight covering The Whitbread/Volvo Round the World Race and 1986 Book of the Sea award winning tome – Greatest Race: Official Story of the Whitbread Round the World Race, 1985-86 – and seven on the America’s Cup.In 1992, Bob set about to write the definite history of the America’s Cup, supported by that year’s Cup winner, American philanthropist Bill Koch. The 2-volume An Absorbing Interest took 15 years to research and write and has become the go-to opus to answer any question about the Cup. His latest work, An Absorbing Interest Vol III, covering the past two decades of Cup Races is due to be published in the autumn.
Bob’s greatest hope had been to see Britain finally win back the famous auld mug first competed for in 1851 in a race around the Isle of Wight. That has not happened in his lifetime, but he did follow the INEOS Team UK come-back from oblivion in preliminary races in Auckland before Christmas to win a place in the finals of the Prada Cup challenge trials and was cheered even more by Sir Ben’s last race dedication to our Mr America’s Cup. The final chapter of Bob’s last book may yet record his greatest wish fulfilled.
Bob's self-avowed "favorite" venue was the International Masters Regatta in San Diego, CA. Started in San Francisco by long-time J/Boats supporter Don Trask, the event started in J/24s and then shifted to J/105s. Bob sailed the last two J/105 events in San Francisco, CA and the next three events in San Diego also sailed on J/105s. Bob loved the camaraderie of the regatta, rubbing elbows with many famous sailors, regaling everyone with one funny or amazing sea-story after another-yes, the Fish was a real character, a larger than life character. He will be missed. The pictures in this tribute are all from the San Diego events.
Bob Fisher is survived by his wife Dee, two children Alice and Carolyne, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Donations in Bob Fisher’s memory are welcomed to the Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation. Messages are welcome on Bob Fisher’s Facebook page
Sailing photo credits- San Diego YC/ Cynthia Sinclair/ Bronny Daniels a data-flip-widget="flipit" href="https://flipboard.com">Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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