The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
The spring and summer sailing schedules for 2021 are beginning to take shape, various events are anticipating that pent-up demand will lead to greater than average participation rates. The European J/70 sailing leagues in over thirteen countries are announcing their events and some, notably, are coming up with clever options to sail in "open vs. lockdown" pandemic scenarios. Already, the Norwegians, the Russians, and the Germans are well on their way to accommodate ever more sailing clubs that are hoping to participate in their events.In the USA, events such as Edgartown Race Week and the J/22 and J/80 classes are noticing strong upticks of interest in this year's regattas. The J/22s, in particular, are seeing an enthusiastic response to sailing their J/22 Midwinters in New Orleans, LA in March.
Then, our friends Down Under in Argentina held their J/70 Southern Atlantic Circuit in Buenos Aires, hosted by Yacht Club Argentino.
What's the DNA of the NEW J/45 Offshore Cruising Yacht?
(Newport, RI)- Hitting the sweet spot for an ultimate offshore cruiser racer is not easily achieved. To design and build the optimum combination of performance and comfort, requires the highest level of experience and technical ability. The J/45 is part of the Elegance range built by J/Composites, France and is the result of three years collaboration with J/Boats Inc. in Rhode Island USA.
The J/45 is designed for high performance sailing at any wind angle. However, where it differs from most of the J/Boat range, is the interior is designed and built for living aboard in comfort. J/Composites’ Fred Bouvier explains more about the new J/45, just as Hull #1 came out of the mold at their facility in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France.
“The first J/45 owner will be from France and the plan is to launch in June this year. We will have some sea trials in the Atlantic,” commented Mr. Bouvier. “The J/45 is the perfect size to combine the interior volume required of an ocean-going cruising yacht, with the advanced composite construction and hull shape of a performance race boat.”
For all J/Boats there is a desire to keep the DNA of the brand in every model: sleek lines and a practical purpose for sailing. There is a wish to design J/Boats with moderate freeboard and not too much height in the coach roof. All of this needs to be combined with an interior that has good headroom, so every centimeter counts.
One example of J-Composites collaboration with J/Boats for the J/45 design and engineering, was to provide a shower in the second head of the aft cabin. Together, the design/ engineering team made as many as 15 tiny changes to the design of the coach roof to allow this feature to be possible.
"Working in partnership with J/Boats, we embraced both the DNA of J/Boats and famous French designer- Isabelle Racoupeaux- to create an interior that is really exceptional. The accommodation is like no other J/Boat before it, both in terms of the facilities and the beautiful finishing. It is a cruiser-racer, but the J/45 is not a compromise, it’s a combination,” commented Mr. Bouvier.
Click here to watch the video of the J/45 virtual tour today! Visit J/Boats website for more details on the J/45.
SORC Miami to Eleuthera Race Preview
(Miami, FL)- The final event for the SORC's Islands in the Stream Series takes place this weekend- the Miami to Eleuthera Race. The course takes competitors through the heart of the Bahamas and leads them to a tropical oasis in a part of the Bahamas that is not as well traveled as the typical destinations. Less traveled does not mean uncharted, and it is certainly within reach for SORC competitors.
The 295-mile race starts on February 17, 2021. The Eleuthera race will start off of South Beach, Miami, proceeding across the Gulf Stream, leaving Great Isaac, Great Stirrup and Eleuthera to starboard, rounding the southern tip of Eleuthera, and proceeding up the west side of the island to the finish near Powell Point. The Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina is on the west side of the island of Eleuthera, at the finish line.
Several enthusiastic J/Teams are participating in the race and some are vying for overall fleet honors. In the ORC 1 Division is Chris Lewis's KENIA from Austin, TX; Andy Wescoat's J/109 HARM'S WAY from Spring, TX; and Bill Wiggins's J/121 WINGS from Johns Island, SC.
As competitors discovered after the inaugural Eleuthera Race in 2020, the Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina is the perfect spot to wrap up the SORC Islands in the Stream Series. General Manager Chris Morris and his staff at the resort are as excited to have you there as the SORC is to send you there. They go above and beyond to make sure that no need goes unmet. It truly is the perfect spot to wrap up the series.
The resort looks out to the west over Exuma Sound, which provides good access to the Marina. The channel into the marina is straightforward East/West, and well lit. A summer dredging project removed the few remaining high spots and leaves a 12-foot controlling depth, as well as adding jetties extending from the shore. Follow the SORC Sailing on Facebook here For more SORC Islands in the Stream series sailing information For the SORC Miami to Eleuthera Race results and information
European J/70 Sailing League Updates
(Hamburg, Germany)- The 2021 pandemic versions of the thirteen-plus J/70 sailing leagues across Europe are coming up with a variety of clever programs to ensure there is racing, lockdowns or not. Perhaps the most clever and aggressive plan comes from the Norwegians.Starting their fifth season of racing J/70s on their idyllic settings of fjords and villages by the sea, the league plans to have both "open" and "lockdown" scenarios as part of their strategy for the 2021 season.
Viggo Holm, leader of Sandefjord Sailing Association explained, "we in Sandefjord Sailing Association are excited to once again host and manage the first sailing league event for Norway's best sailors! We promise a good atmosphere, and here in Norway's sunny county we are betting on the weather providing us good winds and lots of sun. With beautiful Seilerholmen as an arena, we will offer sailors food and drink between battles and a place to relax. Sailing in Norway needs a real sailing party now after the corona, and we will achieve that!"
From May 29-30 the opening event will be held with 15 teams in each of the two divisions. Åsgårdstrand Seilforening are still defending champions from the 2019 season, since the 2020 season was wiped out by the covid-19 pandemic.
During this year's sailing league season, there will also be a fight for places in the Sailing Champions League. After the end of the season, the four best in the elite series will have the opportunity to try their hand internationally, sailing the emerald waters off Porto Cervo, Italy at YC Costa Smeralda.
A novelty for this year is that any event, if the corona situation requires it, can be held as a mixed doublehanded regatta, instead of the boats being fully manned by four sailors.
"That we have made the opening to be able to sail mixed doublehanded in the league rounds, means that it must be a very impossible corona situation for the sailing league not to be able to be completed this year," says Magnus Hedemark from SailLogic, the firm responsible for the implementation of the sailing league.
Anniversary party in Larvik
After Sandefjord, the journey continues to Larvik, where the teams will meet again for the competition from June 19-20. The city of Larvik is celebrating its 350th anniversary this year, and the sailing league competition will be part of the celebration.
Bjarte Løchen, who is the regatta manager in Larvik Sailing Association, commented that, "we aim to use the same sailing arena in Larvik's inner harbor. But, we will take into account extra space on land due to infection control regulations, and therefore plan to lay the sailing base on Sanden Pier in front of Kulturhuset Bølgen. We hope for a lot of life and fun and extra attention around the event."
Exciting finale in the west
The big finale will take place on September 11-12, and for the first time the sailing league will visit Florø. Florø Sailing Association has been in the league from the very beginning and is in the elite series. The team has sailed there for three of four seasons. Follow Norwegian J/70 Sailing League on Facebook here. For more J/70 Sailing League information
German J/70 Sailing League Schedule Update
(Hamburg, Germany)- The season schedule for the Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga and the German Junior Sailing League is in place. Six regatta weekends are planned for the 1st Sailing Bundesliga, five for the 2nd Sailing Bundesliga and four for the juniors.With events from southern Germany to Berlin to Schleswig-Holstein, sailors will be challenged again in 2021 in a wide variety of sailing conditions. In addition to the Chiemsee, there is also sailing on Lake Constance, on the Wannsee, on the Kiel Fjord and on the Baltic Sea in Warnemünde.
“The year 2020 has shown that sailing is also possible in pandemic times with the appropriate safety measures. We are therefore starting the 2021 season with a clean hygiene concept, flexibility and great optimism,” says Ole Studnitz, Chairman of the German Sailing League.
The teams are already preparing; with online racing and race analysis. Plus, the sailors are now getting fit for the start of training on the water.
Markus Ostermair, team manager of the Chiemsee Yacht Club, wants to get started right from the start. “Of course, we want to attack and position ourselves for the season at our home game.” All eyes should also be on last year's champions; Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, runner-up ONEKiel, and third place Seglerhaus am Wannsee club.
The season schedule for the 1st and 2nd sailing Bundesliga:
- Apr 30- May 2- ACT I- Prien (Chiemsee)
- May 14-16- ACT II- Überlingen (Lake Constance)
- Jul 16-18- ACT III- Kiel-Schilksee (Baltic Sea)
- Aug 6-8- ACT IV- Berlin (Wannsee, only 1st sailing Bundesliga)
- Sep 17-19- ACT V- Warnemünde (Baltic Sea)
- Oct 21-23- DSBL FINALE- Berlin (Wannsee)
- Jul 6 to Nov 7- DSL CUP- Berlin (Wannsee)
- Jun 4-6- ACT I- Constance (Lake Constance- Konstanzer Yacht Club))
- Jul 23-25- ACT II- Kiel (Baltic Sea- Kieler Yacht-Club)
- Aug 27-29- ACT III- Essen (Baldeneysee- Essener Turn-und Fechtclub)
- Oct 8-10- FINALE- Berlin (Tegeler See- Joersfelder Segel-Club)
Russia J/70 Winter Series Announcement
(Moscow, Russia)- The 2021 J/70 National Sailing League in Russia has announced their NSL Winter Series has started in Sevastopol, Crimea and will run for five total events from mid-January to the end of March. The fleet of twelve matched one-design J/70s are available to teams from across Russia, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, and Moscow down to Sochi on the Black Sea.
There was real winter weather at the 1st Stage in Sevastopol. Everything including the kitchen sink was thrown at the fleet by the weather Gods...light airs, squalls, planing mode, drifting mode, sunny skies, snow, sleet. No matter what hit the fleet, the sailors were undeterred. Air temperatures ranging from 28 F to 45 F didn't seem to affect any of the sailors who were determined to get on the water, having missed sailing so much because of covid pandemic canceled events.
Enjoy some of these very cool photos taken over the course of three days of competition.
The next stages will all be sailed in Sevastopol, easily the "warmest" southern port on the Black Sea for the Russian sailing teams. Here is the remaining schedule:
- Stage 2-January 29-31
- Stage 3-February 12-14
- Stage 4-February 26-28
- Final - March 12-14
J/22 Midwinters Update- Come One, Come All!
Experience the Best Cajun, Gumbo & Creole Food Anywhere!
(New Orleans, LA)- Wondering what to do in March? Wanna have an incredibly fun time just sailing on the water? Why not beg, borrow, or steal a J/22 that floats, clean off the cobwebs, and start driving south to that famous home of the Mardi Gras Festival this past week- Naw'leens! A gastronomic delight, a visual feast of historic homes with wrought iron balconies, and the infamous "French Quarter", you cannot possibly go wrong experiencing everything that New Orleans has to offer.From March 18th to 21st, the gorgeous new Southern Yacht Club will be hosting the J/22 Midwinter Championship on the challenging, choppy waters of Lake Ponchartrain. So far, there are twenty-one entries and more joining in the fun all the time.
The entry list has many class leaders participating; all eager to get on the water and enjoy the fresh air on the water, the wind in your hair, and the sun on your face. Some of the notable teams include Tommy Meric Jr, Glenn Darden's BABY DOLL, Mark Foster's PRESSURE DROP, Chip Carpenter's WIZARD, Bill Draheim, and Casey Lambert's BLACKBURN MARINE RACING.
Don't see your name on the entry list? Time to dust-off that war horse, saddle it up, and ride it down to New Orleans. What's not to love about the best that Southern hospitality has to offer; the new club house rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina burnt down the original is simply out-of-this-world. Come One, Come All, the Southern YC welcomes you with open arms and their famous red-carpet treatment for their guests.
For more J/22 Midwinter Championship registration & sailing information
Save the date for Key West 2022!
(Key West, FL)- After enjoying the 30th anniversary of Key West Race Week in 2017, the annual migration to the southernmost point in the continental United States had been on hiatus. But, through the motivation of J/111 Class owners and the support of Sailing Inc., The Key West Winter Series was launched in 2021. Key West racing was back!Kept purposely small this year, The Key West Winter Series powered by Sailing Inc. will be continued and expanded in 2022. The plan is to open the event to more fleets and offer five consecutive days of grand-prix racing in the champagne sailing conditions provided by Key West, FL. Thanks for contribution from Sailing Inc/ Scuttlebutt Sailing Newsletter. To learn more about this year’s event and sign up to receive updates for the Key West Winter Series 2022 click here
Inaugural ORC Doublehanded European Championship Announcement
(Sounio, Greece)– The Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) and the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) are pleased to announce entry is now open for the inaugural ORC Doublehanded European Championship to be held from July 2nd to 10th, 2021. The event is being held concurrently with the AEGEAN 600, a non-stop 600-mile full-crew race tour of the Aegean Sea that also starts and ends in Sounio.The ORC DH Europeans is a new event in the portfolio of annual ORC World and European championships, one that harnesses the growing enthusiasm for Doublehanded sailing following the proposal by World Sailing for this to be included as a mixed gender two-person offshore keelboat event in the Olympic program for the 2024 Games in Paris.
The regatta will be based at the Olympic Marina, gateway to the Aegean Sea, 70 km southeast from central Athens and just north of Cape Sounion. The format consists of a short Coastal Race and a Long Offshore Race worth 1.0 and 1.5 points, respectively, with registrations and inspections starting on Friday, July 2nd and concluding on Sunday, July 4th before the Coastal Race start on Monday, July 5th. The intended length of this race is 10-12 hours on a course set in the Saronikos Gulf and the Cyclades islands.
After a recovery day on Tuesday, racing will resume on Wednesday, July 7th with the Long Offshore Race of 60-72 hours duration in the same course area in the Aegean. Awards will be given in a Closing Ceremony held on Saturday, July 10th.
Entries are open to all boats with a valid ORCi DH certificate with a GPH rating from 500 to 700 seconds per mile. Class divisions will be determined at the closing date for entries on June 4th, with no more than three classes defined with expected GPH ranges of 80-120 s/mi per class.
All entries are expected to have their boats and crew suitably prepared for Doublehanded racing and are expected to have experience in participation in offshore racing of extended duration. Trophies will be awarded to the top three winners in each class, and additional prizes may be awarded to the top three male/female and mixed gender crews in each class.
“The Aegean Sea is considered the cradle of western civilization,” said Ioannis Maragkoudakis, Commodore of HORC. “And it’s due to these deep roots of life on the sea that we have a rich maritime heritage, in general, and a robust sailboat racing culture, in particular. Xenios Zeus, the ancient Greek god of hospitality, promises to provide to all participating crews exceptional hospitality and exciting racing!”
Watch promo video of "In the Sea of Myths & Legends" here
“We are very excited that our friends at HORC have organized this important new ORC championship,” said Bruno Finzi, Chairman of ORC. “There is a long history of competitive offshore racing in Greece, and the Aegean Sea is both beautiful and challenging, so we encourage all offshore sailors to considering joining us in Sounio for this significant new event that for some may be on a pathway to the Olympics.”
For more ORC Doublehanded European Championship sailing information
Edgartown Race Week- Calling all J/Teams!
(Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA)- Edgartown Race Weekend team is hard at work getting ready for ERW 2021 and is looking forward to seeing everyone on the water for our mid-summer’s top event. We are excited to see a number of early entries from the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. The team has been adding new sponsors and activities, as well as enhancing the logistical elements of ERW to make our event a more seamless event for visiting teams.
We would like to note that we encourage One-design classes to come in force! We can easily set up specific starting lines for one-design groups (5 or more boats). We're excited that out of 30 entries for the 2021 'Round-the-Island Race, there are 8 J/Crew already registered! Some of those teams include Andrew Clark's J/122 ZIG ZAG, Stephen Besse's J/120 APRES, Ed Dailey's J/109 RAPTOR, Mike Hersey's J/35 RESILIENCE, Ira Perry's J/29 SEEFEST, Rob Littleton's J/121 SHE's NO LADY, Doug Curtiss's J/111 WICKED 2.0, and Alan Fougere's J/160 AVATAR. That is a fun-loving, talented group of J/Teams so far!
We encourage sailors to register early to take advantage of free moorings for the first 50 entrants, as well as to lock in accommodations, as space fills up fast during Martha’s Vineyard summers.
Please take note that we have separate events on Yacht Scoring for our buoy racing and Round-the-Island segments – make sure to register on both ERW sites! Sailing photo credits- Stephen Cloutier
Registration and regatta information can be found here. For any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the EYC Race Administrator- Margaret Passafiume at raceadministrator@edgartownyc.org.
J/80 Class 2021 Regatta Plans
(Annapolis, MD)- Ramzi Bannura, President of the J/80 North American Class provided an update on plans for their 2021 class schedule and events:"Regattas and other boating events were limited throughout last year, but some of us were able to get out and have some fun together on the boats and also compete in a few small events.
The J/80 NA Class remains strong as ever with a solid, active representation of 100 members since 2019 and we have traced over 250 J/80s throughout North America that we are actively engaging to ensure these owners reap the benefits of our J/80 knowledge base and nearby boat owner camaraderie.
We maintain a strong representation of J/80 fleets in Annapolis, Austin, NH, Maine, Seattle, Ontario Canada, Hawaii and MA with growing pockets of activity in between. 2021 is expected to begin at a slow pace, but we are nonetheless planning a J/80 North American Championship in Annapolis the first weekend on October 1st to the 3rd, hosted by Eastport Yacht Club.
We are looking to also support the J-Jamboree on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH in mid-September and we also hope to have a boat or two represent North America at the J/80 Worlds in Copenhagen, Denmark in July, if global travel regulations and logistics allow. We will be using 2021 to build up the momentum for our march toward the J/80 Worlds on October 1-7, 2022 hosted by Sail Newport in Newport, RI.
We will also be hosting the 2022 J/80 North American championships at Sail Newport a week or more before (September 23-25). We also expect a few other one-design events throughout New England the months before the Worlds event to get everyone warmed up for the big event.
The class is excited about the next 18 months and the opportunities to get back on the water and compete together. Updates will continue to be available on www.j80na.com and www.j80worlds2022.com for Worlds specific details, which is expected to be on line shorty."
For any class event information, please contact Ramzi Bannura- email- Rbannura@yahoo.com. For more J/80 one-design class sailboat information
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 17- SORC Miami to Eleuthera Race- Miami, FLMar 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 18-21- J/22 Midwinter Championship- New Orleans, LA
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.
Despontin Wins J/70 South Atlantic Circuit!
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)- Eighteen teams participated in the 2021 South Atlantic Circuit Championship, sponsored by GALICIA EMINENT, from January 15th to 31st, spread out over three weekends. Host for the event was the famous Yacht Club Argentino, with racing taking place on the muddy waters of the Rio de La Plata.
Despite best efforts by the YC Argentino's very experienced Race Committee and PRO team, the scheduled 15 races could not be completed. Nevertheless, the crews enjoyed the sunny warm weather and the 10 races that were completed.
In the end, winning was Ezekiel Despontin's team on ARG 707; his crew was composed Torkel Borgstrom, Pablo Despontin, and Mariano Caputo. His team managed to compile 7 top 5 finishes to win with 20 pts. net.
Taking the balance of the podium were two new crews. Taking the silver was Javier Conte's BACHAJO also with 7 top five races, but was unable to overcome Despontin's speed and smarts around the track. In the end, they finished with 24 pts. net. Finally, the bronze medal was awarded to Gonzalo Ramos-Vertiz's ARG 806, winning two races, and finishing with 27 pts. net.
Winning the Corinthians Division was Francisco Van Avermaete's SI QUERIDA team, manned by Carlos Lacchini, Geronimo Galvan, and Eduardo Rasilla. They sailed well and managed to win two races, easily winning the Corinthians with 29 pts net; notably just two points from the podium!
The balance of the Corinthians was Jose Arrondo's BEBETO in second and Paulo Cosentino's NEGRONI in third position. Follow the Argentinean J/70 Class on Facebook here For the J/70 South Atlantic Circuit series information
J/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.
The 2010 J/122 Moonstruck Too (ex Joopster) has been raced and cruised on the east and west coast of Scotland since January 2015 when she was purchased by the current owner. The boat has been regularly maintained and is in very good condition with an excellent specification. There has been a rolling maintenance program in place, ensuring the deck gear has been serviced and replaced as required. She benefits from a new forestay and Harken MK4 furler. Moonstruck Too has a generous sail wardrobe, including a 2018 North Sails cruising main and jib and a range of North 3DL Carbon racing sails. Although currently set up for asymmetric spinnaker, the symmetric pole and rigging, used by the previous owner, are included in the sale. With a carbon mast and extensive modifications to the rigging, deck gear and sail setup she is a brilliant race boat and is well suited to racing double-handed, fully crewed or for family cruising. She's available to view ashore in Hamble, by arrangement with Key Yachting.
For more J/122 used sailboat information
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