SAIL- J/111 Boat Test
The Latest From J/Boats Is All About Performance
(Boston, MA)- Adam Cort recently did a test sail of the J/111 and interviewed designer Alan Johnstone: "According to designer Al, the brief for the new 36ft 6in J/111 one-design was for a boat that he and the rest of the J/Boats crew would want to sail—-- and it shows. During a recent daysail off Newport, Rhode Island, hull #1 reveled in picture perfect sailing conditions, with winds out of the east in the mid to high teens. Sailing to windward, the boat was balanced and easy to drive through the moderate swells. Off the wind, the boat lit up under a massive, but easy to handle A-sail." Read more about Adam's interview here. SAIL's J/111 video.Newport Sailboat Show- Sept 16-19
(Newport, RI)- Be sure to mark your calendars to view the J/111 at the Newport Sailboat show, open from September 16th to 19th. Also featured will be the J/95 (the cool, shoal-draft centerboard cruiser); the J/100 with sprit option; the J/22 and J/80 at the Waterlines booth; the J/80 and J/105 on the Discover Sailing docks on the waterfront next to the J/Boats in-water docks; and the gorgeous J/65 BRAND NEW DAY (more info below) in the brokerage section. For more Newport Sailboat Show info.
SAIL Best Around The Buoys Contest
(Boston, MA)- Introducing Best Around the Buoys, SAIL's grass-roots racing initiative to reward PHRF racers for their team's performance at the local racing level and encourage racers to set a goal of racing on the national level at Key West Race Week. A team will be selected based on its local-sailing resume to earn a free entry to Key West Race Week, Jan 17–21, 2011, on board a race-ready J/Boat.Best Around the Buoys Highlights:
* Winning team earns regatta entry, housing, dockage, fast race-boat entry in a PHRF division and more (airfare not included)
* New 36-foot J Boat well-equipped by industry partners
* New suit of North racing sails for the 36' J/Boat
* Go-fast bottom job supplied by Pettit
* Hardware and soft goods by Harken Yacht Equipment
To enter, fill in the information below, including your 2010 Race Resume and a 200-word max essay on why you think your team is ready to compete at Key West. One entry per team. Contest runs between July 28th and Oct 15th. The Winner announced on or about November 1st. For more SAIL Magazine Contest information.
J/Fests Southwest and West!
Coming up soon are two excellent J/Fest events that are taking place on the West Coast and in Texas. For starters, the J/Fest Newport Beach is the western version being held from September 16-19th in Newport Beach, CA and hosted by Balboa Yacht Club (http://www.balboayachtclub.com). For the Texas "hoe-down" version, be sure to attend the J/Fest Southwest being held for the first time on October 16-17 in Galveston Bay and hosted by the Lakewood Yacht Club. As LYC Race Committee Chairman Dwight Bengtson explained, “J/Fest Regattas have been held for over 25 years in such venues as Annapolis, Newport Beach, CA; New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. This will be a great opportunity for Lakewood to promote and support a national caliber event.” One design fleets slated for the J/Fest Regatta include J/22, J/24, J/29, J/80, J/105 and the J/109. All J/Boats are welcome to race in the PHRF classes and in the J/Cruise class. Any J/Boat is eligible to participate and the regatta organizers intend to offer several exciting formats for the non One Design racers. To learn more detail about registering for the J/Fest Southwest, please check the home page of Lakewood Yacht Club.
Mercedes J/22 North Americans
(Buffalo, NY)- This week, more than 60 teams from across the United States and Canada will compete August 18-22 on the waters of Lake Erie in the Mercedes-Benz of Buffalo 2010 J/22 North American Championship, hosted by the Buffalo Yacht Club in Buffalo, NY. The event, which is attracting J/22 racing boats from as far away as Texas, Louisiana, Michigan and Quebec, is part of the Buffalo Yacht Club's sesquicentennial anniversary celebration. For more J/22 North American sailing and results information. Sailng Photo Credit- Tim WilkesJ/24 World Championships
(Malmo, Sweden)- This is the site of Ed Baird's first and only J/24 World Championship win where he battled it out with the Johnstone's to take the regatta on the last race of the last day in freaky winds and massive amounts of current (which included anchoring!). So far, the 2010 edition in Malmo is shaping up to be a great regatta. See the current update below as well as Moose McClintock's report in the J/Community section. Ian Southworth from England, Tim Healy, Tony Parker and Mike Ingham from USA, Anna Gunnarson from Sweden, Matias Pereira from Argentina and Maurizio Santa Cruz from Brazil- current J/24 World Champion- are dueling for top honors in this remarkable international one-design class. For more J/24 Worlds sailing and results.
J/Regatta News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
Sailing "up above" in the northern climes continues to be "hot" for various one-design classes on both sides of the Big Pond, particularly in Sweden. In Europe, the J/24s are conducting their World Championship in Malmo, Sweden while simultaneously, the J/22s are running their North American Championships in Buffalo, NY. Both have very tight competition and you can follow each on their websites for daily updates. Also in Sweden the recent Goteborg Offshore Race took place that saw a J/109 "blurrr" the competition. In Canada, or more specifically the "Nova Scotians", proved yet again they are superb hosts for their fabulous, beautiful Chester Race Week. Just south across the border, the J/105s had classic San Francisco Bay conditions for their SFYC Summer Regatta and some contemporaries out way, way East on Nantucket were enjoying Nantucket Race Week. Finally, don't forget to read the J/Cruising Community section below. Read on! More importantly, if you have more J/Regatta News, please email it or upload onto our J/Boats Facebook page! Below are the summaries.Regatta & Show Schedules:
Aug 13-20- J/24 Worlds- Malmo, Sweden- http://www.j24class.orgAug 17-22- J/22 North Americans- Buffalo, NY- http://www.j22.com
Aug 20-22- Verve Cup- Chicago, IL- http://www.chicagoyachtclub.org
Sep 9-12- J/80 North Americans- Marion, MA- http://www.j80.org
Sep 10-19- Southampton Boatshow- Southampton, England- http://www.southamptonboatshow.com
Sep 11-12- Larchmont NOOD Regatta- Larchmont, NY- http://www.sailingworld.com
Sep 11-12- J/109 East Coast Championships- Larchmont, NY- http://www.sailingworld.com
Sep 14-19- J/24 UK Nationals- Cornwall, England- http://www.royalcornwallyachtclub.org
Sep 15-18- J/105 North Americans- Chicago, IL- http://www.j105.org
Sep 16-19- Newport Sailboat Show- Newport, RI- http://www.newportboatshow.com/
Sep 16-19- Rolex Big Boat Series- San Francisco, CA- http://www.big-boat-series.com/
Sep 18-19- J/Fest Newport Beach- Newport Beach, CA- http://www.balboayachtclub.com
Oct 16-17- J/Fest Southwest- Houston, TX- http://www.lakewoodyachtclub.com
For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
American Rebirth At J/24 Worlds?
(Malmo, Sweden - August 18th)- After three days of racing at the 2010 J/24 World Championship, Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio (USA) has kept the 54 boat fleet on schedule with six of the ten scheduled races completed. With a drop race now recorded, and with American Tim Healy successfully gaining redress on a starting line penalty, Healy now holds an 11 point lead over fellow American Tony Parker in second. This is quite a turn-around of events for the top Americans, having had all kinds of trouble getting off the starting lines and sailing seemingly every which way but the right way for the first few days. In fact, after the first four races, Europeans dominated, taking 7 of top 10 places with Brazilian World Champion Maurizio Santa Cruz not having found second gear and fellow South American Matias Pereira from Argentina sailing strong to stay in second. Now the tables have changed and racing continues through Friday. For more J/24 Worlds sailing and results.
J/109 BLUR Wins Goteborg Offshore Race
(Goteborg, Sweden)- Peter Gustafsson and his crew continue their winning streak in 2010 sailing their J/109 BLUR off the picturesque coast of Sweden. After winning Helly Hansen Skagen Race in Norway and Big Boat Challenge in Denmark in May, it was time for a race in home waters: the 15th edition of the 150 mile Goteborg Offshore Race. Some might remember the earlier Skaw Race and Skagerrak Cup that were held in the same waters. Now the course runs from Goteborg to Marstrand, over to Skagen and south around Kattegat.The forecasts couldn't have been better. SE 10-15 knots going to lighter NW during the evening. All the boats got off at 1100 on Friday the 13th (not the best starting date?) and after some short and intensive legs to get out of the archipelago everyone hoisted their kites for the run north towards Marstrand. Perfect conditions but tricky winds and current reshuffled the standings early on. And when the fleet got that promised 180 degree shift on the beat over to Skagen, everyone knew that this race would demand 100% focus and concentration all the way until the finish.
The night proved to be a magical one. Warm downwind sailing in 4-8 knots of wind, a million stars, lots of falling stars (some counted over fifty) and sparkling seas. And BLUR managed to stay with, and even overtake, all the 40-footers except a new First 40. Suddenly they all wished they had a sprits and asymmetrical spinnakers!
After a glorious sunrise, the fleet beat north again along the Swedish coast. Once again fantastic conditions and close racing, especially among the 40-footers. And after 26 hours of racing, BLUR managed to beat most of the 40-footers on the water to a comfortable win on handicap with over an hour in both IRC and SRS rating systems. For more Goteborg Offshore Race sailing information
ARBITRAGE Wins Summer Keelboat Regatta
(San Francisco, CA)- Fifteen J/105s raced for the San Francisco YC's Summer Keelboat Regatta in winds from 11 to 25 kt, with Adam Spiegel's JAM SESSION starting the regatta off with a pair of bullets before being gradually ground down by Bruce Stone's ARBITRAGE. Stone started with a 3-3 before putting up a 2-2 and finishing off with a bullet to win with 11 points. Second was JAM SESSION with 15 and third was Rolf Kaiser’s DONKEY JACK with 24 points. Sailing Photo Credit- Heike Schwab
Chester Race Week Fun
J/24 and J/29 Fleet Love Fest
(Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada)- The beautiful little village of Chester played host to another wonderful Race Week. The racing concluded with the last classes crossing the finish lines in the late afternoon and the crews anxiously waited to learn the results on the boards at Chester Yacht Club. Many of the boats sail in handicap fleets which have to be calculated before the results are final."The weather and wind conditions could not have been better" said Randy Stevens, chair of this year’s regatta. "The winds were light earlier on but filled in on Friday and Saturday to make for excellent, competitive racing without the drama of gales and foul weather" Stevens added. "The regatta did not experience any unpleasant events and protests were few".
A total of 142 yachts competed in 12 classes on three different courses over the four day event which is the largest keel boat regatta in Canada. Boats were registered from all over Nova Scotia plus three from Prince Edward Island and two from New Brunswick. For those viewing the racing from shore or on the water they were treated to a kaleidoscope of color with the spinnakers billowing and pulling the boats to the finish lines. The yachts varied from the 23ft Bluenose class to the magnificent classic yachts and the large ocean racers.The social side was not neglected with Barbeques and parties every night until the wee hours. The popular Hopping Penguins Band entertained on both Thursday and Friday evenings. The festivities finished with an appearance of a band 'The Halifax Pirates' in full privateer regalia.
In the A2 Fleet, the J/35s sailed well, finishing 4th and 5th for the week against a slew of Beneteau 36.7s. Gary Sullivan's J/35 SUMROO was 4th with a 7-7-5-2-3-7 record for 24 points, beating his stablemate Richard Oulton's J/35 WHISTLER'S AIR on a tie-breaker!
In the A3 Fleet, the J/92 POOHSTICKS sailed by Colin Mann finished second with a 1-3-2-2-2 record, to lose by only one point the top of the podium!
For the Cruising Fleet, the J/120 BRILLIANCE from Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron sailed beautifully to finish first with a 1-1-1-5 record. Also participating in their class were Reg Goodday's J/44 AKUBRA and Mike Kennedy's J/105 GRAND CRU.
The J One-Designs had some great sailing with a good turnout for both classes. The J/24s had seven boats participating. After the final gun, it was John Whynacht's STICKY FINGERS that took the gold, with Gerg Blunden's ADRENALIN RUSH taking silver and Jamie Storey's WAVE RUNNER the bronze.
The J/29s had an excellent fleet with nine boats racing. After a real donnybrook of a fight, it was the "dogs" on DOG PARTY that took first place, sailed by a bunch of characters from Charlottetown Yacht Club and ably captained by Terry McKenna and crew. Second was Chris MacDonald sailing SCOTCH MIST and third overall was Larry Creaser's JAEGER from the host Chester Yacht Club. For more Chester Race Week sailing information.
J/Community
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide
* "The Moose Is Loose" Report- Moose McClintock from Dimension-Polyant gives you a J/24 Worlds report from Malmo, Sweden-- "Well, here we are in Malmo, Sweden, getting set to do another J-24 World Championship. Attendance is strong (55 boats, 5 American with a good showing from Japan and Australia) and though there aren’t a lot of people here I know, there are the last two World Champions so there is more than enough competition, hopefully we’ll be in that mix. Conditions have been spotty, certainly no shortage of rain (and as I write this I’m looking out the window at grey skies and 20 knots, some of the rain has been epic) but the wind is up and down. The Swedish Nationals, held last week, saw good breeze but since we’ve been here the wind has been on the light side (the practice race was postponed an hour and then sent off with a fetch from the starting line). Hopefully the addition of Peter Reggio as the PRO will straighten that out though running the races right off the marina entrance will make things pretty interesting if the wind shifts more inland.Sweden is a nice place, very friendly (and blond) people everywhere who are very helpful and almost all speak English (I thought this was just another example of dumb Americans only knowing English until I realized that of 17 channels on TV, 13 are full time English speaking shows with Swedish subtitles, the kids grow up on English). Despite the usual measurement hassle (and only two boats found with illegal lead encased, other than that it went pretty smoothly, though long, for the fleet) we’ve had a pretty good time getting acclimated to the area (though reading street signs here is no easy chore). We’re staying right next to the Twisted Torso (shown) which has aptly been named the Twisted Sister. We’re told this is one of the top ten innovative architectural designs, it just looks cool when you get next to it and look straight up. As a landmark, it works because it towers over everything, whenever you’re lost you just head for it and viola, boat park and apartment.
Winner of the practice reach was Tony Parker of the US (2nd in last week’s Nationals), we were doing just fine but made the decision to tack for the weather mark right around the leeward mark while in 3rd, we were overstanding again when the mark got picked up and moved to the other side of all the boats reaching down from the mark. Mark change? Well, no one said there would be one, no signals. Whatever, it’s a practice race, hope it gets better for the real deal. In practice runs, everyone we’ve sailed against seems fast, particularly the Italians, defending champ Mauricio Santa Cruz and Americans Parker and Mike Ingham. I’m not sure where we are on this list, we have a charter boat from Italy that seems quite good but until we actually get on the starting line in earnest we’ll be guessing. Forecast for today is starting around 20 knots and dying to about 12 by the end of the day. Forecast includes, of course, rain.
Update:
Nice day today, 15-25, small jibs all day (though we thought about the big jib (read: me pushing for it….it would have been a mistake) for the last beat). Matias Periera smoked everyone, 1,2. We had two really bad starts but were able to hang in for a 2,4. Mike Ingham did a great job in the 2nd race, lost Periera near the finish but got him at the line, we were able to pass Southworth on the last beat to complete a comeback from 15th just before the weather mark, long painful race. The committee was having a hard time keeping themselves anchored before the 2ns start, giving one boat time to go in and get a kite to replace the one they blew up (not sure where that stands in the J-24 class rules) but were able to get the race off, some funky stuff that may lead to a protest of the race, hope not. First race had lots of broaches, best shot though was an upwind broach of a port tacker who didn’t see the starboard guy coming along, full on bat turn with the jib cleated, keel completely out. Who says J-24’s aren’t entertaining? 2nd overall to a Periera and just ahead of a very fast German boat, forecast for tomorrow is not a lot of breeze. Also, not a lot of rain. If it doesn’t rain again I don’t care how we do, I’m sick of being wet." Read more about Moose's exploits this week sailing the J/24 Worlds on Sailing Anarchy.com- http://www.sailinganarchy.com
* Nantucket YC was hosting the Nantucket Race Week this past week. It's an eight-day experience that marshals the entire Nantucket community together in a fun-filled week of regattas, awards ceremonies, and parties. The races provide sport for everyone from young dinghy sailors and families in the household one designs to grand prix racers at the very top of their profession. Among the event features was the IOD Pro/Am event with highly accomplished guest sailors among the 12 entrants. Remarkably, there were J friends, alumni and crew on nearly every boat listed as amateur/pro, including on the winner- AMERICAN (Jim Bishop and Dave Ullman), 2nd- PEOPLE'S BOAT (Mark Reynolds), 3rd- BRAVO (Dee Smith), 4th- WINDY POINT (Gary Jobson), 5th- TANGO (Kimo Worthington), 6th- VICTOR (Chuck Allen), 7th- CAPE COD (Heather Gregg and Karl Anderson), 8th- SAILNEWPORT (Jesse Smith and Mike Toppa), 9th- CORINTHIAN (Robbie Doyle), 10th- WHISKY (Whitey Willauer and Kevin Farrar), and 11th- ALPHA (Tom Whidden). For more Nantucket Race Week info- http://www.nantucketraceweek.org/
The J Cruising community continue the adventures around the world, below are a selection of their excellent "blogs" written by passionate sailors publishers.* The J/42 JARANA continues their epic voyage around the Pacific. Continue to read about Bill and Kathy Cuffel's big adventure cruising the South Pacific headed for New Zealand. Their blog is here: http://www.svjarana.blogspot.com/
* Prolific writers, Bill and Judy Stellin, sailed their J/42 JAYWALKER around the Mediterranean and Europe and back across the Atlantic for nearly three years. Their blogs/journals can be found at- http://blog.mailasail.com/jaywalker. The earlier journals have been compiled into two self published books which can be found at: http://www.blurb.com. Search for "SEATREK: A Passion for Sailing" by Bill Stellin or William Stellin." Fun reading when rocking back in a chair watching your storm-lashed windows take a beating in the gale roaring outside and listening to the crackle of a roaring fire. It is winter "down under" you know. The Argentineans are freezing.
* John and Mary Driver are sailing their J/130 SHAZAM for extended cruising in the Atlantic basin. At this time, John and Mary will have just finished their double-handed crossing of the Atlantic, landing in Portugal on their J/130 Shazam. Read the latest news at http://www.sailblogs.com/member/shazam/.
* Several J/160 owners are island hopping across the world's oceans, fulfilling life long dreams to cruise the Pacific islands, the Caribbean islands, the Indian Ocean and all points in between. Anyone for Cape Horn and penguins?? Read more about their adventures and escapades (like our J/109 GAIA, J/42s PAX and JAYWALKER and J/130 SHAZAM friends above). SALACIA, the J/160 owned by Stephen and Cyndy Everett has an on-going blog describing some of their more amusing experiences (http://www.salacia1.blogspot.com). Susan Grun and her husband 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).
Featured Boats
J/65 at the Newport International Boat Show
If you have a passion for speed and comfort, the J/65 BRAND NEW DAY is in a league of its own. The J/65 is the flagship passage maker in the J Boat line-- the ultimate private sailing yacht for sailing enthusiasts. The J/65 has exceptional performance under non-overlapping
headsails, double-handed ease of operation, minimum on-deck maintenance, luxurious accommodations, stunning aesthetics, and great value. Finishing 2nd in IRC in the 2010 Newport – Bermuda Race, sailing with air conditioning and wine with each meal, the J/65 is a yacht that performs exceptionally well and in style and comfort. For more on the race experience. BRAND NEW DAY will be at the Newport International Boat Show September 16 – 19 in Newport, Rhode Island. To arrange a viewing, contact Jeff Brown- jeff@jk3yachts.com
J/95 #1 Available- Owner Buying Bigger J!
J/95s are on a roll in the southeast with five boats sailing in the area by this fall (at least four planning to participate in the January Key West Race Week). Sarasota Yacht and Ship is the brokerage side of the J/Southeast dealer CrossCurrent Marine, and they are thrilled to have landed the first brokerage listing for this wonderful shoal draft performance daysailer. Boat is fully optioned with carbon sails, mast, V boom and sports an extension electronics suite. Please contact Craig Crossley at 401-330-6135, or email craig@crosscurrentmarine for more information.About J/Boats
Started in 1977, J/Boats continues to lead the world in designing fun-to-sail, easy-to-handle, performance sailboats that can be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of sailors. The International J/24 has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world with over 5,400 J/24s cruising the waves. Today, there are 13,000+ J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65 and ranging in style from one-designs to racers, cruisers to daysailers and, of course, the ubiquitous J sprit boats- J/Boats' innovation in 1992 for easy-to-use asymmetric spinnakers and retractable carbon bowsprits (J/80, J/92, J/95, J/105, J/109, J/110, J/120, J/122, J/130, J/133, J/125, J/145, J/160).J/Boats has the best track record in sailing for innovation and design as evidenced by: 15 Sailing World/ Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards in 14 years; 2 SAIL Awards for Industry Leadership; 2 American Sailboat Hall of Fame Designs (J/24 & J/35); and the three largest ISAF International One-Design keelboat classes (J/22, J/24, J/80).
Counting crew, every year there are over 100,000 friends to meet sailing J's, populating the most beautiful sailing harbors and sailing the waters of 35+ countries around the world. Sailing is all about friends. Come join us and expand your social network everywhere!
For more information on J/Boats.
As far as Hawaiian races go, the biennial Transpacific Yacht Race (held on odd years) may be the most prestigious, but two other races, each held on even years, also vie for participants- the Pacific Cup (from San Francisco) and the Vic-Maui Race (from Victoria, BC). The 2,070 nautical mile Pacific Cup (San Francisco to Hawaii) draws boats that are based up north, or that are interested in a friendlier, fun-focused race. The Pacific Cup started on July 5 from San Francisco's St. Francis Yacht Club, and while these sailors historically take less of an upwind drubbing, they too are no doubt preparing for a few days of serious upwind sailing. But once the kites come on deck, the party starts--- it immediately becomes obvious why west coast sailors enjoy prolonged surfing and planing for days on end. 
* Russell Coutts has sailed all kinds of boats, including match-racing in J/44s and J/105s. This past week the America's Cup was on a tour of the East Coast of the United States, with stops at the White House, NASDAQ, CBS Early Show and finally to the former home of the America's Cup, Newport Rhode Island.
What happened on the race course was intriguing, to say the least. There were three specific entrance/ exit points that all leaders of every class honored within a several mile radius. Few deviated from the formula, with big boats that generate more speed and apparent wind able to meander a bit less than smaller boats, still make some navigational mistakes and win. The primary features were (i) the warm water eddy about 90 miles out from Newport with SSE favorable current on its eastern wall, (ii) the SSE flowing Gulf Stream meander and (iii) the small cold water eddy adverse flow just south of the Stream's meander west of rhumbline. In short, the race winning strategies are outlined below.
The racing had more than its fair share of shifty, windy offshore winds (Mistral like but not too strong) to moderate air on-shore seabreezes. A total of four races were sailed between San Remo and St. Tropez. The J sailors faired reasonably well, although based on some of the results of well-campaigned J's it was clear the off-the-water festivities must've been taking their toll-- after all, it is the French and Italian Riviera at the height of summer with far, far too many distractions (or attractions) for one to focus on sailing all week long! Nevertheless, there were over two dozens J's participating. Notable performances include Andreas Farber's J/122 NIKITA and Jean Louis Pezin's J/109 ALBACOR. 
In the 58 nm St. Tropez Race, the Farber's J/122 NIKITA won IRC B class quite handily. In the 24 nm San Remo-St. Tropez-San Remo Race, Pezin's J/109 ALBACOR finished second by just seconds! And, for the Giraglia Race Week Combined Overall results for all four races, Farber's J/122 NIKITA finished sixth in IRC A class within a fleet of 137 boats; and in IRC B class, Pezin's J/109 ALBACOR took fourth of 37 boats, including taking a DNC in the first race for not having sailed it! Otherwise, ALBACOR's average of third was good enough for a second overall for the last three races! For 
* Bermuda Race True Confessions #1- Ken Read- multiple J/24 World Champion and native of Rhode Island chats about his first offshore racing experiences just before taking off on PUMA for the Newport-Bermuda Race: “I did my first Bermuda race when I was seventeen, so I think that puts my count up to 12 of these races (?!?).
