J/Newsletter- April 21st, 2021

The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide

Happy Earth Day! It's hard to believe that human beings feel compelled to celebrate saving our blue-marble colored life-raft called Earth. Nearly 8.0 billion strong so far and climbing rapidly, is it possible that humans have no clue that too many people in the raft can sink it?

Paradoxically, the Covid-19 pandemic has indeed proven that human activity is a bad thing for Mother Earth... pictures abound of "unseen" cities (anyone seen the Taj Mahal?), gorgeous vistas, mountain ranges, clear blue oceans, streams, even a near-swimmable labyrinth of canals in Venice, Italy! Shocking? Perhaps. But, it's 100% clear evidence that human-induced pollution and activity of all sorts is having a material effect on our environment. 

Let us all hope the past year's eye-opening perspectives provide "lessons-learned" in some form or another as it relates to the environment. Sailors may be one of the most attuned as a group to the environmental issues we face. 

The fate of our oceans was remarkably well-explained by Californian Wesley Marx in his eponymous book- THE FRAIL OCEAN published in 1967- a half-century ago! An avid surfer, diver, boater, Wesley expressed his concern for our Seven Seas and mankind's misuse of its resources. Read it, highly recommended! You can find it on Amazon here. An excellent companion read regards environmental issues is also Rachel Carson's SILENT SPRING. 
 

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Newport 2 Ensenada Race Preview

(Newport Beach, CA)– Nearly 170 boats will cross the start line of the 73rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, April 23rd off the Balboa Pier. Perhaps the cleverest element of the event is the race organizers- NOSA- have offered three courses to the intrepid adventurers that cannot wait to get out on the open, unrestricted, Pacific Ocean! Talk about "horses for courses", more than two dozen J/Teams are entered in all three ocean "sprints".  The classic race goes from Newport Beach/ Balboa Pier start line to Ensenada, Mexico and that start line has 120 boats doing the 125.0nm passage.  Twenty boats will take the day-race course down to Dana Point (about 25.0nm) and forty boats will take the mid-range course around the Coronado Islands and finish off Point Loma in San Diego.  

A big "thanks" to everyone for good behavior and helping to reduce COVID restrictions. And, an even bigger "thanks" to the Mexican Navy offering landing assistance so that sailors will be able to safely disembark and enjoy Ensenada.

Answering that "siren song" to go offshore seems innate and is a common bond for many sailors. In a 1962 America's Cup dinner given by the Australian Ambassador at the Vanderbilt family's former estate- The Breakers- then USA President John F. Kennedy made some prophetic remarks about that passion on September 14th, 1962. Listen to it here. He explained:

"I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And, it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins, the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came."



Recently, when one person about to sail the race was asked "why sail the N2E", he commented:

"There’s a misconception about yacht racing, boat racing, in that some think it’s stuffy, blue-blazer-boring kind of stuff. But, in reality it's not. Sailing is a fun passion-based hobby, in which everyone has a story about overcoming adversity. Sailing is really about solving problems; things break as boats do and you figure it out. Perhaps the best part? It's sitting with a crew member at the helm in the middle of the night, 30 miles offshore, freezing, talking about life, watching the moon; man taking on machine and nature, the whole thing is magical.”


Sailing the classic N2E course are John Staff's J/111 OBSIDIAN, Scott Torrance's J/124 FORGIVENESS, Dave Gorney's J/105 NO COMPROMISE, Chuck Bowes' J/29 RHUMB RUNNER, and Brian Kerr's J/92 DOUBLE DOWN.

Taking the fast-track out and around the Coronado Islands to San Diego is the largest collection of J/145s ever- four of them- including Robert Pace's ANDIAMO 2, Roger Gatewood's KATARA, Ernie Pennell's MORE MADDNESS, and Rudy Hasl's PALAEMON. Joining them will be Tom Pollack's J/124 MARISOL, Dean Stanec's J/130 NIGHT'S WATCH, Derek Gaertner's J/27 PROJECT 53, Fed Hayem's J/46 MISTER J, and Mike McCarthy's J/88 BLUE FLASH. On a PHRF overall handicap basis, that will be one remarkably competitive division!


Another tough collection of J/Crews are sailing the Newport to Dana Point race. Talk about a wind-sprint! Taking a "swing for the fences" in this race are Joaquin Cobelo's J/109 MARIAH, Matt Campbell's J/120 ADIOS, Charles Brewer's J/124 HEARTBEAT 4, Jock McGraw's J/22 TEKEELA, Tom Garrett's youth team on the J/70 SLOOP JOHN B, and the duo of Richard Bennett & David Matthews on the J/92 FIREWATER. 

As pandemic restrictions have been lifted, options for social activities have increased. The annual Yachtsmen’s Luncheon and pre-race dinner at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, albeit without the infamous crowds, are being held. Plans for Sunday’s trophy ceremonies at the festive Hotel Coral and Marina are still being determined, pending the number of revelers, and in coordination with the host city’s guidelines. In light of Ensenada’s restrictions on large gatherings, Sunday afternoon’s awards ceremony, always joyful and celebratory, may be conducted in shifts.  For more Newport 2 Ensenada Race sailing information

On social media, follow all the action on these links:
Facebook.com/newporttoensenada
Instagram.com/newport_to_ensenada
Twitter.com/newsfromnosa
 

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Great Start to Chesapeake Sailing Season

(Annapolis, MD)— The Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta returns to Annapolis, April 30 to May 2, for its 33rd edition, with more than 160 teams expected to race in boats ranging from 20 to 40 feet. The annual spring regatta, which is considered the premiere local sailing event of the year, also serves as the unofficial kickoff for the robust and thriving Annapolis sailing scene.
 
“What I’m hearing is that a lot of sailors have been using the downtime of the pandemic to work on and improve their boats while also going to school with webinars all winter long. They’re keen to apply all that learning to the race course for real,” says Dave Reed from SAILING WORLD, which co-hosts the event with Annapolis Yacht Club and other area yacht clubs. “After a year of so many regatta cancellations, sailors are ready to get back to racing in a big way. The Annapolis NOOD has always been an amazing event, and this year will be no different.”

The Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta series is the largest national sailing circuit, with Annapolis serving as the third event of five, along with regattas in St. Petersburg, Florida, San Diego, Chicago, and Marblehead, Massachusetts. At each regatta, one team is selected as the overall winner, earning a berth at the championship in the British Virgin Islands in late October.


With such national prestige and a reputation for its professional race management, the Annapolis NOOD continues to be a major draw for competitors from all points of Chesapeake Bay and afar. This will be especially true in late April as competitors registered in two of the regatta’s largest classes will be using the event to train for major class championships later in the year. 

The J/70 class, for example, will host its North American Championship in early May in Annapolis and its World Championship in California in August, so organizers expect a high number of professional sailing teams will be in attendance, training and studying the venue’s challenging winds and tides. In addition, the J/111 class (36-foot/seven crew) will host its North American Championship at the NOOD.
 
“We’re especially excited this year,” says competitor Bill Carruth, who races with his wife, Linsley, in the J/105 class. The J/105s will have its North American Championship in Annapolis in October. Their NOOD fleet could have as many as 30 of these 35-footers. “It is a blast to have so many J/105s on the starting line,” Carruth says. “These are good sailors and they know the rules, so we tend to be aggressive, which makes it’s entertaining and exciting.”
 
In all, 11 classes will compete over three days, on race courses set on the waters south of Bay Bridge and immediately outside Annapolis Harbor and the U.S. Naval Academy, which will also field teams across a few classes. Regatta organizers have also added a new competition with the North Sails Doublehanded Distance Race where two-person teams will one day-long endurance race on Saturday, May 1, starting and finishing at entrance of the Harbor.   Sailing photo credits- Paul Todd/ Outside Images   For more Annapolis NOOD Regatta sailing information
 

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Great Lakes College Keelboat Racing Announcement!

(Chicago, IL)- The 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta will be held September 24th to 26th in Chicago, IL. This annual fall regatta provides an opportunity for collegiate sailors to experience offshore keelboat racing with past participating teams coming from college sailing programs in the Midwest and beyond.

Chicago T10 and J/105 fleet members provide the sailboats and are on-board during racing as a safety precaution. The collegiate sailors drive, crew the boat, and manage strategy and tactics. Chicago-area yacht clubs provide facilities, and the fleets provide financial support, participant gifts and awards.

The regatta consists of windward/leeward buoy races on Lake Michigan offshore of Chicago. Teams arrive on Friday and have the opportunity to practice on their assigned boats that afternoon. Race committee attempts as many races as possible all-day Saturday and on Sunday morning. Award ceremonies are Sunday during lunch and teams have the afternoon for travel back to campus.

Past participating college teams have included; Michigan, Michigan State, Miami of Ohio, Hope College, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, Grand Valley State, Toledo, Northwestern, St. Mary’s College of Md., Michigan Tech, Minnesota, Ohio State, South Florida, Miami, Baldwin Wallace, Indiana University, Marquette, Cleveland State University, United States Naval Academy, University of South Carolina, Notre Dame, Illinois-Chicago and more.

Past participating Chicago J/105 one-design fleet owners have included; THE ASYLUM, SEALARK, VYTIS, FLYING PIG, GANGBUSTERS, KINSHIP, and more....hopefully many more this year!
 

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J/Gear April 20% Off Special!

Awesome Under Armour Performance Polo shirt!

(Newport, RI)- Here is an excellent opportunity for the whole crew to get Under Armour Polo shirts at a special price. Under Armour have been a leader in the performance arena for some time now and their gear is perfect for a marine application. This polo boasts rugged construction and features a distinctive comfortable fit.

The fabric is 95% polyester, 5% elastane, it is a smooth, soft anti-pill fabric, has an anti-odor technology to prevent the growth of odor causing bacteria, and offers 30+ UPF protection from the sun’s harmful rays!
Order your beautiful, comfy Under Armour Performance Polo here
 

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Sailing Calendar
Apr 8-11- Charleston Race Week- Charleston, SC
Apr 30- May 2- Annapolis NOOD Regatta- Annapolis, MD
Apr 30- May 2- J/111 North American Championship- Annapolis, MD
May 9-15- J/70 North American Championship- Annapolis, MD 

For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
 

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J/Community

What friends, alumni, and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide

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J/Net Brokerage Specials! Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world here.  

Gorgeous J/109 For Sale

Hop aboard this J/109 and be welcomed into an incredibly spacious cockpit outfitted with a suite of brand-new B&G marine electronics. Included are a 12" touch screen Chart Plotter at your helm, and three displays forward at the top of the companionway. There's also an ICOM VHF radio mounted to the port side of the helm, ergonomically easy to reach controls for the newly rebuilt autopilot ram. She's also equipped with a binnacle compass, shore power at her stern, manual and electric bilge pumps, hot and cold transom shower, and a stern mounted swim ladder. Relax comfortably on her set of five, white ultra-leather cockpit cushions and listen to the impressive Kenwood 60-Watt sound system.

This J/109 is equipped with the removable transom dock box for extra storage. Should you wish to return to One Design racing- this is super-easy to take off her transom. To port is her propane locker and to starboard is an ample storage locker that is accessible from both a wide deck hatch and an access door at the rear of her head.

As you proceed forward along her side decks, you'll see that ALL her running rigging is new! Two-tone light grey decks compliment her flag-blue hull. There's a new dove grey helm cover, matching dodger and set of four winch covers. A solar powered vent fan in her forward hatch for constant fresh circulation of air as well as screens for all her hatches! Deck hatches were replaced with OEM in 2019.

In terms of sails, you won't find a better outfitted J/109 on the market! She has a new main, and jib built by North for the 2019/2020 season.

Learn more about this "Bristol-condition" J/109 sailboat for sale that is currently located in Maine and ready to go cruising at a moment's notice!

Save Our Seas (and lakes) with Robotic Marks?

USA pioneer MarkSetBot and their colleagues in Switzerland- WaterSportsMarks- were celebrating Earth Day along with many regatta organizers that hope to take advantage of such ground-breaking technology. 

There's no better day to make a commitment to running clean, sustainable regattas than to consider the use of robotic marks for at least the port end of the starting line and for the windward mark, the two most "changeable" marks on a race course.  

A true test of the MarkSetBot solution was at this year's Charleston Race Week. With winds hitting 19 kts and currents traversing the courses at 3.5 kts, it was probably the most severe test yet of the robotic mark's capabilities.  A huge "bonus" was that NO ONE could carry away the mark by hooking the ground tackle on their keels-- a common site in year's past sailing on Charleston Harbor. This resulted not only in reduced anxiety for nervous skippers, but also dramatically reduced logistical burdens on the PRO's regards having to cancel and restart races!


In partnership with SAILORS FOR THE SEA and 11th HOUR RACING, our MarkSetBot friends had this to say on improving good practices regards our environmental impact:

"We're committed to fostering sustainable practices on and off the water. Here are our favorite ways to make an impact at your next event. If you're looking for more ideas or to become a certified Clean Regatta, check out our friends at Sailors for the Sea (you can even earn Clean Regatta status by using our Bots!).

• Eliminate single-use items like plastic water bottles, straws, bags, and dinnerware.
• Host a beach, marina, or boatyard clean-up in conjunction with your regatta.
• Ensure proper waste bin placement and signage to educate participants on composting and recycling and divert food waste from landfills.
• Use paperless event management, including use of whiteboards, online regatta management systems, or email to share regatta information and results.
• Spread the word about your sustainability initiatives and why a Clean Regatta is important to you. Your work might inspire someone else to make an impact.             

Bonus Tip! Use MarkSetBot robotic buoys to set and adjust the course. Simple and efficient, robotic marks eliminate the need for seabed destructive anchors and fossil-fuel-burning power boats whose sole purposes are moving around marks. At the end of the race day, they can even be charged via solar power.

MarkSetBot has been recognized by Sailors for the Sea, World Sailing, and 11th Hour Racing as an impactful way to make your regatta more sustainable. Plus, robotic marks make on-the-course social distancing easier by drastically reducing the number of people needed to set the course. 

For MarkSetBot information.   For the Swiss Watersport Marks model informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.

J/Newsletter- April 7th, 2021

The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide

It has been a somewhat busy time Down Under for the past few weeks as both the J/24 and J/70 classes are well into the middle of their sailing seasons.  The Australian J/70 Nationals were recently sailed in Melbourne, Australia, hosted by the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron with racing taking place on Phillip Bay. Sailing in the same waters, the J/24 Victoria State Championship also took place hosted by Sandringham Yacht Club for a strong fleet of fifteen boats. Then, on Good Friday a J/111 sailed an incredibly nasty, rough race of 308.0nm from Brisbane to Gladstone along Australia's Sunshine Coast.

Over in South America, the Argentina J/70 Class has been racing on Mar de la Plata with events being run by YC Argentino, Mar de la Plata YC, and YC Olivos. An average of a dozen boats have been racing offshore of Buenos Aires. Earlier, the J/24 Campeonato del Centro Republica took place on the gorgeous Lago San Roque in foothills of the majestic Andes Mountain range. The regatta had a strong turnout of J/24s. 

In the USA, there was great enthusiasm for the Helly Hansen St Petersburg NOOD Regatta for J/24s, J/70s, and J/105s and offshore boats that included doublehanded J/112E's dominating their fleet! The J/24 Easter Regatta in Columbia, North Carolina was recently hosted by Columbia Sailing Club for a happy fleet of a dozen-plus boats. 

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Charleston Race Week Preview- A Rendezvous with Destiny!

(Charleston, SC)- Starting two weeks later than its traditional schedule the weekend before Easter/ Bank Holiday, the amazingly popular Charleston Race Week will be taking place this weekend from April 8th to 11th at the historically famous venue (Fort Sumter is where the American Civil War started) for a long three-day weekend of sailing on six courses spread around the huge harbor.

The Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina serves as host for the event and the CORA organization provides all logistical and professional race management for the 500+ sailors.  While the on-water racing is fun, fast & furious, it’s the après’ sailing social activities on the beach ashore with loads of rum, beer, southern food, and live music that keeps sailors coming back for more fun-loving memories in the Deep South....NOT this year, sadly enough, due to the pandemic protocols. 

While the party atmosphere that has always been synonymous with Charleston Race Week is not possible in 2021, the focus this year will be on the race course for one of the largest, most popular regattas in North America.

A total of 188 boats in 16 classes are entered following a one-year layoff caused by the pandemic, and finally able to celebrate its 25th anniversary in Charleston, SC.

“When you boil it all down, great racing is the main reason why Charleston Race Week has become such an iconic event,” observes event director Randy Draftz. “After all that has happened over the past year-plus, I think sailors just want to go racing again.

“We have been thrilled by the response from the national sailing community to the return of this great regatta and will be introducing several new features designed to enhance the racing experience.”

While COVID-19 continues to pose a threat throughout the world, social gatherings remain risky with state and local government officials advising against such activity. As a result, there will be no post-race events this year, but Charleston Race Week management is confident social-distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing will allow for a successful and safe three days of racing.

Not surprisingly, passionate J/Sailors across the country have been anticipating this rendezvous with destiny for well over a year! Of the 188 boats registered, 103 of them are J/Boats sailors (a stunning 55.0% of the fleet)!  
 
The regatta features five one-design J/Classes, including J/22s, J/24s, J/70s, J/88s, and J/105s.  In addition, there are two “Pursuit-style” sailing divisions for both PHRF and ORC handicap rated boats that includes a J/30, J/35, J/109s, J/111s, J/120s, J/121s and a J/122. 

Starting with the biggest fleet in the regatta, the J/70s will have their hands full negotiating the shoals and currents and wildly shifting breezes on 3/4 mile windward legs (max!).  Despite the challenges, for most J/70 sailors, it is like a big college regatta, but on keelboats. Looking forward to that experience are many top J/70 teams loaded with talent, including Joel Ronning's CATAPULT, John Heaton's EMPEIRIA, Maggie McKillen's MAGATRON, Cate Muller-Terhune's MURDER HORNET, Mike Illbruck's PINTA (with John Kostecki as tactician), Peter Duncan's RELATIVE OBSCURITY, Brian Keane's SAVASANA, Chuck Thompson's SOAK RACING from the United Kingdom, Bruno Pasquinelli's STAMPEDE, Ryan McKillen's SURGE, and Buddy Cribb's VICTORY. 

Another large class is the J/24s, which has attracted 21 entries – double the number that attended Charleston Race Week 2019! They will race on Circle 4 along with the J/22 class, which consists almost entirely of junior teams. Notable J/24s teams include Jim Thurlow's FORTITUDE, Taylor Borges' BLIND SQUIRREL, Mike Palazzo's JO MAMMA, Eric Trejo's junior team on the KELLY HOLMES-MOON BOAT GRANT, Chris Jackson's LUCIFER's HAMMER, Aidan Glackin's MENTAL FLOSS, Kirk Reynolds' TYRUS, and Chris Stone's VELOCIDAD. 

The two other J/One-design classes sailing on Circle 3 are the 88s and 105s.  The eleven-boat J/88 class promises to be a very closely-fought amongst a number of the class leaders. Look for these teams to be near the top of the leaderboard over the course of the regatta; Justin Scagnelli's ALBONDIGAS, Iris Vogel's DEVIATION, John & Jordan Leahey's DUTCH, Andy Graff's EXILE, Andrew Weiss' ONE TOO MANY, Rob Ruhlman's SPACEMAN SPIFF, and Tim Wade's WINDSONG. So competitive these teams are that any one of them can have a strong, consistent event and leap to the top of the podium. 

The nine-boat J/105 class is also the largest turnout the class has seen in nearly a decade. The Ladbroke's Betting Parlour on the High Street in Liverpool would have a hard time handicapping this group, as there is a broad cross-section of teams in the mix. Nevertheless, watch for these crews to feature on the leaderboard; Ken Horne's FINAL FINAL (2nd in the 2019 J/105 NA's in Marblehead, MA), Joe Highsmith's DEAD ON ARRIVAL, Betsy Pilcher's JOYRIDE, Pete Boland's LONDON CALLING, the trio on RUCKUS (Matt Self/ Russ Smith/ Pat Chisum- e.g. "local home boys"), Bill McKenzie's RUM FRONT, and the "foreigners" from Lake Erie- the Schaedler/ Taylor duo on WHISTLER (yup, same famous boat from the Caribbean)!

As has been the case for many editions of Charleston Race Week, there will be pursuit racing and ORC racing out on the Atlantic Ocean. In the ORC B class of a half-dozen boats are four J/Teams; two J/121s (Bob Christoph's LOKI and Bill Wiggins/ Ashley Maltempo's WINGS), Robin Team's J/122 TEAMWORK (they hardly need any introduction, do they?), and John Keenan's J/120 ILLYRIA. 

In the Pursuit Spinnaker A Class of eleven boats is Bob Musor's J/130 SCEPTRE, two J/120s (Bill Hanckel's EMOCEAN and Richard Moore's KEELFORCE), Willy Schwenzfeier's J/35 ARROW, John Wrangle's J/105 PALADIN, an Ed Goss' J/36 SOUL. With six J/Crews on the starting line, perhaps there's a chance for a J/sweep? Time will tell. Finally, in Pursuit Spinnaker B Class is Mark Swatta's J/30 LAS BRISAS and Warrior Sailing's J/95 WARRIOR 95 as the lone wolves carrying the J/flag in that fleet. 

To help all participants get back up to speed quickly, Charleston Race Week will be providing TracTrac devices that deliver live tracking using the latest technology. TracTrac is an innovative analytical tool that records each boat’s performance and displays various metrics online in real time.

This marks the first time Charleston Race Week has implemented live tracking on all five courses. The TracTrac device will be included in your registration packet along with an instruction sheet.

In addition to live tracking, Charleston Race Week will also introduce on-course observers to provide expert commentary and analysis. These seasoned professionals will offer interesting insights and observations about various aspects of racing.

Also, Quantum Sail Design Group will have its team of professionals on-site to deliver daily weather briefings, discuss tactics and strategy or answers any other questions sailors might have. Sailing photo credits- Priscilla Parker.  For more Charleston Race Week sailing information
 

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Announcing the Spanish J/80 Sailing Series!

(Barcelona, Spain)- The Spanish J/80 class is considered one of the best in the world; after all, amongst their teams they account for nearly a dozen J/80 World Championships (forget the fact they are several Olympic sailing Medallists amongst them). Building on that strength (a somewhat scary thought for the rest of the world), the Spanish class of more than 145 teams and 1,000+ sailors has created a new summer sailing series that will enable them to pursue their great passion for sailing in all of the most beautiful, iconic sailing venues throughout Spain. 

The Spanish J/80 fleet hopes to get sailors of all ages, women's teams, youth teams and masters together. Clearly, they are a class that adapts to the times and promotes values as important as equality and sustainability amongst their ranks of sailors.

J/80 Spain Sailing Series
The 2021 J80 Spain Sailing Series calendar is made up of two major national events; the Spanish Cup to be held in June at the Real Club Marítimo del Abra and the Spanish J/80 Championship to be held in the waters of Cádiz, specifically at the Real Club Náutico La Linea in September.

In addition to these two national qualifying races in the ranking, one regatta per fleet will be added; Canary, Andalusian, Balearic, Basque, Cantabrian and Galician regattas, such as the Prince of Asturias Trophy and the Princess Alexia Trophy. All these regattas will be the scoring events to make the national ranking. The top ten best of the year will come out of this ranking with their direct pass to the Super Final, the J/80 Sailing Finals!

The Spanish J/80 Super Finals
The top ten teams by ranking at the end of the circuit will go to the Super Final. It will be a competition of champions that will be held for the first time in the month of October. The chosen venue has been the amazing natural amphitheater of Santander, and the host Real Club Maritimo de Santander will undoubtedly offer an extraordinary nautical show!  For more Spanish J/80 Sailing Series regatta information
 

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J/Gear April 20% Off Special!

Awesome Under Armour Performance Polo shirt!

(Newport, RI)- Here is an excellent opportunity for the whole crew to get Under Armour Polo shirts at a special price. Under Armour have been a leader in the performance arena for some time now and their gear is perfect for a marine application. This polo boasts rugged construction and features a distinctive comfortable fit.

The fabric is 95% polyester, 5% elastane, it is a smooth, soft anti-pill fabric, has an anti-odor technology to prevent the growth of odor causing bacteria, and offers 30+ UPF protection from the sun’s harmful rays!
Order your beautiful, comfy Under Armour Performance Polo here
 

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Sailing Calendar

Apr 8-11- Charleston Race Week- Charleston, SC
Apr 30- May 2- Annapolis NOOD Regatta- Annapolis, MD
Apr 30- May 2- J/111 North American Championship- Annapolis, MD
May 9-15- J/70 North American Championship- Annapolis, MD 

For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
 

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VAMOS Crowned J/70 Australian Champions!

(Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)- This past fortnight, the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron on the southern isthmus of Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne hosted the 2021 Australian J/70 National Championship. Plenty of fun and games and great sailing was had by all that were more than happy to get sailing on the water again. 

For those "not in-the-know", Australia and their counterparts in the Antipodes "down under" (New Zealand) were one of the first few nation-states in the world to battle the pandemic aggressively (with incredible contact-tracing processes) to enable their countries to be the first to live a new "near-normal" lifestyle.

Here is the report from a three-time dinghy World Champion and top woman sailor- Nickie Douglass- a.k.a. "Sailor Girl". 

"With two strong days of racing down in the 2021 J/70 Australian Championship, the weather served up testing conditions for the racing crews and Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron race management team on the third and final day.

In what could be deemed the most challenging, yet exciting race of the series, race seven was a battle from start to finish. With the course set at 160 degrees, and the south-easter blowing directly from the club with the outgoing current, the shifts, which came in waves of pressure, were significant.


Reg Lord, defending National Champion and his team on JUNO were first to identify a left-hand shift during the start sequence, and popped at the pin cleanly as the gun went. Current regatta leader, Tim Ryan and his crew on VAMOS were just off their hip, and second-placed CELESTIAL were to windward of them, but opted to tack onto port shortly after starting, as did Karyn Gojnich and her team on THE JACKAL.

The next pressure line came from the right, and CELESTIAL and THE JACKAL looked to be making the most of the pivoting course. The local teams of JUMPIN' JACK FLASH, and the all-female team on SPIKE, and the only NSW Corinthians, MAYBE J were able to slip up the middle of the course while those on the left were left flailing in easing pressure.

The rounding at the first mark of the course, and the second gates were the same, with CELESTIAL leading from JUMPIN' JACK FLASH, SPIKE, MAYBE J, and THE JACKAL


On the second circuit rounding the cans, a pod of dolphins joined in with the racing, making for a happy distraction for crews while trying to connect the dots with the fickle pressure.

CELESTIAL skipper Sam Haynes and his crew of David Chapman, Johnny Warren and Locky Pryor continued to lead around the final mark, but it was the local heroes on JUMPIN' JACK FLASH who stole the gun on the line thanks to the final puff coming more from the west to push them over the line.

Laura Harding and her all-female youth team on SPIKE from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron rounded out the podium finishing in their best place of the regatta so far.

The results also meant that Tim Ryan on VAMOS and his crew who had been sailing a near perfect regatta, would have to sail in the final race 8 to secure their win over the closing team of Celestial.


After a lengthy delay under AP, the breeze finally settled once again at 165 degrees, and the J/70 fleet for the first time of the regatta saw a change in the course, from a two-lap windward leeward to a three-lapper.

VAMOS triggered at exactly the right time at the pin to lead off the line, with the second-placed team of CELESTIAL right on their hip. VAMOS had their eyes on the prize and kept themselves in between CELESTIAL and the next mark, and the local team JOUST 70, skippered by Rod Warren slipped through to take the lead around the first and second marks of the course.

CELESTIAL opted to split from VAMOS, and took the left-hand turn at the bottom gate, while JOUST 70 ahead of them, then VAMOS at the same time as CELESTIAL, and then the youth all-female team on SPIKE all opted for the right-hand turn.

The next phase of the breeze came from the left, forcing CELESTIAL back to fourth, dashing their hopes of a chance to take the title.

The commanding VAMOS team of Rob Greenhalgh, Charlie Gundy and Jess Grimes, led by skipper Tim Ryan took the lead up the second beat and were not challenged for the remaining two laps. They crossed the finish line to take their sixth race win of the series, and the overall championship with a race to spare.

Rod Warren's JOUST 70 with Aaron Cole, Tim Smith and Ollie Vanderslot took second place, with Laura Harding and the all-female youth team on SPIKE backing up their race 7 performance with another third place.


With the Championship and runner-up positions already decided, VAMOS and CELESTIAL opted to head back to the beach for the final race of the series to allow the teams on JUNO skippered by Reg Lord, and THE JACKAL, skippered by Karyn Gojnich to battle it out for the final podium position.

JUNO opted to cover THE JACKAL in the pre-start forcing them to the right hand side with an early port tack duck off the line.

With the easing breeze, and the outgoing current, the top mark was a mess, with multiple crews doing turns for nipping the first mark of the course.

JUNO took command of the race, and took the win, securing third place in the overall Championship for the defending champion Reg Lord, and his crew of Tom Grimes, Murray Jones and James Hodgson.

Local team JO JO ZIP skippered by Ian Cooper with Neil Taylor, John Lindholm, Dean Taylor and Callum Burns had the best race of their series finishing in second.

Michael Nash, Peter Nash, John Watson, Garth Davies and Maria Nash on MAYBE J finished third to secure the Corinthian Division for 2021.

Laura Harding, Ella Grimshaw, Daisy Laing, Hannah Danks and Harriette Singh finished in sixth, to not only take the boat of the day bragging rights, but the Youth Division for 2021.

Karyn Gojnich, Sara Ladd, Ewa Lindelof and Kyle Dodds on SPIKE finished in fourth place to secure fourth overall in the championship and the Female Division for 2021.


1st Overall, Vamos (l-r) Charlie Gundy, Rob Greenhalgh, Jess Grimes, Tim Ryan, Matt McCarthy, Vice Commodore BYS 


Ladies Division winner Karyn Gojnich with Matt McCarthy, Vice Commodore BYS


Corinthian Division Winner, Michael Nash with Matt McCarthy, Vice Commodore BYS

Sailing photo and story credits- Nic Douglass / www.AdventuresofaSailorGirl.com / http://www.nicdouglass.org

 

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Argentine J/70 Class Report

(Olivos, Argentina)- Nothing, not even the pandemic, was going to slow down or diminish the enthusiasm the Argentinean J/70 fleet had for getting themselves organized and out on the water sailing in their favorite "watering holes".  Traditionally, the fleet starts their season off the famous city of Buenos Aires, on the muddy waters of Mar de la Plata. Between Yacht Club Argentino's amazing sailing facility on the city waterfront, to Mar de La Plata Yacht Club, and to Yacht Club Olivos cozy location on a harbor north of the city, the J/70 class enjoys world-class racing and Race Committee management. 


Despite the challenges of coping with strong river currents, the fleet PRO- Mario Laitan- managed to run a number of good races for both the traditional PIMMS CUP TROPHY regatta and the J/70 ANNIVERSARY Championship.


The PIMMS CUP Trophy regatta was organized by YC Olivos for a twelve-boat fleet.  After a good weekend of racing, it was Alejandro Yrigoyen's BUTANTE that took the gold, followed by José Arrondo's BBTO in second, and Francisco Campero's AMIGO VII in third position. 

The Mar de La Plata YC hosted the ANNIVERSARY Championship for a fleet of a half-dozen boats. For two days the fleet was blessed with sunny weather and nice northerly winds of 8 to 16 knots. After a six-race series, it was BACHAJO that ultimately won the regatta by winning three of the 6 races. Their team was comprised of Juan Diego “Chiqui” Figueroa, Ignacio Giamonna, Leslie Jenkins and Julián Lobelos.


Second place went to SI QUERIDA skippered by Francisco van Avermaete, with crew of Rafael de Martis, Gerónimo Galvan and Carlos Lacchini.

Rounding out the podium was MERCENARIO skippered by top woman skipper Martina Silva with her crew Trinidad (her sister), Gabriel Marino, Nacho Portis and Tobias Cédola. Sailing photo credits- Romano Cuenca photography.  Follow the Argentina J/70 Class on Facebook page here  For more Argentina J/70 Class sailing information

 

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J/111 Brisbane to Gladstone Race Report

(Brisbane, Australia)- The past Easter Weekend, the J/111 BLACK DOG sailed the Brisbane to Gladstone Race in near gale sailing conditions. Here is their report from owner/skipper Rodger Vinton.   

"The 73rd Brisbane to Gladstone (B2G) yacht race started on Good Friday 2 April at midday. The course is 308.0nm long and starts in Brisbane (Queensland) in Moreton Bay, going to a turning mark off Redcliffe pier; before heading across the bay to Moreton Island then exiting the bay through the NW shipping channel. The course then runs past the Sunshine Coast, keeping Fraser Island to port, leaving Lady Elliot Island to port and then going across what is affectionately known as “the paddock” to Gladstone. The last 15.0nm is a trip up the shipping channel to finish off at the Gladstone Yacht Club.

There are many divisions in this race, including Vintage through to Modern yachts, competing in cruising and/or racing divisions. The boats range from 10.3 to the 30.48 metres Black Jack (100 ft Maxi). There were 37 boats that started the 2021 race, including the J/111 Black Dog with 7 crew skippered by Rodger Vinton.

The forecast was for southeasterly winds of 25-30 knots for the start and then building as the day went on with expected gusts of up to 35 knots and large confused seas off Breaksea at the northern tip of Fraser Island.  We started with full main and 3.5 jib and ended up a few minutes late for the start re-running reef lines.

Just after the start we put up the A3 kite but it was too shy, so we changed down to the 3.5 jib and then we were off passing the fleet. The upside of a slow start was that we did get to see most of the other boats.

Once in the shipping channel we were able to hoist the A3 kite again and in the bigger gusts we hit 20 knots boat speed. At NW4 beacon we were going to drop the kite but a gust of 30+knots hit and we broached. It took a while to get the kite back onboard and then up went the 3.5 jib again. 

At dusk we put the first reef in and sailed at about 150 AWA running down the large quartering swells. Dark rain clouds would come through and the wind speed would increase, occasionally hitting 40 knots. After Breaksea we jibed onto port to our next mark Lady Elliot Island and then after we reached Lady Elliot Island the wind dropped slightly with top gusts of only 25 knots. We put the A3 up again. This lasted about half an hour before the wind speed built and the A3 was reduced to tapes. 

We carried on under reefed main and the 3.5 jib until the finish. The top boat speed we recorded was 24 knots under reefed main and 3.5 jib as we surfed down big seas and we also saw a top wind speed of 41 knots. During the night we were smashed by a big wave and it hit one of the crew with such force that her PFD auto inflated with a bang and set the strobe light off. The look of shock on her face was priceless and we then had to use one of the spare PFDs for the rest of the race. Now we know what happens to an auto PFD and why you need to carry spares.

Our experience with our first B2G race in 2018 was that in heavy weather no one eats much, so we took a lot of finger-food that could be eaten on the rail. We ate things like salad rolls, BBQ sausages, home-made pies, fruit, biscuits, lollies, trail mix, chocolate, and Doc’s rice pudding. Seasickness impacted a few crew, but was managed with the appropriate meds. All of our crew finished the race in one piece and our mascot toy dog SALTY survived, too – just a bit wet. Other boats and crew were not so lucky – there were 11 DNF’s including most of the favorites for line honours and IRC, with a couple of crew injuries including one needing to be air-lifted off in a medical evacuation.

We crossed the line in 6th place after 32 hours and 12 mins, we won the line honors trophy for a yacht under 37 feet and came 2nd in Division Two on both IRC and PHRF. A great result for our J/111!

The boat went very well, with all three people on helm enjoying the challenge of the ride. The only boat damage sustained was one A3 kite and the broken toilet lid. If only we’d not been a few minutes late for the start. Oh well, next time!"

 

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J/105 BREEZIN' BAYOU Smokes St Pete NOOD

J/112E's Sweep Doublehanded Class

(St Petersburg, FL)- The Helly Hansen St Petersburg NOOD Regatta was sailed over a three-day weekend last week with simply spectacular sailing conditions on Tampa Bay. Wait a minute, is that a "typo"? Spectacular sailing conditions at St Pete? While having earned an unenviable reputation for having at least one day of any winter regatta spent working on suntans or hiding in the shade, this year's event more than made up for any past sins committed by the weather Godz in the past decade!  


Loving the conditions were not just the sailors, but the St Petersburg Yacht Cub Race Committee team. For three-straight days of racing it was almost a "set it and forget it" race course setup for all race circles. Overall, J/Crews had amazing performances across the board, from one-designs to handicap racing.

In the North Sails Doublehanded Distance Race division, the J/112E's dusted off their class. Winning was Harvey Ford and Tom Mistele's SILVER SURFER, followed by Chris Zibailo's DOPODOMANI. Rounding out the podium was yet another J/team- Tarry Grimsdale and Bill Wingrove's J/35 ROCKET! A sweep to say the least! Yet another J/35- Jose Suarezhoyos' NO WAY JOSE took the bronze in their Cruising World Rally Race. 


The J/24s saw Eammon Delisser's MAIN SQUEEZE never let off fire-walling the gas pedal as they cruised to a mere 10 pts total for the class win; e.g. 10 points in 10 races means all bullets. Doh! So much for eviscerating the locals.  Mike Beattie's DAZE OFF collected a meaningful number of deuces to collect.....drum roll please.... the silver! Kudos to Katie Nelson's YELLOW TAIL team as she collected mostly "treys" to take home the bronze medal. 


By contrast, the relative stratification of the top J/24s teams was not reflected in the J/70 class. After three days of racing, it was the final race on the final day that determined who beat whom.  In the end, it was Matt Braun's ELE that won both the Corinthian Division and the Open Division by one point over Alex Meleney's TRUCKIN. Third was Chris Schoendorf's TAZ just three points back. 


The big winner in the regatta was Stephen Mitcham's J/105 BREEZIN BAYOU, posting nearly all bullets to win their PHRF 2 Class by a big margin. Second was Bob Wetmore's J/29 FAMILY CIRCUS and taking fourth place was George Cussins' J/105 FIRE & ICE. In PHRF 3 Class, Herb Maguire's J/22 HOLY MOLY took fourth place. 


Watch J/105 video in fast trim.

Sailing photo credits- Paul Todd/ OUTSIDE IMAGES.com.  For more Helly Hansen St Petersburg NOOD Regatta sailing information

 

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Cubria Wins J/24 Campeonato del Centro de la Republica

(Lago San Roque, Argentina)- As part of their traditional summer series way "down under", our friends in Argentina love to take their boats to the base of the spectacular snow-capped Andes Mountain range to a gorgeous lake in the foothills known as Lago San Roque. Google map the location. It will blow you away. A visual feast for land-locked sailors, an eye-opener for those accustomed to the wide-open seas. For the "locals", it's just another opportunity to have fun with family and friends, some of them owners of famous local vineyards you may know as the "malbec" varietal.

This year, the occasion was the ninth anniversary of the Campeonato Central hosted by the Club Nautico Cordoba in Villa Carlos Paz in the mountains. How popular is "mountain" sailing to Argentinean J/24 teams?! Well, an amazing twenty teams from across the country showed up for some fun in the sun in the mountains. 


This year the fleet was blessed. There were three days of mild winds from the northeast across the placid waters of Lago San Roque. Seven races were impeccably managed by Race Officer Leo Rivas. In the end, the winner of the event was Nico Cubria's RINA and his crew of Mario Cubria, Guille Aporszegui and Guillermo Bellinotto.

Taking the silver was Javier Moyano's GRAN CARAJO with crew of Hugo Camele, Adrian Berelejs, and Javier Macheu. Third was Ramiro Camilotta's PURA VIDA with team of Carlos Trigo, Pablo Fabre, and Martin Caruso. 

Taking fourth and the top women's team was Trixi Agusti's CARNBURY with team of Lucrecia Arrambide, Rocio Agusti, Candelani Berbenian, and Mariana Felix.  For more Campeonato el Centro de la Republica sailing information  For more Argentinean J/24 sailing information

 

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CHECKMATE Crowned J/24 Victoria State Champions

(Victoria, Australia)- Recently the Sandringham Yacht Club hosted their annual Victoria States J/24 Championship. The fleet was blessed with gorgeous sunny weather, winds ranging from 4 to 18 kts, the breeze starting northwest and shifting to the southwest on both days. Choppy seas made for difficult steering conditions upwind, with teams making the hard choice of which jib to use in the upper wind ranges- the 150% genoa or the 100% jib. The fleet was unusually over-eager and aggressive on the starting line, with lots of general recalls, restarts, U-flags and even several U-flag DSQs! 

After an eight-race series, it was Brendan Lee's CHECKMATE that consistently powered their way to victory, winning four races and counting only podium finishes to win by a significant margin. Taking the silver was Warren Campbell's J-FORCE, posting all top five finishes for a cumulative score of 22 pts.  The bronze went to Adam Keyes-Tilley's BAILE DE LUNA with 28 pts total. Rounding out the top five were Hugo Ottoway's BRUSCHETTA VI and Warren Slater's JAB in fourth and fifth, respectively.


Winning the PHS handicap division was Darren Cuttsy's JOYRIDE, followed by Richard Taylor's HAYWIRE in second and Chris Ravesi's PANAREA in third position. 

A big thank you to Sandringham YC Race Management and PRO Warren Campbell and the Committee for putting on a fabulous event. Plus, thanks to our contributors, Carina Tomietto, Craig Wiley, Adam Keyes-Tilley. More posts, video and info on the Victoria J/24 Facebook page.  For more Australia J/24 class sailing information

 

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THE Easter Regatta

(Columbia, SC)- Sailed in J/24s since 1987, THE Easter Regatta has been one of the world’s most popular and enduring J/24 events. It offers an excellent mix of shore side events and world-class competition. Whether you are an amateur team attending your first regatta or a professional team contending for the top prize, you will find something that impels you to return year after year!


The Columbia Sailing Club offers first-class facilities, such as the new Bath House at the beach and camping area! Their “never-leave-the-club” option offers free camping (first-come, first-served), meals every day, and parties galore! The beautiful peninsula and gorgeous beach provide an unparalleled camping experience. Most importantly, the down-home southern hospitality tied everything together. This is the tradition that J/24 competitors have come to know and love. 


The fourteen J/24s were thrilled to be sailing on Lake Murray. Three races were completed, and it was a battle to the wire. Winning by just one point was Chris Stone's VELOCIDAD over Charles Bumgardner USA 555. James Howard's CLASSIC completed the podium. Rounding out the top five was John Hirsch's DAZE OFF in fourth and Fred Wiedeke's CARAMELLA in fifth position.  For more J/24 Easter Regatta sailing information

 

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J/Community

What friends, alumni, and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide

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J/Net Brokerage Specials! Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world here.  

2005 J/133 For Sale

The J/133 is the embodiment of the J/Boats ethos - setting a new standard for race-winning speed under multiple handicap systems, stability for shorthanded cruising, durability for rough offshore passages, an easy to manage sail plan and performance cruising comfort. 

The J/133's generous sail plan provides performance in both breeze and light airs, and with a low center of gravity, makes for short handed stability while eliminating the need for multiple sail changes across wind speed bands. 

Her generous cockpit and aft led lines deck layout transit readily from day sailing, to single handling to fully race crewed. 

J-HAWK features the coveted performance cruising triple cabin interior and was factory loaded with many upgrade packages including her deluxe satin finished cherry joinery, a well-equipped double sink galley with refrigeration, stove and microwave, and Ultra-Leather pearl upholstery. Comfortable sleeping for 6 combined with excellent storage systems in each cabin plus port and starboard seating in the main salon provides comfort space and luxury for anything from day trips to blue water passage making. A MUST SEE cruising sailboat to fulfill your dreams of sailing the Seven Seas! Learn more about this J/133 brokerage sailboat for sale here- https://jnet.jboats.com/listings/2005-J133-YCgd7FzU

Easter J/70 Coaching Weekend

Organized by NORTH SAILS' Marshall King, the J/70 UK Class Coaching Weekend featured multiple world champions Andrew "Dog” Palfrey and Elliot Willis putting the ten J/70 teams through their paces. Enjoy the photos from Louay Habib and a "big Thank You" to Ian Wilson for the RIB ride and banter! 


The UK J/70 class starts off their Grand Slam Series with the Warsash SC Spring Championships on the weekend of April 17th and 18th.  For more UK J/70 Class sailing information
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J/Newsletter- February 17th, 2021

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. 
 

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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.
 

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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
 

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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
 

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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)

The dates of the German Junior Sailing League:

• 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)

Follow the Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga on Facebook here   For more Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga information
 

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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

 ⠀Follow Russian J/70 Sailing League on Facebook here   For more Russian J/70 Sailing League information
 

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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
 

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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
 

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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
 

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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.
 

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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
 

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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 jacket
 

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Sailing Calendar

Feb 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 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.
 

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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
 

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J/Community

What friends, alumni, and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide

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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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