J/Newsletter- January 6th, 2021

Happy New Year and Best Wishes and Success in 2021 to J/Crews all over the world. May fair winds carry you swiftly to wherever you wish to go; be that cruising, daysailing, or racing offshore.  

Retrospectively, we wish to thank all “front line” first responders that have helped all of us over the course of the past year to survive the pandemic. Many J/Sailors we know of are nurses, doctors, police, fire, and EMT’s…thank goodness for them and their dedication. Our love and God Speed for them…may they persevere, endure, stay healthy, and help us eclipse this scourge that has afflicted us. May we, together, overcome it in 2021!
 

---

J/9 Daysailer Update!

(Newport, RI)- If the huge buzz of J/9 activity is any indication, the demand for modern, comfortable daysailers is back! Not since the daysailer boom of 2003-2008 have we seen such strong interest. The J/9 announcement has generated more inquiries in three weeks than even the J/70 in 2011!

J/9 Tooling Update

The beautifully faired and finished J/9 hull plug was recently completed at Symmetrix Composite Tooling, and the hull mold is well underway and on target to complete at CCF Composites. Hull #1 is on schedule to mold in January. The deck plug is in the final fairing and finishing stage at Symmetrix and is due for final nonskid application in early January.


Both Al and Jeff Johnstone of J/Boats and members of the Symmetrix Team (ranging in height from 5’4” – 6’2”) tested out the cockpit seating and walk-through transom. The forward corner seats offer J/122E-like protection behind the cabin. With the tiller extension, you can steer the boat from the front of the cockpit, under the dodger, and reach all the controls – perfect if having to sail in adverse weather. The aft corner seats are equally as comfy, and the cockpit coamings are the perfect height for arm rests. The addition of dedicated cockpit drains enables the main cockpit floor to be lower to provide more comfortable, deeper seating and better bracing while standing and steering.

Fun J/9 FAQs

Following are some follow-up questions that have come in since the J/9 announcement.

Can I add an auto-pilot to the J/9? 
Yes, either an above deck or below decks auto pilot can be installed aftermarket.

Why are the jib tracks on the cabin top and not the side deck? 
We learned from the J/99 that the optimal upwind jib lead sheeting angles are generally between 8 and 9 degrees depending on the wind strength and sea state. But to do that on the J/99 (and most other boats) one must rig in-haulers. The J/9 gets rid of all that clutter with jib tracks installed on an 8.5 degree sheeting angle with easy trimming right to the cabin top winches. Tacking between cabin top winches is much easier than primary winches (no scrambling across the cockpit needed). This one, small change significantly cleans up the side decks.

How does the mainsheet system work? 
This is the first J with the primary mainsheet purchase at the end of the boom and the sheet tail coming out mid-boom into the cockpit near the tiller. Instead of a bulky traveler with cars, blocks, purchase, control lines, etc. the J/9 will have a mainsheet purchase that floats on a double Dyneema strop. For 90% of one’s daysailing needs, the double strop attaches to a centerline pad-eye aft of the tiller (much like leaving a traditional traveler centered). Then for the occasional times one wants to optimize centerline boom sheeting, each strop can be quickly moved outboard to a pad-eye (P&S) to create a triangle bridle – similar to the set-up seen on the Olympic 470 and 49er. This is another solution that visually reduces clutter, simplifies sailing, and doesn’t give away performance.

What size outboard do you recommend? 
The ideal outboard for the J/9 will be a 6HP. A 5HP could be sufficient in protected waters without strong tides. The final design for the outboard bracket is in process and will include a tilt-up position so the outboard can remain on the transom while sailing.

Can you tell us more about the electric inboard option? 
We’re reviewing several electric options including a new product coming online in 2021 from our long-time diesel engine supplier Mack-Boring. We’re not able to share specifics yet, but are planning to test out a system on hull #1, before signing off on the final option.

Will there be a bow sprit option? 
The J/9 is designed for main-only or main & jib-only sailing, but we will be offering a sprit option for those wanting to fly an overlapping A-Sail. We are finalizing the design for a 2-3’ fixed carbon sprit option that matches the bow profile of the boat (similar to the J/99) and that will be packaged with all the necessary rigging and blocks. This option will be available to add aftermarket.  For more J/9 daysailer sailing information
 

---

J/45 Offshore Cruising Yacht Update!

(Les Sables d'Olonne, France)- Dreaming of expanding your cruising horizons across the Seven Seas? Why not in the NEW J/45 offshore sailing yacht! Work is proceeding swiftly on this exciting new world cruiser in France.


Watch this amazing time-lapse video of the first J/45 hull being resin-infused under vacuum pressure at J/Composites in Les Sables d'Olonne, France. 

Learn more about the revolutionary vacuum resin-infusion system and watch J/Composite’s Fred Bouvier explain (in French with English subtitles) how it all works.


Learn more about the new J/45 offshore sailing yacht here.
 

---

J/80 Worlds Announcement!

(Newport, RI)- The Royal Danish Yacht Club is looking forward to hosting the J/80 World Championship in 2021 from July 3rd to 9th, 2021. J/80 sailing is a very fundamental part of the Club.

The event will take place at Rungsted Harbour approximately 15 km north of downtown Copenhagen. This harbour is one of 3 stations that RDYC runs and it is the station where the club have its J/80 fleet. So, J/80 sailing in this part of the Öresund is huge.

The event will be run as a "sustainability regatta"; meaning among other activities, that we will work hard to minimize paper and try to make as much run electronically off solar and wind power.

And, when you are not on the water, there will be a lot of social activities near the harbour. Copenhagen is fantastic in July – just to mention Tivoli, Canal Touring, Elsinore Castle, Nyhavn and Bakken. And, for those not sailing, Copenhagen shopping is world famous. Please come join us and rejoice in sailing again on the gorgeous Baltic Sea! This regatta is an "open" event, so please come one, come all! Danish hospitality is world-famous!  Register your team here on Manage2Sail.com  For more 2021 J/80 World Championship sailing information
 

---

J/70 European Championship Announcement

(Skovshoved, Copenhagen, Denmark)- The Royal Danish Yacht Club is looking forward to hosting the J/70 European Championship from June 4th to 12th, 2021. 

The event will take place at Rungsted Harbour approximately 15 km north of downtown Copenhagen. This harbour is one of 3 stations that Royal Danish YC runs. 

The RDYC has been a strong support of the growth of the Danish J/70 Sailing League and their efforts have led the way for well over eighteen sailing clubs in their small nation to participate and elevate the level of competitiveness for Danish sailors on a world-class level. The KDY/ RDYC have been able to achieve tremendous success in the SAILING Champions League in the past few years; an event that has been held at the YC Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy for the past few years.

As in years past, the KDY/ RDYC are anticipating up to 100 J/70 teams will be participating in the J/70 European Championships on the Baltic Sea.  For more J/70 European Championship sailing and registration information
 

---

J/70 North American Championship Announcement

(Annapolis, MD)- The 2021 J/70 North American Championship, hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC), will be held May 10-15, 2021 in Annapolis, Maryland.  Registration is now open.  The event will be limited to the first 60 registered boats that are 100% paid in full.  All boats registered after the first 60 will be put on a waiting list.  The hope is that we will be able to expand the entries if pandemic-related restrictions are eased.  For more J/70 North American Championship sailing and registration information
 

---

St Petersburg NOOD Regatta Announcement

(St. Petersburg, FL)- Sailing World magazine and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club are delighted to announce the 2021 edition of the HELLY HANSEN St Petersburg NOOD Regatta will be taking place later in the spring this year- from April 2nd to 4th, 2021 in St. Petersburg, FL. 

The usual classes are invited to participate, including J/22s, J/24s, J/70s, J/88s, and PHFR handicap classes. Sailing photo credits- Paul Todd/ Outsideimages.com  For St Petersburg NOOD Regatta registration information  For more St Petersburg NOOD Regatta sailing information
 

---

Annapolis to Newport Race Announcement

(Annapolis, MD)- The Annapolis Yacht Club is pleased to announce the Notice of Race for the 2021 Annapolis to Newport Race has been posted and online entry is now open. This will be 38th biennial edition of the Race, which originated in 1947.  Starts will take place on Friday, June 4th and Saturday, June 5th.

In order to deal with the complications of Covid-19 we have made a few adjustments to the format:

Given current the current public health climate in Maryland and Rhode Island, we are unable to commit to the social components of the event at this time, including the pre-start All Hands Competitors’ Party at Annapolis Yacht Club, and the Hospitality Tent and Awards Party in Newport.  The resulting good news is that gives us the opportunity to significantly reduce the entry fee to a flat $700 per boat, if paid by March 15th.  By comparison, a 40’ boat paid a $1,400 entry fee in 2019.  The popular social events of the race are still on our radar and if the public health situation improves, we may be able to add some or all to the schedule. Social events will be charged on a per person basis, separately from the entry fee. 
    
Entry fees are fully refundable if the race is cancelled, or a boat withdraws before May 21st.
    
The registration process has been streamlined so that all entry requirements or paperwork can be completed online, by email or fax, so that only a quick, socially distanced visit to Annapolis Yacht Club to pick up the YB tracker will be required. 
    
Trophies will be awarded via a virtual Awards Presentation if we are unable to host an in-person event.
    
Our very popular seminar series on boat and crew preparation will be presented virtually via Zoom Webinar.  The first "What to Expect Seminar on Sails, Rigging and Electronics" is scheduled for Saturday, February 20th at 1000 EST. 
    
The official event site https://www.annapolisnewportrace.com/ will continue to be populated with information including event partners.  At this time, we’d like to thank Spinsheet, Helly Hansen and Team One Newport for joining us again and supporting the 2021 Annapolis to Newport Race.    

In 2021, we will be offering starts for boats rated under the ORC and PHRF rules, including an ORC Double Handed division and a Classic Yacht division rated under PHRF.

Some good things remain the same:

• As in the past several races, there will be two starts, with the slower ORC and PHRF boats and the Double Handed division starting on Friday, June 4th and the faster boats on Saturday, June 5th.
• All boats will sail the offshore course, leaving the Chesapeake and rounding Chesapeake Light Tower.
• We will provide a truck to transport your gear to and from Newport.
• Arrangements have been made for discounted dockage at Newport Yachting Center.

For more Annapolis to Newport Race sailing information

 

---

Bittersweet Chocolate Doublehanded Regatta Announcement

(San Francisco, CA)- The Bittersweet Chocolate Doublehanded J/105 Regatta will be on Sunday, January 10th, starting and finishing near Buoy X in front of Golden Gate Yacht Club. Come one, come all! Borrow a boat! Already, four boats have signed up.  Here's the link to register:  https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21659#_docs

No entry fee, and the top three boats win some of Bruce's freshly baked bittersweet chocolate brownies, delivered on the water right after racing.  Note- that for all regattas going forward, both the NOTICE OF RACE and SAILING INSTRUCTIONS are important to download!!

Especially note the following in the NOR.  This is a "B" level event with the following exceptions:

• doublehanding- either of the crew can helm
• anyone can borrow/ charter a J/105
• the driver can move anywhere on the boat
• a spinnaker retrieval tack line is allowed. 

These exceptions change Fleet One Rule 3.1 and J/105 Class rule 7.5.

By allowing anyone to borrow/ charter a J/105 and come out racing, this is intended to promote the wonderful experience of sailing J/105s on the Bay, and possibly inspire purchase.  It also rewards your experienced crew to try their hand (if you'll lend them the boat). Plus, doublehanding a J/105 is fun and a great challenge!

In terms of additional doublehanded racing, we anticipate a good turn-out of J/105s for the SSS's Three Bridge Fiasco on January 30th. Thereafter, the San Francisco J/105 fleet will host another doublehanded regatta on Valentine's Day, February 14th! 

Entry is free, and you may review the NOR and SI's and sign-up here.

When you register, we suggest you list your crew as an additional owner so we can know who is racing.  Alternatively, you can register as a team of two under the crew section and then add the crew there.

Our PRO Don Wieneke will once again send us off at the start, this time either from a boat or from the shore, while we'll take our own times at the finish.  The top three finishers will receive my famous bittersweet chocolate brownies. Feel free to contact Don or myself if you have any questions.  Looking forward to seeing you on the water in January.

Feel free to contact Bruce Stone for more J/105 sailing information- email- bruce@brucestone.com or call- 917-822-4060. Sailing photo credit- Will Keyworth.  For more Bittersweet Chocolate Doublehanded Regatta sailing information
 

---

"Watership Down Series" Announcement

(Phoenix, Arizona)- This year long regatta has been designed to provide sailors of all skill levels a different approach to utilizing their skills and competition on the water.  Though not a normal part of a Notice of Race, and before diving into the Sailing Instructions, this is meant to give an overview of the event and explain the “why” behind many of its aspects.

• The races will be distance races, therefore, one race per day.
• Registrants will enter as Co-Skipper teams and must share the helm pro-rata.
• Throw-outs, if any, must follow the pro-rata skipper ratio.
• Rating bonuses and penalties will be done on a percentage basis, not a fixed amount, in order to maintain a level playing field across all boats.
• The short-handed aspect goes for competitors and Race Committee, thus the Rabbit Start.
• The short-handed idea goes for both skill and our social distancing guidelines.
• Regarding social distancing, we have noticed, through conversations and social media, that most folks have started hanging out in small, contained groups again, and from what we can tell, most groups resemble their crews.  - The entire crew may not be there, but a partial crew is, thus, the short-handed structure.
• Pay attention to the allowed number of crew per LOA of the boat being sailed as there are both penalties and bonuses related to this.
• Pay attention to the Rabbit changing every race and the rules surrounding the Rabbit.
• Throw-outs come at the very end, so this series will not be decided until the very end.
• Building on this, pay attention to DNCs being registrants plus one, not competitors plus one.
• Understand the age bonuses, both young and old!
• Please note that the team registers, not a boat.  
• The team may race different boats every race per skipper availability, crew availability, etc. 
• If you want to participate but do not have a boat, let us know. We have quite a few!

The underlying idea is simple – come race, different boat, different crew, different helmsman, different approach on any given day.

Victor and his friends at TILLER & KITES have a number of beautifully restored J/24s to sail- all pretty bright pink!  


For more Watership Down Series sailing information
 

---

January Special for a J/Duffel!

(Newport, RI)- Ronstan has been in the performance sailing business for years and they have designed a quality duffel that is perfect for racing or cruising. Ample space in the 24"x12"x12" dimension with wide grip carry strap. Inside wet pouch keeps the dry clothes separate. Rugged stitching and large top loading flap. Embroider with your class logo, boat name, and sail number.  We are offering a 21% discount for the month of January! Click here to order now!
 

---

Sailing Calendar

Jan 14-17- Monaco J/70 Winter Series- Monte Carlo, Monaco
Jan 16-18- J/111 Key West Winter Series- Key West, FL
Jan 21- STC Lauderdale to Key West Race- Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jan 22-24- J/70 Bacardi Winter Series II- Miami, FL
Feb 4-7- Monaco J/70 Winter Series- Monte Carlo, Monaco
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 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.
 

---

J/70 Sailors Factor @ Yacht Club Monaco Awards- TROPHÉE CREDIT SUISSE 2020

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The traditional Winter Cocktail Party, which welcomes new members before the YCM Awards - Trophée Credit Suisse are presented, went ahead this year albeit remotely in compliance with the current health situation. 

Yacht Club de Monaco President, HSH the Sovereign Prince Albert II, rewarded sailors who proudly fly the Principality’s colors and have made a mark on the world’s race areas. As J/Sailors recall, Prince Albert was a J/24 sailor for two decades in Monaco and actively supports the J/70 fleet today.

A regular on the J/70 regatta scene, Pierrik Devic received a special prize for his excellent results in the Laser Master. Having embarked on this physically tough Olympic class boat, he won the Euro Master Circuit 2020 in the Laser Radial Master category and clinched 4th place in his category at the Laser Master European Championship. 

The YCM Awards 2020 also recognizes members who have best defended the Club’s burgee during the past year. In the YC Monaco’s flagship J/70 class with 17 boats flying the burgee, Ludovico Fassitelli took the honours as he did last year. He finished 3rd in the 2019/2020 Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series at the end of 20 races, 1st in the Med Cup, 7th in the Malcesine J/70 Cup, 5th in the J/70 Italian Championship and winner in the Corinthian (amateur) category. 

The coveted "YCM Sailor of the Year" 2020 award went to Lord Irving Laidlaw (Highland Fling), nominated three years in a row since 2017, for the sum of his successes in the world’s most prestigious races. He talked of his passion and what motivates him, “I like new challenges, but above all I love getting a project to work and making it a success, which is not easy. It means finding the right boat, a good crew, organizing the training sessions. Everything must dovetail to perfection. What inspires me most is winning. I love competing but I prefer winning races even more”. 

Where did Lord Laidlaw first learn how to compete at a world-class level? He sailed J/24s for nearly two decades in the United Kingdom, Italy, and across Europe.

Lord Laidlaw is not only passionate about sailing, but he is also a committed philanthropist focused on young people through his Laidlaw Foundation. This revolves around three main principles: 

• fighting inequality and poverty through education
• inspiring young people to believe in their potential to be tomorrow’s leaders
• supporting young women to achieve top class business degrees and take their place in the business world. 

With the dawning of a new year, the YCM fully intends to maintain its course when it comes to innovative projects like the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (6-10 July 2021). This annual event transforms the Club into an incubator supporting R&D in the shipping sector, stimulating the creativity of tomorrow’s engineers and professionals to devise propulsion systems using only clean energy.  For more YC Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information

 

---

J/Community

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

-----------

* Love retro reviews of some of the most iconic J/Boats in the sailing world?

We will pass along some more in the next few weeks from SAILING ANARCHY.com.  For this first week in January, we have Sailing Anarchy.com founder Scot Tempesta taking you on a tour of the J/145 offshore racer cruiser.

As a quick backgrounder, the J/145 was a "follow-on" design to the famous offshore silver-winning speedster- the J/125. It was created as a request by J/Boats owners (most of whom started with the world-famous J/24) to have a "more comfortable" version of the J/125 for their family, while still having "cruise-ability". 

Well, the specification for the J/145 was a bit O.T.T. (yes, over the top). Like the J/125, it was constructed of a combination of foam core and balsa core with a combination of carbon fiber layers, vacuum-infused in triple layers (outer skin, core, inner skin). That construction specification made for a robust, strong, lightweight, amazingly quick offshore racer/cruiser.

For those who have sailed J/145s, it's an "eye-opening" experience. No one expects what looks like a family cockpit, wheel-steered, cabin with opening ports, sailboat to have a PHRF rating of -15! Seriously?

Another shocker is the interior... a REAL navigation station, a REAL J-shaped galley (offshore friendly), and enough room to sail an offshore crew in seriously comfortable Ritz-Carlton/ Peninsula Hotel comfort fashion (at least by most offshore racer standards!).

Enjoy this YouTube video tour of a nicely appointed J/145 here by Scot Tempesta from Sailing Anarchy.

* J/35 Learn to Sail Classes

Hey! Have you ever wanted to learn to sail a big sailboat? On January 24th at 1:00 we are starting a Zoom class on how to sail. There will be five lessons out of a book (provided by our instructor) and starting in late April there will be five on the boat lessons. The cost is $750.00, but you will get your money back if you race on any sailboat between June and September. We have put over 30 new people on the water racing in the last two years. This is open to all, and it just might be an opportunity to get the teenagers involved. Ian Pouliot is our class instructor. Ian has over 35 years of racing sailboats. He is the current instructor at North Star Sail Club for Junior sailors. Ian is also a sail maker and has just a wealth of knowledge about sailing.

The sailboat for you to get involved with is called a J/35. It is 35 feet long, weighs 10,500 lbs, and is the most iconic sailboat ever designed. It was the first sailboat to be inducted into the United States Sailboat Hall of Fame. It was designed by Rod & Bob Johnstone in the early 80s. We have enough boats to race ONE DESIGN (very important) all summer out of North Star SC. You will have a chance to learn the lines (ropes?) and positions on a J/35. Sign up with a friend and take this experience with you for the rest of your life.

You can call me- Mike Fitzgerald- at (248) 790-0666 or call Ian (586) 295-9344 and get registered. This is a great chance to get involved with a new sport that you will take with you even when you're in your 80s. I say that because I am 70!!

J/Newsletter- December 2nd, 2020

This past week was a cause for celebration in some cases and a pause for reflection, sadly, on others.

On the positive side, the J/9 daysailer project is in full swing and interest is growing exponentially for the new line of daysailing boats by the J/Design team. The extraordinary enthusiasm for the J/9 has already resulted in production slots pushed out into the third quarter of 2021! 

Also, on a positive note, the Spanish J/80 Class managed to host their incredibly popular annual event called the Campeonato J/80 Mundialito in the famous sand spit encircled bay of Santander, Spain. The heavily talented fleet included three former J/80 World Champions! 

On the reflective aspect of our sailing and family lives is that fact that some of our good sailing friends pass along in their lives. Two very well-known members of the J/Community passed recently.  Eight Bells to David Irish from Harbor Springs, Michigan and Kevin Burnham from Miami, Florida....both avid J/Sailors, supporters, and enthusiasts over the past 40 years.
 

---

J/9 Daysailer Created with Space-X Precision!

Awesome Symmetrix 5-axis CNC Makes Perfect Hull & Deck

(Newport, RI)- Exciting news! J/9 hull and deck plug construction has been completed by Symmetrix Composite Tooling in Bristol, Rhode Island. Symmetrix is the most advanced precision tooling company in New England and carved both the J/9 hull and deck plugs using the state-of-the-art CMS Poseidon 5-axis Machining System.


This machine has an overhead computer-controlled universal robotic cutter head that runs down calibrated tracks on top of the walls from one end to the other and can reach almost anywhere within the space. 


Symmetrix engineers analyzed the J/9 3D design models provided by J/Boats using the Siemens NX11 CAD/CAM software and ran a series of simulations to arrive at final machining instructions for the 5-axis milling machine.  The Siemens NX11 software is a quantum leap forward in delivering tooling not just quickly, but also accurately.


The same machine is used at leading edge, high-tech aerospace companies like Boeing, SpaceX, and McDonnell Douglas. The NX10 gives Symmetrix complete surface model control and simulation in full 5-axis machining instructions; it can achieve tolerance within 1 millimeter over a 26-meter surface and in a fraction of the time.

Then, the exciting part starts. First, the steel backbone frame with foam blocking is milled to within an inch or two of the final plug surfaces (all milled foam is recycled, BTW). Then, the plug and foam are encased by fiberglass/epoxy reinforcement. Finally, an epoxy milling paste is applied over the glass.  The part returns to the milling machine for a second and final precision machining operation to take it to the final surface.  Hand-sanding to 800 grit and buffing to a mirror shine then completes the effort.


Exciting times! J/9 hull plug on the move! 

From initial steel framing construction, to precision milling operations, to the final polishing, the process to build a complete mirror finish hull/ deck plug took just 7 weeks. Production molds are under construction at CCF Composites and thereafter the J/9 production begins after January 2021. Learn more about the exciting new J/9 daysailer here
 

---

J/Gear HOLIDAY 20% OFF Specials!

(Newport, RI)- Believe it or not, it is just about time to get into the holiday spirit of things. The year-end is fast approaching and now is as good a time as any to give some thoughts to your holiday shopping for your crew, family, and friends.

We are offering a 20% discount on all orders excluding the following: J/Models, J/Prints and J/Calendars.

The discount code is- JB2020XS.  It will be effective October 1st through November 28th, 2020.

Attention J/Boat owners- because of the demand for customization, we encourage "early ordering" in an effort to meet holiday gift dates. 

NOTE- The J/Class logo of your choice can embroidered on the front. We can also customize with your detail. Perfect for the whole crew!  For more information and to buy now.
 

---

Sailing Calendar

Nov 28-30- Mundialito J/80 Regatta- Santander, Spain
Dec 1-6- J/70 South American Championship- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dec 4-6- J/22 Jammin Jamaica Regatta- Montego Bay, Jamaica
Dec 4- Wirth M Munroe Memorial Race- Palm Beach, FL
Dec 5- Hot Rum Series III- San Diego, CA 
 

---

MERCURY Crowned J/80 Mundialito Champion

(Santander, Spain)- Remarkably, the Spanish J/80 Class was able to host their annual J/80 Campeonato Mundialito on the gorgeous bay off Santander, Spain this past weekend. In the end, after four races sailed, it was Jaime Piris Turner's MERCURY that won the regatta counting just podium finishes.

On Saturday afternoon, two races were sailed in the bay, with a northeast wind of about ten knots. Starting fast out of the box, Piris- Turner's MERCURY team scored two bullets to throw down the gauntlet in front several notable J/80 World Champions. They were followed at day's end by Pablo Colvee's RAITAN in second with two 3rd places and by Daniel de la Pedraja's EDIFICIO CASTELAR in third with a 5-2 tally. 

Things looked good for the MERCURY team as Sunday dawned with less wind, though another beautiful day. The day started off with an hour postponement, and the RCN Santander PRO finally started the last two races in a northeast breeze of 6 to 8 kts. 

In the third race on Sunday, EDIFICIO CASTELAR prevailed, followed by MERCURY and Manuel Vidal de la Peña’s RACANO. By the end of the race, the wind nearly died off. However, within the next half hour rebuilt back to the 6 to 8 kts range. For the final race, J/80 World Champion Ignacio Camino Rodriguez's SOLITAL won, followed by another J/80 World Champion in second- Jose Maria "Pichu" Torcida's FREDO ESTRELLA DEL NORTE. Rounding out the final race podium was Jaime Yllera Secades' COMPESCA. 

As a result of Sunday's outcomes, it was the MERCURY team prevailing with a 1-1-2-11, winning with 4 pts net. Taking the silver on a tie-breaker of 8 pts net was Pedraja's EDIFICIO CASTELAR with a 5-2-1-9 tally. They won the countback over Pichu Torcida's FREDO ESTRELLA DEL NORTE with a 2-9-4-2 record. Rounding out the top five was Jaime Yllera Secades' COMPESCA in fourth and David Madrazo's ZONA FRANCA SANTANDER in fifth position.  For more J/80 Mundialito Santander Regatta sailing information
 

---

J/Community

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

-----------
* J/Net Brokerage Specials! Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world here:  https://jnet.jboats.com/


Beautiful 2006 J/133 available in The Netherlands. The ideal mid-40s length racer/cruiser…and a winner of The Sailing World Magazine Overall Boat of the Year, J/133 is a yacht with the stability for short-handed cruising, race winning speed under IRC & PHRF, durability for rough offshore passages. Add in the retractable carbon bowsprit and flying and handling the asymmetrical spinnaker becomes a breeze. Viewing is possible, by appointment.  Learn more about this J/133 here

* Eight Bells- Dave Irish

With both sadness and fond remembrance, we want to share that Dave Irish passed peacefully yesterday morning, at home, with his family.

As some of you know, Dave founded Irish Boat Shop in 1961 and over the past 60 years built the company into a successful, thriving business with three locations in Northern Michigan and a team of almost 100 employees.

Dave loved "messing around with boats"; he particularly enjoyed the company of people who owned and played with boats.

Dave was a competitor. His sailboat racing took him all over the world. He competed in numerous national and world championship events. He was valued and well-liked for his ability to think strategically, to lead, and to do anything, on any boat, in any weather. He loved Michigan's Mackinac Races and achieved Old Goat status in both Bayview and Chicago yacht clubs, signifying completion of over 25 Mackinac races on each lake. 

Although competitive, Dave was always willing to share his knowledge and bring others along. It was rare to see Dave racing without a “junior” on his team, often driving the boat. The list of young adults that grew up under Dave’s wing sailboat racing is long and includes many who have participated at the highest levels of sailboat racing. Of his long list of accomplishments, I think he would say bringing up young sailors was right at the top of that list.

Dave understood that sailboat racing depends on sailing schools and yacht clubs. A founding member of the Little Traverse Yacht Club, he helped purchase the first clubhouse in 1968. In 2019, he played a similar role helping the Charlevoix Yacht Club construct a new clubhouse on Lake Charlevoix. Both sailing communities benefited from his unflagging support for youth sailing, and Dave personally mentored many young sailors, several of whom became professional sailors. He served the sport's national governing body, US Sailing, for 25 years, then spent 16 years on the Offshore Racing Council which merged into the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), where he served for many years as a Vice President and Executive Committee member.

Service to community characterized his life ashore, too. Dave served Harbor Springs as a councilman and as mayor. An early environmental activist, Dave was a founding member of the Little Traverse Conservancy. 

Dave was an avid outdoorsman and competitive athlete. He was a snow ski instructor at Boyne Highlands, then Nub’s Nob in the 1960's, and prided himself on owning skis of every description. Throughout his life he enjoyed the ski league at Nub's Nob, Nordic ski racing, heli-skiing, and backcountry skiing. When not skiing or sailing, he was a cyclist, runner, and late-in-life triathlete.

Dave is survived by his wife Ann; sister Ann Wilderom; daughters Tracy (John) Texter, Susan (Gary) Stewart, Perry (Rich) Hodgson, and son Colin (Carrie Maxson) Irish; 11 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Those who wish to honor Dave Irish's memory may do so by donating to the Little Traverse Conservancy, the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, Little Traverse Sailors, or Sail Charlevoix (Lake Charlevoix Mariners).

* Eight Bells- Kevin Burnham

It is with great sadness that World Sailing reports the passing of Kevin Burnham, aged 63, on Friday 27 November 2020 after a long, courageous battle with pulmonary disease.

Burnham is a three-time Olympic sailor and a two-time Olympic medalist for Team USA. He won Athens 2004 Olympic Gold with Paul Foerster and a Silver medal with Morgan Reeser at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Burnham and Foerster were named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year for their Gold medal performance and were nominated for Rolex World Sailor of the Year. Burnham also won a Gold medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games.

"The World Sailing community is deeply saddened to hear of Kevin Burnham's passing and on behalf of World Sailing, I extend our condolences to Kevin's family and friends," commented World Sailing President, Quanhai Li. "Kevin embodied the spirit of sailing with passion for competing and nurturing sailing talent worldwide. His energy and enthusiasm for the sport was unrivalled and he will forever be remembered for his kindness and outstanding achievements in the sport."

"On behalf of everyone at US Sailing, we are deeply saddened to learn about Kevin Burnham's passing and we send our condolences to the Burnham family during this difficult time," said Cory Sertl, President of US Sailing and Vice-President of World Sailing. "Kevin's accomplishments as a sailor are extraordinary and his Olympic spirit is iconic. We will remember the energy he had for coaching and teaching sailing. Kevin was an inspiration to so many and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him."

Burnham started sailing when he was eight and through to 18, he and his family went cruising every week and in the summer on a Columbia 22 and then a Morgan 30. Commenting in 2004, when he was nominated for Rolex World Sailor of the Year, Burnham said, "Initially, I was not interested in sailing. In fact, when I was 9, I used to sabotage the engine of the Columbia 22, so that we could not get out of the harbour and go sailing! I was more into surfing and tennis."

His focus and passion for sailing started to materialize in 1975 when he met Steve Benjamin at the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, Florida. Burnham commented, "At this time, I did not even know that sailing was an Olympic sport. Steve indicated to me that my physique was ideal to be a crew in a 470 and asked if I was interested in going out for a sail with him. The next day we went sailing in 15 to 20 knots of breeze in the 470. This was my first day of sailing a dinghy - a lot more exciting than the Sunday sailing days on the Columbia!!"

From there on, Burnham was hooked and aside from his Olympic journey, he was versatile sailor who competed in various boats and different racing formats over his exciting career. In ocean racing events, he competed at the Sydney-Hobart Race, Rolex Transatlantic Challenge, Newport to Bermuda Race, and won the 1989 Worrell 1000 Mile Race on 18-foot catamarans. Burnham was an 11-time U.S. National Champion.

Later in his career, Burnham coached sailing athletes in the U.S. and around the world preparing them for the highest levels of international competition. He especially loved coaching youth and Paralympic athletes.

[Ed. Note- on a personal level, I also met Kevin at Coral Reef YC because he was sailing with mutual friend- Steve Benjamin- in the 470 Midwinters (I was sailing with then Tufts teammate Fran Charles- current M.I.T. University Sailing Director). Later, Kevin expanded his experiences to sailing in J/24s for well over a decade with many top teams. In recent years, Kevin was involved in the evolution of the popular J/70 class, having started coaching top teams in Key West, Florida in the first J/70 Midwinters. His passion and enthusiasm to help and watch people "grow" as sailors was perhaps Kevin's most endearing attribute- with such a big heart, he truly cared and wanted to see people succeed. Plus, it was always fun to enjoy a few "greenies" with "the Burn" (as he was known by close friends) and share a few sea stories along the way. Always an entertaining time. He will be missed.]

His overall positive presence, incredible optimism, and never give up attitude will always be remembered.

We all send our condolences to wife Elizabeth Kratzig, son Eddie Burnham, daughter Kyla Burnham, brother Greg Burnham, his father Bruce Burnham and his friends and extended family.
Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/Newsletter- November 11th, 2020

It was a fascinating combination of events that were sailed this past week around the world. While several notable events were again canceled, like the French J/80 National Championship, the ones that did take place featured fun, challenging sailing.

Perhaps the most breathtaking turnout happened to be in China. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's annual 26.0nm Hong Kong Round Island Race had an impressive entry list of 227 boats from 14 classes including 7 one-design classes. The fleet included a J/70, J/80 one-design class, and handicap racing for a J/105, J/111, J/122E, J/111, and J/145. Lots of silver won by these J/Teams!

Off to their west, Russia's J/70 class had their TENZOR CUP by PROYachting finale at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia for the best J/70 teams in their vast country. It was the fourth and final regatta of that series that started in Moscow and went to the Konakovo River Club, Pirogovo, and closed in Sochi.

Headed still further west, the Spanish J/80 class started their first of three weekends racing in the Trofeo MRS Seguros de Cruceros series off Santander, Spain and hosted by the Real Club Maritimo de Santander. The dozen boat fleet has four J/80 World Championship titles amongst them...yikes!

Finally, going way, way west to the USA west coast, we find San Diego YC's infamous Hot Rum Series take place for an enthusiastic group of J/Sailors. Needless to say, not only did J/105 win the first race overall, it seemed like the whole J/105 class dominated overall in a fleet that also included a J/111, J/125, and three J/145s!
 

---

Hudson River Community Sailing J/80s Featured on NBC-TV 3rd Hour Show!

(New York, NY)- The NBC Today Show 3rd Hour ran a piece on Sadia Zaman- a 4th year student at the Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS) program, located at Chelsea Piers (near Hudson Yards) on the west side of New York city.  


See how this after school program in New York City teaches S.T.E.M. principles of science, technology, engineering, math and life skills through the sport of sailing! An enjoyable and insightful video of the HRCS program and how it has had life-changing impacts on kids lives in the greater NYC area.  For more J/80 one-design class sailboat information.  Watch NBC's Today Show 3rd Hour feature here.
 

---

Marblehead to Halifax Race 2021 Announcement

(Marblehead, MA)- Skipper John “Drew” Plominski is hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice. Plominski, whose boat was destroyed by lightning two years ago, was first in line to register for the 39th biennial Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean race to take place this coming summer.

"We’re thrilled to see Drew back for another try,” said Richard Hinterhoeller, Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron co-race director. Registration is now open for 2021, and we are expecting a robust fleet to compete."

Plominski’s 30-foot vessel, named Perseverance, was just about ready for the 2019 edition. Along with his wife and three friends, he planned to compete in the 363-mile biennial race to Nova Scotia in 2019.

The South Boston resident left his boat moored at the Columbia Yacht Club the night before the big race and was at his house, just a couple of blocks away, when he heard the loud noise that sounded like a boom and a crack, he said. 

“It was nuts,” Plominski remarked at the time, as he went down to inspect his boat.  “All the electronics were completely fried,” he said. As a result, it forced him to withdraw from the 2019 race.

His new boat is a J/40 named ARTEMISIA. He competed in the 2020 Beringer Cup race from Marblehead to Provincetown, MA. A good tune-up for the 363-mile race to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Marblehead-to-Halifax started in 1905 and has been held every other year, except during wartime. Called the “Grand Daddy of ocean races,” it's the premier New England coast sailing event.

The 2021 Notice of Race has been posted on the Marblehead to Halifax website at http://www.marbleheadtohalifax.com. According to BYC co-race director Karen Tenenbaum, “we think there is a lot of pent-up demand and sailors are anxious to get back on the water.”

The race is co-sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron of Halifax. For more information, please contact Ed Bell at Boston YC- email: Edbell40@gmail.com   For more Marblehead to Halifax Race sailing information
 

---

Changes for SORC "Islands in the Stream Series"

(Miami, FL)- The SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Circuit) winter plan for the 2020-21 Islands in the Stream Series in south Florida and the Bahamas has evolved due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event has seen growing popularity amongst enthusiastic offshore sailors in the J/Family. Over the past few seasons, a J/121, J/122, J/109, J/92, J/105, J/30, J/44, J/111, J/120, and J/130 have participated in some or all of the series.  Please see updates below.

2020-21 Islands in the Stream Series

• November 12, 2020: (REVISED) The 79th edition of the Nassau Cup Ocean Race, a 180 nm course from Miami to Nassau, leaving Great Isaac and Great Stirrup to starboard, is no longer possible due to current protocols in the Bahamas. Instead, an ocean race of approximately 178 nm will be held starting in and returning to Miami.   www.nassaucuprace.org

• December 5, 2020: (REVISED) The Wirth M Munroe Palm Beach Race, known as the “Race to the Buffett” to Sailfish Club of Florida’s legendary party, feast and awards presentation, is now a course from Lauderdale to Palm Beach and back.  www.sailfishclub.com/munroe

• January 21, 2021: The series then heads south for some "island time" with the Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race. The tropics in January provide the perfect spot to unwind with the Conch Grinder Race, and to enjoy the treasures and pleasures of Key West before the awards party at First Flight Island Bar and Restaurant (formerly Kelly’s Caribbean).  www.keywestrace.org

• February 17, 2021: It all wraps up with another trip to the Bahamas with the 2nd annual Eleuthera Race, starting off South Beach, Miami and finishing at the Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina.  www.eleutherarace.org   For more SORC Island in the Stream Series sailing information
 

---

Transforming Interest in Offshore Sailing

(London, England)- J/Boats has long supported shorthanded sailing in its various forms since 1977, starting with the introduction of the J/24. Designer Rod Johnstone's most favorite form of sailing and racing has been doublehanded, either with his wife- Lucia- or nephew Clay Burkhalter. Rod has done numerous events offshore on Long Island and Block Island Sounds or doing the Bermuda One-Two event multiple times. To that end, virtually all designs at J/Boats have taken into account the desire to make J's easily sailed singlehanded or doublehanded by young and old alike and by men or women.  With the advent of the Olympics 2024 Mixed Doublehanded Offshore event, J/Boats has been supporting the efforts by World Sailing to promote shorthanded offshore sailing. 

Here's a recent interview with Matt Allen; currently the Vice-Chair of World Sailing’s Oceanic and Offshore Committee and a respected person in offshore sailing.

The Australian, who has raced in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 30 times, winning on three occasions, provides insight on how Offshore Doubles is growing and why offshore sailing is thriving:

WS: Give some insight on the scope of your committee’s work?
MA: The Oceanic and Offshore Committee at World Sailing brings together many of stake holders in the world of offshore sailing. The Committee assists in coordinating the calendar of events of all the major oceanic races such as the Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race.

We are the final approval body for safety regulations for offshore sailing. This is an extremely important role, especially as we review major incidents and as technology allows improvements to safety outcomes.

Bringing standardization of measurement of a yacht for rating has been an important development. Much of our work in the last year has been focused on bringing mixed double handed sailing into the Olympic Games in 2024 and beyond.

WS: What evidence is there to suggest that Double Handed offshore sailing is growing so fast?
MA: Both global rating systems, namely ORC and IRC, have seen enormous interest and growth in their double handed certifications. Many of our races, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race here in Australia, have included double handed divisions into their races.

New boats are being designed and built and I see some very good yachts coming into this area over the next two years.

WS: What can we expect from the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race this year with regards to double handed participation?
MA: At this stage I understand that 25% of the entries are double handed. I think this percentage for the first year is underlying how popular this form of sailing might be in years to come.

WS: Mixed Offshore will feature at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. What can we expect from that event?
MA: To bring offshore sailing into the Olympics will be a sensational event for showcasing sailing as it will be the only event to go through the night-time over three days and two nights. It will be a live event in the natural environment, pushing people to the limit of sleep deprivation.

To bring an offshore race with a female and male onboard into the viewing public will transform interest in offshore sailing and create strong growth in our sport. Thanks for contribution from World Sailing.
 

---

J/Gear HOLIDAY 20% OFF Specials!

(Newport, RI)- Believe it or not, it is just about time to get into the holiday spirit of things. The year-end is fast approaching and now is as good a time as any to give some thoughts to your holiday shopping for your crew, family, and friends.

We are offering a 20% discount on all orders excluding the following: J/Models, J/Prints and J/Calendars.

The discount code is- JB2020XS.  It will be effective October 1st through November 28th, 2020.

Attention J/Boat owners- because of the demand for customization, we encourage "early ordering" in an effort to meet holiday gift dates. 

NOTE- The J/Class logo of your choice can embroidered on the front. We can also customize with your detail. Perfect for the whole crew!  For more information and to buy now.
 

---

Sailing Calendar

Nov. 21- Hot Rum Series II- San Diego, CA
Nov 28-30- Mundialito J/80 Regatta- Santander, Spain
Dec 1-6- J/70 South American Championship- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dec 4-6- J/22 Jammin Jamaica Regatta- Montego Bay, Jamaica
Dec 4- Wirth M Munroe Memorial Race- Palm Beach, FL
Dec 5- Hot Rum Series III- San Diego, CA 
 

---

J/80 Trofeo MRS Seguros de Cruceros Series Starts

(Santander, Spain)- The Real Club Maritimo de Santander (RCMS) is hosting the 2020 edition of the Trofeo MRS Seguros for the Spanish J/80 class off Santander, Spain. Long a hotbed of J/80 talent, it's not surprising to see some of that local talent atop the series lead after the first weekend of sailing in the three-weekend series.

The fleet sailed in westerlies ranging from 275 to 295 all weekend long. Sailing the most consistent regatta so far is multi-J/80 World Champion Jose Maria "Pichu" Torcida with a 2-1-3-2 tally for 5 pts net.  Fellow club members of RCMS are currently filling up the podium. Sitting in second is David Madrazo with a 6-4-5-3 record for 12 pts net. And, rounding out the podium is Jaime Yllera Secades with a 3-7-6-5 scoreline for 14 pts net. 

More racing will take place for the extremely competitive fleet of a dozen boats from the greater Cantabrian region. For more J/80 one-design class sailboat information.  For more J/80 Trofeo MRS Seguros de Cruceros Series sailing information.
 

---

ARTTUBE RUS-1 Wins TENZOR Cup by PROYachting J/70 Champion Series

(Sochi, Russia)- For the 2020 sailing season, PROYachting partnered with TENZOR Consulting Group to launch a new series that gathered together the best Russian sailing teams in the J/70 class. The regatta was run along the lines of the notable sailing leagues in Russia and across Europe. The event was composed of matched J/70 one-designs with new sails, professional refereeing, convenient locations, and of course the best sailors in all of Russia dueling for top honors. The series started in Moscow at the Royal Yacht Club, thereafter to the Konakovo River Club, then to Pirogovo, and then the finale in the famous Black Sea resort of Sochi.


After five races, winning the finale in Sochi was the DC Team, followed by Team ARMORED in second and Valeriya Kovalenko's familiar ARTTUBE RUS-1 Team in third. 

As a result, the ARTTUBE RUS-1 team of Ms. Kovalenko and crew of Sergey Avdonin, Igor Lisovenko, and Denis Rozhkov were declared the overall winners for the TENZOR CUP by PROYachting series! The team performed great at all four stages and deservedly took the overall championship. Congratulations! 


For the balance of the podium, taking the Silver was the DC Team skippered by the ever-competitive Denis Cherevatenko. And, taking the bronze was Team BARS skippered by yet another top Russian woman- Karen Stepanyan.  For more J/70 one-design class sailing information.  For more Russian J/70 Class sailing information
 

---

J/Crews Sweep Classes in Hot Rum Series I

J/105s Eclipse Top Seven Overall!

(San Diego, CA)- The first weekend of San Diego Yacht Club's famous Hot Rum Series took place last weekend for a remarkably large fleet of boats, with 114 boats registered for the event. All across the board in a number of divisions, J/Teams had remarkable outcomes, with many dominating the podium.

Rudy Hasl, skipper and owner of the J/145 PALAEMON, had this to say, "it was an amazing day for the J/Family in San Diego. J/Boats finished 1st, 2d, and 3rd place in Division I of the first race of the Hot Rum Series in San Diego. We were thrilled!"

In fact, Rudy's J/145 PALAEMON won their Division I in the spectacular sailing conditions, with winds ranging from 12 to 25 knots inside of San Diego Bay! Flat water, with reaching, running and beating home to the finish. Taking second was Standish Fleming's J/125 NEREID and third went to another J/145- Ernie Pennell's MORE MADNESS. 

In Division 2, it was perennial winner Chuck Nichols' J/120 CC RIDER taking the honors, with Ed Sanford's J/111 CREATIVE finishing in 5th place. 

The so-called "J/105 class" sailing in Division 4 saw them leading a sweep of the top seven! Winning was Jim Dorsey's J-OK, followed by Jeff Brown's SWEET KAREN in second, and George Scheel's SUN PUFFIN in third to round out the podium. In addition, Steve & Lucy Howell's BLINK! took 4th, the duo of Vieregg/ Bermann was 5th, and Bill Quealy's J-RABBIT SLIM was 6th. Next in 7th place was Chuck Bowers' J/29 RHUMB RUNNER. That was quite a tour'de'force for J/sailors in a fleet of 21 boats.

In the overall results, the J/105s nearly swept the top five spots. Winning the J/105 fleet parade was Dorsey's J-OK, with Brown's SWEET KAREN in 3rd, Scheel's SUN PUFFIN in 5th, the Howell's BLINK in 6th place, and the Vieregg/ Bermann duo's ZUNI BEAR in 7th position.  Sailing photo credit- Mark Albertazzi   For more SDYC Hot Rum Series sailing information
 

---

J/35 Dominates Hong Kong Round Island Race!

(Hong Kong, China)- Hong Kong’s biggest annual celebration of sail, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s annual Around the Island Race, a 26.0nm circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island, took place last weekend with an impressive entry list of 227 boats from 14 classes including 7 one-design classes, Sportsboats, HKPN, IRC, dinghies and beach catamarans.

Principal Race Officer David Norton set two start lines off of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Kellett Island Clubhouse with the line closest to Kellett Island used to start the one design boats and the outside line for HKPN, IRC and beach catamarans divisions. The race course took the fleet sailing around Hong Kong Island to starboard (clockwise).


The first start was at 0830 hrs with the Pandoras and HKPN Monohulls which set off in an easterly breeze varying 4 to 11 kts and there was a race start every five minutes until 1100hrs.

Before a majority of boats could get out of the harbour, a weak northerly breeze was blocked by Kowloon Peninsula leading to a huge fleet of yachts parking up at Lei Yue Mun gap due to the incoming tide. But, later the fleet was greeted with a northeasterly breeze of 8 kts near Shek O. As the fleet made their way around Stanley Head, it was a colorful sight to behold with hundreds of kites on the horizon and the breeze had built to 10 kts at the southern side of Hong Kong Island. 


As the day progressed, the wind softened by noon and the breeze was again blocked by Hong Kong Island and another wind hole developed around Ape Lei Chau. PRO David Norton noted that two HKPN boats were well ahead of the main fleet and it was a tough decision then as to whether or not to shorten the course. Norton said, ＂two fast boats started relatively early and were well ahead, so that limited our choices. By noon, we recorded good wind at Green Island so we made a risky decision to finish at Kellett Island so sailors could do a full circumnavigation.” 

The J/145 REDEYE, sailed by David Mitchell Paul Leese, took the silver in IRC 1.040-1.119 Class. They were followed by the J/122E JINN sailed by Nico Cohen-Addad in fourth place. Then, Steve Devlin's J/111 JUGGERKNOT finished 9th place. 


HKPN Overall winner and HKPN 1151-1220 Class winner was J/35 NO ONE ELSE sailed by Wing Hung Ng; they won by a considerable corrected time margin on the entire fleet.

In the Sportboats class, the J/70 DAZIBAO sailed by Andrew Ellis took the bronze.


Trouncing the sixteen-boat J/80 Class, by far the largest one-design keelboat class in the race, was the trio on JAMMIN- A. Segaud M. Dubreuil/ J. Ten Berge. Their round-island time was nearly an hour faster over the second place team- Alain Choi's POIEMA. However, it was a battle behind the JAMMIN team for the top five; all separated by less than seven minutes after 26.0 nm of racing.  Third went to Henry Wong's FOOTLOOSE, fourth to Claude Wong's JELIGNITE, and fifth to the duo of Fraser Boyd & Pete Lake on JOSS. A good showing was had by all.   Sailing photo credits- Guy Nowell/ Sailworld.com and Vivian Ngang.  For more Royal Hong Kong YC Round Island Race sailing information
 

---

J/Community

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

-----------
* J/Net Brokerage Specials! Check out our exciting new site for lovingly-owned J/Boats from around the world here:  https://jnet.jboats.com/


Race-ready J/121 in pristine condition available in New Orleans, LA.  

* Ched Proctor Interview- by Dave Powlison at Sailing World

[Ed. Note: Ched has known the Johnstone family for nearly four decades. First meeting was in Pewaukee, WI when Bob & Mary J. and Stu & Drake J. started sailing 470s in 1973 in Chicago, IL. At that time, Ched had just gotten a job working with the famous Finn Olympic Medallist, Peter Barret, at the North Sails loft in Pewaukee. Things were small back then, as the North Sails loft was actually part of the Harken Yacht Equipment building, as well as Harken's boat-building operation. Ched spent a lot of time with Peter and Olaf Harken. And, the Johnstone's spent a lot of time with Ched (and fellow Hingham, MA friend Chuck Millican) tinkering on 470s, learning how to make them go faster at various venues across the Midwest and Northeast, the most popular regions for 470s back in the day. In due course, once Bob and brother Rod J. co-founded J/Boats in 1977 with the J/24, Ched had also moved back to the northeast working for North Sails. In the first year of its existence, Ched was tasked with being the one-design guru for the J/24 class, as well as Vince Brun out West, and later five-time J/24 World Champion Kenny Read. Ched continued to work closely with the Johnstone clan with every new one-design product introduction since, including the J/22, J/70, and J/80- four of the world's largest one-design offshore keelboat classes.]

Herewith, Powlison's interview with our dear friend Ched:

With nearly a half-century of small-boat one-design racing and sailmaking in his wake, Ched Proctor is set in his ways, and his ways are fast.

In 1964, Ched Proctor had a serious case of the slows. He was 14 and competing in Turnabouts in Scituate, Massachusetts, just southeast of Boston. “I remember coming in to the dock and being very frustrated,” he says. There was Bill Mattern, high school teacher, part-time garage sailmaker and unofficial mentor for the junior racing crowd. Proctor asked him what he thought of his sail. Mattern studied it and quickly confirmed the young sailor’s suspicion.

Seventy-five dollars later, with a new sail in hand, Proctor headed for Quincy Bay Race Week. Though he hadn’t been that competitive in his local fleet, he mustered the courage to sign up for the championship division—and won it. With that victory came an epiphany—at least for a 14-year-old—that would determine the trajectory of his life: “I learned then that a sail with the right shape makes the boat go faster.”

Professionally, Proctor would go on to work almost 50 years with North Sails, taking him to lofts in Wisconsin, Australia, Germany and Connecticut. Competitively, he would roll up an unparalleled list of one-design North American and National titles, notching 17 major victories in the Lightning class alone, including that class’s 2018 and 2019 North American Championships. A lot of the one-design sails North Sails sells today were designed by Proctor.


The family sailing unit has always been tight with the Proctor clan, Ched and Judy Proctor and their sons Thomas and Charlie.

Proctor is a waterman who grew up on a bay in Weymouth, just south of Boston. He remembers, around age 5, spending time in an old, derelict rowboat in the backyard. “I pretended to row it using a couple of brooms,” he says. “It got to the point where I wore out the ground under the brooms and wore the bristles right off them. About that same time, my father tried to teach me how to sail and steer a boat upwind. I just couldn’t do it.” There’s a subtle shrug and hint of disappointment in his voice as he tells that story, and then concedes, “It seems that 7 is more the right age to learn that sort of thing.”  Read the rest of the article here at Sailing World:

*  Greg Fisher joins Sailing Inc. / Evolution Sails

Another long-time J/Sailor and has gone full circle in the sailing world. First having sailed Lightnings and working for Bill Shore at Shore Sails. Later, helping develop J/24 sails for Shore Sails, Greg Fisher notably took over College of Charleston's sailing program and turned it into a college sailing powerhouse. Now, he's back to sailmaking again!

Universally liked in the sport, Greg Fisher helps people enjoy sailing, and now will be taking his talents to the Sailing Inc. / Evolution Sails team (Sailing Inc is a J/Boats dealer in Ohio). Here’s their announcement:

Sailing Inc., a trusted provider of premium sailing and marine products, services and support, welcomes Greg Fisher as the Evolution Sails Loft Manager for the Sailing Inc. Charleston (SC) location.

Fisher, a Collegiate All-American, has won 25 National, North American or World Championships in 7 different one design classes and is an acclaimed expert in the sailing community for over 40 years. Fisher will head up our Sailing Inc. / Evolution Sails team in Charleston (SC) while working closely with locations in Cleveland (OH), Sandusky (OH), and St. Petersburg (FL).

Fisher will lead the administrative and business development functions of Sailing Inc. and Evolution Sails in Charleston, and help support the further development of the research, design and production of the Evolution Sails product lines. His extensive knowledge as a sailor, sailmaker and coach will grow Sailing Inc.’s capacity to provide expert level service and professional support across the United States.

Fisher will focus on building a stronger relationship between the sailor and the sailmaker, leveraging Evolution Sails championship-caliber sail design and production teams to deliver high-performance, long-lasting cruising and racing sails built by one of the world’s most innovative sailmakers.

“I am enthused to return to my sailing career ‘roots’ with my new position at Sailing Inc. / Evolution Sails,” said Fisher. “Sailmaking is where I started almost 45 years ago! To be able to pursue this new chapter with such a talented and passionate team at Sailing Inc., who share a strong customer focus is exciting.”

Fisher continues, “I’ve sailed with new sails from Evolution and am impressed with the high-performance design and superb quality of construction. I look forward to helping sell and promote this exceptional brand right here in Charleston and across the US. I am fired up to join the Sailing Inc. / Evolution Sails team effort to support all of Charleston’s sailing community!”

Fisher has been active in the sailing industry for over 40 years, starting with his own brand, Fisher Sails, in the late 1980s, and using that early success as a springboard to an accomplished 20-year career with North Sails One-Design.

Fisher spent 8 years as the Director of Sailing at the College of Charleston, where his teams collected Four Fowle Trophies for the “Best all-around sailing team in the Country”. He also presided over 39 All-Americans and Honorable Mentions and 10 Academic All-Americans.

He has long been supportive in the development of One-Design sailing within the United States and served on the Board of US Sailing and was chair of the One Design Class Council. Fisher was the former Chief Operating Officer of Olympic Sailing for US Sailing.

“We are, of course, very excited to have Greg joining the team,” said Rob Ruhlman (owner of the J/111 and J/88 SPACEMAN SPIFF). “Having literally grown up with Greg on and off the race course, I know his competitive spirit, work ethic, and knowledge of the industry. That experience combined with Sailing Inc/ Evolution Sails commitment to excellence will be a great benefit to the sailing community.”

Please reach out to Greg and welcome him to our team! Contact Greg here- email: greg.fisher@thesailinginc.com / cell: (410) 212-4916.

* Eight Bells – Dick Tillman

The entire J/Boats family was saddened by the news of Dick Tillman crossing the bar on October 15th, 2020.

Friend, colleague, competitor, and consummate gentleman Dick gave so much more to the sailing world than he ever took from it. Always quick with a kind word and generous with his time helping others, he was the “glue” that kept everyone and everything together.

In 1981, when the J/24 achieved International Status with 3,000+ boats in 25+ countries, the class leaders knew it was time to establish a professionally-managed class office. The key was finding an Executive Director who not only knew one-design, but who would also have the respect of the international sailing community. Even better if it were someone with the temperament to handle a multitude of strong personalities.

The J/24 Class had a lot in common with the Laser Class at the time. One of the first J/24 magazine reviews in 1977 (by Jack Knights) was titled “J/24– is this the Laser with a Lid?” The J/24 Class rules were inspired in part by the Laser Class– in particular the ultimate one-design rule- “unless these rules explicitly allow it, then it’s not allowed.” 

Nearly every other J/24 sailor at the time was an active Laser sailor – and enjoying the newly found luxury of sleeping in a comfortable berth at traveling regattas instead of a tent.

So, in September of 1981, the J/24 Class went big and hired Dick Tillman, the world’s most prolific Laser champion and author. Together with his partner-for-life and wife Linda (who predeceased Dick in 2017), Dick and Linda became the face of the International J/24 Class for 10 years through the J/24’s most prolific decade. 

While Dick handled the class business, Linda published the 100-page glossy J/24 Magazine twice per year. They were an unbeatable combination, a true sailing ‘power couple.’
 

Dick Tillman covering Rod Johnstone during the J/24 Legends Race in the Silver Anniversary Regatta in Newport, RI, sailed on Narragansett Bay.

Jeff Johnstone exclaimed, "I had read Dick’s first Laser book a dozen times and built his Laser hiking bench well before first meeting him in 1981. Then in 1984, we had a chance to sail together crewing for my father Rodney in the 1984 J/24 North Americans in Kingston, Ontario, followed by the 1984 Worlds in Poole, England. As only sailing can do, those two shared regatta experiences made friends-for- life and produced more stories that we’d repeat for the next 30+ years. But, my most memorable times with Dick and Linda were during the several long road trips from Rhode Island to Florida in the 80’s when we often stopped into Merritt Island, Florida. Dick and Linda would welcome us in for a meal and some much-needed rest and then send us on our way the next morning. They made you feel like part of the family, and we were, and they were part of ours."

The J/Boats community is forever richer by having had Dick and Linda Tillman such an integral part of its fabric. Fair winds and following seas to Dick and Linda, now sailing together again.   Dick’s tribute wall. Add to Flipboard Magazine.