Lovin' J/111s @ Fall BoatshowsJump on the Bandwagon and Have Some Fun!
(Newport, RI)- For the past few months J/111s have demonstrated time and again that a great all-around design can succeed in a wide variety of weather conditions worldwide. Plus, it's just as easy to sail as a couple double-handed or with a full crew! Beer-can racing with a J/24 sized crew is, in fact, quite easy and a lot of fun! Whether sailing off Sydney Heads, Australia, dueling off the coasts of France and England, flying down the coast of California and Baja, Mexico, enjoying the sparkling waters off Key West, or winning in the challenging racing on the Great Lakes or the Northeast, J/111s have brought lots of smiles and silverware to their lucky owners.
Even if you're just thinking about J/111s, take a trip down to one of these boatshows in the near future to see J/111s up-close and personal. You'll begin to understand why current J/111 owners simply love their boats- friends and family for daysails and beer-can racing, with standing headroom and a bathroom (!), but can go offshore with the "big boys" and make them pay! Check them out at:
Sep 14-19- Grand Pavois Boatshow (J/111, J/108)- La Rochelle, France
Sep 15-18- Newport Boatshow (J/111, J/109, J/95)- Newport, RI
Sep 16-25- Southampton Boatshow (J/97, J/108, J/111)- Southampton, England
Oct 6-10- Annapolis Sailboat Show (J/111, J/108)- Annapolis, MD
J/Sailing News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide
The women sailors around the world are simply getting better and better and, most importantly, having fun while doing it. If there ever was a more spectacular example of that audacious idea, it was last week's simply incredible Rolex Women's Worlds in Rochester, New York sailing on J/22s. It was a Hollywood finale, read on below. In the rest of America, the offshore aficionados had their day sailing the famous Stamford-Vineyard Race, that quick blast out of Long Island Sound, out around the Buzzards Tower near Martha's Vineyard and back-- never easy, that's for sure. Similarly, Great Lakes offshore enthusiasts had their fair chance at grasping the brass ring sailing what amounts to a large offshore triangle, point-to-point in the great party (we mean, sailboat race) from Chicago to St Joe to Michigan City back to Chicago. Down in the Chesapeake Bay, the large fleets of J's sailing one-design and handicap simply had some great sailing the Annapolis Race Week, one of the highlights that mark the end of summer and the beginning of great fall sailing on the Chesapeake. Across the big pond, the European offshore sailors marked the end of the RORC Season Points Championship and RORC offshore season with some interested twists and turns on the way to the season-long finale to determine the best offshore sailing teams for the season. Then, way, way Down Under, the start of the Aussie/ Kiwi summer offshore season seems to be the spring-fling known as AUDI Hamilton Island Race Week, can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to zip down there and soak up sailing near one of the world's Seven Wonders- the Great Barrier Reef!!Read on! The J/Community and Cruising section below continue to enjoy the Caribbean and the South Pacific, staying warm while others are trying to stay warm up north. Check them out! More importantly, if you have more J/Regatta News, please email it or upload onto our J/Boats Facebook page! Below are the summaries.
Regatta & Show Schedules:
Sep 7-10- J/80 Spanish Open- La Manga, Spain- http://www.openj80lamanga.comSep 9-11- J/105 Canadians- Toronto, Ont, Canada- http://fleet4.j105.org/
Sep 8-11- Rolex Big Boat Series- San Francisco, CA- http://www.stfyc.com/
Sep 14-19- Grand Pavois Boatshow (J/111, J/108)- La Rochelle, France- http://www.grand-pavois.com/
Sep 15-18- Newport Boatshow (J/111, J/109, J/95)- Newport, RI- http://www.newportboatshow.com/
Sep 16-18- J/30 North Americans- Annapolis, MD- http://www.j30.us/na2011/
Sep 16-25- Southampton Boatshow (J/97, J/108, J/111)- Southampton, England
Sep 24-25- J/Fest San Diego- San Diego, CA- http://www.sdyc.org/
Sep 28-Oct 2- J/80 North Americans- Larchmont, NY- http://j80.org/j80usa.php
Oct 6-10- Annapolis Sailboat Show (J/111, J/108)- Annapolis, MD- http://www.usboat.com
Oct 14- Greenport Ocean Race- Greenport, Long Island, NY- http://www.greenportoceanrace.org/
For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.
Sertl Wins Rolex Women's Worlds(Rochester, NY)- Only Hollywood could have scripted a more dramatic and exciting finale as racing for the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC) sailing J/22s came to its nail-biting conclusion on Lake Ontario.
When the 36 teams of all-women sailors – who hail from 16 U.S. states, Canada, Great Britain and The Netherlands – left Rochester Yacht Club this morning, there were eight races on the scoreboard and a very tight point spread among the top-three in the standings. First overall was skipper Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), the defending champion, followed by Sally Barkow (Nashotah, WI.), equal on points at 24. Just five points back was local favorite Cory Sertl (Rochester, NY), while Carol Cronin (Jamestown, RI) and JoAnn Fisher (Mt. Pleasant, SC), rounded out the top-five tied on 38 points.
The first race got started in roughly eight knots of breeze and Sertl was in the lead by the weather mark; going on to handily win the race. She was followed across the line by Kirsten Lane (San Francisco, Calif.), Meghan Jordan (East Amherst, N.Y.) and Sally Barkow. Anna Tunnicliffe was eighth. Barkow’s fourth put her back on top of the standings with 28 points, while Sertl was second with 30. Tunnicliffe was third with 32 points.Racing was postponed after storms in the area sucked away the breeze, and two general recalls took place before the Race Committee was able to start race 10 in roughly eight knots of breeze. Kirsten Lane (San Francisco, Calif.) won the race, followed across the line by Katie Coleman Nicoll (Etobicoke, CAN) and Carol Cronin (Jamestown, R.I.). Katja Sertl (Rochester) was fourth, JoAnn Fisher (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) fifth and Cory Sertl sixth. Barkow was eighth, and Tunnicliffe, who had a bad start and went to the wrong side of the course, picked up an 18th place finish that became her drop score. The recalculated overall standings saw Sertl take over the lead ahead of Barkow, although they were tied with 36 points. Tunnicliffe remained third overall with 42 points.
With only 30 minutes left before the 3:00 p.m. deadline after which no race could be started, the 11th and final race of the day began in 10-11 knots of breeze from the east. Sertl led for much of the race, but Barkow edged past her to cross the line first followed by Sertl’s daughter, 17-year-old Katja Sertl, and Anna Tunnicliffe, before Cory Sertl heard the horn for her own third-place finish. Barkow’s subsequent disqualification for an incident at the start not only added 37 points to her scoreline but also thwarted her from winning the championship. She finished third with 54 points, behind Anna Tunnicliffe with 44 points, and Cory Sertl with 39.“It’s pretty exciting,” said Sertl of her third win of this championship title. “To do this with all four of us from Rochester Yacht Club, and especially since our focus this summer has been on taking our kids to events and not so much on our own personal sailing. To be able to relax and pull together our experiences – sailing together, sailing here and sailing the J/22 – is just really satisfying.”
Sertl had given her boat to her daughter to sail, and had chartered another boat to race herself which her husband, Mark, set up like her boat so that she could be very comfortable in it. “It’s so great to see Katja and the girls do so well,” said Sertl. “I know my boat’s fast, but she really made it go real fast.”
Sertl and her team – Amy Seymour Moran (Pittsford), Annemarie Cook (Rochester) and Jane Mastrandrea (Webster) – competed together at both the 2007 and 2009 Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship. A two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, Sertl has competed in the Rolex IWKC 11 out of the 14 times it has been held in the 26 years since its inception, winning twice previously: as crew for Betsy Alison at the first running of this event in 1985 at Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, R.I.; and as skipper in 2001 when the event was held at Annapolis Yacht Club in Maryland. For more Rolex Women's Worlds sailing information. For Rolex Women's sailing videos by T2P TV
Foggy Cherbourg Race FinaleJ/105 DH'ers Knife Through Mist to 1-2
(Cherbourg, France)- After a record breaking Rolex Fastnet Race, the final race of the RORC Season's Points Championship took place last weekend. After a scintillating season of racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club, current weather models predict a light airs race, in sharp contrast to a very windy season, for the 78 nm dash across from the eastern end of the Solent across "La Manche" to Cherbourg.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points Championship consists of a testing series of races that attracts an international and varied fleet. For the serious offshore sailor, trying to win the Season's Points Championship is a real challenge. The Season's Points Championship this year included the tactically and physically challenging Rolex Fastnet Race, the oldest and most prestigious offshore yacht race in the world. Pending the outcome of the race was the IRC Overall Season Points Championship for Niall Dowling and crew on the J/111 ARABELLA as well as the top place in IRC 2 for Neil Kipling's J/122, JOOPSTER.
At the end of it all, one could call this race "the foggy bottom version". After a wet and windy season the weather gods conjured up a new and unusual challenge for the finale of the RORC 2011 season: light airs and thick fog. Speaking after the race, RORC Vice Commodore, Mike Greville said that it was a good and challenging tactical race. "The combination of thick fog and light patchy breeze made it really difficult to sail to the wind. The instruments were not a lot of help because of the wind sheer and we struggled to see the tell tales in the thick fog in the dark. The secret of success appeared for many was to go west. There was more breeze and at a better angle particularly as boats closed the finish at Cherbourg."
The fog also caused the race committee problems at the start and the RIB at the outer distance mark was invaluable in checking for OCS boats. The wind was westerly force 3 and the fleet were just able to carry their kites. Exiting the Solent to the East there were large holes in the wind to spot and avoid off Bembridge.
The light wind prevailed throughout the race. David Ballantyne's J/133 JINGS took second in both IRC One and IRC Overall finishing at 1057. After them there was a long wait until the rest of the fleet trickled into Cherbourg over the course of the afternoon. In IRC Three Nikki Curwen triumphed in her J/105 VOADOR from sister ship DIABLO-J sailed by Rear Commodore Nick Martin, a remarkable feat considering they're racing against fully-crewed boats. Both boats finished 3rd and 4th, respectively against their IRC Doublehanded competitors.
The outcomes of the race had a meaningful impact on the overall standings with J sailing teams well represented in the top five in each class, by far the best performance of any sailing brand in European waters. For IRC Overall, Niall Dowling's J/111 ARABELLA finished second overall, a remarkably good showing considering the range of conditions they faced over the course of the season, none of which ever permitted ARABELLA to kick up her heels and take-off. Also doing well overall were the J/122 JOOPSTER finishing fifth and McIrvine's J/105 DIABLO-J in eleventh. For the IRC Doublehanded series, DIABLO-J finished fifth and VOADOR ended up a close sixth. In IRC One, the J/133 JINGS finished fifth for the season. In IRC Two, the J/122 JOOPSTER wins with the J/111 ARABELLA in fifth. In IRC Three, J's top 50% of the top 10! Leading the charge were the two J/105s, DIABLO-J and VOADOR in 3rd and 4th, respectively. Just behind them were three J/109s, including Tor Maclaren's INSPARA in sixth, Greg Nasmyth's JARHEAD in seventh and Robin Taunt's JIBE in ninth. For more RORC Cherbourg Race Sailing information
The J/Dragons Eviscerate Vineyard RaceJ/122, J/109s, J/120s, J/92 Winners IRC/ PHRF
(Stamford, CT)- Imagine fifteen classes of offshore keelboats racing from the middle of Long Island Sound, out through the infamous "Race", out around Buzzards Tower and back, then imagine one brand of boats and their fun-loving owners that passionately enjoy the sport of sailing and you most likely have a pretty good recipe for success on a race course that provides its participants the ultimate challenge in all-around sailing. That's exactly what happened in this year's edition of the Vineyard Race. Six class wins by one brand, nearly 50% of the podium silverware went to J owners across the spectrum.
Labor Day weekend's Vineyard Race is a classic American yachting event; a 238-mile course stretching from Shippan Point, through the swirling currents of the Race or Plum Gut, past Block Island, and on to the light tower at the entrance to Buzzard's Bay, to return leaving Block Island to starboard en route to the finish in Stamford Harbor. Begun in 1932, it has attracted the finest sailors and fastest boats for over 70 years, and its intricacies and challenges bring them back time after time. Those who are successful nearly always credit local knowledge of these tricky waters and a good deal of luck. The event now has three courses to accommodate the needs of various sailors, from the shorter Cornfield Point course, to the middle-distance Seaflower Reef course, to the original Vineyard course.The formula for winning was apparently straightforward for most of the class winners. Andrew Weiss' J/122 CHRISTOPHER DRAGON was perhaps the textbook example of how to win. On the way out, most of the faster boats sailed rhumbline towards the Race. Going through the eastern end of Long Island Sound, DRAGON went just north of Plum Island and south of Gull Island, staying in stronger southerly breezes with better current. From there DRAGON sailed down the middle of channel between Point Judith and Block Island, staying further to right (south) of the fleet. After rounding Buzzards Towers at the opening of Buzzards Bay, DRAGON headed off on starboard tack for several miles offshore before tacking onto port tack and laying the Block Island mark. From there, DRAGON headed through Plum Gut between Plum Island and Orient Point and stayed just south of rhumbline headed back to finish line off Stamford's Shippan Point.
On the middle-distance Seaflower Reef Course with three PHRF divisions, Todd Aven's J/92 THIN MAN won PHRF S3, followed by Dave Spence's J/105 SYNERGY in third and Mike Sullivan's J/33 SIRIUS in 4th.
The long-distance Vineyard Course had both IRC and PHRF divisions. The IRC Doublehanded group was won by Hewitt Gaynor's J/120 MIRIELLE, followed by Jason Richter's J/35 PALADIN in third (pictured here).IRC 35 class saw Dave Rosow's J/109 LOKI win followed by Mark Parry and Lawrence McGrath's J/35 BLUE MOUSE in third and by Mike Sleightholme's J/109 in fourth.
IRC 40 class saw Andrew Weiss' family crew on the J/122 CHRISTOPHER DRAGON sail a terrific race to easily win their class, followed by Norm Schulman's J/44 CHARLIE V in fifth.
IRC 45 class had Tom Carroll's well-campaigned J/133 SIREN SONG finish third. IRC 50 class saw Mark Hansen's beautiful J/145 SWEET LORRAINE finish 5th in a very competitive class of Long Island Sound's top offshore racing teams.PHRF 8 class was won by Cao Deambrosio's J/109 RHIANNON III. PHRF 9 class was won by Steve Levy's J/120 EAGLE, leading home a pack of J/120s that included George Petrides AVRA in third and Joe Healey's SOULMATE in fourth. For more Stamford-Vineyard Race sailing information
J/111 VELOCITY Wins Annapolis Race Week
Huge J/105, J/80, J/35, J/30, J/24 One-Design Fleets
(Annapolis, MD)- The end of August marks one of the larger regattas held on the Chesapeake Bay every year. The three-day event always has a strong turnout from locals in the northern Chesapeake, often attracting "outsiders" from the southern part of the Bay. Again, the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association, the principal host for the event, had its extremely popular tent parties and regatta HQ at the Annapolis City Dock. The change in venue to the Susan C. Campbell Park heightened visibility and attendance and by opening it up to the public, created a citywide festival type event. It could easily have been billed "The Bay J/Fest" if for no other reason than FIVE J One-Design fleets were represented- J/105s with the largest turnout, followed by J/35s, J/30s, J/80s and J/24s. In addition, there are PHRF handicap fleets partaking in all the fun.
Leading the big boys home in PHRF A1 this year was Martin Roesch's new J/111 VELOCITY, sailing to a convincing 2-1-2-1-1-1 record to eclipse their small, but highly competitive fleet by nine points after six races.
The massive fifteen boat J/105 fleet served up yet a few more surprises since the Annapolis NOOD regatta earlier in the year. The top five were reasonably consistent, save for a few "gotcha's" thrown in for good measure. Avoiding the one bad race was regatta winner Carl and Scott Gitchell racing TENACIOUS, managing to pull off three 1sts, two 2nds and a 4th to win with 11 pts, six points clear of their competition. Second was Jim Konigsberg on INIGO, starting off slowly with a 9th, then rattling off two 1sts and three 2nds for a total of 17 pts. Sailing their best regatta of the year was Andrew Kennedy's BAT IV, sailing a very consistent 3-4-3-5-5-3 for 23 pts. Tied for 4th and winning the tie-break was Chris and Carolyn Groobey's JAVA, on the short end of that stick was Bob Reeves' A-TRAIN.
The giant fourteen boat J/80 fleet saw class leaders Kristen and Brian Robinson walk off with most of the dailies and pickle dishes on ANGRY CHAMELEON, sailing to two 1sts, two 2nds and two 3rds for 12 pts. Second was Jesse McKnight on CRUSH with 20 pts and third was John White with 26 pts. Rounding out the top five were Chris Johnson's DRAGONFLY with 32 pts and Bert Carp's USA 11 in fifth with 32 pts.
The wildly enthusiastic turnout of J/35s saw some spirited competition amongst the nine teams assembled for what had to be a "de facto" J/35 East Coast Championships and bragging rights for top J/35 east of the Mississippi. Leaving nothing to chance, Peter Scheidt and his sailed fast and smart, accumulating a 2-1-2-1-4-1 six race record for 11 pts, winning by a six point margin. Chuck Kohlerman sailed MEDICINE MAN to a 3-2-1-3-2-6 record for 17 pts to secure second. They were followed in third by the "Bad Company Syndicate" racing BAD COMPANY to a 1-3-4-6-6-4, starting out strong but slowing down perhaps because the tent parties were "real, real bad"! Great to see such a fun crowd having fun in this 35 foot classic.
Speaking of J classics, the J/30s had a monster attendance with eleven boats showing up for some fun and frolic on the Bay. Simply sailing faster and smarter than all the rest with a fairly dominating series was Bob Rutsch and Mike Costello on BEPOP, four 1sts and two 2nds in six races isn't bad, eh?? Second was Dave McConaughy's crew on USA 90 and third was Ron Anderson's team on INSATIABLE. Fourth was Bob Putnam's BETTER MOUSETRAP and fifth Larry Christy's BIG KAHUNA.
Yet another one of the J classics, the J/24s continue to have a strong, passionate following as well-- hard to keep a good, nice sailing boat in the garage! While perhaps the most famous J/24 was not present, Tony's BANGOR EXPRESS, Paul van Ravenswaay on MILLENIUM FALCON showed them all how to get it done, pounding out three 1sts and three 2nds to win with 9 pts, eight clear of his closest competitors. The real fight happened to be for 2-3-4 slots on the podium. It all came down to the last two races for this crowd. Hanging in there and not throwing it all away on the last race was Brent Ellwood on SANE ASYLUM with a 4-3-1-4-1-4 for 17 pts, winning the tie-breaker over Peter Rich's team that garnered a 2-2-4-2-4-3 also for 17 pts. Losing the battle was Pete Kassal on SPACEMAN SPIFF, starting too slowly with a 5-6 but finishing with a flourish of good finishes- 3-3-3-1. For more Annapolis Race Week sailing results
J/133 Wins AUDI Hamilton Island Race Week(Hamilton Island, Australia)- For starters, this race week is easily becoming one of the "must do" events on the international yachting calendar. How can you not like the fact that at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef there's the beautiful Whitsunday Islands with fabulous resorts that enable you to go point-to-point sailing in a nirvana-like tropical sea. In between the sailing, there were gorgeous, if not extravagant, fashion shows and endless entertainment for the madding crowd-- from monster racers and mega-yachts to J/24s, everyone was having a great time. In fact, even such Hollywood luminaries from Australia, super-stars like Naomi Watts (seen below), made the trek to the island to hang with some great J sailors and friends (she might be OK as a bow-girl, eh?)!
Perfect conditions blessed the opening day with sunny skies and a reasonably consistent 15 knot sou’easter easing the 195 strong fleet into the event’s varied program of on and off water events. The sailing calendar included island courses, windward/leeward racing and, beginning on Monday, a glittering social program ashore designed to satisfy all tastes and budgets. Perhaps enjoying it the most of all was Tony Coleman's J/133 EUPHORIA from Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron winning Performance Racing Division 2 for the week. Said Tony, “We had a great week and beat a lot of well-sailed boats. The boat speed around 15 knots of wind even surprised me, non of the others could stay with us boat for boat upwind in those conditions.” Of note, it was the second divisional win at Race Week for Coleman, the last was in 2003 sailing his J/120 also called EUPHORIA. “Performance 2 results in particular show how close the racing was and how spot on the handicapping,” said a pleased principal race officer Denis Thompson.
The first race, the Lindeman Island Race, was the perfect entree for the week, a leisurely 23.3 nautical mile race provided a gentle ease into the week long racing program. At the end of the day, many divisional winners were pleased, but not crowing about, their performance on the track as consistency over the seven days of competition is typically they key to end-of-week spoils and the chance to be called to the stage at the official trophy presentation next Saturday evening. Tony on EUPHORIA defied the best advice for how to succeed in PRD2 Class. “They always say the wrong thing to do is win the first race,” Coleman said of his unexpected victory. “We had a lovely day, everything seemed to go our way. We weren’t expecting a win but we’ll happily take it” Coleman added.For the next few days, the wind blew dogs off chains. So bad did it blow, that carnage on the race course became the provence of riggers ashore, mending both boats and egos. For day two, with gusts forecast to peak in the mid to high 30s and a short chop in Whitsunday Passage, the race committee deliberated on whether to alter the racing schedule. They decided to go ahead as planned with Performance 1 and 2 divisions and sent them on the island course rather than windward/leewards and kept other fleets ashore. Top wind speeds nudged 30 knots out of the sou’east but it was enough to give the grinders a hell of a workout and the bowmen and women a drenching. For the skippers it was an exhilarating as well as a mentally and physically tough day keeping their charges powered up and under control in the white water and smokin’ hot spinnaker reaches and runs.
By day four, an ominous trough in the southern Coral Sea continued to bend boisterous wind and rough seas into the Whitsunday Islands as it continued to track a course towards the Queensland coast overnight. Peak gusts of 40 knots at the Hamilton Island Airport gave an early indication for the 195 sailing teams that they would again face a supreme test of racing in boisterous wind and sea conditions. Unfortunately, this followed a physically tough day of racing from the day before when the South East trade wind peaked at 31 knots and continued to torture the sea surface with a constant velocity of 25 knots. The crews apart from those known as 'heavy wind specialists' were hoping to race in a more placid breeze. That was not the case, day four was yet another endurance test of racing in a 25-30 knot trade wind and rough seas.
For the fifth day and penultimate day, the weather had a wild "volte face". Instead, the conditions were cool with a 14 knot average south easterly breeze and a top gust of 21 knots and early light showers. In fact, it was a great day for whales!? With the ocean water whipped up by high winds earlier in the week, whale sightings have been rare however this day a mother and calf humpback made an appearance in Whitsunday Passage, breeching as Bob Oatley’s super-maxi Wild Oats XI approached!! Anyone tested a canting-keel and dagger-boards on a whale back lately?? Other than the excitement of the whales, PRD2 division had a donnybrook of a fight to determine who won, where just two points separated the first six boats on the results sheet! “When it’s that close, you have to sail your own race and not worry about the tactical situations of the others,” said leading skipper Tony Coleman, one of three sitting at front of the pack on 38 points with his Sydney-based J/133 EUPHORIA. At the end of the day, that held true. Coleman’s secret weapon he believed was one of the Island’s medical staff members who had never sailed before but has been on board for a day one win and also the last day's win in one of the windward/leeward races. “She thinks sailing’s so easy,” laughed Coleman. "Of course, she’s been invited back for tomorrow’s ultimate race." We all now know how that one ended up! Pickle dishes and champagne for all! For more AUDI Hamilton Island Race Week sailing information
J/111 NIGHTHAWK Wins Tri-State Race(Chicago, St Joe, Michigan City)- The last offshore race of the Lake Michigan sailing season has traditionally been fraught with a wide variety of weather, often too much of a good thing, like wind, sun or waves. Roll on top of that serious entertainment at every venue the boats race to, specifically St Joe's, Michigan and Michigan City, Indiana, and you can understand why so many souther Lake Michigan sailors look forward to this end of the year bash. The host clubs literally go overboard to entertain the sailors, headlining top rock & roll acts from the region, like Libido Funk Circus-- wildly popular with the locals as well as the sailors.
The racing itself can be very challenging, despite the fact that each leg is literally a straight shot from port-to-port. The first leg from Chicago to St Joseph, MI had very light shifty winds, followed by a great day at the pool and the beach! The next day of racing, everything changed. A powerful northerly breeze 25+ knots always makes getting into the dredged entrance channels with long breakwaters a dangerous proposition for many. In fact, Jackson Park YC said they couldn't guarantee boats could get out of Michigan City on Monday. As a result, many boats elected to not sail the Tri-State, but sail the Bi-State and sailed back to Chicago. The consequences were an abbreviated race for many. The J/105s all sailed the Bi-State race. First was SEALARK with a 2-1 to win with 3 pts. Second was Tom Petkus' VYTIS with a 1-5 for 6 pts. And, third was HERE's JOHNNY with a 4-4 for 8 pts.
The J/109s also sailed the Bi-State version with MOMENTUS winning with a 1-3 for 4 pts. Second was NORTHSTAR with 5-1 for 6 pts and third was FULL TILT with an 8-8 for 16 pts.
The J/111s sailed 2/3 of the Tri-State. Breaking the streak of KASHMIR was NIGHTHAWK sailing to a 3-4 for 7 pts. KASHMIR sailed to a 7-1 for 8 pts and IMPULSE rounded out the top three getting a 6-10 for 16 pts.
In the PHRF 1 Division, which sailed the Bi-State version, the J/133 RENEGADE got second overall with a 5-1 for 6 pts against of slew of the big boat programs in Chicago. For more St Joe sailing results For more Michigan City sailing results
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* J/105 Sailor Ken Colburn representing NYYC in Swan 42 Invite- New York Yacht Club-member Ken Colburn and his NYYC Swan 42 Apparition are representing the NYYC at the Invitational Cup presented by Rolex. Colburn, of Dover, Mass. and Southport, ME, got there by virtue of decisively winning the Swan 42 class at the Annual Regatta presented by Rolex in June and winning (on a tie breaker) the NYYC Swan 42 US Nationals in July. On the last day of the latter regatta a full 18 points separated Colburn and Apparition from NYYC-member Phil Lotz and Arethusa. They were practically in different area codes. Then Lotz, the successful defender of the 2009 Invitational Cup, won two races that final day (July 17th ) and scored a sixth to even the score. However, overall Colburn displayed an amazing five first-place finishes to Lotz’s two to break the tie. Looking at the big picture Colburn had 84 points after 19 races in these two qualifying regattas to Lotz’s 98 points. Thus, the NYYC has a new standard-bearer. A total of six NYYC skippers competed in the selection series to represent the club for the 2011 Invitational Cup.Colburn sailed for Brown University in the mid-70s; he was Commodore of the Brown Sailing Club as well as Vice President of the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association from 1974-75. From there, he went to graduate school at the Yale School of Management and then to Wall Street with First Boston. He began raising his family first in Westport, Conn. and then in the Boston area, where he worked for First Boston, then Raytheon as Vice President of International Finance and then as the founding Chief Operating Officer of Highfields Capital Management. “I left college sailing and because of work and family responsibilities didn’t regularly race again for 25 years,” Colburn allowed. “It was very challenging to get back into the sport after so many years away.”
He purchased a used J/105 named Witch in 2000 that he subsequently replaced with a new J/105 he named Ghost (the beginning of a naming theme). He was attracted to the class’s strict one-design philosophy, owner-drivers, sail limitations and its asymmetrical spinnakers. He kept the boat mostly in Maine, where his family vacationed. Success didn’t come instantly or easily but it came. With Ghost he won locally in Maine (winning the Maine PHRF and One Design Championships in his class for four years in a row), then regionally finishing first in the PHRF New England Championship in 2006, which crowned his first of two seasons as the J/105 Fleet 2 Champion (Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire and Maine). He would also travel to more national venues for the additional challenge and regularly went to Block Island Race Week (finishing third in 2008) and Key West Race Week (finishing second in 2010). “Block Island Race Week and Key West Race Week offered the challenge of larger competitive fleets with boats from around the country. It was always great to race against boats you weren’t familiar with.”
With the NYYC Swan 42 Apparition, he placed first in class in Block Island Race Week in 2009 and 2011 and fourth in Class at Key West Race Week in 2008 (his first regatta ever on the boat). He has also raced Apparition in Maine winning the overnight Monhegan Race in 2009 and the MS Regatta in 2008 and 2010.
Colburn didn’t enter the NYYC’s defender-elimination trials for the IC in 2009, although he followed it with intense interest. His Apparition was chartered by the team from the Royal Yacht Squadron, in England. “To some extent I found myself rooting for them. Think about it; it’s my boat. I wanted them to do well. Yes, the New York Yacht Club is my club, and I wanted them to win, but I was rooting for Apparition out there as well. The crew of the Royal Yacht Squadron made a point of saying that they wanted to respect the boat and would drive it hard but safely. We became friends. I watched the final day of racing, went to the banquet at the end and sat at their table. It was great fun.”
Yacht-club affiliation and other rules become even stricter for the Invitational Cup. For example, eight members of the crew, which can number up to 11 (depending on weight), must be members of the yacht club they represent. Also, all but two of the crew must hold a passport from the country of the invited team’s primary location. Other rules say all crew (except for the owner’s rep.) must be amateurs. One-design sails are supplied by the organizer, the rigs are locked down and the use of instruments is limited.
“The New York Yacht Club is scrupulous about leveling the playing field,” said Colburn. “They’ve taken away any hardware advantages (rig, sails, etc.) I may have had. For instance, we had the boat superbly well-tuned this year and felt we could dial Apparition in for the full range of conditions. Now that’s gone. We’ve got to figure out how to make the sails and boat go with the rig locked – just like everyone else out there.”
Colburn, now semi-retired, is a private investor and is on the board of Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. In 2009, he spent a year as a Fellow (Ginny as a participating partner) at Harvard in the Advanced Leadership Initiative Program. It is for “highly accomplished, experienced leaders who want to apply their talents to solve significant social problems, including those affecting health and welfare, children and the environment, and focus on community and public service ...”
It’s with great anticipation that Colburn approaches the second biennial NYYC Invitational Cup presented by Rolex that starts September 11th. There will be 22 yacht club teams from 16 nations from six different continents competing at the highest level in amateur sports. “I think the Invitational Cup brings something exciting and new to sailing as a truly international club vs. club Corinthian event in one-design big boats,” he said. “It may exist in other places, but I don’t quite know where.” Contributed by Michael Levitt, Communications Director NYYC
* Dan Arntzen, very proud owner of a J/27 racing in the greater Chicago and southern Lake Michigan area sent us a cute note recently after sailing the 2011 Chicago YC Verve Cup Regatta. Said Dan, "We sailed Level Section 132 on our J/27 TRUE NORTH. It's J/27 #31 that once belonged to your brother, Peter Johnstone!! We're a family program and in six races we got six bullets!! Incredible. Way beyond our humble expectations. These boats are fast! Thank you. We love her and hope to sail it for many more years."
The J Cruising Community
J Cruisers continue their adventures around the world, below are a selection of most excellent "blogs" written by their prolific publishers. Some terribly amusing anecdotes and pearls of wisdom are contained in their blogs. Read some! You'll love it.* The J/42 JARANA continues their epic voyage around the Pacific. Continue to read about Bill and Kathy Cuffel's big adventure cruising the South Pacific headed for New Zealand. Their blog is here: http://www.svjarana.blogspot.com/
* Prolific writers, Bill and Judy Stellin, sailed their J/42 JAYWALKER around the Mediterranean and Europe and back across the Atlantic for nearly three years. Their blogs/journals can be found at- http://blog.mailasail.com/jaywalker. The earlier journals have been compiled into two self published books which can be found at: http://www.blurb.com. Search for "SEATREK: A Passion for Sailing" by Bill Stellin or William Stellin." UPDATE- Just a short note to update from Bill- "Our cruise began in May of 2000 and ended in May of 2008, some 8 years later. I have just finished and published my third and final book covering the last three or so years including our double handed crossing in 16 days and one winter in the Caribbean. Like the others, "Sea Trek- A Passion for sailing- Book III," can be found at www.blurb.com. Thanks, Bill and Judy"
* John and Mary Driver are sailing their J/130 SHAZAM for extended cruising in the Atlantic basin. At this time, John and Mary finished their double-handed crossing of the Atlantic, landing in Portugal on their J/130 Shazam after completion of their ARC Rally. Read the latest news at http://www.sailblogs.com/member/shazam/.* Several J/160 owners are island hopping across the world's oceans, fulfilling life long dreams to cruise the Pacific islands, the Caribbean islands, the Indian Ocean and all points in between. Anyone for Cape Horn and penguins?? Read more about their adventures and escapades (like our J/109 GAIA, J/42s PAX and JAYWALKER and J/130 SHAZAM friends above).
- SALACIA, the J/160 owned by Stephen and Cyndy Everett has an on-going blog describing some of their more amusing experiences (http://www.salacia1.blogspot.com).
- Bill and Susan Grun on the J/160 AVANTE are also sailing in the Pacific archipelago, read more about their great adventures on their blog (http://web.me.com/susangrun). Check out there recent travels- now past Fiji!
- Eric and Jenn on the J/160 MANDALAY also sailed the Pacific archipelago, read more on their blog at http://www.sailmandalay.com. Eric and Jenn are J/World alumni took MANDALAY up and down the West Coast (Mexico, CA)
, then to the South Pacific and New Zealand. MANDALAY is back in San Francisco now, and in the J/World fleet--she is available for skippered charters, private instruction, and corporate/executive groups.* The J/109 GAIA (seen right in the Java Sea) was sailed by Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay around the world. In February 2011, their cruising adventures came to an abrupt, sad ending. As a tribute to them and their cruising friends worldwide, we hope their chronicles on their GAIA website remains a tribute to their warm-hearted spirits- read more about why many loved them dearly and will remain touched by their loving spirit forever- http://www.gaiaworldtour.net/
Featured Boats
J/42 Bluewater Offshore CruisersHill & Lowden have on offer two excellent examples of J/42s. One boat is called MAGIC, and is awlgripped “Stars & Stripes “ blue. She is a standard J 42 (regular V-berth forward and a centerline drop-leaf table, with an all cherry interior and alu mast. The boat is loaded with electronic goodies and has many factory options.
The other boat is a J/42 L version called MARIAH. She is a white hull with carbon fiber mast, full cherry interior and fold-up table to the main bulkhead. She has both racing sails and cruising sails, multiple spinnakers and headsails. She has done some offshore racing to Halifax and Newport-Bermuda, thus has a long list of extra safety gear.
Both of these listings are in essentially “new” condition, having been stored indoors in heated sheds and maintained by Burr Bros in Marion, MA.
J/42 MAGIC:This J/42 has a great layout with two double sleeping cabins, two heads with showers. Main cabin has very large working galley. Exceptionally well-organized and equipped Navigation station with new Icom SSB, and new Icom VHT, older Garmin GPS/Chartplotter, Stereo CD with Bose speakers both below decks and waterproof speakers in cockpit.
There are two deluxe settee berths in the main cabin plus a centerline dining table. Good storage in cubbies and bookshelves. Classic interior finish with white laminate bulkheads and solid varnished teak trim. Very bright and airy. New cushions including custom-made Temper-pedic memory foam mattresses in the two sleeping cabins.
New B&G Electronics, B&G Quadrant mounted Autopilot. New Raymarine C-80 big screen color GPS/Chartplotter/Radar mounted at steering pedestal, New Dodger w/ side bar handrails, New Furlex Roller furling system. New Engine driven Sea Frost refrigeration. All new electrical & battery power system, over 350 Amps of storage capacity. Engine start battery, plus 3 house batteries. Microwave oven can be run off inverter at sea. Force 10 Propane stove and oven.
J/42-L MARIAH:This J/42 is equipped to sail offshore. She has a 1 year old Liferaft. The boat is loaded with all the electronic equipment needed and most all of it is not more than a year old. The North sail inventory (6 sails) is excellent for cruising, and includes storm sails and a Gennaker w/ snuffer. The mast is Carbon Fiber by Hall Spars and has a Tides Marine sail track for ease of raising the North mainsail.
There is a stainless steel bow roller and anchor mount and a Lewmar Electric windlass. The working anchor is a 45 lb plow.
The hull is white (good color for the tropics). The current owner sailed her to the BVI's from Massachusetts in November of 2008 where it spent the winter. It has just recently arrived home, averaging 160-200 miles per day on the delivery. This is a fast, solid cruiser, loaded to go off cruising. she has been well loved and cared for and has tons of upgraded, new (2007 to 2008) equipment.
For more information, please call George Lowden or Rich Hill at cell# +1-617-678-8164 or email-hilllowden@comcast.net
