New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta
J/122 One-Design Warm-up for North Americans
(Newport, RI- June 14-16)- Nine very competitive J/122s are entered to race one-design in this year's New York Yacht Club's Annual Regatta held off Newport, RI. This classic event starts with the fun and challenging Around Jamestown Island Race on Friday and then proceeds to course racing on Saturday and Sunday off Brenton Point, about four miles southeast of Castle Hill. Teams are coming from as far away as Annapolis, MD, Denver, CO and Irvington, TX. Come down to NYYC's Harbour Court during the weekend and see why these J/122 owners are having such a fun time! For more info.
Vice Admiral's Cup
J/109 Selected as One-Design Class for this Prestigious Event
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- With just a few days left to go until the start of the fifth edition of the Vice Admiral's Cup, to be hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes, from 29-31 May, there's already a big buzz about this year's regatta.In particular, it's the first time that a large one-design class has been included as part of the RORC Vice Admiral's Cup format. For this year, Class 3 (J109 Class) is currently set to be the largest class competing with thirteen entries already confirmed at the time of writing.
Racing will take place in the central Solent. Each evening competitors will be able to enjoy an informal après sailing supper at the Royal Corinthian's beautiful harbour side club house and there will be a formal prize giving after racing on the final day of the regatta. For more info.
J/80 UK Nationals
Strong, Incredibly Competitive Turnout Expected
(Hamble, So'ton, England)- Hamble Yacht Services on the River Hamble is this year's sponsor of the J/80 UK National Championship. The HYS UK National Championship 2009 will take place from the 10th to 13th of June and will be hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble. Racing will take place on the Solent.Kevin Sproul, reigning J/80 UK National Champion, will also be back in the Class for the HYS Nationals, but he will face strong and new competition this year. In addition to several new owners in the J/80 Class, including Vicci Gregory and Rob Larke of Joystick, who have dominated the early spring one-design events on the Solent, the charity Toe In The Water will be entering three J/80s for the HYS Nationals. Toe In The Water aims to use competitive sailing to re-inspire injured servicemen and women in order to assist them in seeing beyond their disability.
The HYS J/80 UK Nationals promises to be an exciting and hard fought event, and strong entry levels are expected, boosted by the generous sponsorship of Hamble Yacht Services. The Notice of Race and Entry Forms are online now.
J/80 Worlds in Spain
12+ Countries Expected to Compete for World Title
(Cantabria, Spain)- From July 4th to 11th, Cantabria, Spain and Real Club Marítimo de Santander have been chosen to host the World J/80 Championships on Cantabrian waters. A very large turnout exceeding a 70 boats is expected, with over a 400 competitors taking part. The sailors will come from all over the world and will include previous world champions.The J/80 class has a great tradition on Cantabrian waters and just in Santander around 40 J/80 vessels compete regularly...including members of the Spanish Navy and Royal Family. Some of the strongest boats on the world circuit will come to Santander, including entries from France, England, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Holland and the United States. The J/80 class has become one of the most popular in sailing and, in recent years, it has grown spectacularly in Europe. For more info.
J/Regatta News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Racing Worldwide
Summer is upon us! It was busy on the J calendar last week. With the Bank Holiday Weekend in England and other American events ushering in the start of summer, J sailors were spoiled for choice where to go and what to do around the world. In Europe, the RORC kicked off with the Myth of Malham Trophy and Cervantes Trophy and Scotland kicked off the sailing season with the annual trek to Tarbert. In New England, the combination of FIGAWI and Block Island Race provided stark contrasts. Read on! More importantly, if you have more regatta news, please email it or upload onto our J/Boats Facebook page! Below are the summaries.RORC Myth Of Maltham Trophy
J/133 Batfish III Dominates the Offshore Channel Classic
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The 230 mile race from Cowes around the Eddystone Lighthouse and back proved to be a very demanding race for the 130 boats competing for the RORC Myth of Malham Trophy. Light airs and strong tides conspired to produce a tactical conundrum that was an ever changing picture.In IRC Zero there was an outstanding performance by Bill Blain's J/133, Batfish III, winning class by nearly three hours and claiming third in IRC overall and Neil Martin's J/133, Jammy Dodger was third in class. In IRC Class Two, Simon Curwen, sailing two handed, was second in J/105, Voador and Robin Taunt's J/109, Jibe, corrected out to third. There were 24 entries for the Two Handed Class and honours went to Simon Curwen's J/105, Voador. For more info.
BoatUS Santa Maria Cup
Top International Women Match Race on J/22s in Annapolis
(Annapolis, MD- May 26-29)- Today also marks the first day of racing at the BoatU.S. Santa Maria Cup, an international women's match racing regatta held in Annapolis, MD. US Sailing Team members Katy Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Genny Tulloch (San Francisco, Calif.) will be among the ten skippers competing in the event alongside other well-known skippers such as 2002 US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Liz Baylis (San Rafael, Calif.) and the world's top-ranked women's match racer Claire Leroy of France. For More info.
J/109 Wins Vuurschepen Race 2009
Challenging Crossing With Windy Night
(Scheveningen, Netherlands- May 22)- The J/109s in Europe continue their winning ways. The 110 mile Vuurschepenrace 2009, part of the Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta, was a relatively calm crossing going from Scheveningen, Netherlands to Harwich port, England. The race started and ended light winds and was mostly close-hauled. In the middle of the night, a number of boats measured up to 25 knots of wind, forcing middle of night, chaotic sail changes. Nevertheless, despite this midnight mayhem, John van der Starre finished first again with his J109 FRD-Xperience in IRC2. For more info.
Christie Cancer Care Wins Scottish Series Trophy
J/109 Checkmate Team Wins After Sixth Try!
(Tarbert, Scotland- May 23-26)- After more than 20 years competing on Loch Fyne, Nigel Biggs and the Checkmate Sailing Team (sailing as "Christie Cancer Care") from the North West of England won the overall Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series Trophy, the top award for the annual regatta which finished yesterday off Tarbert and attracted 160 boats racing in 14 different classes.Sailing a J109 in the highly competitive IRC Class 3, Biggs and crew won with their sponsor-named Christie Cancer Care to publicise the Manchester centre of excellence which cared for Biggs' late father, it was a poignant and appropriate year for the crew to get their hands on the top award. The nine strong team endured a tough final pair of races today when they started prematurely in the final race of the series and were hampered by slower boats in the first race to post a second and third, their weakest scores of the regatta. Conditions for the final day were typical of one of less pleasing faces of Loch Fyne: wet, grey and a mix of light winds peppered with periods of difficult gusty breezes.
Based in Manchester, The Christie Cancer Care centre covers a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist centre around 15% patients are referred there from other parts of the UK. The Christie is an international leader in research with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. It runs one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year, and the centre has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
For more info about Christie Cancer Care Centers. For more info about Checkmate Team.
J's Successful in UK's May Bank Holiday
J/109s Out in Force in English Channel
(Solent, England- May 22-24)- After the conclusion of the recent Raymarine Warsash Spring Series, J/109s were racing all over southern England and the English Channel this past weekend. Three J/109's were tempted by the forecast of a favourable North westerly light to moderate breeze and sunshine to join the JOG RS Divers St.Vaast race; four J/109s participated in the RORC Cervantes Trophy to Le Havre and Royal Southampton Yacht Club Weymouth Double saw three J/109s compete in Class 1.The JOG RS Divers Race started on Friday evening and instead of the forecast, the fleet were unfortunately greeted on the start line off Cowes by overcast Solent skies and wind gusting up to 27 knots. These conditions proved initially ideal for the sole J/105, Only Just (Andy Hill), who revelled in the spinnaker start and fast first leg to the Forts, showing a clean pair of heals to the rest of the fleet, which was led by J/109 J2Eau (Steve & Jody Maine) and closely followed by J/109s Jahmali (Mike & Sarah Wallis) and Just So (David & Mary McGough), together with Swans and Dehlers. Rounding Bembridge Ledge and heading into the Channel, the wind began to moderate, and yachts were able to settle onto a close fetch to the Normandy coast. Good average VMG's were maintained, and loss of concentration in the night was rejuvenated by sizeable pods of dolphins swimming alongside for some distances. As is often the case, the dawn arrival off the French coast was met with decreasing visibility and winds. The three J/109's had maintained a course slightly higher than the layline, taking them close to the Cherbourg peninsula and as the wind veered this allowed them to hoist their asymmetric spinnakers early. With flat water, boat speeds exactly matched wind speeds, and allowed the fleet to slowly ghost their way to the finish. The conditions favoured the J/109's and the overall fleet finishing order of Jahmali, Just So and J2eau was the same on corrected time, despite them opting for different sail plans and consequently IRC handicaps.
As the lock gate opened in the early afternoon, the sun shone, and the RS Divers (who had joined Jahmali for this race) sponsored wine flowed.
The Royal Southampton Yacht Club Double-handed race to Weymouth and back sponsored by McGuigan Wines also commenced on Friday evening. It was definitely a game of two halves – the leg out on Friday night was cold, damp, foggy, upwind and SLOW with a big park up at St Albans Head – the unspoken question was “why do we do it?” All was answered on Sunday on the return leg when in flat seas, a 15 knot north westerly and sunshine the fleet enjoyed a fantastic race back to the Solent. Over the two legs J/109 Zelda (Michael Ewart-Smith/Ben Richards) finished third and first, whilst J/109 Jambhala (Richard Sainsbury/Gillian Ross) was fourth on the way out and J/109 JoJo Gunne (Bill West/Mike Garvey) took fourth on the return leg.
The RORC Cervantes Trophy to Le Havre started on Saturday morning by which time the sun was shining and 108 boats gathered for the start off Cowes. A light westerly breeze greeted the fleet although with the wind exceeding the forecast it was to be a quick race. Three of the J/109s Jibe (Robin Taunt), Aria (Luca Rubinelli) and Jeez Louise (James Arnell) finished 7th, 8th and 9th in IRC2 on corrected time whilst all four J/109s finished in less than 20 minutes despite their variances in sail plan. For more info.
Spinnaker Cup Offshore Race
Slows to a Turtle Pace After Slow Start
(Monterey, CA- May 22)- The San Francisco YC and the Monterey Peninsula YC hosted another successful Spinnaker Cup race this year. It was the twelfth running of an annual 90 mile offshore race from SF Bay to the south end of Monterey Bay. Fifty boats finished in lighter than usual winds. No new race record was set this year on the 90-mile course, but some notable local participants, like Philippe Kahns Pegasus Open 50 entered this race as a tune-up for the upcoming Transpac Race to Hawaii.J's were well represented with Scott Dickinson from Coyote Point YC racing his J/42 Tiki J to 2nd in PHRF 2A. In PHRF 1F Jim Vickers of host SFYC on board his J/109 Joyride raced to a 2nd and not far behind was Jim Brainerd also from the host club taking his J/35 Brainwaves to 5th in class. Playing amongst the big boys was Point Richmond J/125 owner Andy Costello, managing to hang tough against big fast boats to get 4th in class in PHRF 1A. For more info.
Fast Block Island Race For All
J/145 Sweet Lorraine Leads All J's with Win, Place or Shows in all Five IRC Classes
(Stamford, CT- May 22-23)- The 186 nautical mile race began May 22 and sent a fleet of 20 J's and 35 other IRC- and PHRF-rated boats off on a course from Stamford, Conn., down Long Island Sound, clockwise around Block Island (R.I.), and back. A Southwest breeze of 8-10 knots got the boats off to a quick downwind start and stayed consistent until the fleet got to Plum Gut.The Block Island Race – the traditional start to the Long Island Sound summer sailing season, held each Memorial Day Weekend – featured eight classes for IRC and PHRF. A total 55 out of 60 entered boats completed the race, with J's comprising 33% of the fleet! Top dog in IRC 50 class of seven boats was Sweet Lorraine, a J/145 sailed by Mark Hansen from Scarsdale, NY.
The IRC 45 group of eight boats might just as well have been called the "J 44 Foot Class"- for 6 of the 8 boats were J's- J/44s, J/46 and a J/133. Leading the pack was Leonard Sitar's J/44 Vamp followed by Tom Carroll's J/133 Siren Song and Kevin Tongue's J/44 Glory.
In the IRC 40 class of ten boats the J/120s finished 3-4-5, lead by Joe Healey's J/120 Soulmate, then Kirstin Haas's J/120 Richochet and George Petrides J/120 Avra.
The IRC 35 class of eight boats had the lone J/109 racing in the fleet- David Rosow, from Southport, CT sailed Loki to a third in class on corrected. Not to be outdone by his faster stablemates, John Towers took his J/37 Ripple to a second in IRC 30 class.
Perhaps the most interesting fleet entered into this year's race happened to be the growing contingent of double-handed racing. The Double-Handed IRC class had a solid showing of eleven boats, with over 50% of them J's. Represented were a J/100, two J/105s, J/35 and two J/120s. It was a competitive bunch, but getting the awards for 2nd and 3rd, respectively, were Gardner Grant on his J/120 Alibi and Peter Rugg/ Dudley Nostrand on the J/105 Jaded. For more info.
FIGAWI Race Fast and Beautiful
The Race to the Ball was Fun for All
(Nantucket Island, MA)- Serious fun, camaraderie, and sailing... that's what Figawi Race Weekend is all about. Over 240 boats and a thousand+ sailors convened for New England's first major regatta to kickoff every summer. The format is unique since it's a pursuit race, with smaller, slower boats starting first and the biggest, baddest, fastest start last.Over the last twenty years the Figawi Charity Ball has become the largest single night of fund raising for local charities. Today, the event attracts 1,200 zealous and diverse individuals (like the Kennedy family) and is considered to be the premier social event of the season on Nantucket. It is not only famous as a great night out, but thanks to the generosity of sponsors and proceeds from raffles and silent auction, Figawi Charities generates nearly $200,000 each year and has provided over $2.2 million in support to local organizations who would otherwise go without.
As they say, gotta make sure you don't "hoot with the owls too long" otherwise you may not be able to "soar with the eagles" the next day. Keeping things fun and in perspective were a number of J's doing their best to keep the pace with the fleet and fellow J owners. Getting line honors in Division A was Bill Jacobson on-board his J/46 Vanish. In Division D, the J/37 Duck Soup sailed by Stephen Lipman finished 3rd. The "Sprit Boats" Division S was comprised of nine J's sailing against six other boats (unfair maybe?). Taking second and third, respectively, were Nick Judson's J-105 Prima and Bill Mack's J/120 M-Squared. For more info.
J/Community
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide.
* At this year's Commissioning of Harbour Court in Newport, RI, Gary Jobson (former J/22 owner) received the New York Yacht Club Medal. The medal is presented in recognition of achievements and particular merit or outstanding contributions to the Club or yachting in general. Commodore Elwell said, “I’m honored to present the New York Yacht Club Medal to a member and former trustee who has done it all. His broad accomplishments as a racing sailor and a supporter of our sport are truly exceptional… He has televised everything there is to televise in the world of sailing including the America’s Cup, the Olympics and the Volvo Ocean Race.” Jobson is the 15th winner of the Medal, which includes amongst others, the famous designer Olin Stephens and renowned contributor to sailing Commodore Henry ("Harry") Anderson Jr. Photo (Gary- left, Bob J- right).In college Gary was an All-American sailor three times and was twice named College Sailor of the Year. Jobson is the National Chairman of The Leukemia Cup Regatta. Gary has been a long time supporter of J/Boats, too, having participated in or supported numerous J regattas and events since J/Boats' founding in 1977. More info at NYYC.
* PUMA's Ken Read Stealthy Shot for Redemption Succeeds! Their "stealth move" less than forty-eight hours from the finish enabled PUMA to make a huge leap from fifth to second in Leg Seven of the VOR. In their last long distance race of the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race from Boston, MA to Galway, Ireland the boys on PUMA had to overcome enormous diversity to gain a podium finish. Somehow, Capey (the navigator), Kenny and the boys got it right and in their "stealth mode play" decided to head for home a few steps earlier than their competitors, going right a bit sooner and rocketing home to the finish line to just nudge out hometown favorites Green Dragon for second place! All any of us can say is "Congratulations, job well done". A fitting moment of redemption for the hard-working crew on PUMA... while it may not have earned them the proverbial ultimate glass slipper for the "shoe boat", it at least earned the dramatically colored red and black liveried seventy footer the silver in perhaps their toughest fought race so far-- a sprint across the northern Atlantic in remarkably capricious conditions, including having to fix a bloody rudder that simply sheered off under load while doing a mere 35 knots under full sail!Featured J/Brokerage
If elegance and speed are important to you, the J124 Warbride is the right choice. Conceived and equipped to be equally adept at day sailing, cruising and racing, Warbride does it all. For cruising, she has an elegant all cherry interior, refrigeration, ultrasuede and teak and holly along with a dodger, autopilot, and a generous and very comfortable cockpit. As a day sailer. the electric halyard winch, clean deck layout with sail controls at the helm, and a feather light touch on the carbon fiber wheel are guaranteed to make each venture out into the bay a pleasure. If the competitive juices are still flowing, Warbride has an excellent sail inventory and an exceptional race record that proves her great versatility. Wonderfully maintained, only seasonal use with heated indoor storage in the off season. Please contact East Coast Yacht Sales (Jon Knowles or Tom Babbit).About J/Boats
Started in 1977, J/Boats continues to lead the world in designing fun-to-sail, easy-to-handle, performance sailboats that can be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of sailors. The International J/24 has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world with over 5,400 J/24s cruising the waves. Today, there are 13,000+ J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65 and ranging in style from one-designs to racers, cruisers to daysailers and, of course, the ubiquitous J sprit boats- J/Boats' innovation in 1992 for easy-to-use asymmetric spinnakers and retractable carbon bowsprits (J/80, J/92, J/95, J/105, J/109, J/110, J/120, J/122, J/130, J/133, J/125, J/145, J/160).J/Boats has the best track record in sailing for innovation and design as evidenced by: 11 Sailing World/ Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards in 14 years; 2 SAIL Awards for Industry Leadership; 2 American Sailboat Hall of Fame Designs (J/24 & J/35); and the three largest ISAF International One-Design keelboat classes (J/22, J/24, J/80).
Counting crew, every year there are over 100,000 friends to meet sailing J's, populating the most beautiful sailing harbors in 35+ countries around the world. Sailing is all about friends. Come join us and expand your social network everywhere! For background info.
