Wednesday, December 15, 2010

J/Newsletter- December 15th, 2010

J/111 sailing world boat of the yearJ/111 Wins SW Boat Of The Year
(Middletown, RI)- Sailing World magazine recently announced this year's winners of their annual Boat-Of-The-Year contest.  This year, the J/111 won the SW BOTY "Best One-Design Keelboat" Award.  Selections were based on extensive inspections and sea trials of all the boats.  Comments during the review process were prophetic: "Excellent sailing," said each judge afterwards. "That’s definitely a contender. Maybe the best boat from J Boats yet— even better than last year’s J/95. It’s definitely a frontrunner..."  

J/Sailing Calendar 2011Heaven In '11- The J/Calendar
Give The Gift That Lasts All Year!
(Newport, RI)- Impress your friends and families with spectacular images and gorgeous scenery 24x365 all year long.  Give them the 2011 J/Sailing Calendar and watch them break out into a huge grin and wonder why they're not sailing a J with you!  

Whether you are a cruising, racing or armchair sailor, these stunning sailboat photographs will transport you to wonderful sailing experiences in exotic places worldwide. The 2011 J/Calendar features more photos of flying J's slicing and dicing waves around the world.  Or, just cruising past some of the most spectacular scenery this little "green" planet has to offer.  For those who love the sailing lifestyle, it's the ultimate sailing gift for your friends and family.  Get them now before it's too late for the Holidays!  We ship everywhere-- EuropeUK/ IrelandAustralia/ NZUSA/ Mexico, Canada.  For more 2011 J/Sailing Calendar information.

J/111 ISAF ISO Offshore Certification- first production sailboat worldwideJ/111 ISAF Offshore Certification
(London, England)- All new monohull yachts with a age and series date after January 2010 participating in a Category 0,1,2 race under the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) now require an ISAF plan review certificate.  J/111 gains first production plan review certificate that meets or exceeds ISO and old ABS Standards for "Offshore Racing" certification.

The backbone of the new scheme is the newly published parts of the International Standard ISO 12215, these are used as the minimum structural standard to which boat designs are reviewed against. The standard is gaining increasing international acceptance as it replaces the previously used, but no longer supported ABS guide. The review is undertaken by ISAF recognized notified bodies, these are organizations that are able to carry out assessments and issue CE certificates for the European Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and have also been recognized by ISAF.

Jason Smithwick, Head of ISAF Technical & Offshore Department comments "It is a significant step forward in the program now ISAF have issued it first custom certificate to the TP-52 built for TEAM ORIGIN and its first production certificate to the J/111."

The scheme is gaining acceptance with the first certificates being issued by notified bodies; Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI) respectively and ISAF is aware of other Notified Bodies with further boats in the process of achieving OSR plan review.

ISAF have been taking an increasing role in the development of ISO standards and have for the last couple of year been a consultative member within the ISO organization. ISAF in partnership with the European Boating Association have been especially involved in pushing the development of part 9 of the standard related to keel structure. ISAF will continue to work with its members nations and classes who are users based membership organization in the development of International Standards and Regulations.


2011 J/22 Championship Package
(Newport, RI)-  In recognition that the two most prestigious J/22 events in the world are both coming to America in 2011, US Watercraft and J/Boats are pleased to announce a special Championship Package available for a limited number of new 2011 J/22s.

The Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship returns to Rochester Yacht Club August 29 – September 1 and will showcase the top women's teams from around the globe.  One month later, the 2011 J/22 World Championships will be hosted by Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans October 9-14.  Both events expect big turnouts and J/22s will be hard to find.

The Championship Package includes a 2011 model J/22 with anodized mast and boom, an epoxy finished bottom and keel, class required safety gear, Triad trailer, and an upgraded New England Ropes running rigging package; all for $38,500.  The package is available through your local J/Boats dealer or US Watercraft and is limited to 12 boats, with priority given to boats that will sail (or be chartered) in either or both events.  This offer will expire March 31, 2011.  Please contact your J Dealer or J/Boats at ph# 401-846-8410 or info@jboats.com.

J/24s sailing offshore with friendsJ/24s @ Bacardi Sailing Week
(Miami, FL) – Following a successful inaugural year, Bacardi Miami Sailing Week will return to Coconut Grove in Miami, FL, from March 6-12, 2011. For the J/24 fleet that participated, they were treated to some remarkable, beautiful conditions.  The hospitality was considered "unbelievable, gracious, extraordinary, groovy, awesome".  Wanna have some fun?  Go for it. J/24s.  Miami.  South Beach.  Coconut Grove.  Biscayne Bay.  Hard to miss.  Great follow-up to Key West and Miami offshore events.  Weather is awesome.

The event will be a six-day experience that will gather national and international sailing classes together in a fun-filled week of regattas, awards ceremonies, parties, and cultural exhibits. The racing begins on March 7, with events scheduled daily through March 12. The prestigious Coral Reef Yacht Club will coordinate on-water activities in collaboration with Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and Coconut Grove Sailing Club. The US Sailing Center and Shake-A-Leg Miami will also support the event. Racing will be held on three separate courses on Biscayne Bay.    More information on Miami Sailing Week.


J/Sailing News

The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing Worldwide

With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to to shop for a few gifts for your family and friends. Don't forget to give'em the gift they'll enjoy year-round- the 2011 J/Calendar!  As '10 comes to an end, J sailors around the globe are contemplating 11's sailing schedule.  Down in OZ, post Boxing Day, it's simple, Hobart or bust.  North it's Key West, then Miami's South Beach, St. Pete, Charleston, and others.  West its San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Seattle and San Francisco.  Midwinters for the J/80s, J/105s and J/95s are shaping up to be fun events at Key West.  In the sunny climate of southern China, they're having a balmy J/80 Winter Series.  As a prelude to some of these sunny Florida events was the Lauderdale-Palm Beach Race- J's Crush PHRF and IRC?  Imagine, cruising while racing, or is it vice-versa? Depends on how much fun you're having!   Read on!  The J/Community and Cruising section below have more interesting, and heart-warming, stories this week.  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.  Sailing photo credit- Paul Wyeth/ PWPictures.com

Regatta & Show Schedules:

Jan 7-16- London Boatshow- London, England- http://www.londonboatshow.com
Jan 10-14- J/24 Australian Nationals- Sydney, OZ- http://j24australia.com.au/
Jan 17-21- J/80 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.j80.org
Jan 17-21- J/105 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.j105.org
Jan 17-21- J/95 Midwinters- Key West, FL- http://www.jboats.com/j95
Jan 17-21- Key West Race Week- Key West, FL- http://www. premiere-racing.com
Feb 4-12- Miami Boatshow- Miami, FL- http://www.miamiboatshow.com/
Feb 12-16- J/24 Midwinters- Davis Is YC, Tampa, FL- http://www.diyc.org
Feb 18-20- SW NOOD- St Petersburg, FL- StPYC- http://www.sailingworld.com
Feb 24-26- J/22 Midwinters- Davis Is YC, Tampa, FL- http://www.diyc.org
Mar 9-11- J/30 Mardi Gras Midwinters- New Orleans, LA- http://j30.us/blog
Mar 13-Apr 17- Warsash Spring Series- Hamble, UK- http://www.warsashspringseries.org.uk/
Mar 18-20- SW NOOD- San Diego, CA- http://www.sailingworld.com
For additional J/Regatta and Event dates in your region, please refer to the on-line J/Sailing Calendar.

J/44 white gold/ gold rush sailing to windwardJ's Dominate Lauderdale-Palm Beach   
(Ft Lauderdale, FL)- The 54th Annual Wirth M. Munroe Memorial Ft. Lauderdale to Palm Beach Race was sailed on Friday, December 3, 2010. This race is co-sponsored by the Cruising Club of America and The Sailfish Club of Florida.

Conditions for the race were beautiful, northerly winds, 15-20 kts with 4-8 foot seas, blasting up the shore and the Gulf Stream.   Go "stream-hunting" to the edge or stay left and pick off the lefty puffs coming off the Florida shoreline?  The long beat to windward was to the liking of the various J's sailing in the race, with two of them winning their IRC and PHRF divisions overall.

In IRC Class, Jim Bishop's J/44 WHITE GOLD walked off with 1st place overall, winning the coveted Wirth-Munroe Trophy.

In PHRF A, Frank Kern's J/120 CARINTHIA from Detroit's Bayview YC won their PHRF Division in class and overall.  Just behind them was LOKI, a J/105 sailed by David Bond was fourth.  For more Lauderdale-Palm Beach Race sailing info.   Sailing photos from John Payne Photo.

J/80s sailing in ChinaJ/80 China Winter Series
(Xiamen, China)-  There was light air this weekend, but no lack of turnout again for the second week of racing.  With 8 boats on the water and over 50 people attending to help with committee or sail, things have been going very well.  Since the overall participants in many cases have not sailed J/80's before, the first two weeks of light air have allowed teams to start to figure out the best ways of handling the asymmetrical spinnaker sets, jibes and take downs.  

We had two races and tried to get a third but lack of wind lead to abandoning the last race.  Boat #6 driven by Jacky Chen showed consistent first place finishes to win the day.  I must say that it is great to see so many kids joining the sailing.  Last week we had Laura and Phil Harvey with 4 small kids on board and this week we had Alain and Sacha Vermeulen and Pieter van der Plas sailing with their kids.  You will notice from the photo that the kids are driving when they got 2nd in the first race.  

J/80 family sailing one-design with childrenI am glad to see that everyone is having a great time.  We have changed the schedule a little to help with the holiday travel schedule.  We will be racing Dec. 19th, Jan. 9th, Jan 16th, Jan. 23rd and finishing on Jan. 30th.  We are keeping track of the overall score but it is good for people to realize that this is just for fun and that we are all out just bettering out sailing ability.  I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend, We will be trying to get the first start off at 1:30pm sharp if we have breeze this weekend so don't get too far from the starting area.

J/Community

J/30 sailing crew in pj'sWhat friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide

* The J/30 Kids Win It- YouTube Celebrities they are now!  Check this one out.  If you recall in a previous J/News, Whitney Kent, skipper of the J-30 RAFIKI and a senior in high school, collected the SSYC Corinthian Yacht of the Year award. As a follow-up to this award, they managed to do their own video production of a weekend race, racing in footsie "fuzzy" pajamas--- comfy so long as you can leap around the deck and it's not too wet!  Enjoy...pretty bloody amusing if you ask me.  Fun video of having fun sailing with buddies, GFs, BFs and Mom, Dad and friends.

The J Cruising Community

J cruising directions- roll the dice and go!  Sailing to anywhere, anytime!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.  A recent update from Bill and Kathy- "Hello, all!  We have safely arrived in Opua, New Zealand from Tonga. It was a remarkably fast passage. Some statistics: Time: 6 days, 3 hours.  Total distance: 1023 miles.  Distance sailed: 1020 miles.  Distance motored: 3 miles.  Average speed: 7.0 knots.  Fuel used: 3 gallons (12 hours of engine idling for power generation).  Best memory: sailing into the Bay of Isles, hand steering in 25 knots of breeze, watching the sun rise behind us, lighting Cape Brett up in a warm red glow. Next is New Zealand!" Their blog is here: http://www.svjarana.blogspot.com/

* Prolific writers, Bill and Judy Stellin, sailed their J/42 JAYWALKER around the Mediterranean and Europe and back across the Atlantic for nearly three years.  Their blogs/journals can be found at- http://blog.mailasail.com/jaywalker.  The earlier journals have been compiled into two self published books which can be found at: http://www.blurb.com.  Search for "SEATREK: A Passion for Sailing" by Bill Stellin or William Stellin."  Fun reading when rocking back in a chair watching your storm-lashed windows take a beating in the gale roaring outside and listening to the crackle of a roaring fire.  It is winter "down under" you know.  The Argentineans are freezing.

J/130 sailing ARC Rally arrives Portugal- leave a message on the sea wall!* John and Mary Driver are sailing their J/130 SHAZAM for extended cruising in the Atlantic basin. At this time, John and Mary will have just finished their double-handed crossing of the Atlantic, landing in Portugal on their J/130 Shazam 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).

J/160 land tender- 1944 vintage Willies Jeep!!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).   A recent excerpt- "Stephen and Ross were enthralled by Roger's "Willies 1942 WW2 American jeep". Both boys took it for a burn and one is now at the top of Stephen’s wish list. When Roger was restoring it he was delighted to find a genuine WW2 American Hard hat under the back seat...."

-  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!  A recent excerpt- "Things Unplanned Run Amuck in Tahiti- Boats have feelings, don’t you know?  They do not like to be left alone, unattended and seemingly unloved.  This is a fact of which both The Captain and The First Mate are well aware, but given their lifestyle, they have no choice.  Avante must go it alone every once in a while, and they know they eventually will have to deal with nautical hurt feelings and the consequences which follow."  The rest of the thread is both humorous and quite educational- many lessons learned!

* Long-distance cruising communications advice for those who wish to be connected beyond a cell phone/ WiFi connection (10 miles) anywhere on the planet- try SailMail.com- a remarkable SSB communications network good for up to 5,000 Nautical MILES of connectivity! How cool is that!  Founded by renowned superstar navigator Stan Honey and friends, here's good info for long-distance datacomm fanatics.  Stan says, "SailMail has worldwide coverage, but as with any HF propagation, you have to be knowledgeable about selection of which station to use, what time of day, and what frequency.  The only holes in coverage worldwide would be a very noisy marina where battery chargers on nearby boats prevent SailMail use.  In those situations most folks use WiFi or GSM anyway, and use SailMail when they are at sea, or in most remote anchorages.  There is lots of information on the website at www.sailmail.com about SSB choice and modem choice.  The Icom M802 radio and AT140 tuner are currently the best choice."

Featured Boats

J/122 SKYE- racer cruiser one-design sailboat from Chicago, Lake MichiganJ/122 SKYE- Triple Mac Race Winner For Sale

Possibly the best equipped and fastest short-handed 40 foot racer-cruiser in the world! SKYE is the Chicago-Mackinac Race Winner in 2008 (fully crewed) and the 2009 and 2010 Double-handed winner overall!  This IRC-friendly 40 footer offers a perfect, completely furnished interior with all the canvas protection covers for the bright-work while racing.  As a fresh-water boat it has been immaculately maintained to "Bristol" condition.  It features two flip-up pilot berths in the main cabin and gimbaled LPG stove/oven.  The B&G 3000 system includes a Garmin 3210 chart plotter, three 20/20s on the mast, lots of readouts everywhere, plus a Hercules H3000 autopilot system  with the H3000 gyro- an awesome short-handed sailing system! Sail inventory is all North Sails 3DL carbon, including 2 mains, 6 jibs, Code 0 and 2 spinnakers (Norlite runner and AirX reacher)- blue and white colors.  Hull is white with double-blue boot-stripe and white racing bottom paint.  For more info call Richie Stearns at Stearns Boating- ph- +1-847-404-2209 or email- rich@stearnsboating.com.

About J/Boats

Started in 1977, J/Boats continues to lead the world in designing fun-to-sail, easy-to-handle, performance sailboats that can be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of sailors.  The International J/24 has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world with over 5,400 J/24s cruising the waves. Today, there are 13,000+ J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65 and ranging in style from one-designs to racers, cruisers to daysailers and, of course, the ubiquitous J sprit boats- J/Boats' innovation in 1992 for easy-to-use asymmetric spinnakers and retractable carbon bowsprits (J/80, J/92, J/95, J/105, J/109, J/110, J/120, J/122, J/130, J/133, J/125, J/145, J/160).

J/Boats has the best track record in sailing for innovation and design as evidenced by:  15 Sailing World/ Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards in 14 years; 2 SAIL Awards for Industry Leadership; 2 American Sailboat Hall of Fame Designs (J/24 & J/35); and the three largest ISAF International One-Design keelboat classes (J/22, J/24, J/80).

Counting crew, every year there are over 100,000 friends to meet sailing J's, populating the most beautiful sailing harbors and sailing the waters of 35+ countries around the world.  Sailing is all about friends.  Come join us and expand your social network everywhere!    For more information on J/Boats.

Read Kimball Livingston's SAIL update on the J/Boats story- A Band of Brothers.