25th Key West "J/Fest" Ready to Roll!

(Key West, FL)- America's premiere midwinter big-boat regatta, Key West Race Week sailing January 16-20, 2012, has much to celebrate. It's the 25th anniversary of the event, it has Quantum Sails as a title sponsor, and J sailors will again help create what has become a "de facto" J/Fest every winter in January down in the sunny, warm, near tropical trade-winds that are typical in the lower Keys at this time of year.

The tradition all started with the J/24 Midwinters in 1978, a week of sailing after the traditional "SORC feeder-race" known as the Lauderdale-Key West Race.  The first year was a resounding success, attracting most sailing industry luminaries you hear/ read about today in a 21 boat J/24 fleet- Tom Whidden, Vincent Brun, Dave Ullman, Dave Hirsch, Mark Ploch, Larry Leonard, Augie Diaz, Gary Weismann, Ed Reynolds, Jimmy Allsop, Dave Curtiss, Bob Barton, Bill Allen, Gordy Bowers, John Southam, Jimmy Scott, Scott Allan, John Kolius, Neal Fowler, Rick Grajirena, Carter Gowrie, Charlie Scott and so forth.  In less than five years, YACHTING magazine's Charlie Barthold was so inspired by the success of the J/24 Midwinters event in Key West they created Key West Race Week to incorporate not just one-design classes, but handicap classes, too.  The rest is history.  Later, as the baton was passed onto others, now under the leadership of Peter Craig at Premiere Racing, the event has continued to both prosper and survive the "best of times, the worst of times".

This coming year, a new innovation for 2012 will be J/Boats specific handicap classes.  “We are really excited about the prospects of developing J-specific handicap classes at Key West next January,” said Jeff Johnstone. “The concept is to group together different J designs of similar speed to provide both excellent class racing, as well as to open up the possibility for sub-class one-design racing. An example would be the J/111s and one or two other models racing together with a tight rating band. We are already projecting as many as six J/111s next year.”

In addition, the J/105s and the J/80s are again expecting solid turnouts for their 2012 Midwinter Championships in Key West with twenty or more boats expected in each class.  Most importantly, for both the J/105s and J/80s, there are "winter circuits" that enable sailing once a month from Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr leading up to the spring season on the Chesapeake!   Sailing photo credit- Ken Stanek.com  For more 25th Anniversary Key West Race Week sailing information.

  

J/111 @ Annapolis Boatshow

(Annapolis, MD)- Featured at the show will be the new J/111 speedster, the boat that has been taking the offshore world by storm. It's perhaps the most evolutionary/ revolutionary J designed to date-- simplicity, speed and minimalism, comfort and control in a uniquely thrilling package.  Nearly a year after it's launch in 2010, over 40 J/111s are now sailing and the "winners list" reads like a "who's who" of events worldwide, quite a remarkable start for any boat.  Better yet?  Success at a world-class level has been achieved by a cadre of corinthian/ amateur sailors having a great time at what they love to do best--- sailing with friends and family, having fun, and winning a pickle dish or two for the trophy shelf.  Isn't it time to join in on the fun?!

For more J/111 information- http://www.jboats.com/j111

  

J/111 International One-Design Schedule

(Hamble, England)- The International J/111 One Design Regatta Schedule for 2012 is announced today, with six one-design regattas planned for the UK and Ireland. The one-design events detailed below will be governed by and raced according to the International J/111 Class Rules which are due for ratification and publication by ISAF by January 1st 2012.

The J/111 has already achieved phenomenal race results under IRC and PHRF handicap systems including class wins at the Round the Island Race, Cowes Week, Key West Race Week and Annapolis Race Week. However, the intention has always been to launch an International One-Design Class Rule as soon as a viable number of J/111s had been sold and were out on the water racing. This point has now been reached: seventy J/111s have been sold and fifty of these are already sailing!

The J/111 Class has been created as a strict one-design Class where the true test when raced is between crews and not boats and equipment. The fundamental objective of these class rules is to ensure this concept is maintained and "fun" is maximized by its owners and sailors.  J/111 hulls, appendages and rigs are only produced by a licensed manufacturer and all J/111 sails will be measurement controlled under the ISAF In-House Certification system using a "sail tag" program, although the choice of sailmaker is open.

Prior to the Class being formed with suitable By-Laws with 50 active owners, J/Boats and Key Yachting will take the initial position of the Class Association and the Executive Committee. Outlined below are J/111 Class events for the near future.  For more information on the J/111 or the International J/111 Regatta schedule detailed below, please contact Becci Eplett at Key Yachting Ltd (becci@keyyachting.com).

The 2012 International J/111 One-Design Event schedule for the UK and Ireland follows (best four count overall):
May 18-20- Vice-Admiral's Cup
Jun 09-10- Royal Southern Yacht Club 175th Anniversary Regatta
Jun 30- JP Morgan Round the Island Race
Jul 07-13- CORK Week
Jul 25-28- J-CUP 2012
Aug 11-18- AMM Cowes Week

Other International J/111 Regattas:
2012- Jan 16-20- J/111 Winter Championship, Key West, FL
2012- Jun- J/111 Atlantic Coast Championships, Newport, RI
2012- Jul- J/111 North American Championship, Newport, RI
2012- Sep- J/111 Pacific Coast Championships, San Francisco, CA
2013 J/111 European Championship, France
2013 J/111 World Championship, USA
2014 J/111 World Championship, UK

  

J/111 JAKE Flying in Sydney Offshore Series

(Sydney, Australia)-  The day finally dawned for the start of the Spring racing series for the new J/111 JAKE  in Sydney.  For those of you who have been to this side of the world, the spring weather is usually glorious, with clear blue skies, temperate 23 degrees C, and gentle winds, and this is what we had been experiencing for the 2 weeks up to our first race. But as luck would have it, winter decided to take one last bite, and the Saturday race from Sydney to Lion Island (out the heads and 25nm up the coast and back), was held in 25-30knot cold SSW winds, with a sloppy 2-3m easterly swell rebounding off the coast line.

We had a pretty good start.  We were the smallest boat in Div 1 and with such a mix of boats up to 60foot on the start line a clean start was paramount.  Out of the heads and with the wind on our quarter we set the #3 asymmetric and had the time of our life!.  The J/111 just took off - she has such acceleration in the gusts it was exhilarating, and yet not overwhelming.  She rode the waves and skipped over the crests, the backstay humming along like a V8 engine.

The conditions took their toll on a number of yachts. The new Sydney GTS 43 did a remarkable maneuver for their maiden race, pirouetting next to us just as we got out of the Heads (we had been going boat-for-boat, if not faster than them most of the way to the Heads).  We figured they must have lost someone overboard, but in fact their rudder had snapped in half, and they had to be towed home. The J/111 just reveled in the conditions.

We wanted to leave the kite up and just keep going but we were heading too far east, so had to drop it and head up towards the Island under #4 jib and full main.  Even under just jib & main we were hitting 17.4 knots at times.  What a remarkable machine.  Around the Island, and back to Sydney.  We thought the bigger boats would have the advantage over us on the way back.  The wind had swung more south so it was one long tack with slightly cracked sheets all the way back home.  The J/111 held her own though, and no one took any time from us.  We came in 2nd on IRC in the Short Ocean Series.  Not bad for our first offshore against the large Division 1 boats.

  

J/111 VELOCITY Wins Annapolis Race Week

(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.

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.

For more Annapolis Race Week sailing results

  

Foggy Cherbourg Race Finale

(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.  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.  In IRC Two, the J/111 ARABELLA was fifth.

For more RORC Cherbourg Race Sailing information 

Lovin' J/111s @ Fall Boatshows

Jump 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/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/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.   For more St Joe sailing results    For more Michigan City sailing results

  

X-Centric Performs In Breskens

(Breskens, Netherlands)- The Breskens Regatta is considered one of the pre-eminent events the Dutch summer sailing season and generally marks the culmination of the summer offshore series prior to the fall European events.  Overall the J's had a respectable showing with a real battle going for the top of the IRC 2 class between an IRC-optimized J/33 and the new J/111.

Ultimately, in IRC 2 Class,  the J/111 J-XCENTRIC skippered by John van der Starre, sailed well with a good scoreline in this tough fleet by winning the offshore race and then adding a 5-6-4-7-6 for a total of 22.5 points to get the third position on the podium.

The sailing was better than what most expected for the weekend.  The first day saw weather forecasts for light or no winds. However, the wind did fill in and the challenging conditions for the 36 nm offshore course not only was a mandatory score and counter for the Breskens Regatta, but it would also count as an offshore race for the Dutch championship IRC.  First prize in IRC2 in class went to J-XCENTRIC, the J/111 sailed by John van der Starre (NED).

During the second day of sailing, between showers and strongly increasing winds, the participants had to demonstrate good seamanship and boat-handling skills.  There was a lot of sail and mast damage in all three fleets.  After starting the day with 49 boats, at the end of the day only 33 were left-- as it turned out, with breezes varying from 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale, it was still too heavy for many.

For the final day of the regatta, the wind had not diminished.  For most of the classes they had trouble keeping everything under control, spinnakers and hour-glasses around the forestay were commonplace, as were more torn sails, broken booms and severely bruised egos.    For more Breskens Regatta sailing information

  

J's Enjoy Ida Lewis Race

(Newport, RI) - A highlight of the Newport summer offshore season is the only round trip distance race to begin and end in Newport, the Ida Lewis Distance Race.  The event, which enjoyed its seventh edition this year, is a qualifier for the 2011 New England Lighthouse Series (PHRF); Northern and Double-Handed Ocean Racing Trophies (IRC); and the US-IRC Gulf Stream Series. Furthermore, the race incorporates something that was a first amongst all known offshore races- the Youth Challenge.   The Youth Challenge is comprised of teams that have more than 40% junior sailors to qualify for a special trophy.  In fact, one of the fastest growing divisions in this end of summer event is the Doublehanded PHRF Division!

There are five courses the RC can choose from depending on wind and weather conditions that range from 70 nm to 150 nm.  In the PHRF Class, the largest class in the fleet with 20 boats, the fleet sailed the No-Man's Course (122 nm).  The J/111 FLEETWING sailed by Bob Johnstone and crew sailed the race in just over 19 hours-- a fairly fast pace. “After rounding Sakonnet Point Bell we decided to stay on the offshore (southern side) of our competitors to hopefully get some better breeze on the windward beat in S/SW winds to Montauk Point Bell.  That strategy seemed to work out pretty well,” said Johnstone.  "Furthermore", he said, "the highlight of the race had to be the bright moon-lit night providing us a brilliant path towards the No-Man's Bell, the numerous meteor showers and the pod of porpoises playing in our wake and diving under the boat leaving blazing phosphorescent trails behind them made for a spectacular and memorable evening!"  By the time FLEETWING passed the R-2 Brenton Reef Bell before turning into the East Passage to finish the race off Ida Lewis YC in Newport Harbor, it was clear the J/111 had a strong opportunity to win PHRF overall.  However, a strong, late-filling S-SW breeze of 7-12 knots after 9:00 am enabled two other boats to take advantage of FLEETWING's finish in light 2-4 kt winds and beat her on corrected time by just 11 minutes! As a result, FLEETWING earned a tough third place overall in the fleet of twenty boats.
For more Ida Lewis Distance Race sailing information