(Key West, FL)- While there were lots of little boats blazing around
like busy bees on the waters off Key West, the majestic beauty of the
"big boats" was quite a sight to behold. This year, the big J's all
sailed on the Division 3 course, the easternmost course for Quantum Key
West and perhaps one of the best sailing areas due to less current and
flatter waters with minimal boat traffic to worry about. For the to four places, it might as well have been watching the local Key West roosters engaging in a classic "cock fight" on the street. As a veteran Key West sailor, it was clear a few feathers certainly got ruffled by the J/111 debut of Bob Hesse and gang on LAKE EFFECT. A native Youngstown/ Rochester sailor, Hesse and his crew are no strangers to the waters of Key West, having sailed competitively in the past in the pro-based Melges 32 class. It all came down to the last three races for the top five. In the end, Hesse's crew managed a 1-4-4 to grab second overall, sneaking past Jim Bishop's modded J/44 WHITE GOLD who posted a 3-5-6 to finish third. Getting the short end of the stick in the shoot-out was Bishop's WHITE GOLD, having to settle for the bronze on the podium after scoring a 3-5-6. Sailing ever more consistently, faster and smarter, was Doug Curtiss on the famous J/111 WICKED 2.0, sailing to a 2-3-3 to tie WHITE GOLD, but lose the tie-breaker. Another notable performance towards the end of the regatta was the J/111 FIREBALL sailed by Team Fireball, a very recent class newcomer. With its blazing sunset orange paint job, it was a spectacular-looking boat and in the end, fired-off a 2-2 on the last day to show they had learned a thing or two from their comrades-in-arms! Good on ya, mates! Sailing photo credits- Onne Vanderwal and Tim Wilkes. For more Quantum Key West PHRF sailing information
