(Plymouth, England)- With gusts close to 20 knots ripping through the
race area in Plymouth Sound, the final day of the B&G J-Cup 2013,
produced some ballistic action for the forty-five J/Teams that were in
attendance. Hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club, the J-Cup was also
the venue for the Lifedge J/109 UK National Championship and the 2013
edition produced the closest finish in the 10 year history of the event.
It was a fitting end to another fabulous weekend of sailing-- the
sailors enjoyed near-perfect sailing conditions for most of the regatta,
closing with an epic final day of sailing.Day One Report:
The first day of racing could best be described as the "Champagne Opener". A building sea breeze, topping out at 15 knots provided great sailing for the 300+ sailors that competed in four races, inside and outside of the Plymouth Breakwater. With several one designs taking to the race course, there was plenty of thrilling boat-on-boat action.
Tony Mack's McFly produced the goods on the first day, scoring three bullets in the J/111 fleet but Jamie Arnell's J/111, Jeez-Louise, which won the J/111 Class at Cowes Week, led IRC 1 at the J-Cup.
“We weren't very consistent today but we were bloody determined and we made up very well from poor positions, especially downwind.” said Jamie Arnell. “The crew work today was excellent, typified by the penultimate mark in the last race. It was a spinnaker drop to harden up with a lot of tide and the maneuver went like clockwork, super-fast, that gave us that few vital seconds but tomorrow we will need to improve if we are to succeed. Well done to Tony (Mack), he has had a bit of bad luck at Cowes Week and the European Championship, so it was great to see him score so well today.”
Day Two Report:
Day two was perhaps the trickiest day for sailing on Plymouth Sound. In stark contrast to the previous day's sublime sailing conditions, racing was delayed by lack of breeze. Eventually, everyone got underway in the early afternoon, once a light and just race-able breeze stabilized. All classes got one good race in but the second was abandoned, as light rain killed off the gradient wind completely.
Jamie
Arnell's J/111, Jeez-Louise continued to excel in IRC One, winning the
day's race to open up a three point margin at the top of the leader
board. Tony Mack's J/111, McFly wasn't far behind and with one more day
to go, McFly could still catch Jeez-Louise. IRC Class One is likely to
be won by one of these two yachts. However, there was a close battle for
third place. David & Kirsty Apthorp's J/111, J Dream was lying
third but four other J-Boats were still in the hunt for third place;
Martin Miller's J/111, Velvet Elvis, Ian Dewhurst's J/133, Jump, Richard
Barnes' J/111, Biela Munkenbeck and Jackie & Robert Dobson's J/133,
Jeronimo.Day Three Report:
The final day of racing was filled with drama, with lots of anxiety faced by tacticians on how best to handle their blood-thirsty competitors in the 15-20+ kts of big breeze and big seas.
In IRC One, Jamie Arnell's J/111, Jeez-Louise finished the regatta in style, winning the last race to take the class title from Tony Mack 's, J/111, McFly. Jackie and Robert Dobson's J/133, Jeronimo reveled in the big breeze winning race seven and finished third in class.
The official prize-giving was held at the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth with a fine buffet supper celebrating the B&G J-Cup 2013. Surrounded by the UK's biggest collection of marine life, the regatta came to a close and the organisers are not aware of anyone ending up in the shark pool! The organisers would like to thank the principle sponsors of the regatta; B&G, Fusion, North Sails, Fastnet, and Grapefruit Graphics. Thanks also to our supporting sponsors SLAM, Peters & May, Lombard, RS Divers, Ocean Safety, Lifedge and Harken. Thanks for story contribution from Louay Habib. J/Cup sailing video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9obIieub90w Sailing photo credits- Tim Wright/ Photoaction.com For more B&G J/Cup Regatta sailing information
