New York YC Annual Regatta Preview

(Newport, RI)- An impressive lineup of J sailing talent will be participating in the oldest regatta in America, with over a century and a half’s worth of history and lots of family fun. For three days, yachts sailing in IRC, J one-Design classes as well as a PHRF Cruiser-Racer division will be hosted at New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court and will race on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound.  The leading brand by a significant margin are the forty four J's (29%) sailing in the fleet of 153 boats.

“Newport is a great place to sail and offers a very impressive nautical town steeped in tradition,” said Terry McLaughlin, the Canadian Olympic silver medalist, J/24 Canadian Champion, current J/105 owner and former America’s Cup skipper who will be at the helm of John Hele’s 42 footer (himself a past J/24 Canadian champion). “As well, the New York Yacht Club always does a bang-up job on and off the water. The event has a long history and a lot of competitive classes, so it attracts a wide range of boats and people. I’m a great proponent of one-design racing, because I like to cross the finish line and know immediately how we did,” said McLaughlin.  McLaughlin & Hele and the rest of the fleet have been invited to kick off the event on Friday, June 14 with a separately scored 21nm Around the Island Race. The circumnavigation of Jamestown remains a favorite among racing sailors visiting Newport, and at stake in the IRC division is a Rolex Submariner watch, which will be presented to the overall winner during that evening’s festivities at Harbour Court.

Following Friday’s Around the Island Race competitors will split into four fleets with IRC and PHRF classes and one-design classes for J/111, J/105, J/80, J/70 for two days of racing over the weekend.

The J/111 class has a half-dozen boats participating and virtually all boats have podium silverware in their trophy rooms!  No "one-trick ponies" in this group, all boats are well-sailed with good crews and it will be excellent one-design sailing.  Recent Annapolis-Newport Race IRC Class winner, FIREBALL will be sailing with Kristen Berry leading the charge.  Challenging them around the track will be Sedgwick Ward's BRAVO, Henry Brauer's FLEETWING, Dave Brodsky/ Fred Van Liew's ODYSSEY, Marty Roesch's VELOCITY and Doug Curtiss's WICKED 2.0.  For more New York YC Annual Regatta sailing information

J's Dominates Round Island!

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- Saturday 1st of June was certainly a day to remember, a day of highs, and more highs and, it was a day for Round the Island Race records to tumble.  It was the day when Great Britain's most successful Olympic sailor, Sir Ben Ainslie (past J/24, J/80 and J/109 sailor/tactician) and his all-British crew aboard JP Morgan BAR, trounced the existing Round the Island Race multihull record, held for 12 years, by an impressive 16 minutes.  Equalling this awesome, impressive feat was Simon Ling's team aboard the J/70 SPITFIRE, just blowing away their 15 boat Sportboat Class by 15 minutes on corrected time and were declared winner of the prestigious Sir Edward Heath Trophy (named after a former British Prime Minister who dearly loved sailing).

As dawn broke over the Solent, a weak weather front was clearing away to the east, leaving clear skies and a northerly airflow in its wake. The wind strength peaked at 17-22 knots as the front passed over, reducing to 13-17 knots for the first starters. It was clear it was going to be a day to break records for all kinds of boats, especially with flat water and a good wind angle on every leg of the course.  A critical turning point in the race, St Catherine's Point, had a comfortable 15 kts with occasional gusts to 20-25 kts to make for fast surfing or planing for the lighter boats. It was nearly idyllic sailing conditions for the massive 1,500 boat fleet. However, by the time Simon Ling’s J/70 SPITFIRE, the leading sportsboat, was approaching Bembridge Ledge at 1030 hrs there were holes appearing in the breeze, with just 5-6 knots reported in places. Otherwise, conditions remain glorious on the water, with almost unbroken sun now warming the 15,000 sailors after a cold start to the day.

The many J teams that sailed enjoyed a fabulous day on the water, many having the opportunity to hop on the podium as well.  In IRC 1A with 28 entries were the five J/111s.  As J/111 champion and sixth in class was Tony Mack's McFLY.  Second J/111 and 10th in class was JITTERBUG.  Third J/111 and 14th in class was Rick Barne's MUNKENBECK.  Fourth J/111 and 16th in class was James Arnell's JEEZ LOUISE.  Fifth J/111 and 19th in class was the Belgian team DJINN sailed by Sebastien de Liedekerke.  The J/122 JACOB's LADDER was 21st in class.  Sailing photo credits- Paul Wyeth @ PWPictures.com.  For more Round The Island Race sailing information

J/111 Europeans Preview

Teams Sailing @ Normandy Sailing Week
(Le Havre, France)- From June 5 to 9, nine one-design J/111s will be participating in Normandy Sailing Week in Le Havre, France.  As part of this series, the J/111 will be sailing their first European Championships.  And, with a good weather forecast for the long weekend, it should prove to be very competitive racing.

Frederic Bouvier, President of the J/111 European class and business manager of the French builder J-Composites commented, "We are pleased, after the debut one-design event at SPI Ouest France 2012, that nine J/111s will be sailing in Normandy Sailing Week for the J/111 Europeans. The sailors come from Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland and France. The idea is to establish a circuit for J/111s in Europe, with a friendly social atmosphere ashore and with spirited, high-level of competition on the water. The J/111 is a great boat for this type of one-design offshore racing, it allows a fast ride with comfort and the boats are very equal in speed-- it's what the owners are seeking. J-Composites will be on site with equipment to support the owners. A big 'Thank You' to the organizers of Normandy Sailing Week to welcome us for the first European J/111 Championship."

It's clear many of the best teams in Europe are showing up.  From France, the winner of SPI Ouest 2012 J/111 class, J-LANCE 8, will be skippered by Didier Le Moal (seen here at right) and he is joined by fellow Frenchmen Bertant Coutoure (CNV).  From the Netherlands will be the experienced and highly regarded offshore racing team on XCENTRIC RIPPER, sailed by John Van der Starre and Robin Verhoef.  Representing Belgium is Sebastien de Liedekerke skippering DJINN.  Then five veteran teams are sailing from Great Britain, including 2012 Cowes Week and Round Island Champion Duncan McDonald on SHMOKIN' JOE; 109 and 111 champions David & Kirsty Apthorp on J-DREAM; Rick Barnes on BIELA MUNKENBECK; James Arnell's JEEZ LOUISE and Tony Mack's McFLY. The outcome of the nine fast boats will be extremely difficult to handicap as all teams have made massive improvements over the past year and this is the first time they've all come together as a fleet since SPI Ouest France 2012!  Should be fun!   For more J/111 Europeans and J/80 Normandy Sailing Week information

Chicago NOOD Regatta Preview

One-Design J/111 Fleet Sailing!
(Chicago, IL)- Sailing from June 7th to 9th will be what many consider to be the celebration that ushers in the summer sailing season off the Chicago waterfront, the Sperry Topsider Chicago NOOD Regatta hosted by Chicago Yacht Club.  It's one of the biggest regattas in the Sailing World NOOD circuit and 153 boats are participating with 33 J teams sailing (about 22% of the fleet and the dominant offshore brand at the regatta).

There will be three J one-design fleets participating, including J/105s, J/109s and J/111s.  In addition, there are J's sailing in the PHRF Racing and ORR Offshore racing and cruising fleets.

With seven entries, the J/111s will be sailing in the first part of their Great Lakes Circuit that culminates in the J/111 North Americans sailed at Chicago YC in August.  That circuit includes Chicago NOOD, Chicago-Mackinac Race, Verve Cup Offshore and the J/111 NA's.  The racing will be close as nearly all the teams will have two years of racing under their belts.  And, other than the fact that KASHMIR has won the Chicago-Mac Race the last two years running in the class, all the "round-the-cans" events have produced excellent sailing and different teams hopping onto the podium each time. With good crews on all boats, it's next to impossible to handicap these horses at the local betting parlor on the south side.  Nevertheless, six of the players are familiar competitors (Paul Stahlberg's MENTAL, Steve Dabrowski's NIGHTHAWK, the trio of Miz/Dreher/Hatfield on IMPULSE that won Chicago NOOD last year, Rich Witzel's ROWDY, the trio of Brummel/Henderson/Mayer on KASHMIR and Len Siegal's LUCKY DUBIE).  With closed-course racing, all will win, place or show in many races during the regatta.  Newcomer to the gangsters in Chicago will be William Smith's WOOTON from Bay Harbor YC.

Fair winds and good luck to all, a simply smashing social event for three straight days, sponsored by Mt Gay Rum amongst other notable sponsors!   For more Sperry Topsider Chicago NOOD Regatta sailing information

J/111 Places Myth of Malham Double Division

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The RORC Season's Points Championship continued over the May Bank Holiday weekend with one of the longest races of the season.  Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, the teams sail a 230nm race from Cowes, round the Eddystone lighthouse and back to the Solent-- it's often seen as a "mini-Fastnet" training session for many boats.

After last year's extremely windy Myth of Malham Race, this year's edition provided a far more tactical race for the 120 yachts competing.  Staying in the breeze and calculating the best route for tides made all the difference. The wind conditions ranged from zephyrs during the first night to 25 knot gusts on the last day of racing. Most of the fleet used the full complement of their sail wardrobe and, as many crews were exploiting the race route as a Rolex Fastnet qualifier, the Myth of Malham Race was a fine test of man and machine.

Prior to the start of the race, Todd Wells' J/109 JE VANTE observed, "The big entry shows that a lot of yachts are using the race as a significant part of training for the Fastnet. Depending on the weather, this will be a particularly sanitizing event for crews at all levels. Last year was incredibly tough but that is part of the attraction of offshore racing, you either talk about it in the bar or get on with it."

Another J/109 owner, John Allison sailing JUMBUCK, was sailing the race for the first time, though the vast majority of the crew are experienced offshore sailors. "In my honest opinion, the first 24 hours of any ocean race are easy, the next 24 the hardest, and then one normally settles into a pattern that gets progressively easier as each day passes. So maybe there is a case for saying overall, the Fastnet is not as hard as the Myth of Malham," commented John. "Having said that the race will be a good training exercise for the Fastnet, as it allows one to get familiar with that coastline in race conditions. As JUMBUCK is a new boat for us and for the race, it will bring the pleasure of bringing a crew and new boat up to speed, not just against other yachts, but also against weather and routing conditions."

As it was, the fleet set forth down the Solent from the Royal Yacht Squadron line and it was a choice between the island or the mainland shores to the Hurst Narrows to overcome adverse current.  Then, between Start Point and Eddystone, the fleet faced more foul tide and the wind faded. Once round Eddystone some boats went inshore at Start Point on the way back and it worked for them, especially as the tide changed in their favor a little earlier than predicted. The run to the finish was dead downwind.

For IRC 2 Class, the top J/team happened to be Craigie's J/122 J-BELLINO, taking an amazing sixth overall against fully-crewed boats.  Just minutes behind them on corrected time was the J/111 BRITISH SOLDIER, sailed by Henry Foster from the British Army Sailing Association.  The SOLDIER's performance was a tremendous improvement over their initial outings on the Solent, in fact finishing 2nd boat-for-boat in this enormous class of 33 boats!  Thanks for contribution from Louay Habib.  For more RORC Myth of Malham sailing information

Wet, Wild & Woolly FIGAWI Race

(Nantucket, MA)- This year's famous FIGAWI race was perhaps one for the record books.  It was wild, wet, cold, rainy and windy.  The several thousand sailors in the race faced the same conditions as many of their sailing friends who were participating in the Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race just a bit further east of Nantucket-- powerful NNW winds of 15-25 kts and mountainous seas drove the fleet fast across Nantucket Sound from Hyannis to Nantucket in an epic, wet & windy roller-coaster ride.  Of the 210 boats that registered, about 75% of them completed the race due to the crazy conditions.

The pursuit-style race with quartering seas and winds were fun conditions for most of the J teams planing and surfing like mad all the way across Nantucket Sound.  In Division S were lumped all the fast asymmetric spinnaker sprit boats, essentially a J/class division with thirteen boats vying for being the "big banana" amongst the deck apes bragging at the Charity Ball.  First boat home was the J/105 DARK'N'STORMY sailed by Andrew Reservitz.  Second into the harbor was the J/120 M-SQUARED skippered by Bill Mack and third home was the J/111 PRAVDA 2 with Ed Kaye at the helm (proud of their inaugural effort in the FIGAWI).  Fourth home was the J/105 BEAR SPIRIT sailed by Jonathan Bloom and, remarkably, the fifth boat home was the J/105 PRIMA sailed by the Nantucket High School Sailing Team and led by their skipper Diana Brown-- congratulations to all!

It was interesting sailing for the J sprit boats, after about 4.5 hours of sailing, less than fifteen minutes separated the top ten!  That's close sailing and a pretty reasonable job on handicapping the boats in PHRF, too.   For more FIGAWI Race sailing information

Round the Island Race Preview

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- Hold on to your hats, bloomers and knickers!  This coming weekend the annual JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organized by the Island Sailing Club is taking place.  The one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, an island situated off the south coast of England, attracts over 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors--  making it one of the largest yacht races in the world and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the United Kingdom after the London Marathon and the Great North & South Runs (in other words, more sailors participate than any of the famous Harrod's department store sales in downtown London!).

Competitors come from all over the United Kingdom, other parts of Europe and as far away as America to sail the 50nm course round the Isle of Wight. Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races "westabout" to The Needles, round St Catherine's Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy and back into the Solent to the finish line at Cowes.

Since 1990, the J's have always been factor in this famous race, often winning class or overall.  It attracts the famous and not so famous and that's what's so fun about sailing the original "100 Guinea Cup" race course (e.g. the original infamous regatta where the yacht AMERICA "stole" the silver cup, took it home and renamed it the "America's Cup"-- using an entirely professional crew of sailors-- as our English sailing friends might say, "that's not cricket!").

The balance of the J/Teams will be spread across multiple IRC Divisions, sportsboat and one-design classes.   In IRC 1A with 28 entries are five J/111s including JITTERBUG, MUNKENBECK, DJINN, JEEZ LOUISE and McFLY plus the J/122 JACOBS LADDER.    Good luck to all!  Fair winds, clear skies and fair tide!  For more Round The Island Race sailing information