Welcome to the final week of February, the “Leap Year” edition of our latest J/News. Wow, time is sure flying in 2023, where have the first two months gone already? Before you know it, spring will be just around the corner! Meanwhile, there’s no question Mother Nature is meaner than ever, over the next few days she’s making a determined effort to let everyone know who rules the roost. Crazy wintry weather spun up by the errant, wobbly Polar Vortex’s wreaking havoc across North America and Europe.
Speaking of an unwanted vortex, before we dive into this week’s news, we do wish to express our love and support for our Ukrainian sailing friends and families. They’re now enduring the first anniversary on February 24th of an invasion of their country by the Russian military. We can only hope sensible souls around the world help bring peace soon.
Despite these omniscient issues, onward we go. We’ll be taking you on a journey around the world to explore more exciting sailing regattas happening today. From the Caribbean to Europe and the United States, we’ll highlight the events and sailboat classes that are making waves in the sailing community.
Starting in the Caribbean, the Royal Ocean Racing Club just concluded their increasingly popular “bucket list” event- the RORC Caribbean 600 Race. This thrilling 600.0nm race starts and finishes off English Harbour, Antigua, and features a “tour” of eleven-plus picturesque, statuesque resort islands as marks of the course. Enjoying the spectacular vistas was a range of J/Teams, including the J/133s, J/121, and J/111.
Moving on to Europe, we head to Italy to explore the two Italian J/24 Class winter series. The Lozzi Trophy and the 48th J/24 Winter Championship are both taking place in the beautiful waters off Anzio and Nettuno, southwest of Rome. Both events are organized and hosted by the Circolo della Vela of Rome and feature some of the most skilled sailors in the region.
In the United States, we’ll highlight several exciting sailing regattas that happened in different parts of the country. The SORC Islands in the Stream Series was comprised of four races around Florida and the Bahamas that started in November 2022 and ended with the Cape Canaveral Race in February 2023. The J/122s had been leading the way in this series, showcasing their impressive speed and agility.
Further west, the SCYA Midwinters have been taking place in five sites around southern California. Recently, the California Yacht Club hosted one-design fleets of J/70s, J/109s, and J/111s, while the Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club hosted the big-boat PHRF fleet with a total of eighteen boats that included J/125, J/111, J/105, J/92, J/109, and J/80.
Finally, we’ll highlight a few great performances at the Sailing World Regatta Series St. Petersburg, which took place in St. Petersburg, FL. Hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, this three-day regatta featured one-design fleets of J/70s, J/24s, and handicap ORC and PHRF Divisions, including J/111s, J/88s, J/105s, J/109s, J/30, and J/35.
Danish J/70 Class FUN at Boat Show
(Copenhagen, Denmark)- BOAT SHOW DENMARK is the nation’s largest indoor boat exhibition, which is held every two years in Messe C, Fredericia. The fair attracts boating and water sports enthusiasts from all over the country and from northern Germany. It’s taking place this weekend- Feb. 24-26- and next weekend- Mar. 3-5.
According to the Danish J/70 class promoter- Chris Nørgaard , “we have an outstanding fair spot just in front of the main stage and restaurant area! Class representatives and active sailors have staffed the stand all day. We will be here all this weekend and next weekend, too! Come by and see us! So far, two boats have been sold and contracts given to four more sailing clubs! And, this was just on the first day!” Learn more about the BOAT SHOW DENMARK here For more Danish J/70 Class sailing information
J/122s Crowned SORC Islands in Stream Series Champions!
(Miami, Florida)- Andrew Clark’s J/122 ZIG ZAG was the big winner at the 2022-23 SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Conference) Islands in the Stream Series Awards Party in Port Canaveral, Florida. The Zig-zaggers led a contingent of five J/Teams that quite literally “blitzkrieg” the twenty-seven-boat fleet, taking five of the top six spots!
ZIG ZAG won both the race to the Cape and the SORC series over a packed fleet of 40-something-footers after correcting out for the race win over Pat Harr’s Cookson 50 En Garde, the elapsed time winner.
Third for the race was enough for Tom Sutton’s J/122 LEADING EDGE to lock up second for the series. Then, Matt Schaedler’s J/122 BLITZKRIEG and Constantine Baris’ J/122 DIRE WOLF were fourth and fifth, respectively. Finally, the dynamic duo of Forbes Durdin and Chris Lewis from Houston, Texas sailed home in the sixth position on their J/121 BEAR.
It was a terrific series with a handful of boats within striking distance of the win going into the last race. The series scores are based on having sailed all four races and counting your best three.
The final award of the evening was the Luiz Legacy Trophy, awarded to the person or team who raised the most money for Warrior Sailing’s Luiz Legacy program, in honor of our friend Luiz Kahl’s legacy of support for our sport. According to Warrior Sailing National Director Ben Poucher, the FLEET was the big winner for having raised enough money to train one warrior for a year. Read more about the campaign on Warrior Sailing’s Luiz Legacy page- https://warriorsailing.org/luizlegacy
The 2023/ 2024 Islands in Stream Series- NEW Schedule With the end of the 2022-23 Islands in the Stream Series, the focus turns to the next season. The 2023-24 SORC Islands in the Stream Series starts on November 8th in St. Petersburg, Florida for the St. Petersburg to Ft. Lauderdale Race. No race has been requested more than the old classic SORC race, start in Tampa Bay, sail out under the big bridge, turn left and head south to Rebecca Shoals buoy at the end of the Florida Keys, then head north using the swift-flowing 4-5 kts Gulf Stream as your “elevator” going north in hot (85.0 F) waters up to the finish off the Ft. Lauderdale ship channel buoy.
Next up on December 1, 2023, will be the Wirth M. Munroe Memorial Palm Beach Race, the venerable Race to the Buffet at the Sailfish Club of Florida. The Nassau Cup Ocean Race will bump from its usual November date to make way for the St. Pete to Lauderdale Race, with a race to Nassau starting on January 12, 2024. The series will wrap up with a party on the beach in Key West, after the Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race, which starts on February 22, 2024. Follow the SORC Sailing Facebook page here. For more SORC Islands in the Stream Series sailing information
J/133 Silvers in RORC Caribbean 600 Race
(English Harbour, Antigua)- Over seventy teams from sixteen different nations sailed the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600, hosted by the Royal Ocean Racing Club of Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. The 14th edition of the “600” started on Monday, February 20th off English Harbour, Antigua, sending the teams around a mostly reaching course using eleven of the stunning islands in the Caribbean as turning marks. Those so-called “turning marks” included the spectacular, mountainous islands such as Nevis, Saba, St. Barths, St. Maarten, Tintamarre, Guadeloupe, Iles des Saintes, and La Desirade.
For several J/Teams that love participating in the Caribbean winter offshore sailing circuit, the “reaching tour” of the eleven islands fulfilled their “bucket list” expectations for spectacular sailing offshore at night and gorgeous vistas of the famous resort islands during the day.
Sailing in this year’s event were Raymond Rhinelander’s J/133 BELLA J from Nova Scotia, Andrew Berdon’s J/111 SUMMER STORM, Bob Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE, and Peter Lewis’ J/121 WHISTLER from Barbados. In the end, it was Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE leading all J/crews home to the finish line, taking the silver medal in both the IRC 2 Division and the CSA 2 Division. Just off their pace was the other J/133 BELLA J, Rhinelander’s team had fun, sailed hard, and managed to post a 5th in IRC 2. The other teams also finished in the top ten, with Berdon’s J/111 SUMMER STORM ending up 7th in IRC 2 and Lewis’s J/121 WHISTLER sitting just one place behind them. For more RORC Caribbean 600 Race sailing and tracker information
Tight One-Design Racing @ SCYA Midwinters
J/125 Crushes Offshore PHRF Racing Fleet
(Marina del Rey, CA)- The Southern California Yachting Association’s (SCYA) Midwinter Regatta history is packed with legendary sailors and their boats from the early days to the present. Back in 1928, the SCYA and the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce teamed up to sponsor the first SCYA Midwinters, which was promoted as an example of the sports “paradise” that Southern California offered during the winter. Since then, it has become a wildly popular, multi-site event.
Over the last 10 years, the regatta has consistently attracted over 500 boats, ranging from tiny 8-foot Naples Sabots to professionally sailed TP 52 all-carbon racers. Over two dozen yacht clubs in southern California host events in the five principal areas of sailing: the Channel Islands/ Morro Bay, Santa Monica Bay, Long Beach/ LA Harbor, Newport Beach/ Dana Point, and San Diego. This year, the event is taking place over four weekends, starting February 4th and ending February 25th.
Hosting the passionate group of J/Boats’ one-design enthusiasts was the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey. The three one-design fleets included J/70s, J/109s, and J/111s.
J/70 Class Easily winning the J/70 fleet was Jeff Janov’s MINOR THREAT team with an impressive 2-1-1-2-4-1 tally for 11 pts. However, behind them, it was a three-way battle for the balance of the podium. Ryan Cox’s DJ, Curt Johnson’s AVET 2.01, and Bruce Cooper’s NIMBUS were locked in a wrestling match every race trying to get the upper hand over the others. In the end, it was Cox’s DJ team that squeaked ahead of Johnson’s AVET 2.01 by a single point to take the silver. Getting the short end of that stick was Cooper’s NIMBUS, settling for 4th 2 pts off the podium.
J/109 Class After winning the first three races on the first day, it was apparent that Bob Little & Dan Milefchik’s BLUE CRUSH was in a class by themselves. Their six bullets and a 5th totaled a mere 11 pts. Second went to Peter Nelson’s SPRAY with a 1st, three 2nds, and three 3rds for 16 pts. Rounding out the podium was Scott & Jim Barber’s FELEENA with 20 pts.
J/111 Class A class newcomer led the way home after the first four races. John Staff’s OBSIDIAN with a 1-2-1-1 tally led the provisional results in four races. However, dogging them hard was Yumio Domberg’s REVO with a 2-1-2-2 record. Thereafter, it seems the REVO team all of a sudden found their top gear, ripping off three bullets in a row to close out the regatta with an emphatic statement and take home the gold medal! Getting blitzed is no fun, but Staff’s OBSIDIAN crew took it in stride and enjoyed the spirited competition to take the silver medal. Rounding out the podium with the bronze medal was Dan McGanty’s J-BOSS.
The Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club hosted the big-boat PHRF fleet with a total of eighteen boats split into two fleets the following weekend after the Cal YC One-design weekend.
PHRF A Division Sailing away with class honors in the PHRF A Division was Daniel Murphy’s J/125 JAVELIN with a 2-1-3-2 record for 8 pts. Ending up in fourth place was Dan McGanty’s J/111 J/BOSS.
PHRF B Division After serious practice the weekend before one-design racing in the J/70s, Curt Johnson’s J/80 AVET team applied that experience to simply “whitewash” the huge PHRF B Division of eleven boats, taking four straight bullets for a mere 4 pts. The silver medal went to Robert Dekket’s J/105 CUCHULAINN team that sailed a remarkably consistent series with a 3-3-3-2 scoreline for 11 pts. Sailing photo credits- Lisa Bronitt Photography For more SCYA (Southern California Yachting Association) sailing information
St. Petersburg Regatta Dominated by J/111s
J/70s & J/24s Enjoy Spirited Racing
(St. Petersburg, FL)- The 2023 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series St. Petersburg got off to a spectacular start for the opening races of the three-day national sailing series taking place on Tampa Bay. With race teams from across the country enjoying the best of the sunshine and breeze on Friday, four races were completed before competitors returned to shore for a special presentation by America’s Cup skipper and world champion sailor Terry Hutchinson (J/24 World Champion!).
Day Two With a small-craft advisory posted for Tampa Bay on the second morning, the full extent of the regatta’s 265-boat fleet set out for another race-packed day. With eight races completed for most of the classes, individual fleet leaders were beginning to emerge at the top of the standings. With one more day of racing on the race schedule and light winds in the forecast, there was plenty of opportunity for shuffling within the fleets.
The heart of the action on Tampa Bay was visible in the 48-boat J/70 fleet, which began the morning with three general recall starts before the race committee resorted to using the Black Flag, which disqualifies over-early competitors from the following race start.
The fourth attempt got the fleet off clean and Al Minella’s team on LEVEL 5 put up its second race win of the series. Ed Lebens and his teammates on REGGAE SHARK, however, went 2-1-1 in the next three races to move into the top spot with a 14-point lead in the ultra-competitive fleet.
Highlighting the morning action was the start of the Distance Race fleet, with nearly 40 boats setting spinnakers as they crossed the starting line and sailed south navigating a challenging and windy course that traversed Tampa Bay.
Day Three Twenty-six-year-old skipper Ed Lebens and his teammates on the J/70 REGGAE SHARK arrived at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club marina on Sunday morning with a clear plan for the final day of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series: to cover their rivals and carefully defend their lead in the ultra-competitive and pro-laden class.
The primary focus was keeping tabs on Bruce Golison’s MIDLIFE CRISIS, just 14 points behind. “We had a pretty healthy gap, so we were just going to try not to have a shocker and sail our race,” said the young sailor from Oyster Bay, New York.
When the wind failed to materialize across Tampa Bay, however, race committees across all four of the race circles pulled the plug and sent all competitors to shore. “We were OK with it,” Lebens said.
Onboard with Lebens for the regatta were teammates Malcolm Lamphere, Scott Ewing, and US Sailing Team 49er skipper Ian Barrows. Sailing together for the first time in their positions on the boat, they had a decent start to the series with a ninth in the first race, but then logged top-five finishes over the next seven races, a streak that was highlighted by a surprise win in the last race of the day on Friday.
“We got a third in that race, but the two boats that finished in front of us were both UFD [disqualified for starting early], so out of a 50-boat fleet…the odds of that happening is pretty amazing. We were fired up about that, which was a good way to end the first day.”
Lebens’ summary of his team’s success was straightforward: “Clean starts, being conservative and not committing to a side until the top of the beat, and just having fun with my friends.”
The balance of the podium included Bruce Golison’s MIDLIFE CRISIS in second with 41 pts, with Brian Keane’s SAVASANA in third place with 55 pts. Rounding out the top five were Minella’s LEVEL 5 in fourth and Bruno Pasquinelli’s STAMPEDE in fifth place.
J/70 Corinthians Nineteen boats qualified to sail in the Corinthians Division, a large portion of the overall class. Winning was Tod Sackett’s FM, followed by David Kerr’s USA 1516 in second, and Jay Golison’s ITS ALL GOOD in third place. The balance of the top five included Laura Hughes’ HEARTBREAKER from Ada, Michigan, and Henry Filter’s WILD CHILD from New York.
J/24 Class After winning the first three races, it was pretty clear that Mike Quaid’s ICE CUBE team was determined to take advantage of the nice sailing conditions on the first day to establish a solid lead. Their efforts continued to be rewarded on the second day with four straight bullets to win the J/24 class by a significant margin of 9 pts. The balance of the podium was a continuous battle between George Braddon’s BOGUS and Mike Beattie’s DAZE OFF. Going into the final two races they were essentially tied. However, the BOGUS team closed with a 2-3-2 to take the silver with 21 pts. Failing to maintain their blistering pace in the first six races, Beattie’s DAZE OFF team posted a closing 5-2-6 to drop to third place with 25 pts.
ORC A Division With a dozen boats in the ORC A Division, no one expected, nor anticipated, the blitzkrieg that was about to hit them by two very well-sailed J/111s. In a fleet that included at least five other offshore teams that have podiumed or won handicap divisions in past St. Pete Regattas, it was observed that a few skippers were still wandering around in shock, dazed, and confused at the St. Pete YC bar wondering what had hit them. Bill and Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL smoked the fleet with seven straight bullets for an eye-watering total of just 9 pts. Not to be outdone and working their tails off to maintain pace with their stablemate, was Seth and Kevin Young’s J/111 BLACK SEAL. Although the Youngs won the first race, the Baxter’s FIREBALL was a tough act to follow. In the end, the Young’s BLACK SEAL settled for the silver by posting four 2nds and two 3rds in their scoreline for 21 pts.
ORC B Division In the ten-boat ORC B Division, a similar scenario played out with a trio of J/88s. Bill Purdy’s WHIRLWIND took the silver scoring all podium finishes and missed the top spot by one point due to their final race error. The bronze was earned by Andrew Weiss’s ONE TOO MANY that also scored all podium finishes for 21 pts total. Then, following a first race DSQ, Iris Vogel’s DEVIATION sailed a solid series with mostly top-four finishes to take fourth place with 38 pts.
PHRF Racer-Cruiser Having a fun, laid-back time in the five-boat PHRF Racer-Cruiser division was Rene Ben-Avraham’s J/30 THERAPY taking third place. Their J/colleagues took fourth, David Eberhart’s J/35 SLOOP D’JOUR. For more Sailing World St. Petersburg Regatta sailing information and scores
Italian J/24 Winter Series Reports
(Anzio & Nettuno, Italy)- The Lozzi Trophy and the 48th J/24 Winter Championship are both taking place in the waters off Anzio and Nettuno, the gorgeous seaside resort to the southwest of Rome. Both events are organized and hosted by Circolo della Vela of Rome and they take place on successive Saturdays and Sundays.
Lozzi Trophy Another busy weekend of regattas was characterized by a Mistral wind between 10 and 16 knots and clear skies. Three races were sailed and well-managed by the CdV Roma RC/PRO Livia Serafini.
As a result, leading the series after seven races is Lucas Silvestri’s ENJOY 2. They are followed by Vincenzo Lamberti’s VALHALLA BLUE JAY and Gianni Riccobono’s PELLE ROSSA. It’s worth noting the team with the best record for the day with a 2-1-1 was the Hungarian crew on EL NINO, skippered by Peter Tamas.
Winter Championship For the XLVII Winter Championship on the Gulf of Anzio and Nettuno, the fleet is experiencing the undisputed domination of the famous J/24 from the Centro Vela Altura Napoli- LA SUPERBA. As it has been for what seems decades, Ignazio Bonanno’s LA SUPERBA team from the Italian Navy not only won all three races on Sunday but are counting ONLY firsts in their scoreline for the series after three drop races!
In the provisional general classification behind LA SUPERBA is Luca Silvestri’s ENJOY 2 in second place, Michele Potenza’s ARPIONE sits in third position, Gianni Riccobono’s PELLE ROSSA in fourth, and Palo Cecamore’s PELLE NERA in fifth. The last two days of the series are scheduled for Sunday 26 February and Sunday 12 March. For more Italian J/24 Class sailing information
UPCOMING REGATTAS
Heineken St. Maarten Regatta Preview
(Simpson Bay, St Maarten) – “World-class sailing & Serious Fun” continues to bring excitement to the island of St. Maarten, and it’s an event that’s a must-do on many sailors’ bucket lists! The regatta truly lives up to its famous theme.
With over 90 teams representing more than 25 nations from as far afield as Australia, Norway and Sweden, Canada, Poland, and Greece, competitors, and their yachts are starting to congregate in the crystal-clear waters around St. Maarten. The 43rd edition of this not-to-be-missed regatta takes place from March 2-5, 2023.
For some, traveling to St. Maarten simply means hopping onto a flight, relaxing for a few hours, then enjoying the spectacular low-altitude landing over Princess Juliana International airport. Renowned amongst plane spotters worldwide, planes approach low over Maho Beach, where the regatta racing can be spotted from ashore, skimming the beach and coming to an abrupt halt at the end of the famously short runway.
One yacht that has made an epic journey to get to St. Maarten is the J/133 BELLA J. From her home port of Newfoundland, crew member Sarah Nicholson says they’ve sailed nearly 3,000 nm, departing from Halifax in Canada last November 2022. Sarah says, “We are looking forward to racing in St Maarten and enjoying all of the other festivities. We made five stops along the way [and] it was a fantastic delivery.”
Newcomers to the island and the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Sarah explains that some crew will be flying in direct from Canada in time for the regatta, while others will arrive from Antigua having competed in the RORC 600 first. “Bella’s primary focus has been offshore events for the last few years, so we are excited to practice our inshore skills, have fun, and meet other sailors from around the world!” she says.
There is plenty of ‘Serious Fun!’ to be had both on and off the water. During the week, the Regatta Village Port de Plaisance will host a collection of local flavors and talent. Following the daily prize giving at 6 PM, local artists rock the Regatta Village stage through the evening until it’s time for the after-party! On Sunday night, Grammy award-winning artist “Koffee” graces the big stage at the Regatta Village and toasts the finale of the 43rd St. Maarten Heineken Regatta.
Always popular with J/Sailors, “the Heineken” has attracted top-flight teams from the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean. In the CSA Racing A class will be teams like Pamala Baldwin’s J/122 LIQUID from Antigua, a perennial winner on the Caribbean regatta circuit. She will be joined by Ray Rhinelander’s J/133 BELLA-J from Nova Scotia, Peter Lewis’s J/121 WHISTLER from Barbados, and Marcos Weinstein’s J/120 JAGUAR.
In the CSA Racing B class will be several leading teams led by two J/105s- Jordan Mindich’s SOLSTICE and Remco van Dortmondt’s JENK, Jean Francois Terrien’s J/109 SANG NEUF, Lazio Egel’s J/35 INFINITY, and Garth Steyn’s J/70 IGY RACING/ FRANNY. Sailing photo credits- Lauren Morels/ SaltyColours.com. For more Heineken St. Maarten Regatta sailing information
J/70 Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse Preview
(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The tradition continues in the Royal Principality of Monaco as the clock ticks down to the 39th Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco from March 2nd to 5th, 2023. A meeting par excellence for one-designs, the regatta has been held every February since 1985, the month it was launched at the instigation of YC Monaco President HSH Prince Albert II (a former, very avid J/24 sailor!).
This year again the profile of classes and competitors points to this being a regatta of a level that will live up to expectations with some 450 sailors expected. Primo Cup regulars now include a big fleet of J/70s with several Nordic teams who have based themselves in the Principality for the winter for the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series of monthly regattas from October to March.
The J/70s will have another very large fleet, this year fifty teams and counting from nine pan-European nations (Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, and Malta). The regatta attracts the creme-de-la-creme of European sailors from these passionate yachting nations. Notably, the Swiss mountain lake sailors, winners of last year’s event and the J/70 World Championship are back in full force hoping to repeat their stunning performance. Seventeen teams from the Swiss Alps! Good thing it’s all downhill from their mountain hideaways to the coast!
Teams that should factor on the leaderboard include Ian Wilson’s British team on GEISHA, Serena di Lapigio’s G-SPOT from Monaco, Hans-Peter Bichelmeier’s MIRABAUD I from Switzerland, Pierrik Devic’s LEONTEQ from YCM, Stefano Roberti’s PICCININA from YCM, the Germans on JOKER led by Bendix Piet Mayer, Nick Zeltner’s Swiss team on QUARTER2ELEVEN, Damian Michelier’s French crew on SAGE ENGINEERS, Louis Samuel Poons’ CHARISMA V from YCM, the British crew on BRUTUS that includes J/70 Corinthian Champion Simon Ling, Morgan Lauber’s Swiss CER APROTEC SA- VILLE DE GENEVE, and Ludovic Fassitelli’s JUNDA from Monaco. It promises to be tight, competitive racing amongst the top crews in this event!
Yacht Club Monaco Bernard d’Alessandro, YC Monaco’s Regatta Director, commented that “Monaco is an amazing destination resort and facility for international sailors. Between the sea and the mountains, we’re just an hour and a half from the ski slopes. Sailing in Hercules Bay is an exceptional setting, with conditions that vary hugely and challenge all the qualities of a good sailor. That’s not to forget the facilities we have in the clubhouse, inaugurated in 2014, which is ideal for hosting crews and organizing high-level regattas. All these qualities attract many international teams who decide to come to Monaco to sail, as evidenced by the success of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, now in its ninth season from November to March and also organized by us.
YC Monaco 2023 Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse promo video:
For more J/70 Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse sailing information
J/24 Midwinters Preview
(Melbourne, FL)- The J/24 Midwinter Championship, an annual “must-sail” race for most of Florida’s competitive teams in this class, is expecting to see close to thirty boats and 150 top-notch sailors on the starting line, come Friday morning. Hosted jointly by Eau Gallie and Melbourne Yacht Clubs, the three-day regatta is scheduled to run ten individual races at a course set north of Eau Gallie Boulevard on the Indian River Lagoon. The Midwinter Championship rotates between Miami, Tampa, and Melbourne and comes here only once every three years.
This year, more than one-half of the fleet is traveling from outside of the state, with many boats coming from as far away as New York, New England, California, and the Midwest.
“We’re pleased to be hosting a great spectrum of boats from all over,” said Peter Fischel, Race Chairman, and local Fleet 87 Captain. “Some of the best sailors in the country will be here and it’s gearing up to be a very competitive, and very fun, regatta.”
The Midwinter Championship had its start in 1978 in Key West, Florida, a year after the J/24 was first brought to market.
“The J/24 was a showstopper racing boat,” said Fischel. “There is still no other class like it in the sailing world today. It’s competitive, physical, and racing it is like playing a game of chess on the water.”
According to Principal Race Officer Pat Lambert, who is overseeing the on-water part of this regatta for the third time, flawless execution of the race is the most important thing. “The race committee has been planning the regatta for months. Safety always comes first, but there are so many factors that go into the setting of the course and management of the rules, that it takes a great team to execute it. I’m proud to have that team in place. We can’t wait to release the boats on Friday and get after it!”
The regatta depends on more than forty local volunteers, including twenty who are dedicated to race committee functions.
According to the event organizers, local business support for the race is also strong and has attracted important sponsorships from Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, & Audi of Melbourne, Relentless PEG, Long Doggers, Century Express, The 5 Ws Writing & PR Service, and Little Fisch Farms.
“We expect to see some hard-fought racing this weekend,” said Rick Jarchow, J/24 District 10 Governor and winning skipper of last month’s District Championship in Melbourne. “Melbourne offers some of the best sailing in the world. It’s a true gem. We’re all ready to get out there and fight for that Midwinter Championship title.”
Weather dependent, spectators can watch the races by boat on Friday and Saturday, February 24th and 25th, from 11 am to 4 pm and on Sunday, February 26th, from 11 am to 1 pm.
The J/24 Midwinter Championship is a qualifying race for the 2023 J/24 World Championship to be held in Thessaloniki, Greece, in September 2023. As a result, amongst the thirty teams registered are many of the top American crew hoping for one of the coveted slots to go sailing in the Ionian Sea in the eastern Mediterranean! Amongst those teams are Tony Parker’s BANGOR PACKET, Travis Odenbach’s HONEYBADGER, Nadia Daggett’s MUSTACHE RIDE, John Mollicone’s SPARCRAFT RACING, Aidan Glackin’s MENTAL FLOSS, Jasper van Vliet’s EVIL TWIN, Mike Quaid’s ICE CUBE, and Alfred Constants’ BLITZ. For more 2023 J/24 Midwinter Championship sailing information
J/Gear February Special- 20% off
(Newport, RI)- This “J” Marmot Shell is lightweight but rugged. Perfect for layering or just stowing away for weather changes.
Material:
2.4 oz/yd2, NanoPro™ Eco 100% recycled nylon ripstop
DriClime® lined chin guard
Precip® dry touch technology, water-resistant NanoPro Eco waterproof,
breathable fabric
10K/17K Waterproofness / Breathability
Features:
Angel-Wing Movement™ allows for a full range of motion
100% seam taped
Full visibility roll-up hood with integral collar
Pitzips™ to vent excess body heat
Double storm flap over zipper with snap Velcro® closure
Pack pockets™
Elastic drawcord hem
Choose your J/Class logo and customize for the crew. For more ordering information
J/One-Design Events in 2023! Plan now!
Regattas by Class: J/22 Worlds- July 24-29- Travemunde, Germany J/22 North Americans- Jul 12-16- Kingston YC- Kingston, ONT Canada J/22 Midwinters- Mar 17-19- Ft Walton YC- Fort Walton Beach, FL
J/24 Worlds- Sep 9-16- Nautical Club Thessaloniki- Thessaloniki, Greece J/24 Europeans- Aug 20-27- Balaton YC- Lake Balaton, Hungary J/24 North Americans- Aug 8-13- Sandusky Sailing Club- Sandusky, OH J/24 South Americans- TBD J/24 Midwinters- Feb 24-26- Eau Gallie YC- Indian Harbour Beach, FL J/24 US Nationals- May 17-21- Lake George Club- Diamond Point, NY
J/70 Worlds- Oct 30- Nov 5- St. Petersburg YC- St. Petersburg, FL J/70 Corinthian Worlds- Jun 1-4- Fraglia Vela Riva YC- Riva del Garda, Italy J/70 Europeans- Sep 2-9- Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy- Weymouth, UK J/70 North Americans- Sep 18-24- Chicago YC- Chicago, IL J/70 Corinthian North Americans- Aug 4-6- Bayview YC- Detroit, MI J/70 South Americans- Dec 4-10- Yacht Club Argentino- Buenos Aires, Argentina J/70 Midwinters- Mar 23-26- Shake-A-Leg Miami- Coconut Grove, FL
J/80 Worlds- Sep 18-24- CN Baiona- Baiona, Spain J/80 North Americans- Oct 6-8- Winnepesaukee YC- Lake Winnepesaukee, NH J/80 Europeans- TBD
J/88 North Americans- Date TBD- Larchmont YC- Larchmont, NY J/88 Midwinters- Jan 7-8- St. Petersburg YC- St. Petersburg, FL
J/105 North Americans- Oct 3-8- American YC- Rye, NY J/105 Midwinters- Mar 9-12- Lakewood YC- Seabrook, TX
J/109 North Americans- Jun 19-23- Block Island Race Week- Block Island, RI J/109 East Coast Championship- Sep 23-24- American YC Fall- Rye, NY
J/111 North Americans- August 11-13- Chicago YC- Chicago, IL
J/30 North Americans- Aug 24-27- Bristol YC- Bristol, RI J/30 East Coasts- May 5-7- Annapolis, MD
Sailing Calendar
Mar 2-5- Heineken St. Maarten Regatta- http://www.heinekenregatta.com/ Mar 2-5- J/70 Primo Cup Credit Suisse- Monte Carlo, Monaco- https://yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/home/ Mar 4-5- Italian J/24 Circuit- Salerno, Italy- https://www.j24.it/ Mar 9-11- BACARDI J/70 Regatta- https://bacardiinvitational.com/ Mar 17-19- Sailing World Regatta Series- San Diego, CA- https://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series/ Mar 18-19- Italian J/24 Circuit- Anzio (Rome), Italy- https://www.j24.it/ Mar 23-26- J/70 SAILING Champions League- Qualifier I- Vilamoura, Portugal- https://sailing-championsleague.com/ Mar 24-26- St Thomas Regatta- http://stthomasinternationalregatta.com/ Mar 24-26- Massilia J/70 Cup- Marseille, France- http://www.classej70france.com Mar 27- Apr 2- BVI Spring Regatta- http://www.bvispringregatta.org/ Mar 30- Apr 2- J/70 SAILING Champions League- Qualifier II- Berlin, Germany- https://sailing-championsleague.com/
Apr 1-2- J/70 Swiss Cup- Zug, Switzerland- https://www.j70-class.ch/ Apr 6-9- J/70 Youth SAILING Champions League- Vilamoura, Portugal- https://sailing-championsleague.com/ Apr 7-10- SPI OUEST France (J/70 & J/80(- La Trinite sur Mer, France- https://www.snt-voile.org/ Apr 7-10- SNIM J/70 Regatta- Marseille, France- http://www.classej70france.com Apr 14-16- Italian J/70 Cup- Act I- Porto Ercole (Tyrrhenian Sea), Italy- http://www.j70.it Apr 15-16- Italian J/24 Circuit- Marina di Carrara, Italy- https://www.j24.it/ Apr 16-22- Voiles de St Barth Regatta- http://www.lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com/ Apr 22-23- Swiss J/70 Super League- Ascona, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ Apr 22-23- Van Uden Reco Regatta (J/70 & J/22)- Marina Stellendam- https://www.facebook.com/DutchJ70class Apr 23-24- J/70 Spring Championships- Warsash Sailing Club- Warsash, England- https://j-70.co.uk/ Apr 23-25- J/24 Coppa Italia- Livorno, Italy- https://www.j24.it/ Apr 28-30- J/70 Women’s SAILING Champions League Qualifier- Berlin, Germany- https://sailing-championsleague.com/ Apr 28-30- Swiss J/70 Youth Cup- Vevey- La Tour, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ Apr 29- May 1- J/80 Grand Prix de St. Cast- St. Cast, France- https://www.classej80france.com/ Apr 29- May 5- Antigua Sailing Week- http://www.sailingweek.com/
May 3-4- Palma Vela J/80 Regatta- Palma Mallorca, Spain- https://j80spain.es/ May 5-7- Sailing World Regatta Series- Annapolis, MD- https://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series/ May 6-7- Swiss J/70 Women’s League- Morges, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ May 6-7- J/70 Swiss Cup- Zurich, Switzerland- https://www.j70-class.ch/ May 6-7- Norwegian J/70 League- Alesund, Norway- https://seilsportsligaen.no/ May 12-14- Swedish J/70 League- Saltsjobaden, Sweden- https://www.allsvenskansegling.se/ May 12-14- J/70 German Segel-bundesliga- Berlin, Germany- https://deutsche-segelbundesliga.de/ May 12-14- Italian J/70 Cup- Act II- Rimini (Adriatic Sea), Italy- http://www.j70.it May 18-20- J/80 Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale- Brest, France- https://www.classej80france.com/ May 18-20- French J/70 National Championsihp- Brest, France- http://www.classej70france.com May 18-19- Danish J/70 League- Svenborg, Denmark- https://sejlsportsligaen.dk/ May 21-22- Vice Admiral’s Cup- RORC- Cowes, England- https://www.rorc.org May 24-28- Italian J/24 National Championship- Cala dei Sardi, Italy- https://www.j24.it/ May 26-29- J/80 Grand Prix du Crouesty- Crouesty, France- https://www.classej80france.com/ May 27-28- Finnish J/70 Youth Regatta- Helsinki, Finland- https://spv.fi/kilpaurheilu/purjehdusliiga/ May 27-29- North Sea Regatta (J/70 & J/22)- YC Scheveningen- Rotterdam, Netherlands- https://www.facebook.com/DutchJ70class
Jun 2-4- Swedish J/70 League- Langedrag, Sweden- https://www.allsvenskansegling.se/ Jun 2-4- Bayview One-Design Regatta- Bayview YC- Detroit, MI- https://www.byc.com/BYC_Regattas/Long_Distance_Regatta_(5) Jun 3-4- GRUNDIG Women’s J/70 Regatta- Sundby, Denmark- https://seilsportsligaen.no/ Jun 9-11 Sailing World Regatta Series- Chicago, IL- https://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series/ Jun 9-11- Trophy ISPE J/70- Biscarrosse, France- http://www.classej70france.com Jun 9-11- Finnish J/70 Women’s Regatta- Mariehamn, Finland- https://spv.fi/kilpaurheilu/purjehdusliiga/ Jun 10-11- Danish J/70 League- Helsingor, Denmark- https://sejlsportsligaen.dk/ Jun 10-11- Austrian J/70 League- Woerthersee, Velden, Austria- https://www.segelbundesliga.at/ Jun 15-17- J/CUP UK- Royal Southern YC- Hamble, UK- https://www.keyyachting.com/events/j-cup-regatta/ Jun 15-18- J/70 SAILING Champions League III- Sopot, Poland- https://sailing-championsleague.com/ Jun 23-25- J/80 La Corsaire J-Cup- Saint Malo, France- https://www.classej80france.com/ Jun 24-25- Norwegian J/70 League- Son, Norway- https://seilsportsligaen.no/ Jun 26-30- Race Week Anacortes- Anacortes, WA- http://www.RaceWeekPNW.com Jun 30- Jul 2- J/CUP UK- RORC- Cowes, England- https://j-70.co.uk/ Jun 30- Jul 2- J/80 Copa de Espana- Valencia, Spain- https://j80spain.es/
Jul 1-2- J/70 Swiss Cup- Kreuzlingen, Switzerland- https://www.j70-class.ch/ Jul 1-2- Austrian J/70 League- Attersee, Austria- https://www.segelbundesliga.at/ Jul 1-2- Italian J/24 Circuit- Caldonazzo, Italy- https://www.j24.it/ Jul 8-9- Swiss J/70 Super League- Brunnen, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ Jul 14-16- Italian J/70 Cup- Act III- Fraglia Vela Malcesine (Lake Garda), Italy- http://www.j70.it Jul 15- Bayview Mackinac Race- Bayview YC- Port Huron, MI- https://bycmack.com Jul 22- Chicago Mackinac Race- Chicago YC- Chicago, IL- https://cycracetomackinac.com/ Jul 22-25- J/70 SAILING Champions League Finale- Travemunde, Germany- https://sailing-championsleague.com/ Jul 24-29- J/22 Travemunde Week- Travemunde, Germany- http://www.j22kv.de/ Jul 27-30- Sailing World Regatta Series- Marblehead, MA- https://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series/ Jul 28-30- J/70 German Segel-bundesliga- Travemunde, Germany- https://deutsche-segelbundesliga.de/ Jul 30- Aug 5- Cowes Week- Cowes, England- http://www.cowesweek.co.uk Jul 30- Aug 5- Copa del Rey J/80 Regatta- Palma Mallorca, Spain- https://j80spain.es/
Aug 4-6- J/70 Corinthian North Americans- Bayview YC- Detroit, MI- https://byc.com Aug 5-6- Austrian J/70 League- Achensee, Maurach, Austria- https://www.segelbundesliga.at/ Aug 11-13- Verve Cup Offshore Regatta- Chicago YC- Chicago, IL- https://www.chicagoyachtclub.org Aug 12-13- J/70 Swiss Cup- Thun, Switzerland- https://www.j70-class.ch/ Aug 12-13- Danish J/70 League- Aarhus, Denmark- https://sejlsportsligaen.dk/ Aug 12-13- Norwegian J/70 League- Arendal, Norway- https://seilsportsligaen.no/ Aug 18-20- Swedish J/70 League- Amal, Sweden- https://www.allsvenskansegling.se/ Aug 18-20- J/70 German Segel-bundesliga- Kiel, Germany- https://deutsche-segelbundesliga.de/ Aug 18-20- Finnish J/70 League- Mariehamn, Finland- https://spv.fi/kilpaurheilu/purjehdusliiga/ Aug 19-20- Norwegian J/70 Youth League- Arendal, Norway- https://seilsportsligaen.no/ Aug 19-20- Danish J/70 Women’s League- Aarhus, Denmark- https://sejlsportsligaen.dk/ Aug 25-27- Verve Cup Inshore Regatta- Chicago YC- Chicago, IL- https://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/ Aug 26-27- Swiss J/70 Super League- Kreuzlingen, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ Aug 26-27- Danish J/70 League- Lemvig, Denmark- https://sejlsportsligaen.dk/
Sep 1-3- Finnish J/70 League- Lahti, Finland- https://spv.fi/kilpaurheilu/purjehdusliiga/ Sep 3-4- J/70 Women’s Cup UK- Cowes, England- https://j-70.co.uk/ Sep 9-10- Swiss J/70 Women’s League- Zurich, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ Sep 9-10- J/70 Zuideree Regatta- Muiden, Netherlands- https://www.facebook.com/DutchJ70class Sep 14-17- J/70 Women’s SAILING Champions League Finale- Sundby, Denmark- https://sailing-championsleague.com/ Sep 15-17- J/70 Swiss Cup Championship Finale- Genf, Switzerland- https://www.j70-class.ch/ Sep 15-17- Swiss J/70 Championship- Geneve, Switzerland- http://www.classej70france.com Sep 15-17- Swedish J/70 League- Strangnas, Sweden- https://www.allsvenskansegling.se/ Sep 15-17- J/70 German Segel-bundesliga- Konstanz, Germany- https://deutsche-segelbundesliga.de/ Sep 16-17- German J/22 Cup- Duisburg, Germany- http://www.j22kv.de/ Sep 16-17- Austrian J/70 League- Mattsee, Austria- https://www.segelbundesliga.at/ Sep 22-24- Finnish J/70 League Finale- Espoo, Finland- https://spv.fi/kilpaurheilu/purjehdusliiga/ Sep 22-24- Atlantic Telegramme Regatta (J/70 & J/80)- Lorient, France- http://www.classej70france.com Sep 23-24- Norwegian J/70 League Finale- Asgardstrand, Norway- https://seilsportsligaen.no/ Sep 29- Oct 1- Swiss J/70 Super League Finale- Neuchatel, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ Sep 30- Oct 1- Dutch J/22 National Championships- Medemblik, Netherlands- http://www.j22kv.de/ Sep 30- Oct 1- Norwegian J/70 Youth League- Asgardstrand, Norway- https://seilsportsligaen.no/ Sep 30- Oct 1- Italian J/24 Circuit- Mandello Lario, Italy- https://www.j24.it/
Oct 6-8- J/70 German Segel-bundesliga- Uberlingen, Germany- https://deutsche-segelbundesliga.de/ Oct 14-15- Swiss J/70 Super League Cup- La Neuveville, Switzerland- https://swiss-sailing-league.ch/en/ Oct 14-15- Swedish J/70 League Championship- Marstrand, Sweden- https://www.allsvenskansegling.se/ Oct 15-16- J/70 UK One-Design Championship- Hamble, England- https://j-70.co.uk/ Oct 19-21- J/70 German Segel-bundesliga- Hamburg, Germany- https://deutsche-segelbundesliga.de/ Oct 20-22- Italian J/70 Championship- Lerici (Ligurian Sea), Italy- http://www.j70.it Oct 20-22- Sport Boat Championship (J/70 & J/80)- Hyeres, France- http://www.classej70france.com Oct 21-22- J/22 Cooling Down Regatta- Braassememeer, The Netherlands- http://www.j22kv.de/ Oct 21-22- Italian J/24 Circuit- Cervia, Italy- https://www.j24.it/
Nov 2-4- French J/80 Nationals d’Hendaye- Hendaye, France- https://www.classej80france.com/ Nov 4-5- J/70 German Segel-bundesliga Finale- Hamburg, Germany- https://deutsche-segelbundesliga.de/ Nov 10-12- Navigatlantique Trophy (J/70 & J/80)- La Rochelle, France- http://www.classej70france.com Nov 11-12- Italian J/24 Circuit Finale- Olbia, Italy- https://www.j24.it/ Nov 11-12- J/22 Vaterchen Frost Regatta- Hamburg, Germany- http://www.j22kv.de/ Nov 18-19- Dutch J/70 Championship- Muiden, Netherlands- https://www.facebook.com/DutchJ70class Nov 25-26- J/80 Mundialito Regatta- Santander, Spain- https://j80spain.es/
