This week we have more cool updates from the world of sailing J’s across Europe, the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean. We start our journey on the picturesque waters of the Straits of Georgia, that is where the West Vancouver Yacht Club held its annual Southern Straits Race. Sailors from far and wide gathered with their J/99s, J/105s, J/109s, J/111s, J/122s, and J/160s to participate in this exciting spring “dash.” With courses stretching 148.0 nm, 98.0 nm, and 64.0 nm, the competition was intense and exhilarating.
Meanwhile, in the charming harbor of Porto Ercole, Italy, a grand fleet of 45 boats representing seven European nations gathered for the Italian J/70 Cup. Over three sun-soaked days, these skilled sailors raced their hearts out, with the regatta PRO successfully running eight thrilling races.
Not too far away, in Marina di Carrara, Italy, seventeen talented teams competed in the Italian J/24 Nationals circuit. The stunning white marble mountains of Carrara provided an awe-inspiring backdrop as the sailors raced across the pristine waters. Club Nautico Marina di Carrara graciously hosted this unforgettable event.
Across the English Channel, in the United Kingdom, the Warsash Spring Series kicked off with a lively weekend of racing. The first Saturday saw the Black and White Groups battling side by side off the Hill Head shore, their sails filled with a N/NNW breeze. The Solent’s waters were graced with a one-design fleet of J/70s, as well as IRC handicap boats, including J/92s, J/109s, J/111s, and J/122s.
Up in the majestic Swiss Alps, the Swiss J/70 Masters Regatta unfolded on the breathtaking Lago Maggiore in Ascona, Switzerland. Fifteen masters teams, representing every Swiss canton, participated in a thrilling two-day series, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear waters.
Down in the Caribbean, the island of St. Barths played host to the Voiles de St Barth Regatta, a celebration of sailing, camaraderie, and the classic French lifestyle. Sailors enjoyed five days of competitive racing, morning cafés, evening concerts, and a signature mid-regatta “Day Off” at the famous Nikki Beach. The island’s enchanting beauty and exceptional sailing conditions left lasting impressions on all who attended.
Back in Seattle, Washington, the Corinthian Yacht Club’s Center Sound Series drew to a close with a 22-mile out-and-back race to Scatchet Head at the southern end of Whidbey Island. Sixty boats across nine classes took part in this exciting event, embracing the lovely conditions and the spirit of friendly competition.
J/COMMUNITY There are several interesting tidbits of news in the J/Community section below. They include the following:
Bob Johnstone’s new book- “MAVERICK MARKETER”- has just been released! It’s a page-turning business memoir and love story from this National Sailing Hall of Fame yachtsman, wrapped up in a narrative about problem-solving when following one’s dreams to create the leading performance brands in boating,… J/Boats and MJM Yachts.
RORC Irish Sailor of the Year in 2022 was a woman! Laura Dillon won the prestigious title for her remarkable performance in a variety of boats and events.
Finally, the J/145 PALAEMON was named San Diego YC Yacht of the Year 2022.
J/111 65 RED ROSES Tops Southern Straits Race!
J/Teams Garner Mountains of Silver Across the Board!
(Vancouver, BC, Canada)- Last weekend, the West Vancouver Yacht Club held its annual spring “dash” around the Straits of Georgia for a large contingent of passionate offshore sailing enthusiasts. Catering to the needs of modern life and limited “playtime”, the WVYC provides three courses for the sailors to choose from, much like their “western” friends do for the fabled Swiftsure Race hosted by their colleagues at Royal Victoria Yacht Club. The course lengths are 148.0nm, 98.0nm, and 64.0nm. Only the long course races are under the ORC handicap rule, all the rest are PHRF Northwest handicap rules.
There was a wide range of J/Teams sailing the race, from J/29 RHUMBLINE up to the magnificent J/160 JAM. In the end, J/sailors proved once again that sailing a strong, well-rounded, easy-to-sail design (e.g. not a “wedge of cheese”), would stand the test of Neptune throwing everything, including the proverbial “kitchen sink”, at the fleet during the race.
According to Jim Prentice on the J/109 DIVA, “We had no wind at the start. But, we had a nearly 2-knot current pushing us across the start line. During the race, we had everything from 0 to 20 knots-plus, and the long course boats had steady 30s gusting into the ’40s around Sister’s Island! That was the northernmost point of their course.” In other words, some boats experienced epic winds, the proverbial “blowing dogs off chains” scenario.
The performance of the various J/Teams was quite remarkable given the diversity of the boats, the sailing teams, and the weather. In the Long Course race of 148.0nm, Bill Fox’s J/160 JAM won the ORC Division (e.g. a “real” racing rule) and was second under PHRF (political handicap racing rule). They had 30+ knots of wind near their 4th turning mark- the island. Only four out of nine boats completed that course.
On the medium (98.0nm) course, it was a near-clean sweep of the top five by J/Crews. Winning both PHRF 2 Division and Overall PHRF was Alex Smyth’s J/111 65 RED ROSES II. Second was Kevin Trehame’s J/120 BLUE JOY, fourth was Cathy Van Antwerp’s J/111 VALKYRIE, and fifth went to John Murkowski’s J/122E JOY RIDE.
Sailing the same race track was the PHRF 3 Division. Leading a virtual clean sweep were the J/109s. By just over 1.5 minutes, Jim Prentice’s DIVA won over John Polglase’s DOUBLE TIME in second place, followed by John Peterson’s LEGACY in fourth and Tom Sitar’s SERENDIPITY in fifth place.
Proving that perseverance will get you a win every time was David George’s J/29 RHUMB LINE. His crew took division honors by nearly 15 minutes after a hard-fought 64.0nm race in the Short Course Division 5.
Here is the report from the overall winner- J/111 65 RED ROSES II: “The springtime distance racing classic around the Strait of Georgia provided varying conditions for a competitive fleet.
The 2023 Southern Straits Race began in typical fashion, with pouring rain and no wind. The forecast had predicted that light winds at the start of the race would steadily increase throughout the day and culminate in 30-plus knots early on Saturday. Our team races the 36-foot J/111, 65 Red Roses II, out of West Vancouver Yacht Club (WVYC). As we were leaving the club, we were treated to a surprise — four orcas — a sure sign of good luck!
The race start presented the same conditions that had challenged us in previous years. Two knots of current pushing us over the line in light wind punished those who were aggressive on the line, so this time we hung back and nailed it, more or less. We were 30 seconds late to the line, but in clear air, which allowed us to overtake our competitors and catch the long course boats that were ahead. This is where the real race began.
With our light wind jib and a full main, we glided down current towards Point Atkinson, chasing patches of wind out of English Bay until we had enough to fill our spinnaker. Playing with the big boats now, we carefully jibed back and forth to find the wind between Point Atkinson and Bowen Island. Some boats, such as the J/109s and the other J/111, Valkyrie, dug deeper and found success along the shore, eating into our lead. We chose to position ourselves farther into the strait as we raced toward Halibut Bank.
With the wind ranging from 5 to 8 knots, we were able to maintain our A1.5 spinnaker to the mark. As a crew, we have come a long way since our first Southern Straits when every jibe felt like a liability. This year, as we approached the first mark of the course, we opted for a jibe drop, also known as a “Mexican”, to ensure that we didn’t lose our position. As the first medium course boat around, we were determined to maintain our lead.
For those unfamiliar with a “Mexican,” it is like a weather takedown, but it is done when approaching the mark on starboard and a jibe is needed while then rounding the mark to port. During the turn, the spinnaker is over-trimmed, pulling the foot up to the deck. As the skipper completes the turn, the spinnaker inverts and lies on the new, windward side of the jib ready to be dropped. The name “Mexican” was coined by Buddy Melges during the 1992 America’s Cup trials in San Diego where prevailing winds would often point the bow towards Mexico during port roundings.
After rounding the Halibut Bank buoy, we hunkered down for the long leg to the new ODAS mark located at the southern end of the Strait of Georgia, west of the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. We chose to stay close to the Vancouver Island shore until we hit a wind shift near Thrasher Rock that forced us into an auto-tack. At this point, things started to get sporty. The breeze built and we were excited to see winds hitting 15 knots with gusts to 20. It was going to be a fun downwinder.
Here, our focus shifted to Valkyrie, who was cruising down the Vancouver Island shore and seemed to be gaining on us. Meanwhile, Ultraman III (S-40 MOD) and Joy Ride (J/122e) were just off our stern. As we approached ODAS, we frantically calculated wind angles to see if we could hold a kite back to Halibut. As it didn’t look promising, we decided to try something new, a combination of the A3 and staysail, which allowed us to hold a high lane in 22 knots. As the wind lightened, we were able to peel to our A1.5 and lay the mark. It was interesting to observe the sail configurations behind us, with our competitors Valkyrie and Ultraman III flying spinnakers, each boat having moments when the conditions allowed them to gain and other times to lose ground.
As we approached Halibut Bank in the dark, we had a new problem to contend with. Phoenix (XP44), a long course boat, was coming up from leeward with rights. We had to ensure we established overlap with the faster boat 200 meters out from the mark, or we risked having to slow down and let them round 40 meters ahead of us, as per Appendix RV (Reduced Visibility Racing Rules) IRPCAS. Overlap established!
Another Mexican drop, this time in the dark. We hoisted our J1 and sailed to Entrance Island, rounding PE and PO to port while wondering which set of bow lights behind us was our competition, and how far back were they. Impossible to tell. The wind went aft once we rounded PO and we decided to try our A3 again, but it wasn’t the ticket this time. The local pressure forced us too far south with big puffs knocking us down and we couldn’t find a groove to take us home. We tried adding our staysail but eventually decided to hoist our J2 for the final stretch.
Aside from technical aspects, another key to successful racing is keeping the crew in good spirits. We are a relatively bare-bones operation with all non-essential items offloaded for racing. Nevertheless, we are a happy crew. With a plentiful offering of sandwiches and wraps, hot pasta for dinner, fresh fruit, homemade cookies, and a wide assortment of snacks including crew favorite, Mr. Noodles, there is never a risk of mutiny. Kudos to the fellow crew, Nicole, for keeping us so well fed!
Back on the course, it was around 11 p.m. and we had started a long starboard tack slog — a drag race home — with a cold crew on the rail and cold hands in the cockpit. We all agreed we were glad we weren’t on the long course! Despite seeming like a one-tack approach to the finish, somewhere south of Roger Curtis, we encountered a big knock, begging us to tack on it. Our tactician said no, we’re going to sail up behind Point Atkinson and ride the lift around the corner as we’ve done so many times before. A critical final call that we think gained us some crucial minutes on the boats chasing us down.
And so, a couple of short tacks on our home turf and we were across the line, feeling confident in our performance, happy to be finished, and ready for Mike’s hot soup at WVYC! At this point, we knew we’d won line honors for our course, but it wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that we’d learn we won our division and the overall for the medium course. Another spectacular Southern Straits is in the books, and congratulations to all the sailors who accepted this annual challenge!” Thanks for this contribution from Heather Smyth at 48 North. Follow the Southern Straits Race on Facebook here For more Southern Straits Race sailing information and results here.
PATAKIN Wins Italian J/70 Cup Act I
(Porto Ercole, Italy)- The first event in the 2023 Italian J/70 Cup circuit took place in Porto Ercole, Italy for a large 45-boat fleet from seven European nations. The three-day regatta was blessed with good weather conditions, enabling the regatta PRO to run a total of eight races.
The top of the leaderboard ended up being a two-boat duel between the Spanish PATAKIN team and the G-SPOT crew from YC Monaco. Starting day one with a 2-2 tally to lead the fleet was Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G-SPOT, while Luis Albert’s PATAKIN crew posted a 3-6 to end the day in second place. Third for the day was Allesandro Molla’s VIVA crew with a 5-5.
The second and third days of racing saw the winds of fortune change quite substantially for the G-SPOT team, barely managing to crack the top 10 in the next three races. Meanwhile, Albert’s Spanish World Champion crew on PATAKIN maintained a very steady pace to produce a 2-3-6 record to take over the top of the leaderboard.
On the final day of three races, Albert’s PATAKIN team of Rayco Tabares Alvarez, Gerardo Prego Menor, and Joan Cardona Mendex finished the regatta with a 4-12-1 to win the regatta with 25 pts net. Despite their mid-regatta struggles, Serena di Lapigio’s G-SPOT team of Karlo Hmeljak, Alessandro Franci, and Michele Paoletti closed strongly in the last three races with a 1-5-3 to snag the silver medal with 27 pts net, just two points astray from the leaders. Rounding out the podium in the bronze medal position was Mauro Roversi’s Italian crew on J-CURVE (Manuel Weiller Vidal, Andrea Felci, Giulia Albuzio, and Davide Vignone), finishing with 36 pts net. The balance of the top five included Molla’s VIVA team in fourth and Luca Domenici’s NOTARO TEAM in fifth place.
Corinthians Division It was a convincing win for Jonathan Calascione’s Britsh team on CALYPSO (Owen Bowerman, Morgan Peach, and Alexander Gabriel Harej) in the Corinthians Division, managing to win the 7th race and ending with 56 pts net. Second was Gianfranco Noe’s Italian team on WHITE HAWK (Matija Succi, Giuliano Chiandussi, Barbara Bomben, and Alexander Gabriel Harej) with 74 pts net, followed in third place by Sofia Giondi’s YC RIMINI team (Filippo Baldassari, Matteo Morelina, and Paolo Freddi) with 79 pts. Notably, Sofia was the top women’s skipper at the event. For more Italian J/70 Cup circuit sailing information
LA SUPERBA Dominates Italian J/24 Circuit- Act III
(Marina di Carrara, Italy)- Thanks to four victories in seven races, the LA SUPERBA team from the Centro Vela Altura Napoli sailing club managed to walk away with yet another significant win in the Italian J/24 National circuit over seventeen competitors in the beautiful waters off Carrara. Carrara is most famous for supplying the magnificent backdrop of white marble mountains for the sailors offshore. Hosting the event was Club Nautico Marina di Carrara.
LA SUPERBA’s well-known team included skipper Ignazio Bonanno and crew of Alfredo Branciforte, Francesco Picaro, Simone Scontrino, and Vincenzo Vano. As a result of winning the third act, the LA SUPERBA crew is leading the nine-regatta Italian J/24 National Championship circuit.
Silver went to long-time competitors on the Italian J/24 circuit- JOANNA- sailed by Fabrizio Dallacasa, Andrea Collina, Francesco Vallicelli, Mirco Mongardi, and Mauro Lugaresi. Then, rounding out the podium in the bronze medal position was another Italian J/24 class veteran (and President!)- Pietro Diamanti- with his crew of Fabrizio Ginesi, Paolo Governato, Matteo Tronfi, and Antonio Lupo. Pietro is the “hometown hero” from the local Carrara sailing club.
“We could have done better at the start of the regatta,” commented Diamanti. “But, we are equally satisfied, it was a good outcome for us to take the bronze!”
On the other hand, the winner of the last edition, Eugenia De Giacomo’s FIVE FOR FIGHTING, narrowly missed the podium by two points! And, taking the fifth spot was BRUSCHETTA GUASTAFESTE sailed by the Ciceri sisters.
After seven races held in ideal wind conditions by seventeen crews from numerous fleets, the J24 National Regatta “Nino Menchelli Trophy” was successfully concluded, well organized by the
The regatta Chair- Carlandrea Simonelli- commented, “The crews showed strong competitiveness, which also cost a general recall on the second day. The venue provided perfect conditions with strong wind and calm seas that allowed our RC/PRO team to carry out seven races.”
The next stage of the Italian J/24 National Circuit also takes place in the Tuscany region but will move to nearby Livorno. For more Italian J/24 National Championship circuit sailing information
Warsash Spring Championships Off to Flying Start!
(Warsash, England)- The first Saturday of the Spring Championship saw the Black and White Group racing side by side off the Hill Head shore in a N/NNW breeze that started the day at around 11 knots and eased to 6 knots during the afternoon. As always when the breeze is coming off the shore, there were many wind shifts to exercise the course setters and tacticians alike. Both groups were sent windward-leeward courses in the intermittent spring sunshine.
BLACK GROUP The Black Group start and finish lines were between East Knoll and Hill Head buoys, with the windward marks varying during the day from near Fumesy 4C and William 4L, both of which were used at some time during the day as well as a variety of colored inflatables. The IRC 1 class had courses of about 5-5¾ miles, IRC 2 4 half 4¾ miles, and IRC 3 about 3¾-4 miles. Four races were completed during the day.
The IRC 1 Division was dominated by J/111s, Louise Makin and Chris Jones’ JOURNEYMAKER IV had two firsts and a second. Just behind them was Cornel Riklin’s JITTERBUG also with two first in their scoreline just one point behind.
In the IRC 2 Division, John Smart’s J/109 JUKEBOX and Mike Yates’ J/109 JAGO shared the spoils for the day, with both boats tied after four races, but JUKEBOX leading the tie-breaker countback calculation.
Sunday dawned cloudy and windless. It seemed overly optimistic, but the race committee went out and dropped anchor. Several boats didn’t come out, assuming that no breeze would materialize! Nevertheless, several did come out and went home again an hour after the scheduled start time. Still, others stayed out to, ultimately, enjoy a gorgeous day of sailing! Who knew, right?!!
However, half an hour later a zephyr started to make itself felt, from the SSW, and racing was attempted in an initially very light breeze at 1230 hrs over a short windward-leeward course. By halfway through the race, a light breeze was filling in nicely at around 6-8 knots and the race was completed satisfactorily.
The race committee re-aligned the race course as the breeze went into the southwest but did not lengthen it. The second and final race of the day proved quite short as the breeze held and indeed rose slightly to 8 to 10 knots. However, the competitors weren’t complaining as they had got in two races that had seemed most unlikely during the morning.
The Sunday races scored both in the Championship and the 6-week series.
In IRC 1 Division, the J/111s had collectively gone home half an hour before the announcement at midday of racing about to start!!
For the IRC 2 Division, the J/109s continued at the front, each with a 1st and a 2nd, and JUKEBOX edged one point in front overall after the discard.
WHITE GROUP On Saturday, the J/70s were out for their first races of the season. Being to the north of the North Channel, and closer inshore, the wind was a little more shifty and kept the mark setters busy responding to the demands of the race officer, whose attempts to keep the course true didn’t always match the whims of the wind.
The first 3 races got away cleanly under a “P” flag. The J/70s had three different winners, JOSKIN (Henry Edwards), JENGA 8 (Andrew Barraclough), and JELLYFISH (Finley Dickinson) with five boats having at least one top-three place. EV Experts (Tim Collins) were the most consistent with three thirds. The gusts in the first race provided some gentle planning downwind, but, in line with the forecast, there was a slow drop in strength.
At the start of the fourth race, the wind really began to play tricks and shifted left and dropped away. The first start was abandoned, and the course adjusted left, and restarted. Well, the sequence was restarted, but as the wind faded the AP came out again. With no wind in sight, it was decided to call it a day.
Sunday dawned a flat day. The forecast was light and very shifty, which suggests that no racing would happen. However, around midday, after several brief attempts of 5 knots from the east and the west, the wind began to fill in from the south and a course was quickly set up, and racing got underway. Surprisingly, the wind held, and three short races were completed with the axis following a trend to the right.
In the J/70s, JELLYFISH took the first race and followed it with two seconds. Their colleagues in EV EXPERTS took the other two races. JENGA 8 completed the places with a second and two thirds.
At the halfway point of the championship, with a discard to kick in after the next race, it is all to play for in the J/70s with JELLYFISH and EV EXPERTS tied on 14 points, with JENGA 8 just one point behind! Next weekend should prove to be an epic finale, or… so we believe! For more Warsash Spring Series sailing information
YC Bielersee Smokes Swiss J/70 Masters Cup
(Ascona, Switzerland)- The first event in the Swiss J/70 Masters Cup took place last weekend on the gorgeous Lago Maggiore- a spectacular venue at the northern end of the lake, surrounded by vistas of snow-capped mountain peaks. Fifteen masters teams from every canton in Switzerland participated in the two-day series. While the weather was gorgeous, the wind was not. As a result, the teams had to rotate quickly on the six boats to complete the regatta.
The winning team was Yacht Club Bielersee, skippered by Robert Hartmann with a crew of Andreas Rentschler, Thierry Bosshart, and Maria Rubin. Second went to Segelclub Enge Zurich, with a team of Christian Sprecher, Doris Kappeler, Patrik Sprecher, and Steff Aeling. Rounding out the podium was Segelclub Stafa, with skipper Thomas Kristiansen and crew of Uwe Werner, Ulrich Kaiser, and Martin Fluckiger. The balance of the top five includes Yacht Club Zug in fourth and Cercle de la Voile Neuchatel in fifth place.
Is it surprising that Swiss J/70 sailing has taken off into the stratosphere? Not really. For decades, Swiss sailing suffered from not standardizing on one “easy-to-sail” keelboat that could involve all sailors, young and old, veterans to “newbies”. And, more importantly, a strong one-design keelboat class sailed all over Europe. That the recent J/70 World Championship was won by a Swiss team in Monte Carlo, Monaco is a testament to the determination of top Swiss sailing clubs and the best Swiss sailors to scream up the learning curve of sailing J/70s fast. Incredibly, in ONE year (yup, just 12 months), the Swiss J/70 team participation in Yacht Club de Monaco’s famous Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse regatta went from the bottom percentile of participation to the TOP percentile! In addition to one Swiss team finishing on the “Open” podium, the Swiss nearly dominated the Corinthians Division with a 1-2! Such progression has not gone unnoticed in the sailing world… more to come, as they say! For more J/70 Swiss Sailing League information
Voiles de St Barth Regatta Update
(Gustavia, St. Barths, Caribbean)- Saint Barth’s stunning beauty and exceptional sailing conditions provide the perfect backdrop for competitive racing and après sailing fun and relaxation. Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille hosts five days of racing on diverse challenging coastal courses, a central Race Village for competitors to gather for morning cafés and evening concerts, plus Les Voiles’ signature mid-regatta “Day Off” at the famous Nikki Beach and the beach crew party, all while surrounded by the warm hospitality of Saint Barth’s classic French lifestyle.
After three days of racing, the fleet hierarchies are taking shape. While the J/122 EL OCASO blemished its string of first-place finishes on Wednesday with a third in CSA 2, the British team on the J/122 still holds a four-point lead in the class. This is Great Britain’s Steve Rigby’s first time racing at Les Voiles and he has a predominantly Cornish crew on board, plus Saint-Barth local Nate Turtschi. Turtschi’s local knowledge is paying off for the first-time racing team, “especially when it comes to knowing where those rocks are,” said Rigby.
“Today we had a really good start, but then we picked up some weed (sargassum). We didn’t realize how much of a delay it was costing us. So, by the time we finally stopped and backed the boat down, we just couldn’t recover.”
With a look ahead to when racing will resume Friday, Rigby is not worried about Friday and Saturday’s lighter air forecast. “We quite favor the lighter winds with this boat,” he said… knowing full well the J/122 is quite devastating in the windward/leeward courses that are scheduled for the last two days of sailing. For more Les Voiles de St Barth Regatta sailing information
Epic Center Sound Series Finale!
(Seattle, WA)- The final race of Corinthian Yacht Club’s Center Sound Series sent racers sailing a familiar course up to south Whidbey Island in lovely conditions. As March drew to a close, so did the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle’s Center Sound Series. Like the second race in the series, the final race allows the committee to determine the course on the day of the event, based on the conditions. Accordingly, the committee boat set the line several miles farther north than usual, anticipating more breeze to the north than to the south. Sure enough, when the course was set on the board, it was a 22-mile out-and-back run to Scatchet Head at the south end of Whidbey Island for the 60 boats across nine classes.
The moderate southerly hovering near 10 knots meant a downwind start — which always makes things a little extra exciting. Every kind of start was on display, from the early kite hoist with a speed-and-distance run to the line; to an approach from leeward of the line at the pin end, which puts a boat in a controlling starboard leeward position on all other boats. That is if they can get back to the pin sailing up against an already pumping springtime ebb. In general, the pin was a very busy spot for these starts.
Once the fleet got off the line, it seemed like the middle of Puget Sound would provide a stronger current, and some models suggested the breeze should be better a little farther west too. As happens, the course was pretty even, with possibly even a slight advantage in the first part of the run for the boats whose course kept them closer to the east side.
The breeze was quite consistent for the run north, so soon it was a boat speed game. Gains were minimal, but with more than 10 miles to work with, the faster boats did eventually eke ahead.
As the fleet approached Scatchet Head, the current was already causing fits as it pushed out of Saratoga Passage, moving boats westward at a healthy clip. Talking with sailors from other fleets reinforced this idea — the farther east you were on the beat home, the better.
By the time offshore boats tacked off the Edmonds shore, the other boats had gotten ahead. This was a big advantage with miles of short tacking ahead, where they would have a windward position.
Eventually, the breeze lightened, and the writing was on the wall with the committee boat fast approaching. Some boats took fliers farther west, which didn’t pan out.
Happily, sun-kissed and windburned sailors made their way south across the finish line. Most of the fleet had to navigate a dying breeze, and leads changed hands in the shifting conditions in several fleets.
The PHRF 4 Class was simply one-design J/105s, an incredibly strong fleet of fourteen boats! WOWOWOW! Talk about strong fleet growth, the J/105 class went from about a half-dozen enthusiastic teams in the previous year to a tsunami of new teams! Winning class was Chris Phoenix’s JADED with a 1-3-1 for 5 pts. Taking the silver was Al Hughes’ CREATIVE with a 4-1-2 for 7 pts. Rounding out the podium with a mind-numbing 2-2-7 for 11 pts was John Aitchison’s MOOSE UNKNOWN! Theirs was a sad tale… tied on points for the lead going into the last race and simply “nuking” their scoreline with a final race 7th. The balance of the top five in this huge fleet was Tom Kerr’s CORVO 105 in fourth and Adrien Felon’s DOUBLE TROUBLE in fifth position.
The PHRF 6 Class saw a pair of J/120s race neck-and-neck with one another the entire series. In the end, it was Carl Sheath’s SHEARWATER that took the bronze medal in the division, with Chris Johnson’s WITH GRACE settling for fourth place.
The PHRF 7 Class looked like it was a running “gun battle” between the J/111s and J/122s all series. In the end, it was a SHOCKING outcome to see THREE boats all tied on 9 pts each after three races. On the tie-break countback process, taking the silver medal with a 1-3-5 was Tolga Cezik’s J/111 LODOS and John Renehan & Fritz Lanzinger’s J/111 HOOLIGAN with a 3-2-4 to take the bronze medal! Rounding out the top five was Steve Kirsch’s J/111 FLASH with a 2-7-6 tally.
PHRF 5 class was a mixed bag of boats. Going into the last race leading class with a 1-2 was David Schutte’s J/109 SPYHOP. However, their last race 7th “torpedoed” their chances to sit atop the podium, having to settle for the bronze medal. Sailing consistently to take fourth place was Don & George Leighton’s J/35 TAHLEQUAH. Just off their pace was David Miller’s J/99 ONE LIFE to take the fifth position.
In the PHRF 2 Class, it was Lek Dimarucot’s J/80 UNDERDOG that took class honors with a 1-1-2 for 4 pts. Not far off their pace was Ryan Porter’s J/80 JOLLY GREEN with a 2-3-3 for the three weekends to snag the bronze medal. Finishing just outside of “the chocolates” was Morris Lowitz’s J/80 UPROAR with a 5-4-5. For more Corinthian YC Seattle’s Center Sound Series sailing information
UPCOMING EVENTS
Charleston Race Week Preview. J/Boats are 63% of the Fleet!
(Charleston, SC)- What is the most amazing and SHOCKING news for the 2023 edition of the Charleston Race Week? It is very, very cool news! Our friends in the US Navy are quite enthusiastic about the fact that nearly 2,000 “new” sailors are about to become “carrier newbies”!!
Charleston Race Week (CRW) has moved its Race Village onto the USS Yorktown, the historic World War II era aircraft carrier that is berthed at Patriots Point. CRW Chairman Randy Draftz is excited about the new venue and believes regatta participants will enjoy attending post-race parties aboard a floating museum that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
“The USS Yorktown is an iconic warship and a landmark feature along the Charleston harbor waterfront,” Draftz said. “It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area and one of the most beautifully unique venues in all of Charleston.”
Spring has finally arrived for the much anticipated Sperry Charleston Race Week that is taking place from April 20th to 23rd in Charleston, SC. Between the historical downtown of Charleston and the casual atmosphere of Mt Pleasant across the harbor, the sailors will be spoiled for choice for charming restaurants, quaint southern-style inns, and plenty of sites to see, including the famous World War II aircraft carrier- the USS Yorktown.
The incredibly popular regatta is the first large-scale spring event to take place on the East Coast, with 144 offshore keelboats entered, with just about all boats based at the amazingly accommodating Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina on Patriots Point. The event has become a mecca for J/sailors in the springtime, a great chance to dust off the old yacht, toss it on a trailer, and drag it down to Charleston to have some fun in the sun and enjoy good’ole Southern hospitality.
The sailing is quite challenging for both Charleston Harbor veterans and rookies learning the vagaries of winds and the notorious currents. While the winds can be tricky and shiftier than most harbors, it is the massive amounts of current produced by the confluence of three rivers (Ashley, Cooper & Wando) that converge at the northwestern part of the harbor that drives both the RC/ PRO’s crazy and the sailors simply cuckoo. It is not unusual to see upwards of 3 kts of current across the four race courses inside the harbor and enormous current shears and eddies when the tide changes; especially inside Fort Sumter (the place that is infamous in US history for being bombarded by the Confederate Army on April 12-14, 1861, starting the American Civil War). Plus, toss in some constantly shifting sand bars and mud banks known simply as “Middle Ground” and you get the picture- it’s a challenge.
For the huge field of J’s across PHRF handicap and one-design classes of J/22s, J/24s, J/70s, J/88s, and J/105s it means they will represent by far the biggest brand participating in the event- nearly 60% of the entire fleet- 91 J/Boats of 144 boats! In short, Charleston Race Week has become another “de facto” J/Fest regatta for the passionate tribe of J/sailors in the eastern half of America.
J/70 Class Leading the charge by far is the largest fleet in the regatta- the 42-boat J/70 fleet. It has the feeling of a “Woodstock-type” of gathering, sailors are coming from near and far to get a chance to reunite after a long cold winter, and for those who’ve been fortunate enough to have been traveling the Florida and Caribbean winter regatta trail. Canadians, Nova Scotians, Chileans, Mexicans, Italians, Neanderthals, and the sort are all looking forward to diving into the muddy, tricky currents of the famous harbor and, later, trading a few bruising war stories on the decks of a World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown.
The J/70s are loaded with both strong Corinthians teams as well as Open crews from across the world. Leading teams include Brian Keane’s SAVASANA team (that has currently won three straight J/70 winter regattas in the USA), John Heaton’s EMPEIRIA from Chicago, Bruno Pasquenelli’s STAMPEDE from South of the Border, David Jannetti’s VERY ODD (someone named Travis aboard), and Oivind Lorentzen’s NINE (with some help from Tim & Allan).
J/24 Class Next up is the most excellent showing of the J/24 class, with thirteen teams showing up for a “battery bash” across that waterfront all weekend long. Several cataclysmic confrontations of the megaton kind will most certainly take place in this legendary class. Pulling out every weapon in their arsenal will be past J/24 champions like Mike Palazzo’s JO MAMMA from Charleston YC; Jasper Van Vliet’s EVIL TWIN from San Francisco, CA; and others.
J/88 Class The fleet of eight J/88s promises to be a donnybrook amongst the leading crews. Represented are several teams that have either won or finished on the podium in past J/88 North American or J/88 Midwinter Championships. Those teams include Andy Graff’s EXILE, Iris Vogel’s DEVIATION, Brian O’Malley’s BLUE, Rob Ruhlman’s SPACEMAN SPIFF, and Bill Purdy’s WHIRLWIND.
J/105 Class More than doubling their presence from last year’s event is the venerable J/105 class. Eleven boats will be pointing their bows across the starting line, ten from the local fleet, and joining them are two “out-of-towners”. The visitors include Rob Marsh’s BLOW BOAT from North Shrewsbury Iceboat & Yacht Club and the Kashmir Racing team (Jody Kjoller, Charlie Johnson, & Katlin Conor) from Ortonville, MI. Local boats include Joe Highsmith’s DEAD ON ARRIVAL, Justin DaMore’s ALOUETTE, and Joe Pitcavage’s SPECTACLE.
J/22 Class The J/22s are sailing with five boats, including two teams from Clemson Sailing team skippered Sam Bialek and Paige Berta. Other teams include Drew Lamparello’s SPRAY, Mark Parrott’s IDEAL, and Gary Vogel’s ALLEGRA.
In the world of offshore sailing, several teams are hoping to gather some silverware in both ORC handicap as well as PHRF Pursuit events. In ORC A with 6 boats, we find a trio of J/122s dueling for a clean sweep of the podium, including Matt Schaedler’s BLITZKRIEG, Tom Sutton’s LEADING EDGE, and Constantine Baris’ DIRE WOLF. In the huge sixteen-boat, PHRF Spin Pursuit class are a trio of J/120s (Bill Hackel’s EMOCEAN, Rick Moore’s KEELFORCE, and John Keenan’s ILYRIA), Robert Musor’s J/130 SCEPTRE, Willy Schwenzfeier’s J/35 ARROW, Ed Goss’ J/36 SOUL (College of Charleston sailing team), Peter Quinn’s PATRIOT VIII, and Les Cabiness’ J/111 WIDE LOAD. Sailing photo credits- Priscilla Parker. For more Charleston Race Week sailing information
Big J/22 Fleet @ Van Uden Reco Regatta
(Stellendam, The Netherlands)- For the first time in years, the Dutch J/22 class is coming out in force for the Van Uden Reco Regatta that is being sailed off Stellendam, The Netherlands. Nine teams from Germany and The Netherlands are participating. The visiting German team is Holger Schmitt’s 7 SITZER and the “local heroes” from the TU DELFT University include this trio of skippers- Emma Kok, Joost Keizers, and Levi Mulder.
Sailing in the ORC handicap classes are two J/109s (Ad Lagendijk’s IMAJINE and Martijn Graafmans’ EAU-J), Robin Verhoef and John van der Starre’s J/122E AJETO, Frans van Cappelle’s J/122E MOANA, two J/112E’s (Ubbo Neisingh’s NARWAL and Rutger Krijher’s JACK RABBIT), Arjen van Leeuwen’s J/109 JOULE, and a quartet of J/99s (Jan Scholtes’ WARP 5, Bob Jansen’s FUN J, Jorg Sigg’s LALLEKONIG, and Richard Verkleu’s BOLD & GRACIOUS.
The J/70 one-design class is sailing for the first time. Teams are participating from Germany and The Netherlands, including Guido Halterbeck’s JOINT VENTURE, Ingo Binder’s SEA YOU, Mees de Graaf’s MUIDEN DELFT CHALLENGE, and Sander Jongenelen’s MOORE DRV. For more Van Uden Reco Regatta sailing information
J/Community
What J/Sailors, family, and friends are doing around the world
MAVERICK MARKETER- Bob Johnstone’s New Book
(Charleston, SC)- It’s time to get creative! Enjoy reading this page-turning business memoir and love story from this National Sailing Hall of Fame yachtsman, wrapped up in a narrative about problem-solving when following one’s dreams to create the leading performance brands in boating,… J/Boats and MJM Yachts.
“A rollicking tale of a life well-lived. Anyone who loves sailing or is interested in building a new business brand will find Bob Johnstone’s memoir fascinating and inspiring.” ROBERT SIMONS, Baker Foundation Professor, Harvard Business School
“What a wonderful book, combining the personal with the professional. It’s both a history of competitive sailing and an inspirational guide to how following a passion can lead to breakthroughs in a sport, a pastime, and life.” NATHANIEL PHILBRICK, Author of Mayflower and In the Heart of the Sea.
You can order the book here (as PDF, real book, e-book):
Amazon.com
Barnesandnoble.com
Bookstore.org
Overview: In “Maverick Marketer,” Johnstone considers the course of his life, from taking the helm of a sailboat in a race at age 2, through college days at Princeton, to creating the leading performance brand in sailing, then doing same with powerboats. Regaling readers with sailing stories and how award-winning boats were created, Johnstone seeks to ignite a creative spark in others, urging them to follow their passion and chart their course to victory. Part memoir, part love story, part marketing case study, “Maverick Marketer” is an entrepreneurial success story brimming with lessons on innovation, business development, and problem-solving. Rebecca White, an award-winning Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Tampa, said, “I’d recommend Bob Johnstone’s book for every college student today.”
Reviews:
KEVIN KOENIG, in Yachting (12/16)- “Bob Johnstone changed sailing forever and has made his mark in both the sailing and powerboat worlds. His contributions are not soon to be forgotten.”
GARY JOBSON, National Sailing Hall of Fame. “Bob Johnstone’s book is complete and compelling, a page-turner, with uplifting, fascinating stories.”
DENNIS CONNER, America’s Cup Winner, Sailing Anarchy (9/08)- “Bob Johnstone is one of the best marketing guys to ever live. Certainly number one in sailing– by far.”
DAVID AGER- Senior Lecturer- Executive Education, Harvard Business School- “A captivating and bracing memoir of an entrepreneur that lays out valuable lessons for anyone considering launching and growing businesses. It is a story of resourcefulness, tenacity, and ingenuity. Johnstone has cleverly interwoven his career building two iconic brands with a fascinating history of sailing and yachting.”
RORC Irish Sailor of the Year- Laura Dillon
(London, England)- 2022 RORC Overseas Rear Commodore Laura Dillon has won the prestigious title of Irish Sailing- Sailor of the Year. Laura has been racing with the RORC for decades and 2022 was certainly a golden year for Laura.
In her native Ireland, Laura raced on the J/99 SNAPSHOT winning ICRA Boat of the Year and the Women at the Helm Award from the National Yacht Club. Dillon was also delighted to win IRC One at Cork Week, as tactician onboard Louise Makin & Chris Jones’ J/111 JOURNEYMAKER II.
For 12 years Laura Dillon has raced on the 41-footer Winsome. In 2022, racing on Winsome, Dillon was named Top Female Helm at Cowes Week. Dillon skippered Winsome to class wins in RORC Easter Regatta and also the Round the Island Race.
Laura Dillon takes every opportunity to get in a mixture of sailing and is keen to promote the sport wherever she can. Whether this be in her home club of Howth, or to a wider audience. Loving the team element of the sport she has now racked up over 35 years of competitive international racing.
“The competitive element is what keeps me coming back! You are forced to switch off from work, as you simply can’t be thinking about anything else on a start line. Sailing is a sport for life!” commented Dillon.
Congratulations to Laura on all her successes and here’s to more in 2023!
J/145 PALAEMON- San Diego YC Yacht of the Year
(San Diego, CA)- At the Opening Day Ceremony for the San Diego Yacht Club on Sunday, April 16 Rudy Hasl’s J/145 PALAEMON was announced as the Yacht of the Year for 2022. Based upon an exceptional year of race results, the half-hull of PALAEMON will join previous recipients and be on a permanent display at the Yacht Club.
PALAEMON will be the 2nd J/145 to be honored with the award. In 2011 Tom Holthus’ BAD PAK, was chosen, based on an exceptional performance, including 1st in its class in the Transpac Race. The wall also includes other J/Boats that were honored in previous years. In 2005, the J/105 Class was recognized. In 2006, CC Rider, a J/120 owned by Charles Nichols, received the award. The J/22 class was chosen in 2010. In 2013, the J/120 CAPER, owned by John & Susan Laun, was selected.
J/Boats are very well represented in the Yacht of the Year recipients over the years since the award was initiated in 1959.
J/Gear April Special- 20% off
(Newport, RI)- The “J” Soft Shell Vest introduces new performance features welcomed under diverse sailing conditions. The soft shell offers warmth from bonded layers of microfiber and spandex for ease of movement while protecting from windy, rainy, chilly conditions.
1000 mm waterproof rating
96% polyester, 4% spandex bonded to 100% polyester micro-fleece
Wind- and water-resistant
Interior storm flap with chin guard
Open hem with dropped back bottom.
Customize with the Boat Name and Sail Number. Select your specified J Class Logo. For more ordering information
