Month: September 2024

“Sea Fever” 
A poem by John Masefield
    I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, 
    And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; 
    And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, 
    And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking, 
     
    I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide. 
    Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; 
    And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, 
    And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. 
     
    I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, 
    To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; 
    And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, 
    And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trek’s over.
Masefield’s remarkable poem is perhaps one of the most renowned expressions of a sailor’s passion and love for the sea. Freedom, adventure, and endless new experiences as Mother Nature dishes out yet another memorable experience. In the world of J/Boats, that adventure began with the launching of the first J/24 in 1976- Rod Johnstone’s garage-built RAGTIME— his proverbial “tall ship” seeking a star to steer her by. In the J/Community section below, there is a tribute to Rod and our newfound friends in Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, founders of J/24 FLeet # 1! 
As we sail into the heart of the fall regatta season, the global sailing scene is buzzing with action. From thrilling championships to unforgettable regattas, J/Teams have dominated race courses worldwide, showcasing incredible skill and teamwork. 
In this edition of J/Newsletter, we celebrate remarkable victories, including the rise of AYACUCHO as the J/70 USA Corinthian National Champions and the wild success of MR BILL’S WILD RIDE at the J/35 North American Championship.
Looking ahead, the upcoming events promise even more excitement. All eyes are on Palma Mallorca as teams gear up for the Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds in Spain, where the best sailors from 25 countries will compete. Meanwhile, the iconic Rolex Big Boat Series is set to light up San Francisco Bay, and there’s still time to join the fun at the American Yacht Club Fall Regatta on Long Island Sound. 

Fall Boat Shows Calendar!
(Newport, RI)- Amazingly enough, the summer is coming to a close in the northern hemisphere. This summer seemed to simply fly by! Kids are back in school, family back to work. But, it’s also a time to dream about the future! Fall boat shows are about to begin in both Europe and the USA. Here are the highlights for you to consider in both places.
USA
Newport Boat Show- Newport, RI – September 12th to 15th, 2024On the historic Newport waterfront at the Newport Yachting Center, on display will be the J/9 daysailer, the J/112E performance sport cruiser, and the J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht! For more Newport Boat Show information
Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis. MD – October 10th to 14th, 2024This show will mark the USA debut of the extraordinary NEW J/40 performance cruising yacht. An exciting collaboration between J/Boats design team, J/Composites in France, and an inspired interior design influenced by French designer Isabelle Racoupeau. In addition, there will be the J/9 daysailer, and the J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht. For more Annapolis Sailboat Show information.
EUROPE
Grand Pavois- La Rochelle, France- October 3rd to 6th, 2024The La Rochelle boat show is one of the most enjoyable events for various reasons. First, La Rochelle is a famous French seaport renowned for its culture and amazing variety of restaurants, pubs, shopping, and nightclubs! Like Annapolis, this show will mark the European debut of the new J/40 offshore performance cruising yacht. In addition, the J/99 offshore shorthanded racer, the J/112E offshore performance yacht, and the J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht will be on display.. For more Grand Pavois La Rochelle boat show information
Valencia Boat Show- Valencia, Spain- October 23rd to 27th, 2024At this spectacular marina that was significantly updated for the America’s Cup back in the AC75 days will be the 2024 Valencia Boat Show. On display will be the J/99 offshore shorthanded speedster that has been the stuff of legend in its short history of sailing across the world’s oceans. Learn more about it at the show!  For more Valencia Boat Show information

AYACUCHO Crowned J/70 USA Corinthian National Champions! 
(Cape May, NJ)- Last weekend, the Corinthian Yacht Club in Cape May,  NJ hosted the J/70 USA Corinthian Nationals off their amazing beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Two dozen teams across the USA participated and enjoyed three great days of racing on the open sea. 
In the end, it was 26-year-old Edward Gary and his AYACUCHO team that sailed consistently across the eight-race series to earn their first J/70 title. In true Corinthian spirit, Gary assembled a roster with a wonderful friends and family component: Travis Carlisle, Brendan Read, and Brendan’s father Brad Read (e.g. Brad is a J/24 World Champion)!
“Feels great!” said Gary. “I’ve sailed J/70s for a long time, but this is only my third regatta driving one.”
The team was supported by a large group of loved ones. “It’s a whole family affair. I travel with my Dad. My Mom and sister usually come too. Brendan’s Mom and Travis’s girlfriend are here as well. We had about 11 people cheering us on. I’ve sailed with Travis and Brendan for years.”
“Many of the top teams here usually sail with professionals, so you knew the game was on,” said Gary. “We had no race wins. Consistency was the key for us.”
The untold story was how it all went down to determine the winner in the final race. Going into the finale, Brian Keane’s SAVASANA and Gary’s AYACUCHO were 3 pts separated for the lead. So long as SAVASANA didn’t get a 1st or 2nd, AYACUCHO would win. As a result, the last race was a full-on match race between the two teams. The see-saw battle ultimately saw AYACUCHO slam SAVASANA enough times on the upwind legs to drive them into traffic. In the end, AYACUCHO won and Keane’s SAVASANA dropped off the podium into fourth place. 
The battle for the podium was incredibly competitive. Just four points separated the top four boats. The last race determined the final outcome! The balance of the podium was determined on a tiebreaker at 21 pts each. Winning the countback was Cate Muller-Terhune’s team on CASTING COUCH (Jake Doyle, Mike Komar, and John Loe). Settling for the bronze medal was Jim Golden’s DERECHO from Annapolis, MD with his team of James Golden, Ian Mathiesen, and Caleb Yoslov. 
Rounding out the top five was Keane’s SAVASANA in fourth place and Scott Foxman’s RELENTLESS in fifth place.
The Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May went above and beyond to host one of the J/70 Class’s cornerstone events, supported by a dedicated army of volunteers and daily social events. The Atlantic Ocean race course served up a mix of wind conditions and beautiful rolling waves.
The J/70 Class continues to promote Corinthian all-amateur sailing, both globally and locally, with another successful J/70 Corinthian National Championship. Next year, the J/70 Corinthian World Championship will come to America. Mark your calendars for Marblehead, Massachusetts, from September 22-28, 2025.
Sailing photo credits- Hannah Lee Noll  For more J/70 USA Corinthian Nationals sailing information

Glorious, Lucky Charms J/CUP Ireland    
(Dublin, Ireland)- The 2nd edition of the J/Cup Ireland took place last weekend at the Royal Irish Yacht Club. The regatta included two days of racing, daily prize-givings, and shore-side entertainment for all owners and crews. The event featured one-design classes for J/109s, J/24s, and J/80s, plus an IRC Division for handicap racing. 
J/109 ClassThe thirteen-boat fleet saw a battle royale develop amongst several of the class veterans for the top of the podium.  Emerging from the clouds of war to win by a single point was John Maybury’s JOKER 2 with a 3-1-4-BFD-2-4 for 14 pts net. Garnering the silver medal was Barry Cunningham’s CHIMEARA with a 5-6-7-2-1-1 tally for 15 pts net. Rounding out the podium was Rick & Tim Goodbody’s WHITE MISCHIEF with a 4-5-1-3-4-7 record for 17 pts net!
J/24 ClassThe eight-boat J/24 class was treated to a surprising, and shocking, complete “schooling” by Mikey Carroll’s KINSAILOR team! Posting four bullets and a deuce for their six-race scoreline for 6 pts net! Taking the silver medal was the quartet of Conor Haughton, Jonny Flood, Charles Heather, and Garrett Kinnane on their J/24 JUPITER with a 3-2.5-2-2-4-1 tally for 10.5 pts net. Rounding out the podium with the bronze medal was David Bailey’s HARD ON PORT with a 5-2.5-4-3-3-3 scoreline for 15.5 pts net. 
J/80 ClassThe J/80 class enjoyed good participation by loyal J/80 sailors. Winning by a convincing margin was Pat O’Neill’s MOJO with a blistering record of 3-1-1-DSQ-1-1 for 7 pts net! Taking the silver was Austin Kenny’s RAM JAM with a 1-5-3-1-4-3 for 12 pts net. Then, taking the bronze medal was Owen Laverty’s RED CLOUD with a 2-3-5-4-3-2 tally for 14 pts net!
IRC DivisionEight boats enjoyed good IRC handicap racing around government marks. In the end, it was a surprising, shocking, clean sweep of the first five races by John & Suzie Murphy’s J/109 OUTRAGEOUS with a five-race score of 5 pts net! The balance of the podium ended up being a tough battle between four teams. In the end, it was Mike & Rick Evans’s J/99 SNAPSHOT that posted a 6-3-2-2-DNF-1 tally for 14 pts net to take the silver medal. Winning the bronze medal was Peter Dunlop’s J/122 MOJITO with a 3-5-6-4-2-2 scoreline for 16 pts net.  For more Northern Trust J/Cup Ireland regatta sailing information

A WILD RIDE Dominates J/35 North American Championship

(Harrison, MI)- This past weekend, the North Star Sail Club in Detroit, MI hosted the J/35 North American Championship for a fleet of a dozen teams from across the Great Lakes. The fleet enjoyed three fabulous days of sailing in breezes that ranged from 12 to 27 kts!
Going into the regatta was the six-time national champion Bill Wildner on his MR BILL’S WILD RIDE and the winner of the Detroit Helly Hansen Regatta– Mike Welch’s FALCON. At the end of the regatta, it was Wildner’s MR BILL’s WILD RIDE that was declared the 2024 J/35 North American Champion!
Starting with a singularly unimpressive first-day tally of 4-2-7 to end up somewhere off the leaderboard was the MR BILL’s team! Wildner’s “wild ride” crew seemingly drank “Popeye the Sailor Man’s” can of whupass spinach for breakfast the next morning to redeem themselves! After an embarrassing first day of sailing, the “wild ride” crew posted a 1-2-2-1-2-2 tally to win by a whopping ten points for 23 pts net!
Similarly, Mike Welch’s FALCON team started with a less-than-stellar tally of 5-3-9 on the first day looking like a team of clowns. However, no one expected them to be down in the dumps for long for this talented team. No wonder, their closing tally was nearly as impressive as the “wild riders”! The FALCON crew closed with a 2-3-1-5-8-3-2 for 32 pts net to take the silver medal!
Starting with a 3-6-2 on the first day was Dean Fitzpatrick and Gary Snider’s HONOR ROLL. Sitting in second on the leaderboard after day one, things looked good. They sailed consistently for the next two days with a 5-4-3-2-5-6-5 for 35 pts to take the bronze medal.
The top woman skipper was Sheri Dufresne’s FIREFLY. Talking about being on FIRE, her team started with a 2-1-1 on the first day in their bid for J/35 World Domination! However, the “wheels fell off the shopping trolley” in her bid to win the J/35 NAs. Subsequently, her team’s 4-6-4-6-6-7-6 scorecard was insufficient to get her onto the podium and drop her to fourth place. 
J/35 40th Anniversary 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Rod Johnstone’s J/35 design. The subsequent success with over 320 hulls built on this remarkable boat has left a lasting legacy in the sailing community. The design continues to be competitive and influential on race courses around the world. Multiple fleets continue to compete on the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, and beyond. For more J/35 North Americans sailing information.

HONEYBADGER Captures J/24 US National Championship

(Wayzata, MN)— Eighteen teams competed from September 6th to 8th, 2024 for the J/24 US National Championship at Wayzata Yacht Club in Wayzata, MN. Eight races were completed on Lake Minnetonka, including one discard. Conditions ranged from patchy wind on the opening day to delightful and steady breeze of 8-14 knots. 
Keeping up his momentum from winning this year’s J/24 North American Championship, Travis Odenbach’s HONEYBADGER proved very consistent with scores of 1-3-2-1-5-1-4-3 for 15 net points. With crew Monica Morgan, Dave Hughes, Jeff Sullivan and Jay Miles, Odenbach outlasted runner-up (and fellow Rochester, NY helmsman) Mike Ingham who netted 19 points and Kurt Dammeier’s AMUSE BOUCHE of Seattle (20 net points). 

Half of the fleet competed in the Corinthian Division, won by Nobuyuki Imai’s SIESTA from Japan, ahead of Dave Breitner’s USUAL SUUSPECTS and Bill Allen’s OZ.
Representatives from J/Boats were on hand to present a lifetime award to J/24 Fleet #1, honoring the groundbreaking birth of the J/24 in the late 1970s.  For more J/24 US National Championship sailing information.

 

Upcoming Events

Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds Preview 

(Palma Mallorca, Spain)- The Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds, to be held in Palma Mallorca from September 13th to 22nd, will be a landmark in the history of sailing world championships due to the extremely high quality and diversity of the teams in the largest, active one-design keelboat class in the world.
On Friday 13th September, the Spanish Navy and the Naval Commission for Regattas will begin the arduous and complex process of measuring the entire participating fleet with the help of an army of volunteers organized by the Real Club Nautico de Palma (RCNP). For three days, each of the 97 boats registered in the competition, from 25 different countries, will have every aspect and weight of their boats measured. It’s an impressive list of participants from across the world: Argentina (4), Australia (5), Austria (1), Bermuda (1), Brazil (6), Canada (1), Cayman Islands (1), Denmark (1), Spain (12), Estonia (1), Finland (2), France (3), Great Britain (7), Germany (2), Italy (5), Mexico (2), Monaco (4), Netherlands (2), Norway (2), Portugal (4), Switzerland (5), Sweden (4), Turkey (3), Uruguay (2), and USA (17). 
The favorites in the competition include the defenders of the title, Charles Thompson’s BRUTUS II from the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Great Britain, and the North American team Richard Witzel’s ROWDY from the Chicago Yacht Club, past J/70 World Champion Joel Ronning’s CATAPULT from the Wayzata Yacht Club, Douglas Rastello’s GOOD TO GO from Newport Harbor Yacht Club, and Brian Keane’s SAVASANA from Beverly Yacht Club. From South America, the main favorites are Argentine team Guillermo Parada’s NILDO from the Club Náutico de San Isidro, Mexicans Ignacio Pérez Moret’s ZAGUERO from the Vallarta Yacht Club, the Brazilian team Selmo Nissenbaum’s HIGHLANDERS and Ralph Vasconcellos’s MINDSET, Haroldo Holberg’s OCEANPACT, and Renato Faria’s TO NESSQ, all from the IC Río de Janeiro.
The host country Spain is fielding a remarkably strong contingent of teams with World and European Champion credentials. Those teams include Luis Albert’s PATAKIN, Luis Martinez Doreste’s MONJO,  Luis Bugallo Arriola’s MARNATURA, Luis Martin Cabiedes’s NOTICIA, and the Canal family (Jorge Perez’s ABRIL ROJO & Luis Perez’s ABRIL VERDE). This is a formidable contingent of champion Spanish sailors hoping to snag the J/70 World Championship crown! For more J/70 World Championship sailing information.

Rolex Big Boat Series Preview

(San Francisco, CA)- One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, iconic San Francisco Bay, is ready to turn it on for the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club, September 11-15, 2024. 
The most prestigious regatta on the West Coast has attracted 71 boats and nearly 700 sailors to the docks of St. Francis Yacht Club, to hear what classes will race for Rolexes and perpetual trophies on Wednesday night, and to start preparing for the first race on Thursday, September 12. With a strong turnout in J/88 and J/105 one-design classes and ORC divisions, organizers are thrilled to welcome members and guests to be a part of the action on the water and shoreside. 
“Having been involved in this epic West Coast regatta for some four decades, it is my honor and privilege as Commodore to welcome our members and guests to the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series,” said Chris Perkins, 2024 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club and a past winner of the event. “I wish the best of luck to our competitors who are here to compete in one of the world’s most spectacular racing venues. Sail fast and enjoy our outstanding hospitality.”
“Sailing smart the first couple of days is key, but Saturday and Sunday are really where the championship will be won,” commented Ryan Simmons from the J/105 BLACKHAWK.
Rolex Big Boat Series’ extensive history of champions is a tribute to the depth of talent that graces the event and this year, a solid fleet stacked with talented and tough competition is expected. 
“We have thirty J/105s starting again this year, which is great to see, and the ORC fleet is diverse and deep in talent with past winners returning to defend their titles,” says Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club. “We always have our competitors’ best interests in mind and after taking in sailors’ feedback from last year, we continue to improve this important event which is a cornerstone of West Coast sailboat racing.”
Perennial Rolex Big Boat winner in the J/105 class, Ryan Simmons, and his well-seasoned team on BLACKHAWK are eager to see how the competition will play out in the competitive San Francisco-based J/105 fleet. BLACKHAWK took first in class in 2019, 2021, and 2023, and second in 2022. Simmons does not take for granted that his luck will bear out for another win, although he and his crew are talented enough—and hopeful. 
“We’re lucky, we have low turnover on our team—we’ve been sailing together a long time and it’s a big difference,” says Simmons. “Our competitive edge this year will be consistency. In the first two days of the regatta, you can’t lock in the win, but you can take yourself out of contention, so sailing smart the first couple of days is key, but Saturday and Sunday are really where the championship will be won.”
Hot to prevail against BLACKHAWK is NE*NE, owned and skippered by Tim Russell who has played bridesmaid many times, often finishing in the top three. He’s currently leading the local J/105 fleet in the class championship series, making him a serious podium contender. 
“A first place on NE*NE is eluding me!” says Russell. “You have to take chances and I usually approach every regatta being super conservative. On my starts, I’m trying to win one end or the other and let our boat speed take care of itself and minimize mistakes, but in Big Boat, you have to gamble.”
“Some of the best, most reliable, and most fun sailing conditions in the world are this time of year at this venue, the race management is second to none, and the social side is always spectacular,” explained Peter Wagner, owner/ skipper of the J/111 SKELETON KEY.
Peter Wagner won last year’s ORC-C division on SKELETON KEY, the J/111 he’s owned since 2015. Winner of the J/111 North Americans for two years in a row and St. Francis Yacht Club’s Sailor of the Year in 2023, Wagner is a tough act to follow. He’s been racing the Rolex Big Boat Series for almost 25 years and is looking forward to the solid competition, great conditions, and fun social gatherings.
“It’s always one of the highlights of our season and certainly the highlight of racing on San Francisco Bay,” says Wagner. “In this particular event, we’ve raced in various one-design classes as well as ORR and now ORC and we’re excited about the momentum around ORC. I think it will be a competitive event. Some of the best, most reliable, and most fun sailing conditions in the world are this time of year at this venue, the race management is second to none and the social side is always spectacular. There is always a great group of sailors that convenes around RBBS.”
Other boats returning to defend their 2023 titles include the J/88 PELAGIA owned and skippered by Christos Karamanolis and the J/109 REVERIE owned and skippered by John Arens.
“I’m excited to lead the Rolex Big Boat Series in its 60th anniversary year,” says Susan Ruhne, who chairs the regatta and is the 2024 Rear Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. “The event is such an important part of the StFYC’s history and a favorite for so many sailors and spectators to experience. There is nothing like watching 70-plus boats on three race courses duke it out on San Francisco Bay, including the classic downwind run from the Golden Gate Bridge back to the club. I am also very proud that we continue to maintain Rolex Big Boat Series’ status as a Clean Regatta, a foundation of the event.”  Sailing photo credits- Sharon Green/ UltimateSailing.com. For more ROLEX Big Boat Series sailing information and results.

American Yacht Club Fall Regatta Announcement

(Rye, NY)- There is still time to register for the American Yacht Club Fall Regatta classic on Long Island Sound! You don’t want to miss one of the last big regattas of the 2024 sailing season in the northeastern seaboard!!
The AYC Fall Regatta is offering two racing formats:- Windward/Leeward Racing for the ORC and One-Design Classes- Coastal Racing for the PHRF Classes (including Doublehanded & Non-Spinnaker) and the ORC Classes.
As part of the AYC Fall Regatta, they will be hosting the J/109 East Coast Championships!Live music and the classic free food & drinks will be waiting for you when you step off the water! Plenty of story-telling and catching up for all on the picturesque American YC lawn with a view of the famous New York City skyscrapers in the distance off to the west.  Time to get busy and get your team ready for the AYC Fall Regatta- register here! 

J/Community

What J/Sailors, family, and friends are doing worldwide

J/24 Fleet #1 Founders and Wayzata Yacht Club Honored

Above From L to R: Andy Spence-Parsons (Former Commodore WYC), Rolf Turnquist, and Jeff Johnstone.
(Wayzata, MN)- At the recent J/24 US Nationals, J/24 Fleet #1 founders John Gjerde, Rolf Turnquist, Dale “Dirtball” Anderson, and the Wayzata Yacht Club were honored with the J/24 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Jeff Johnstone, President of J/Boats.  
Forty-eight years ago- on December 1976- a small group of die-hard sailors from Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota learned of a new 24-foot design that had just dominated the eastern Long Island Sound series in Connecticut. The original RAGTIME had just won 15 of 17 races sailing with a crew of Mom, Dad, and 4 kids under the age of 16. The new boat was going into production as a one-design. That new boat was the J/24.
John Gjerde and Dale “Dirtball” Anderson got on the phone with Rod Johnstone, peppering him with questions about specs, one-design rules, the builder, you name it.  Rod recalls those first conversations, and how reaffirming it was to have such passionate validation of the J/24 and one-design keelboat sailing. Less than a month later John Gjerde and Rolf Turnquist went into partnership and ordered the first boat (Hull #7 OZ).  Soon four more were ordered, and with an impressive 5 out of the first 25 J/24s ever built, J/24 Fleet #1 was born on Lake Minnetonka!!
John, Rolf, and Dirtball towed OZ east for the inaugural J/24 North American Championship in Newport in 1978, proudly representing Fleet #1 and the Wayzata Yacht Club. They helped set the tone early in the J/24 class for fun, highly competitive racing, and even more fun times onshore. In those first years of the class exploding in size, most clubs didn’t know what hit them – how to deal with non-stop general recalls, how to deal with teams sleeping on their boats and bringing campers, how to deal with sailors hanging out at the club all night until the kegs ran dry. The J/24 class was more like a rolling Woodstock Music Festival. 
John and Dirtball are sadly no longer with us, but their contributions to the J/24 class and one-design sailing will never be forgotten. Rod Johnstone recalls an early John Gjerde story that captures the spirit well. After that first season in 1977, John wanted to ramp things up and invited Rod to Minneapolis in late January of 1978 (a few weeks after the first 1978 J/24 Midwinters in Key West- won by Mark Ploch’s TCHAU with Stu Johnstone as tactician!) to speak to a packed house. 
A conference room was booked at a downtown hotel and 100+ people were invited to hear the latest about the J/24. Rod got stuck at LaGuardia airport in a snowstorm and couldn’t make it, so he regretfully had to cancel.  
When Rod spoke to John a few days later, he learned that the party went on anyway!! Everyone showed up and all night long John, as a joke, proudly wore a name tag that read “Hello my name is Rod Johnstone.”  Fleet #1 doubled in size in 1978!
Wayzata Yacht Club’s adoption of the J/24 fleet in 1977 helped establish a one-design culture that has, in the years since, spawned an impressive number of other recognized one-design fleets, including J/22 fleet #1 and J/70 Fleet #2.  And now, the Wayzata Yacht Club’s Thursday Night summer series draws upwards of 120 boats with no less than 7 active one-design fleets. Wow!
The inscription on the framed half-model award reads: “In honor of J/24 Fleet # 1 founders Dale Anderson, John Gjerde, Rolf Turnquist, and Wayzata Yacht Club – for their unwavering support, enthusiasm, and lifelong dedication to the J/24 Class and one-design sailing.”

J/Puma Jam Zip Top- September 20% Off Special
(Newport, RI)- The J/Puma Jam Zip Top is your choice for 3-season’s sailing. Perfect for your cruising or competitive crew. Light wieght but comfortable when the breeze kicks in. Easily stored and layered under jacket or vest. Performance Puma throughout..
Material:

4.94 oz., 100% polyester
moisture-wicking

Features:

4-way stretch
ultra-lightweight
contrast covered reverse coil zipper
silicone Puma Cat logo on left sleeve

Perfect zip top when customized with your yacht name and sail number.
Choose your appropriate J/Class logo. Customize with your yacht detail as an option.  Order your J/Puma Jam zip top here:

 

About J/Boats
The story of J/Boats is a classic entrepreneurial tale. With a $20,000 investment and a speedy 24-foot sailboat that Rod Johnstone built in his garage, Rod and his brother Bob Johnstone went into business in 1977. The boat they built, the J/24, has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world. The Johnstone family has made an undeniable mark on the sailing world. In addition to the 5,500 J/24s cruising the waves, there are over 9,500 more J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65, that sailing enthusiasts have bought at prices ranging from $10,000 to $2,000,000.  Read more

You can read Bob Johnstone’s 2023 memoir, “MAVERICK MARKETER”, which Gary Jobson described as “A compelling, page-turner, with uplifting, fascinating stories.” The memoir includes background on how J/Boats got started and how many of its designs were created. It is available in ebook, softcover, hardcover, and audiobook formats on Amazon.

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(Stamford, CT)- Hosted by Stamford Yacht Club, Labor Day weekend’s Vineyard Race is a classic American offshore yacht race. The 238.0nm course stretches from Shippan Point in Long Island Sound to the Buzzards Bay Light tower at the entrance to Buzzard’s Bay, and then a return to the finish in Stamford Harbor.
Begun in 1932, it has attracted the finest sailors and fastest boats. Those who are successful nearly always credit local knowledge of these tricky waters, particularly at the notorious “The Race” and “Plum Gut” where currents can flow up to 5 kts, and a good deal of luck. 
The Vineyard Race was described in Yachting Magazine as the following; “The greatest distance races of the world have several things in common – a challenging course, competitive fleets, and an interesting array of famous yachts. By those standards, the Stamford Yacht Club’s Vineyard Race rates close to the top. Like a miniature Fastnet, the Vineyard has a combination of coastal racing, where currents play a big role, a stretch of ocean sailing, and a mark to round – the Buzzards Bay tower – before returning.”
The race has proven popular with J/sailors over time, with many returning yearly as part of their end-of-summer sailing ritual to complete their summer sailing season. The teams have a choice to sail the classic 238.0nm race or the shorter “Seaflower Reef” race inside Long Island Sound. 
VINEYARD RACE
PHRF 6 DoublehandedAs they have done previously, winning the Doublehanded fleet was Peter Becker & Adrien Blanc’s J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN. Taking a hard-earned bronze medal was Todd Aven & Basia Karpinska’s J/99 THIN MAN. 
PHRF 8 DivisionThis eight-boat fleet was loaded with leading J/teams. Taking the bronze medal was John Greifzu’s J/109 GROWTH SPURT, fourth was Don Irion’s J/109 FULL TILT, fifth was Steve Landy & Derek Soohoo’s J/100 SANGUINE, and sixth was Greg Kotzas J/35 OSPREY.
PHRF 10 DivisionThis ten-boat class was also loaded with veteran offshore teams accustomed to finishing “in the chocolates”, so to speak! Leading a near sweep of the top five was Bill Klein’s J/120 SPECK, followed by Bill Ingraham’s gorgeous J/124 TENEBRAE in second place. Then, Richard West’s J/120 CHARLOTTE took fourth place, while Brian Spears’s J/120 MADISON took fifth place!
PHRF 11 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet was swept by very experienced J/Teams in the top seven! Winning was David Rosow’s J/122 LOKI, followed by Bill & Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL in second, Constantine Baris’s J/122 DIRE WOLF in third, Peter Chilean’s J/111 CIAO BABY in fourth, John Sutherland’s J/111 19th NERVOUS BREAKDOWN in fifth, Pito Chickering’s J/111 THE ROOST in sixth, and Cao Deambrosio & Chris Nicholls’s J/133 RHIANNON in seventh! 
PHRF OverallIn addition, the top five PHRF Overall was a clean sweep by J/teams! Winning was Rosow’s J/122 LOKI, with the Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL taking 2nd, the Becker/Blanc duet on the J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN was third, Baris’s J/122 DIRE WOLF was fourth, and Klein’s J/120 SPECK was fifth place! A remarkable performance by these teams!
PHRF 14 DivisionWinning this class by one hour on corrected time was Macrae Sykes’s J/125 GOOD NEWS!
ORC 12 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet saw a near-clean sweep of the top five places. Winning by over an hour was Albrecht Goethe’s bright red J/46 HAMBURG II. Second place went to June & Amanda Kendrick’s J/44 PALANTIR 5, fourth place was Trevor Roach’s J/121 TOUCH OF GREY, fifth place went to Steve Brownlie’s J/133 ASSARAIN IV, and sixth was One Haxthausen’s J/133 RUMBA. 
ORC 13 DivisionFinishing with the silver medal in this half-dozen boat class was Len Sitar’s beautiful J/160 COUGAR!
CORNFIELD POINT RACE
PHRF 3Winning this half-dozen boat class was Blaine Davis & Melih Bagdatli’s J/30 BOUNCE and, as a result, also won PHRF Overall for the Cornfield Point Race!
For more Vineyard Race sailing information.

(Breskens, Netherlands)- This coming weekend, the Jachthaven Breskens will be hosting the very popular end-of-summer sailing season regatta- the Breskens Sailing Weekend. It’s a popular event for a few J/Boats teams in the Netherlands and Benelux.

ORC 1 DivisionSailing in this dozen-boat fleet are Rutger Krijger’s J/112E JACK RABBIT and Frans van Cappelle’s J/122E MOANA.
ORC 2 DivisionRacing in this thirteen-boat are a trio of J/crews. Those teams include Arjen van Leeuwin’s J/109 JOULE, Richard Verkleij’s J/99 BOLD & GRACIOUS from Germany, and Jan Scholze’s J/99 WARP 5 from the Netherlands.
ORC 3 DivisionThis eleven-boat fleet has two J/crews. Those teams are Rene van Quekelberghe’s J/97 JAI HO and Dimitri Vanvyve’s J/105 JUGGERNAUT. For more Breskens Sailing Weekend information

As we wrap up another exhilarating week of sailing, this newsletter brings you highlights from some of the most prestigious regattas around the world. From thrilling offshore races to iconic island circuits, sailors have faced it all – challenging weather, tactical battles, and the ultimate tests of skill and endurance.
Kicking things off was the Vineyard Race, a 238-mile offshore classic that saw J/Teams sweep the PHRF Overall division in this Labor Day weekend tradition. Over in Europe, the Breskens Sailing Weekend showcased a spectacular display of J/Boat talent in the Netherlands, while in Marseilles, France BRAFOURGNE claimed victory at the J/70 SEMAC Trophy Regatta, part of the J/70 Coupe de France series.
Back in the USA, the iconic Around Jamestown Race provided fast and exciting action for over 70 boats in Narragansett Bay, as sailors navigated scenic but challenging waters. The Red Fox Regatta in Charlevoix, MI also delivered two days of fun, family-friendly racing, marking a fitting end to the Great Lakes summer racing season. And, nineteen women’s teams enjoyed sailing the J/105 Women’s Regatta in Annapolis, Maryland!
Looking ahead, there’s plenty to be excited about with upcoming regattas including the 40th Anniversary J/35 North American Championship in Michigan, the J/70 USA Corinthian Nationals in Cape May, and the prestigious RORC Vice Admirals Cup in the United Kingdom. The second edition of the J/CUP Ireland is also on the horizon, promising competitive racing and lively shore-side celebrations just north of Dublin.

Fall Boat Shows Calendar!
(Newport, RI)- Amazingly enough, the summer is coming to a close in the northern hemisphere. This summer seemed to simply fly by! Kids are back in school, family back to work. But, it’s also a time to dream about the future! Fall boat shows are about to begin in both Europe and the USA. Here are the highlights for you to consider in both places.
USA
Newport Boat Show- Newport, RI – September 12th to 15th, 2024On the historic Newport waterfront at the Newport Yachting Center, on display will be the J/9 daysailer, the J/112E performance sport cruiser, and the J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht! For more Newport Boat Show information
Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis. MD – October 10th to 14th, 2024This show will mark the USA debut of the extraordinary NEW J/40 performance cruising yacht. An exciting collaboration between J/Boats design team, J/Composites in France, and an inspired interior design influenced by French designer Isabelle Racoupeau. In addition, there will be the J/9 daysailer, and the J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht. For more Annapolis Sailboat Show information.
EUROPE
Grand Pavois- La Rochelle, France- October 3rd to 6th, 2024The La Rochelle boat show is one of the most enjoyable events to visit for various reasons. La Rochelle is a famous French seaport famous for its culture and amazing variety of restaurants, pubs, shopping, and nightclubs! Like Annapolis, this show will mark the European debut of the new J/40 offshore performance cruising yacht. In addition, there will be on display the J/99 offshore shorthanded racer, the J/112E offshore performance yacht, and the J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht. For more Grand Pavois La Rochelle boat show information
Valencia Boat Show- Valencia, Spain- October 23rd to 27th, 2024At this spectacular marina that was significantly updated for the America’s Cup back in the AC75 days will be the 2024 Valencia Boat Show. On display will be the J/99 offshore shorthanded speedster that has been the stuff of legend in its short history of sailing across the world’s oceans. Learn more about it at the show!  For more Valencia Boat Show information

J/Teams Sweep PHRF Overall @ Vineyard Race!
(Stamford, CT)- Hosted by Stamford Yacht Club, Labor Day weekend’s Vineyard Race is a classic American offshore yacht race. The 238.0nm course stretches from Shippan Point in Long Island Sound to the Buzzards Bay Light tower at the entrance to Buzzard’s Bay, and then a return to the finish in Stamford Harbor.
Begun in 1932, it has attracted the finest sailors and fastest boats. Those who are successful nearly always credit local knowledge of these tricky waters, particularly at the notorious “The Race” and “Plum Gut” where currents can flow up to 5 kts, and a good deal of luck. 
The Vineyard Race was described in Yachting Magazine as the following; “The greatest distance races of the world have several things in common – a challenging course, competitive fleets, and an interesting array of famous yachts. By those standards, the Stamford Yacht Club’s Vineyard Race rates close to the top. Like a miniature Fastnet, the Vineyard has a combination of coastal racing, where currents play a big role, a stretch of ocean sailing, and a mark to round – the Buzzards Bay tower – before returning.”
The race has proven popular with J/sailors over time, with many returning yearly as part of their end-of-summer sailing ritual to complete their summer sailing season. The teams have a choice to sail the classic 238.0nm race or the shorter “Seaflower Reef” race inside Long Island Sound. 
VINEYARD RACE
PHRF 6 DoublehandedAs they have done previously, winning the Doublehanded fleet was Peter Becker & Adrien Blanc’s J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN. Taking a hard-earned bronze medal was Todd Aven & Basia Karpinska’s J/99 THIN MAN. 
PHRF 8 DivisionThis eight-boat fleet was loaded with leading J/teams. Taking the bronze medal was John Greifzu’s J/109 GROWTH SPURT, fourth was Don Irion’s J/109 FULL TILT, fifth was Steve Landy & Derek Soohoo’s J/100 SANGUINE, and sixth was Greg Kotzas J/35 OSPREY.
PHRF 10 DivisionThis ten-boat class was also loaded with veteran offshore teams accustomed to finishing “in the chocolates”, so to speak! Leading a near sweep of the top five was Bill Klein’s J/120 SPECK, followed by Bill Ingraham’s gorgeous J/124 TENEBRAE in second place. Then, Richard West’s J/120 CHARLOTTE took fourth place, while Brian Spears’s J/120 MADISON took fifth place!
PHRF 11 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet was swept by very experienced J/Teams in the top seven! Winning was David Rosow’s J/122 LOKI, followed by Bill & Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL in second, Constantine Baris’s J/122 DIRE WOLF in third, Peter Chilean’s J/111 CIAO BABY in fourth, John Sutherland’s J/111 19th NERVOUS BREAKDOWN in fifth, Pito Chickering’s J/111 THE ROOST in sixth, and Cao Deambrosio & Chris Nicholls’s J/133 RHIANNON in seventh! 
PHRF OverallIn addition, the top five PHRF Overall was a clean sweep by J/teams! Winning was Rosow’s J/122 LOKI, with the Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL taking 2nd, the Becker/Blanc duet on the J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN was third, Baris’s J/122 DIRE WOLF was fourth, and Klein’s J/120 SPECK was fifth place! A remarkable performance by these teams!
PHRF 14 DivisionWinning this class by one hour on corrected time was Macrae Sykes’s J/125 GOOD NEWS!
ORC 12 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet saw a near-clean sweep of the top five places. Winning by over an hour was Albrecht Goethe’s bright red J/46 HAMBURG II. Second place went to June & Amanda Kendrick’s J/44 PALANTIR 5, fourth place was Trevor Roach’s J/121 TOUCH OF GREY, fifth place went to Steve Brownlie’s J/133 ASSARAIN IV, and sixth was One Haxthausen’s J/133 RUMBA. 
ORC 13 DivisionFinishing with the silver medal in this half-dozen boat class was Len Sitar’s beautiful J/160 COUGAR!
CORNFIELD POINT RACE
PHRF 3Winning this half-dozen boat class was Blaine Davis & Melih Bagdatli’s J/30 BOUNCE and, as a result, also won PHRF Overall for the Cornfield Point Race!
For more Vineyard Race sailing information.

Tight Competition Hallmark of J/105 Women’s Regatta
(Annapolis, MD)- With nineteen entries and 132 sailors, the 2024 Annapolis J/105 Women’s Regatta featured tight competition throughout the largest cruising one-design women’s regatta. Eliot Caple led PATRIOT to victory with two second place finishes followed by a bullet. In addition to a tie for second and third place, multiple positions were separated by a single point.
PRO Sandy Grosvenor noted the close racing: “On two of the three races, we had at least two boats that were not OCS but were within 1 meter of the line. And in the third race, all but one or two of the fleet. ‘gated’ within a minute of the leader.”
Marie Klok Crump and Ashley Love, winners of the 2022 and 2023 regattas, finished with ten points each. Crump on 4-TEENZ won the tiebreaker over Love’s MAYHEM. Placing fourth was Molly Wilmer’s MIRAGE team just two points behind and Beth Schmidt’s SMOKE N’OAKUM placed fifth. 
Caple, a former member of the US Sailing team, skippered at College of Charleston, and has been racing on PATRIOT for three seasons. Serving as tactician on PATRIOT was Maddy Ploch who sailed in that role on last year’s second place finisher and competed on the offshore team at the US Naval Academy. 
According to Caple, their consistency came down to two factors: “We sail very, very flat upwind. And then downwind, I sail very low, max on the windward side. And I could drive lower than anyone.”
Crump was previously ranked number two in the ISAF Women’s World Match Race circuit, was crowned twice as Danish Match Race Champion, pursued an Olympic campaign in Ynglings in 2004, and was part of the winning J/80 World Championship team in 2021 after also having won it in 2013. 
Love represented the USA at the Women’s Radial World Championship in 2009 and has recently been making a name for herself on the team racing circuit, leading a team to multiple podium finishes in the invitational Thayer. Trophy and the New York YC Women’s Invitational.
The top three finishers all included juniors on their teams, with Crump sailing with four juniors and four mentors. “I have always respected this event for the tight racing and this was an amazing opportunity to include teenagers, who otherwise don’t get on big boats, for a great learning experience.” 
At the awards, Love challenged all boats to bring a junior for the 2025 regatta.
In addition to juniors, the talent included a crew of women all over 50 on Sandra Libby’s GO NIL-DOGHOUSE, at least one sailor over 70 on Amy Harris’ BREAKAWAY, multiple military veterans, and a team of midshipman women from the US Naval Academy on AVENGER. Two Canadian teams participated- a crew from Toronto, ONT Canada on Heather McCann’s SANTA’S REIGN DEAR and a crew from  Victoria, BC on Alexandra Clary’s RUM PUPPY!
Katy Zimmerman’s team on FIREBRAND won the inaugural Maggie Flanigan Perpetual Trophy for the “Best Dressed Crew.” The trophy was dedicated remembering the spirit of J/105 racer Maggie Flanigan, who died on August 17th. The perpetual trophy inspired a variety of outfits across the race course, and “costume changes” for the awards party. 
Daryl Weinstein Cooke from CHESSIE said, “I never thought I’d hear, ‘Make sure your tutu doesn’t get caught in the block’ while racing.”
Flanigan was a member of 2023 winner of the Best Dressed Crew, a trophy that did not exist until they arrived on the race course, to the delight of the race committee, in their bright pink and white attire. A self-proclaimed “Seamstress, Fiber Artist, Costumer, Sailor” the trophy remembers the joy, light, and humor which she brought to her serious pursuits. As Caple said, “It was a fitting tribute to Maggie, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
Scott Nixon of Quantum kicked off the weekend with a practice session Friday evening attended by more than ten teams. Several teams raced in the Annapolis Labor Day regatta on Saturday as practice. The skipper’s meeting Saturday evening was hosted by Sandra K. Libby.
Love noted, “The multitude of successful events make the experience of the J/105 Women’s Regatta much more than just the one day of racing on the water. The event, the practice and the on-land events have increased my interaction with the J/105 class ten-fold. The talent pool is growing with the new influx of crew and the sailors who were already in the class are embracing and mastering more roles on the water, but also behind the scenes. Planning the event together on land builds our friendships andthe evidence of this plays out on the water. Since getting involved in this event as a competitor and now as part of the organizing committee, I’m much closer with the class, invested in its continued success and cheering for its future.“
ABOUTThe Annapolis J/105 Women’s Regatta is a one-day, one-design regatta, hosted by J/105 Fleet 3, with the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake (SCC) as the Organizing Authority. First held in 2022, this was the largest edition to date and the largest regatta of its kind, with 131 female sailors on nineteen boats.
J/105 Fleet 3 is the largest fleet in the J/105 class, and the largest cruising one-design fleet in Annapolis. This women’s regatta is part of an overall J/105 class initiative to get more women involved. Multiple J/105 women’s events have been held in 2024, including in Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, Galveston Bay, and Charleston. The Sailing Club of the Chesapeake (SCC) altered the J/105 rules for this regatta to encourage all women teams. The SCC specializes in hosting “signature” regattas that each have their own personality, like the EWE Spirit Regatta, the J/105 Women’s Regatta, and the Hospice Cup, to be held on September 14.  Sailing photo credits:   Wilbur Keyworth Photos.   Dan Phelps Photos.

J/Domination @ Breskens Sailing Weekend

(Breskens, Netherlands)- This past weekend, the Jachthaven Breskens hosted the very popular end-of-summer sailing season regatta- the Breskens Sailing Weekend. It’s a popular event for a few J/Boats teams in the Netherlands and Benelux. The regatta format is simply windward-leeward races just offshore of the harbor entrance.
ORC 1 DivisionSailing in this dozen-boat fleet, it was Rutger Krijger’s J/112E JACK RABBIT that handily won the class with 19.5 pts net in their seven-race series.
ORC 2 DivisionLeading a sweep of the top two spots in this thirteen-boat fleet was Jan Scholze’s J/99 WARP 5 with 14 pts net. Second place went to the experienced offshore team on Arjen van Leeuwin’s J/109 JOULE with 19.5 pts net.
ORC 3 DivisionThis eleven-boat fleet had two J/crews. Taking the silver medal was Rene van Quekelberghe’s J/97 JAI HO with 11.5 pts net, while Dimitri Vanvyve’s J/105 JUGGERNAUT ended up with the bronze medal with 18.5 pts net. For more Breskens Sailing Weekend information

BRAFOURGNE Wins J/70 SEMAC Trophy 

(Marseilles, France)- Last weekend the Union Nautique Marseillaise hosted its famous annual SEMAC Trophy Regatta in Marseilles, France. It was the fifth stage of the J/70 Coupe de France summer series.
The regatta ended up with a four-way battle for the top of the podium. Winning this event was Dominique Stella’s BRAFOUGNE with a 3-3-5-2-1 tally for 9 pts net. Taking the silver medal was Fernando Alonso’s TRISKELL with a 4-2-1-DNC-4 tally for 11 pts net. Then, the third step on the podium to take the bronze medal was Phillippe Bonavita’s JUMP AROUND with a 2-5-3-4-3 record of 12 pts net!  For more French J/70 Cup Series sailing information

Fast, Grey Around Jamestown Race

(Jamestown, RI)-The Around the Island Race (ATI) is the flagship sailing event of the Conanicut Yacht Club and the crown jewel of Narragansett Bay yacht racing. Held annually since 1927, the ATI sails the classic course around the scenic Conanicut Island, beneath the two iconic bridges (Jamestown & Newport), typically drawing close to 100 boats in both racing and cruising classes.
Despite overcast skies and intermittent sprinkles, the 97th Annual Around the Island Race delivered a day of exhilarating competition on the water. With seventy-three boats participating across nine staggered starts, the challenging 18.1nm course around Jamestown tested sailors’ skills and strategy, making for a race to remember.
The fleet featured a diverse range of sailboats, from J/22s to impressive 66-footers, each bringing its flavor to the competition.
Reflecting on the day’s conditions, Race Chair Peter Schott noted, “We were fortunate with the weather! The heavy rain held off and the breeze remained steady. The Race Committee executed the starts with precision, resulting in one of the most dynamic finishes in recent memory as the fleet condensed under the Newport Bridge.” Schott also highlighted the introduction of a MarkSetBot, a robotically controlled pin, which ensured perfectly aligned starts, a vital factor in managing the strong outgoing tide during the first leg of the course.
The race has always been popular with J/teams on Narragansett Bay, with dozens participating. Here’s how they faired in this fun, family-oriented face.
PHRF C DivisionIn this half-dozen boat fleet, Dan Borsutzky’s J/30 FLYING HIGH took home the bronze medal. Matt Dunbar’s J/22 WHARF RAT finished fourth and John Stokes’s J/24 FRAMBOISE placed fifth. 
PHRF E DivisionThis highly competitive eight-boat fleet saw Dawson & Ben Hodgson’s pretty J/100 GRIMACE take the silver medal. Meanwhile, Stephen Russell’s J/105 RIGADOON took fourth place.
PHRF F DivisionThis ten-boat fleet was a convincing win by Sean & Susan Doyle’s J/112E PHOENIX, winning by nearly four minutes on handicap time and taking 6th overall in the fleet! Taking the bronze medal was FJ Ritt’s J/35 SHAMROCK, followed by Bill Kneller’s J/109 VENTO SOLARE in fifth place.
PHRF H DivisionThis mostly J/Boats division saw Jack Gregg’s J/122 TARAHUMARA take the silver medal, while Tom Sutton’s J/122 LEADING EDGE took the bronze medal about 90 seconds later. Then, fourth was Mark Nannini’s J/120 SALACIA just 45 seconds behind!   For more Around Island Race sailing information.

Challenging, Fun Red Fox Regatta

(Charlevoix, MI)- Treasured by sailors and their families, the two-day Red Fox Regatta hosted by Charlevoix Yacht Club was sailed over the Labor Day weekend with a race going east across the length of Lake Charlevoix to Boyne City. That evening, sailors enjoy a club-hosted party at the Veterans Pavilion on the waterfront, with family-friendly activities including the Rain Gutter Regatta.
Sunday featured the race back to the western end of Lake Charlevoix, culminating in an afternoon Awards Ceremony at the Charlevoix Yacht Club. It was a fun-filled event that attracted sailors from all around the Great Lakes, marking the grand finale of the summer racing season. It’s quite a popular event for J/sailors.
J/22 ClassThis five-boat fleet saw Tom Barnes’s RECKLESS post two bullets to easily take the class win with 2 pts. Similarly, Robert Camp’s SKADOOSH took second by posting two deuces! Then, similarly, Chris Shadek’s WINDY CITY posted two-thirds to take the bronze medal. 
PHRF 5 DivisionRacing in this half-dozen-boat fleet it was Keith & Karen Attlee’s J/120 ROCKET SCIENCE that took the fleet win with a 2-1 for 3 pts.
PHRF 6 DivisionThe half-dozen boat class saw Chris Lamb’s J/111 PADAWAN 4 lose a tie-breaker for the top of the leaderboard with a 2-2 for 4 pts! Fourth place was George Golder’s J/111 TERRIER with a 4-3 for 7 pts, just one point off the podium!  For more Red Fox Regatta sailing information

 

Upcoming Events

 

Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds set for an exciting line-up of 100 boats 

(Palma Mallorca, Spain)-  The Sandberg. Estates J/70 Worlds, to be held in Palma from 13th to 22nd September, will be a landmark in the history of sailing world championships; not only due to the extremely high quality of the teams in the most numerous One-Design class in the world, but because of the starting procedure system used in each race.GPS Control at the start One hundred J/70s will be lining up to take the start line, which can mean additional pressure for the fleet and, in particular, for the race committee to make accurate OCS calls. 
Therefore, to have a bonafide and trustworthy system of knowing immediately which team has started early, that information is directly transmitted to the fleet instantly.
This year’s J/70 Worlds will be supported by the innovative “RaceSense” system from Vakaros. It’s the Vakaros Atlas 2 device that each boat will carry on board, enabling the precise position of the teams to be transmitted at the exact moment of crossing the line. In milliseconds, this information is transmitted to those boats that are “over the line”, so they can begin to exonerate the infraction as soon as possible. Support from the Spanish Navy and the Naval Commission of RegattasThe Real Club Nautico de Palma is getting ready to receive close to the one hundred teams of the J/70 fleet, their boats, vehicles, tow trucks, and RIBs, with the added logistics coordination involved with measuring each of the boats beforehand, to certify the team’s entry into the World Championships. A challenge, which naturally requires a large area on land for the boats to be taken out of the water with a crane so they might be measured, weighed, and then returned to the water.  Likewise, space is required not only to park and store the boat tows but also the support RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), and without the collaboration of the Spanish Navy and the Naval Commission of Regattas, (which is based at Porto Pi), it would not be possible to organize a World Championships of this scale.Team trainingFor a few weeks, many of the teams have already begun training on the racecourse (situated between Portixoll and Cala Gamba) in the Bay of Palma. The current world title holders, British team, Tom Mallindene and Charlie Thompson’s BRUTUS III, for example, have been encountering a good dozen other teams who are doing the same. Rafael Gil, President of the RCN de Palma, highlighted the importance of this World Championships, both for its sporting value and for the high number of participants, “It is an honor for the Real Club Náutico de Palma to welcome the 98 teams from 25 countries, that will compete in this prestigious edition of the J/70 Worlds. I want to thank them all for their participation and for their trust in our club to provide them with an unforgettable experience here in the Bay of Palma.” Gil also emphasized the club’s values, “We are proud to offer them our hospitality and hope they enjoy the competition and the facilities and services we have provided for them. To host an event on this side is a true logistics challenge. But, we have a highly qualified team, with a huge organizational experience in large sailing events. I wish all the participants the very best of luck and that they enjoy their time in Palma.”  For more Sandberg Estates J/70 World Championship sailing information.

J/35 North American Championship Preview

(Harrison, MI)- 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of hull #1 of Rod Johnstone’s J/35 design. The subsequent success with over 320 hulls built on this remarkable boat has left a lasting legacy in the sailing community. The design continues to be competitive and influential on race courses around the world. Multiple fleets continue to compete on the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, and beyond.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary, the North Star Sail Club, which boasts an impressive fleet of J/35’s will be hosting the J/35 North American Championship from September 5th to 8th on Lake St. Clair. This will be the second time the North Star SC has hosted this prestigious event having previously hosted the event out of Cheboygan, Michigan.
A dozen boats have registered and are looking forward to a fun, competitive event! Amongst the fleet are past J/35 NA champions and Chicago Mackinac and Bayview Mackinac race winners. The leading teams may include Bill Wildner’s MR BILL’S WILD RIDE, Amie & Tim Ross’s BLACKHAWK, Mike Welch’s FALCON, Steven Briggs’s DEAN’S LIST, Sheri Dufresne’s FIREFLY, and Kimberly Isabell’s REDLINE. 
For J/35 NA results and documents.  For more J/35 North Americans sailing information.

J/70 USA Corinthian Nationals Preview

(Cape May, NJ)- This coming weekend, the Corinthian Yacht Club in Cape May,  NJ will be hosting the J/70 USA Corinthian Nationals off the amazing beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Two dozen teams are registered from across the USA to enjoy three great days of racing on the open sea. 
Several top teams are participating; including past Corinthians champion Tod Sackett’s FM from Cleveland, OH;  Cate Muller-Terhune’s CASTING COUCH from Annapolis, MD; Jim Golden’s DERECHO;  Jack Lord’s HEY JUDE; Mark Hillman’s HILLMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT from Annapolis; Brian Keane’s SAVASANA from Boston, MA; and Alex Meleney’s TRUCKIN from Vineyard Haven, MA.  For more J/70 USA Corinthian Nationals sailing information.

RORC Vice Admirals Cup Preview

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- This weekend, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) will be hosting its annual Vice Admirals Cup regatta on the capricious Solent Water. With start/ finish lines using the Royal Yacht Squadron’s famous cannons on the waterfront, the fleet of Performance 40s, J/109s, and J/111s will be sent around a variety of the famous yellow ball-shaped marks all over the Solent going east to west. 
Performance 40 DivisionRacing in this fleet will be two of the protagonists who battled all summer long in the RORC’s Season Point Series. Those teams are Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 BULLDOG and Michael O’Donnell and his Irish team aboard the J/121 DARKWOOD. 
J/111 ClassAs the first J/111 fleet to be formed in 2010 around the world, the British teams on the Solent have enjoyed spirited one-design racing for 14 years! Many of the teams racing in this weekend’s Vice Admirals Cup regatta have been veterans of those years since the beginning! Those teams include Louise Makin & Chris Jones’s JOURNEYMAKER II, Tony Mack’s McFLY, and Cornel Riklin’s JITTERBUG. Joining them after sailing their J/109s and J/88s will be Paul Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB, Paul Lewis’s JOLENE, and Dirk van Beek’s SABRIEL!
J/109 ClassThough only three teams have signed up for the J/109 class, there will surely be hot, competition amongst the three veteran teams that have all won their share of events over time. Those teams include Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN, Neal Piper’s MOJO RISIN, and Stephen Davis’s JEROBOAM.   For more RORC Vice Admirals Cup sailing information.

J/CUP Ireland Preview 

(Dublin, Ireland)- The 2nd edition of the J/Cup Ireland will take place 7th-8th September 2024 at the Royal Irish Yacht Club, which will be followed by the IRC European Championships the week after.
The regatta gives Irish J/Boat owners the chance to get involved in the J-Cup! The regatta will include 2 days of racing, daily prize-givings, and shore-side entertainment for all owners and crews. The regatta features one-design classes for J/109s, J/24s, and J/80s, plus an IRC Division for handicap racing. 
J/109 ClassA thirteen-boat fleet has registered for the J/109 class! Several of the class veterans are participating; including Chris Moore’s POWDER MONKEY, Pat Kelly’s STORM, John Smart’s JUKEBOX, James Peter Donegan’s JALAPENO, and Tom Shanahan’s RUTH. 
J/24 ClassThe J/24 class continues to enjoy fun participation by a core group of J/24 sailors. Eight teams are participating, including past Irish J/24 National Champions. Those teams include David Bailey’s HARD ON PORT, Colm O’Flaherty’s BLIND SQUIRREL, and Mark Usher’s HEDGEHOG. 
J/80 ClassThe J/80 class is also enjoying good participation by loyal J/80 sailors. Those teams include Conall O’Halloran’s  JITTERBUG, Pat O’Neill’s MOJO, and Martin Ryan’s JAMBIYA.
IRC DivisionEight boats will be looking forward to IRC handicap racing around government marks. Those teams include three J/99s (Davis Inglis’s MISTER OLLIE, Mike & Richard Evans’s SNAPSHOT, & David Lean’s JACKPOT); two J/122s (Peter Dunlop’s MOJITO and Chris & Patanne Power Smith’s AURELIA); and Johnny Treanor’s J/112E VALENTINA.  For more Northern Trust J/Cup Ireland regatta sailing information.

J/Puma Jam Zip Top- September 20% Off Special
(Newport, RI)- The J/Puma Jam Zip Top is your choice for 3-season’s sailing. Perfect for your cruising or competitive crew. Light wieght but comfortable when the breeze kicks in. Easily stored and layered under jacket or vest. Performance Puma throughout..
Material:

4.94 oz., 100% polyester
moisture-wicking

Features:

4-way stretch
ultra-lightweight
contrast covered reverse coil zipper
silicone Puma Cat logo on left sleeve

Perfect zip top when customized with your yacht name and sail number.
Choose your appropriate J/Class logo. Customize with your yacht detail as an option.  Order your J/Puma Jam zip top here: