Month: November 2024

J/Newsletter- November 20th, 2024
The Sun Never Sets on J’s Sailing Around the World
From the crisp winds of Hamburg’s Alster Lake in Germany to the sun-drenched waters of La Rochelle, France and San Diego, California, this week’s J/Newsletter brings you exciting updates, previews, and inspiring stories from the sailing world. Whether it’s the intense Father Frost Regatta in Germany or the pursuit-style antics of San Diego’s Hot Rum Series, there’s something for every sailor to enjoy.
In this issue, we highlight recent races, including the inaugural French J/70 Navigatlantique Trophy regatta, and provide updates from Hawaii, where J/Teams are thriving in the epic trade winds. Additionally, don’t miss our previews of upcoming events, such as the South American J/70 Championship in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and the iconic Christmas Cup in La Rochelle, France.

Father Frost Regatta 2024: An Unforgettable Weekend!
(Hamburg, Germany)—The Hamburger Segel Club hosted forty-two boats with 186 participants this past weekend. The HSC RC/ PRO team did an excellent job in the challenging lake winds to run seven exciting races in three classes: J/22s, J/24s, and J/70s. Despite the foggy November weather, the sailors were able to start fantastic races and experience the beautiful Alster Lake to the fullest with light winds.
The evening “Father Frost Party” was another highlight of the weekend. People danced on the dance floor to music from a killer D.J. spinning the disks until well after midnight!! A great end to a fun and eventful day!
 Read more here.

French J/70 Navigatlantique Trophy Won by JIBE SET!

(La Rochelle, France)- La Rochelle Nautique welcomed the French J/70 class for the ninth and final stage of the Coupe de France. This 2024 edition of the always very friendly Trophée Navigatlantique took place from November 9th to 11th in ideal weather conditions with sun and winds of 5 to 16 knots.

After eight races, it was Hervé Leduc’s JIBE SET crew of Christine Briand, Stephane Barraux, and Thomas Cormier that won with four 1sts and three 2nds for 10 pts net.  Read more here. 

Upcoming Events

Hamble Winter Series Report- Week 5 Update

(Hamble, So’ton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continues for week 5 this coming weekend. So far, it has proved to be a somewhat drama-filled few weeks. Here’s what’s happening in each division. Read more here.

The J/70 South Americans Preview 

(Punta del Este, Uruguay)- Great expectations are being generated for the URUFARMA South American J/70 Championship that will be held at Yacht Club Punta del Este from November 18th to 24th, 2024.
J/70 teams from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay have already confirmed their participation, with more than thirty-five boats expected. It will be a party with more than 120 crew members looking for 6 places to compete in the 2025 J/70 World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina!.. Read more here.

J/Crews Look Forward to San Diego Hot Rum Series II

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fall bacchanalian festival in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series”, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club, will be hosting the second race this coming weekend. 
A fleet of 122 boats is participating in the series of three-weekend races that take place on Saturdays. The race is a simple “pursuit style” event, where the slowest boats start first and the fastest boats start last; whoever crosses the finish line first boat-for-boat is declared the winner.  As has been the case over time, the classic building seabreeze often benefits the bigger faster boats that start late. There are thirty-five J/Teams (29.0%) in the fleet. Here is the current status for each division… Read more here.

San Diego YC’s Women’s J/22 Winter Invitational Regatta Announcement

(San Diego, CA)- San Diego Yacht Club’s annual Women’s J/22 Winter Invitational Regatta (WWIR) is just over the horizon, returning to the La Playa Basin February 14-16, 2025. 
As one of the first established yacht club challenges for women in the country, this all-women event aims to encourage participation in the sport while offering a spirited platform (think Flamingo marks) for competition. 
Racing takes place in the SDYC club-owned fleet of J/22 sailboats, just off the docks, where competitors can expect exhilarating competition and camaraderie all weekend long… Read more here.

Christmas Cup Announcement- J/24, J/70, J/80

(La Rochelle, France)- The traditional Christmas Cup, the last regatta of the season for sailors in La Rochelle, will take place on December 8th, 2024 for J/24s, J/70s, and J/80s. 
This 2024 edition, organized by La Rochelle Nautique, will live up to its reputation for conviviality, with more than fifty participants expected and unlimited oysters upon returning from the sea!.. Read more here.

The BIG Sail J/22 Announcement

(San Francisco, CA)- The annual University California- Berkeley vs. Stand University rivalry regatta held each fall on San Francisco Bay will be taking place this weekend. With hot and heavy racing taking place literally within a stone’s throw off St. Francis Yacht Club’s famous waterfront porches, the school’s alumni and students and huge football cheerleading teams will be screaming and yelling their heads off in support of their favorite teams!
Sailed in St. Francis YC’s matched fleet of one-design J/22s, the schools will all field teams in each category: Master Alumni, Young Alumni, Women Alumni, Varsity, and Grand Master Alumni!.. Read more here.

J/Teams Crushing, Loving Hawaii Tradewinds

(Lahaina, Hawaii)- We got an awesome message from one of our J/owners in Hawaii- Rich McCreedy, the owner of the J/100 LEA LEA. Here’s what he had to report. 
“The Lahaina Return Labor Day race was 15-25 kt tradewinds and we had our hands full for 70 miles. It was all downwind with planing conditions all day. The finish of the race is the same patch of water as the finish of the Transpac Race! The waves. were epic and line up with no cross swell from Coco Head to Diamond Head for 5 miles! The wind was 25 kts from 135 degrees apparent and we were surfing down wave after wave!… Read more here.

J/Gear Holiday Specials
(Newport, RI)- There are multiple awesome items available for the 2024 J/Gear Holiday Special! Here is the list for you to consider:- J/Extreme 1/2 Zip- J/Typhoon Jacket- J/Flexfit cap- J/Reach Polo- J/Puma Performance Ziptop- J/Embroidered T-shirt- J/Cotton Polo shirt
The J/Class logo is embroidered and you may customize it for the whole crew. Browse and order here:

(Copenhagen, Denmark)- The success of the Danish J/70 class and the Danish J/70 Sailing League has proven to be a great model for developing sailors of all ages and for the growth of participation at sailing clubs for women and youth, too!
We received a great class promo presentation from Peter Wolsing- he’s a Board Member of J/70 Class Denmark, Co-founder of the sailing league concept and WOW (Women on Water). And, he’s Manager of Sailing Innovation Lab (email- [email protected]). Here are some of the highlights below.
The story starts back in 2013, when Peter Wolsing, as project manager for a future Danish Sailing League, called “Sejlsportsligaen”, had to find a boat that was suitable for league sailing. Peter, who knew the J/Boat’s quality as a former J/24 sailor and the experience of working with the J/80 class at the Royal Danish Yacht Club, had no doubts after tests with other sports boats. THE CHOICE WAS J/70! Seven boats were ordered for Sejlsportsligaen for the 2014 season.

THE SPREAD OF THE J/70 FLEETThe expansion of the J/70 fleet in Denmark has since the start been mainly driven by a conscious strategy at Sejlsportsligaen. Since 2016, Sejlsportsligaen has sold the entire ”old” league fleet to the Danish sailing clubs every year after the end of the season. Today, more than 70 J/70 boats have been sold to clubs this way. That is why Denmark probably stands out compared to many other countries. Today, the fleet is around 120 J/70s, with only 10% privately owned and the rest owned by sailing clubs and Sejlsportsligaen! Across Denmark, the sailing clubs with J/70s currently counts over 35 nationwide!
BUILDING UP J/70 CLUB ENVIRONMENTSInitially, the sailing clubs primarily used the boat to train for participation in Sejlsportsligaen. But, it soon became apparent that the boat could be used for a wide group of sailors and, thus, lay the basis for attractive club development and get more sailors on the water.
Sailors in J/70 clubs fall neatly into these four categories:• YOUNGSTERS (13 – 23 YEARS OLD)• WOW (WOMEN ON WATER)• LEAGUE SAILORS (MIXED)• BLUE BROTHERS (OLDER SAILORS)

THE AARHUS SAILING CLUB CASEThe most successful J/70 club case is Aarhus Sailing Club. They bought seven of Sejlsportsligaen’s J/70s. In just four years, they have gained over 150 new club members, who are divided between Youngsters, WOW and league sailors!! The seven boats sail roughly 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
Aarhus Sailing Club has created a modern sailing universe with ”easy sailing” for busy urban people. The boats are in the water ready for sailing in just 5 minutes. Fast on the water, 3-5 short races and back to the clubhouse where there is plenty of social fun camaraderie. All communication is conducted via social media- Facebook.
Sejlsportsligaenhttps://www.facebook.com/sejlsportsligaen
Danish J/70 Classhttps://www.facebook.com/J70ClassDenmark
SEJLSPORTSLIGAEN SUCCESSSejlsportsligaen has been the focal point for the J/70 success in Denmark. In 2024, four events have been held in the 1st division with 21 clubs and four events in the 2nd division with 24 clubs.
In addition, the annual WOW (Women on Water) event is wildly popular, with 21 women’s teams! All sailing takes place in Sejlsportsligaen’s J/70 fleet, which is renewed every year.
Here is an astonishing statistic- in the sailing league, OVER 33% OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE WOMEN!!

WOW IS A HUGE BOOST FOR WOMEN IN SAILING!The creation of Women on Water (WOW) has massively boosted women participation in sailing. Female sailors have been given a new point of departure from where they can explore new ways of sailing – with racing at all levels. New female sailors are joining every day! Old friendships are rekindled in this new community. We see increased activity in the local sailing clubs. We see local sailing clubs given new life as a result of the J/70 community where WOW plays a big part. We see WOW sailors training and racing 365 days every year.
In 2023, we held the final of the Women Sailing Champions League in Denmark with 32 women’s teams from 11 nations. The event was over-subscribed! WOW was invented in 2018 by the same people behind Sejlsportsligaen- Peter Wolsing.
TRY A J/70 CONCEPTOne of the great successes in spreading the J/70 has been that we have two ”test boats” that interested clubs have been able to borrow for a period of time for “test sails”. This has pushed the process in the clubs. Then, both supporters and opponents of a ”J/70 project” can try the real boat. A process that almost always ends with a ”go”. The J/70 test boats are tested by 10 to 20 sailing clubs per year.

THE J/70 FLEET IN DENMARKThe chart above shows how the J/70 fleet is distributed in Denmark. We expect this development trend to continue, namely that the number of club-owned boats will continue to be by far the largest share.We also see that there will be more private owners and we will, of course, work to ensure that new sailing talents will choose to sail the J/70 – either in the league tournaments or in the group of privately owned boats.

(Hamble, So’ton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continues for week 5 this coming weekend. So far, it has proved to be a somewhat drama-filled few weeks. Here’s what’s happening in each division.
J/111 ClassIn the J/111 class, Louise Makin and Chris Jones’s JOURNEYMAKER II are currently leading. The banged off four consecutive bullets to jump to the top of the leaderboard and have just 9 pts total.
Starting off with three bullets in the first weekend, Paul Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB couldn’t maintain that form, settling for four seconds and a 13-point second place position. JOLENE has so far beaten Ella Wollman’s FREQUENT FLYER into third place.
Autumn Cup IRC 2 DivisionSo far, the top J/teams are David Richards’s J/109 JUMPING JELLYFISH in third place, Kevin Taylor’s J/99 JUMP TO IT in fourth place, Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN in sixth place, Rosie Berry’s J/109 JENIE in seventh position, Vernon Bradley’s J/99 BLACKJACK in eighth place, Becky Walford’s J/92 BRENDA’S J in ninth place, and Chris Burleigh’s J/109 JYBE TALKIN in tenth position.
Winter Series IRC 2 DivisionThree of the top five on this leaderboard are J/crews. Leading are two J/109s- Mike & Susie Yates’s JAGO is first, with Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN in second place. Sitting in fifth is Chris Burleigh’s J/109 JYBE TALKIN.
Thanks for the contributions from Trevor Pountain
For more Hamble Winter Series sailing informationhttps://www.hamblewinterseries.com/

(Saint-Cast, France)- From November 8th to 10th, the Club Nautique de Saint-Cast hosted the three-day French J/80 National Championship. The entire team at the Saint-Cast Nautical Center was dedicated to making the event an unforgettable experience, both in terms of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Saint-Cast Le Guildo is a famous resort on the Emerald Coast, boasting a stunning body of water and excellent port facilities. Notably, this club was a pioneer of the J/80 class in France and has a fleet of J/80s that frequently participates in events. The CN Saint-Cast is recognized for its expertise in organizing J/80 competitions.
There were forty-four boats registered to go sailing off the beautiful “emerald coastline”. In the end, the regatta became a duel between two teams that ended up in a tiebreaker at 8 pts each! After five races, the winner on countback was Pierre Laouenan’s CV AILEE- ECOLE NAVALE with a 1-1-6-5-1 tally for 8 pts net. Taking the silver was past National Champion- Simon Moriceau’s PL YACHTING- ARMEN HABITAT with a 2-4-1-1-5 record for 8 pts net. Rounding out the podium on the bronze medal step was another top French team- Luc Nadal’s GAN’JA with 7-21-5-2-2 scorecard for 16 pts net.
Bot Wins 2024 France J/80 Cup SeriesWinning the summer-long France J/80 Cup was Patrick Bot’s SIRIUS with 277 pts. Just 3 pts back was Pierre Laouenan’s PHOENIX with 274 pts. Then, sitting in third was Luc Nadal’s GAN’JA with 261 pts. Sitting in fourth was Maxime Rousseaux’s J’RAFON with 253 pts, while Bruno Royer de Vericouort’s NAOS was in fifth place with 212 pts.
Follow the France J/80 Class on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069525725063
For more French J/80 Nationals sailing informationhttps://www.classej80france.com/

(Ft. Worth, TX)– Eighteen teams ventured to Fort Worth Boat Club in Texas for the first-ever J/70 US National Championship from November 7-10. Gorgeous conditions on the opening day allowed three races, but Mother Nature had different plans for the weekend, as light air forced crews to stay ashore. Fortunately, southern hospitality kept racers smiling throughout the weekend at the recently remodeled club, culminating with Sunday afternoon’s prize-giving.

Jim Murray’s Chicago-based team on HESTIA- Zeke Horowitz, Will Howard and Steven Leuck- tallied scores of 2-1-2 for only 5 points to earn the first plaque on the J/70 US National Championship trophy. HESTIA was one of five boats in the One-Pro Division, securing this achievement as well.


“When it was time to put together our J/70 program, I wanted to stick as close as possible to the Corinthian nature of the sport,” summarized Murray. “But it’s an incredibly competitive Class, and to help us get up the curve faster, we decided to go with the one-pro model.” He continued, “I think we’re incredibly lucky just to be out here sailing. You’re walking around the docks, and you’re surrounded by multiple World Champions, folks who have sailed in the Olympics. It’s an incredible Class. Our vibe from the beginning has been we’re just happy to be here. We’re lucky to be on the line with these folks. We’re just out here to become better sailors.”


Rounding out the podium taking the silver medal was Bruce Golison’s MIDLIFE CRISIS team (Erik Shampain, Steve Hunt, and Jeff Reynolds), winning on a tiebreaker at 12 pts each. Losing that countback to take the bronze medal was Al Minella’s LEVEL 5 crew (Marc Gauthier, John Wallace, and Carlos Robles).

The balance of the top five included Bruno Pasquinelli’s STAMPEDE and John Sommi’s RELATIVE OBSCURITY, finishing 4th and 5th, respectively.
CORINTHIANS DIVISIONWinning the Corinthians was Ryan Cox’s DJ team (Mike Uznis, Stanton Smith, & RD Burley). Taking the silver was Mike Goldfarb’s WAR CANOE crew (Max Lopez, Shawn Burke, & Ben Glass). Third place went to Roy Lamphier’s BEAT MACHINE family team (Marina Lamphier, Gavin Lamphiere, & Cassidy Chalut).
Photos from Hannah Lee Noll are available herehttps://gallery.hannahleenoll.com/j70-nats-2024
Link to winner’s interview- Jim Murray- on YouTube sailing video: https://youtu.be/FN1AdYDR1Hw
Drone footage- sailing on Day 1hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnnKkcOHwIc
For J/70 US National Championship resultshttps://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eid=16334
For more Ft Worth Boat Club event informationhttps://www.fortworthboatclub.com/

With thrilling updates from across the sailing world, this edition of J/Newsletter brings together the best of racing action, boat reviews, and community stories. 
The fall season is in full swing as events like the San Diego Hot Rum Series in California and the Hamble Winter Series in England keep sailors on their toes, while the inaugural J/70 US National Championship in Forth Worth, Texas crowned its first-ever champions.
We’ll also take a closer look at the new J/45, a game-changer in the performance cruising scene, and dive into the success of the Danish J/70 Sailing League program that’s inspiring sailors of all ages.

The J/45- A Very Fast Cruising Sailboat!
by Practical Sailor
Are you interested in a very fast and capable 45-foot cruising sailboat? Today, we bring you the new J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht. The J/45 is both a very comfortable cruiser for a  couple or family and a capable racing sailboat for the racer-cruiser market.  Read more here and watch video.

J/Crews Eclipse Fleet @ San Diego Hot Rum Series I

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fall bacchanalian festival in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series”  began this past weekend, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club. A fleet of 122 boats is participating in the series of three-weekend races that take place on Saturdays. The race is a simple “pursuit style” event, where the slowest boats start first and the fastest boats start last; whoever crosses the finish line first boat-for-boat is declared the winner.  As has been the case over time, the classic building seabreeze often benefits the bigger faster boats that start late.. Read more here. 

HESTIA Crowned Inaugural J/70 US National Champions!
(Ft. Worth, TX)– Eighteen teams ventured to Fort Worth Boat Club in Texas for the first-ever J/70 US National Championship from November 7-10. Gorgeous conditions on the opening day allowed three races, but Mother Nature had different plans for the weekend, as light air forced crews to stay ashore. Fortunately, southern hospitality kept racers smiling throughout the weekend at the recently remodeled club, culminating with Sunday afternoon’s prize-giving.  Read more here.

Laouenan Crowned French J/80 National Champion! 
(Saint-Cast, France)- From November 8th to 10th, the Club Nautique de Saint-Cast hosted the three-day French J/80 National Championship. The entire team at the Saint-Cast Nautical Center was dedicated to making the event an unforgettable experience, both in terms of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Saint-Cast Le Guildo is a famous resort on the Emerald Coast, boasting a stunning body of water and excellent port facilities. Notably, this club was a pioneer of the J/80 class in France and has a fleet of J/80s that frequently participates in events. The CN Saint-Cast is recognized for its expertise in organizing J/80 competitions.
Read more here.

Upcoming Events

J/Boats Adds “Performance Trophy” for the Marion-Bermuda Race

(Newport, RI)- J/Boats have been standout participants in the Marion-Bermuda Race for decades, demonstrating exceptional design for endurance and performance on the open ocean. This recognition not only honors J/Boats’ achievements, but also encourages more sailors to explore the Marion-Bermuda Race, showcasing the skill and endurance needed in offshore competitions. 
Read more here.

Hamble Winter Series Report- Week 5 Update

(Hamble, So’ton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continues for week 5 this coming weekend. So far, it has proved to be a somewhat drama-filled few weeks. Here’s what’s happening in each division. Read more here.

The J/70 Story in Denmark is Special & Successful!

(Copenhagen, Denmark)- The success of the Danish J/70 class and the Danish J/70 Sailing League has proven to be a great model for developing sailors of all ages and for the growth of participation at sailing clubs for women and youth, too!
We received a great class promo presentation from Peter Wolsing- he’s a Board Member of J/70 Class Denmark, Co-founder of the sailing league concept and WOW (Women on Water). And, he’s Manager of Sailing Innovation Lab (email- [email protected]). Here are some of the highlights below.  
The story starts back in 2013….. Read more here.

J/Gear Holiday Specials
(Newport, RI)- There are multiple awesome items available for the 2024 J/Gear Holiday Special! Here is the list for you to consider:- J/Extreme 1/2 Zip- J/Typhoon Jacket- J/Flexfit cap- J/Reach Polo- J/Puma Performance Ziptop- J/Embroidered T-shirt- J/Cotton Polo shirt
The J/Class logo is embroidered and you may customize it for the whole crew. Browse and order 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

(Newport, RI)- J/Boats have been standout participants in the Marion-Bermuda Race for decades, demonstrating exceptional design for endurance and performance on the open ocean. This recognition not only honors J/Boats’ achievements, but also encourages more sailors to explore the Marion-Bermuda Race, showcasing the skill and endurance needed in offshore competitions. For 2025, there will be a “J/Boats Performance Trophy” awarded during the Awards Ceremony in Bermuda. 
To give a J/Boat the best chance at winning the Marion-Bermuda Race, you’ll need to factor in the scoring system, the boat’s performance in varying conditions, and the overall race strategy. Both PHRF Time on Time (ToT) and ORR F-TCF (Offshore Racing Rule – Forecast-Time Correction Factor) scoring have pros and cons for J/Boats. And, the choice between them can significantly impact the boat’s competitive edge.
Here’s a closer look at each option and why a J/Boat is a strong contender for the Marion-Bermuda Race.
Scoring System Comparison: PHRF ToT vs. ORR F-TCF:
PHRF Time on Time (ToT) Scoring: • Advantages: PHRF ToT is generally simpler and often better suited for boats that perform well across a variety of conditions rather than relying on a specific wind angle or speed. It could favor boats like J/Boats that are balanced performers and are generally easy to handle, making them competitive across variable weather. • Considerations: PHRF ToT tends to provide a flatter correction, which might disadvantage J/Boats slightly if they encounter boats with extreme characteristics that excel in only particular conditions (e.g., fast planing boats in high winds).
ORR F-TCF Scoring: • Advantages: The ORR system is more complex and takes into account a broader range of performance factors such as wind velocity, wave conditions, and boat-specific characteristics. This can benefit J/Boats, especially if the wind and sea conditions are favorable for their design characteristics over long distances. • Considerations: ORR F-TCF can be challenging to manage in races where a simple correction is preferred, but it might yield better results for a J/Boat if conditions align well with their strengths. The Marion-Bermuda Race has historically seen a range of conditions, and ORR’s adjustments could offer a scoring advantage for the J/Boat’s versatility.

Why J/Boats Are Well-Suited for the Marion-Bermuda Race • Design for Offshore Performance: J/Boats are well-regarded for their strong upwind and reaching capabilities, which are essential in a race that spans a mix of conditions from light to heavy winds. They’re typically stable in a seaway, which is advantageous over the 645-mile course where seas can range from light swells, to rougher Atlantic waves, and massively choppy Gulf Stream waves. • Ease of Handling: The Marion-Bermuda Race allows for both experienced crews and double-handed entries. J/Boats are designed with simplified rigging and sail-handling systems that work well for short-handed crews, a significant benefit over an extended offshore race. • Balance and Speed: J/Boats tend to strike a good balance between cruising comfort and competitive speed. This combination suits the Marion-Bermuda Race, where boats are rated with liveaboard cruising comforts and are required to sail across different wind and weather systems. • Competitive History: J/Boats have a solid record in the Marion-Bermuda Race, with a proven ability to achieve top placements on the podium.
A well-prepared J/Boat with experienced crew, optimized sail inventory, and proper race strategy can have a strong showing in the Marion-Bermuda Race. So, register now and take advantage of the early registration discount!!
Start date: June 20, 2025. Do you have a specific question? email: [email protected]
For further Marion Bermuda Race sailing information https://www.marionbermuda.com

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fall bacchanalian festival in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series” began this past weekend, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club. A fleet of 122 boats is participating in the series of three-weekend races that take place on Saturdays. The race is a simple “pursuit style” event, where the slowest boats start first and the fastest boats start last; whoever crosses the finish line first boat-for-boat is declared the winner. As has been the case over time, the classic building seabreeze often benefits the bigger faster boats that start late.
There are thirty-five J/Teams (29.0%) in the fleet.

PHRF Overall- Podium Sweep!A trio of J/teams led home the entire fleet to sweep the podium! Winning was Jim Madden’s J/100 STARK RAVING MAD, followed by Jim Dorsey’s J/105 J-AQUATIC in second place and Mike Hatch’s J/105 J-ALMIGHTY! Seventh went to Ed Sanford’s CREATIVE.

PHRF 2 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, Rudy Hasl’s J/145 PALAEMON took third place. Fellow J/145 owner- Steven Ernest- took fifth place with AIMANT de FILLE.

PHRF 3 DivisionWinning this large eighteen-boat fleet was Ed Sanford’s J/111 CREATIVE. Then, two J/122s finished together; Erostino Dagfish’s DOUBLE HELIX was 5th and Mark Stratton’s CHEEKY was 6th place.

PHRF 4 DivisionA family J/crew was atop this nineteen-boat fleet, Chuck Nichol’s & Kyle Clark’s J/120 CC RIDER. Taking fourth place was Jeff Shew’s J/121 RAVEN.
PHRF 5 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, Jim & Scott Barber’s J/109 FELEENA took fifth place.

PHRF 6 DivisionThis huge twenty-three boat fleet was dominated by top J/Teams. Winning was Jim Madden’s J/100 STARK RAVING MAD, followed by Dorsey’s J/105 J-AQUATIC in second, Hatch’s J/105 J-ALMIGHTY in third, and Bennet Greenwald & Dave Vieregg’s J/105 PERSEVERANCE iin fourth place.
PHRF 7 DivisionThis seventeen-boat fleet saw Chuck Bowers’s J/29 RHUMB RUNNER take fifth, while Scott Bennett’s J/92 FANDANGO took fifth position.

PHRF 8 DivisionFinally, the “litte boats” fleet of twenty-two teams saw Tom Reilly’s SDYC J/22 JEZEBEL take fourth place!
For more San Diego Yacht Club Hot Rum Series sailing informationhttps://sdyc.org/calendar/event/hot-rum-series-1-24

by Practical Sailor
Are you interested in a very fast and capable 45-foot cruising sailboat? Today, we bring you the new J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht. The J/45 is both a very comfortable cruiser for a couple or family and a capable racing sailboat for the racer-cruiser market. When compared to competitive sailboats, this boat brings you all the comfort for sailing the Caribbean, but it also has a significantly greater speed. Plus, it excels with greater ease-of-handling due to multiple furling headsails and an in-boom furling system for the mainsail.
Watch this video tour of the J/45 here by Practical Sailorhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcxXZ902qCA

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fall bacchanalian festival in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series” will begin this weekend, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club. A fleet of 122 boats is participating in the series of three-weekend races that take place on Saturdays. The race is a simple “pursuit style” event, where the slowest boats start first and the fastest boats start last; whoever crosses the finish line first boat-for-boat is declared the winner. As has been the case over time, the classic building seabreeze often benefits the bigger faster boats that start late.
There are thirty-five J/Teams (29.0%) in the fleet.
J/105 ClassThe are eleven J/105s sailing the series, including past winners such as Bennett Greenwald/ Dave Vieregg’s PERSEVERANCE, Mike Hatch’s J-ALMIGHTY, and Steve Howell’s BLINK. All one-design J/105s are rated at PHRF 84.
PHRF DivisionThe range of J/teams goes from J/22s up to the majestic trio of J/145s! Notably, multiple Hot Rum Series winner in various boats ranging from 29 footers up to all carbon Swan 60- Jim Madden- will be sailing his J/100 STARK RAVING MAD this year. He will be up against Ed Sanford’s J/111 CREATIVE, a slew of J/120s including Chuck Nichols’s CC RIDER, Jeff Shew’s J/121 RAVEN, a trio of J/122s including Mark Stratton’s CHEEKY, and a trio of J/145s including Rudy Hasl’s PALAEMON. Should be fun racing!
For more San Diego Yacht Club Hot Rum Series sailing informationhttps://sdyc.org/calendar/event/hot-rum-series-1-24