Year: 2024

(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

(Hamble, So’ton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continued for week 3. It proved to be a somewhat drama-filled weekend.
“This is Hamble Race Control. The race is not live. We have exceeded the wind limit!”
Well, that’s what the PRO would have said if the CV WetWheels had gone out on Sunday morning for the 3rd week of the Hamble Winter Series. Fortunately, for the PRO’s- Peter Bateson and Ian Bullock- the approach of Storm Ashley had been so well forecasted and anticipated that the decision to cancel Sunday’s racing was taken by around 4 pm on Saturday. Some, including Gavin Howe, had already reported they would not race. Gordon Mclean on Marks 1 mark boat for the one-design fleet was already relishing a dry copy of the Sunday Times!!
So, that left Saturday for the Hamble One-Design Championships, and PRO Ian Bullock went out to get “at least four” races in with Sunday’s impending doom in mind. This was the second weekend of the championship so the scores would be added to the previous weekend for the overall results.
J/111 ClassIn the J/111 class, Louise Makin and Chris Jones’s JOURNEYMAKER II continued their form from Race 4 and banged in four bullets to take the class with 9 points! Paul Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB couldn’t find the form that gave them 3 firsts in the first weekend. They had to settle for four seconds and a 13-point second place. JOLENE beat Ella Wollman’s FREQUENT FLYER into third place.
When Ian Bullock was in the HRSC Clubhouse, JOLENE reported that they had “taken their battens out of their mainsail and moused their halyards for the winter!”
Thanks for the contributions from Trevor Pountain
For more Hamble Winter Series sailing informationhttps://www.hamblewinterseries.com/

Welcome to this week’s J/Newsletter! As the cooler winds roll in, we are diving into the heart of the fall sailing season with reports from around the world. From the exciting Hamble Winter Series off England’s southern coast to the sunny shores of San Diego, where the Hot Rum Series promises fierce competition, there is plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.
In this issue, we recap the latest developments in the Hamble Winter Series, where strong winds tested the competitors’ resolve. We also preview some major upcoming events. 
In California, San Diego’s Hot Rum Series is set to launch with 122 boats participating, including 35 J/boats, bringing a touch of warmth and excitement to the Pacific coast. Meanwhile, in Texas, the J/70 US National Championship is gearing up as top teams prepare to face the challenges of Eagle Mountain Lake. 
For our European sailors, the French J/80 Nationals are on the horizon, with the picturesque waters of Saint-Cast ready to host a showdown of skill and sportsmanship.

Hamble Winter Series Report- Week 3
(Hamble, So’ton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continued for week 3. It proved to be a somewhat drama-filled weekend. 
“This is Hamble Race Control. The race is not live. We have exceeded the wind limit!”
Well, that’s what the PRO would have said if the CV WetWheels had gone out on Sunday morning for the 3rd week of the Hamble Winter Series. Fortunately, for the PRO’s- Peter Bateson and Ian Bullock- the approach of Storm Ashley had been so well forecasted and anticipated that the decision to cancel Sunday’s racing was taken by around 4 pm on Saturday. Some, including Gavin Howe, had already reported they would not race. Gordon Mclean on Marks 1 mark boat for the one-design fleet was already relishing a dry copy of the Sunday Times! Read more here

J/Fest Southwest A Family Affair

J/105 ROCKY Wins Class with McKiege Family!(Lakewood, TX)- The J/Fest Southwest Regatta celebrated its 14th Anniversary and it has been a popular tradition among the J/Boat owners throughout the region. For the 2024 edition, thirty-five J/Teams participated from around the country. Here is how it all went down amongst the various fleets. Read more here. 

San Diego Hot Rum Series Preview
(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. Read more here.

Upcoming Events

World-class Competition for J/70 US National Championship

(Ft. Worth, TX)- From November 7th to 10th, the Fort Worth Boat Club on the gorgeous Eagle Mountain Lake in Ft. Worth, TX will be hosting the 2024 J/70 US National Championship. Currently, twenty-one teams will be participating on this shifty, puffy, challenging lake to the west of downtown Ft. Worth and Dallas.
Read more here.

French J/80 Nationals Preview

(Saint-Cast, France)- From November 8th to 10th, the Club Nautique de Saint-Cast will be hosting the French J/80 National Championship. The entire team at the Saint-Cast Nautical Center is dedicated to making this event an unforgettable experience, both in terms of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Saint-Cast Le Guildo is a renowned 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.

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: