J/Newsletter- September 4th, 2024

ByStuart Johnstone

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, 2024
On 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, 2024
This 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, 2024
The 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, 2024
At 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 Doublehanded
As 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 Division
This 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 Division
This 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 Division
This 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 Overall
In 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 Division
Winning this class by one hour on corrected time was Macrae Sykes’s J/125 GOOD NEWS!

ORC 12 Division
This 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 Division
Finishing with the silver medal in this half-dozen boat class was Len Sitar’s beautiful J/160 COUGAR!

CORNFIELD POINT RACE

PHRF 3
Winning 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 and
the 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.“

ABOUT
The 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 Division
Sailing 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 Division
Leading 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 Division
This 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 Division
In 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 Division
This 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 Division
This 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 Division
This 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 Class
This 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 Division
Racing 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 Division
The 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 Regattas
The 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 training
For 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 Division
Racing 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 Class
As 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 Class
Though 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 Class
A 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 Class
The 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 Class
The 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 Division
Eight 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: