The Solent Delivers for J/Cup Regatta!

(Hamble, England)- The Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble, England was yet again the host for the very popular J/Cup UK Regatta. The two-day event was held on the capricious waters of The Solent with a total of up to six races for most fleets. The regatta included five one-design fleets (J/70, J/99, J/109, J/111, & J/112E) and two IRC Divisions.

J/70 Class
The fleet was treated to a complete “whitewash” after nine races. Winning with eight bullets was Morgan Reynolds’s crew on POWDER MONKEY LIGHTFOOT with 8 pts net. The balance of the podium was a fight to the end. Winning that duel to take the silver was Howard Davies’s BOYSTEROUS team with 20 pts net. Just two points back to take the bronze was the Royal Norwegian YC team on EXCESS.

J/99 Class
This eight-boat fleet saw some awesome racing for the newly formed J/99 UK Class. It was a tale of two battles for the podium. The top two spots were decided on a tiebreaker at 7 pts each. Winning that countback was Jean-Baptiste Brian’s JOLLY JUMPER, while David Lean’s JACKPOT settled for the silver medal. The final step on the podium was an all-out battle between four teams. In the end, it was Alain Waha’s FURTHER WEST that garnered the bronze medal with 20 pts net.

J/109 Class
With ten boats, the J/109s were sure to be a competitive fleet amongst the numerous veterans participating. In the end, it was Ben Shelley’s MOCKING J that took class honors with an enviable 2-3-1-1-1-1 tally for 6 pts net. Taking the silver was David Richard’s JUMPING JELLYFISH with an equally strong record of 1-1-2-3-2-2 for 8 pts net. Then, the final bronze medal step was taken by Samantha Love’s FRANK 4 with a 4-2-3-2-5-4 scoreline for 15 pts net.

J/111 Class
As usual, the highly competitive J/111 fleet saw tight racing for podium honors all weekend. The class veterans are tough, fast, and tactically smart. In the end, it was Louise Makin & Chris Jones’s JOURNEYMAKER II that posted solid scores of 2-1-1-3-2-1 for 7 pts net to take the gold medal. Driving them hard was Paul Wollmann’s FREQUENT FLYER with a 1-2-2-1-3-4 tally for 9 pts net to take the silver. Then, Paul Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB also sailed well to post 3-3-4-2-1-2 scores for 11 pts net to take the bronze.

J/112E Class
Sailing as a one-design class for the first time in the J/Cup, the J/112Es were witness to why the LEON gang has been so successful in numerous offshore regattas. After posting straight bullets in six races, David Franks’s team on LEON cleaned house with just 5 pts net to take the gold medal. However, the balance of the podium was a battle for the final two steps. Taking the silver by one point was Martin Priest’s FANDANGLE with a 3-2-4-3-3-2 scores for 13 pts net. Completing the podium with the bronze medal was the Key Yachting Crew on THINKING SPACE with a 2-3-2-4-6-3 tally for 14 pts.

IRC 1/2 Division
Winning this division was Neil Angel’s J/105 FLAWLESS J counting just bullets in their scoreline for 5 pts net. Taking the silver was Derek Copeman’s J/105 BOJANGLES with a 1-3-2-3-4-7 tally for 13 pts net. Then rounding out the podium for the bronze medal was John Owen’s J/120 JET with a 7-7-4-2-2-2 scoreline for 17 pts net.

IRC 3 Division
Winning this eight-boat fleet was Jack Banks’s J/92 NIGHTJAR with a 1-1-4-4-1-2 record for 9 pts net. They led a large contingent of six J/92s in this fleet. Taking second was Robin Stevenson’s J/92 UPSTART with a 2-2-2-3-4-1 tally for 10 pts. Then, garnering the bronze was Becky Walford & Stew Hawthorn’s J/92 BRENDAS J ON JES with a 4-4-1-1-3-3 record for 12 pts net.

For more Key Yachting J/Cup Regatta sailing information
https://www.keyyachting.com/events/j-cup-regatta/