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J/Teams Sweep Top Five- ORC C Division!

(San Francisco, CA)- One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, the iconic San Francisco Bay, lived up to its reputation for the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club, September 11th to 15th, 2024. 
The regatta attracted 71 boats and nearly 700 sailors to St. Francis Yacht Club. There was a strong turnout in the J/88 and J/105 one-design classes. And, a good turnout of J/Teams in the ORC divisions.
Breeze-on conditions brought out the best skills and tactics for podium winners.
Right on cue, San Francisco Bay rolled out the most demanding conditions for sailors at the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club. A steady 15-20 knots during the first race on Thursday continued to build through Sunday for pure thrills and some spills for the boats competing. Challenging windward-leeward courses allowed for ample tacking duels from the eastern end of the Bay to outside the Golden Gate Bridge, with plenty of opportunities to upset the leaderboard during the downwind to the finish line in front of spectators at St. Francis Yacht Club. Sailors got what they came for world-class racing in a world-class venue. As noted by Chris Perkins, the 2024 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club and eight-time winner— this is what the Rolex Big Boat Series is all about.
“We’re extremely excited about how this week’s went. The weather was tremendous, and we’ve had three great days with a very windy fourth and final day. I am glad they only had one race today!” he said. “Long courses and strong winds are what the event is all about and the clubhouse has been full of spectators watching the racing. It’s been a fantastic regatta and a success on many levels. One of the special things about the past 60 years of this event is that it’s attracted some famous yachts from all over the world.”
J/105 ClassIn the 30-strong J/105 class, considered by many to be the most competitive in America, Ryan Simmons and his long-standing crew on BLACKHAWK took home a Rolex Submariner timepiece to go with his sixth RBBS win and his fourth as skipper. 11-points behind was second place NE*NE, helmed by Tim Russell. Rolf Kaiser and Justin Oberbauer, owners of DONKEY JACK, took third.
“While there wasn’t really a defining moment, we did have really good starts and for the most part going the right direction which really worked for us,” said Simmons. “Conditions were exactly what you would expect for Big Boat Series— high teens to low twenties with ebb chop. While we may have won by a good margin, it has not taken away from the incredible competition in this fleet. On Thursday, we had an amazing photo finish with Randy Hecht and his team on NIUHI and a memorable gybing duel with Tim Russell on NE*NE on Friday. Racing was very tight and very fun. We’ve had a great regatta.”
J/88 ClassIn the J/88 class, Mark Howe’s SPLIT WATER took first, a solid five points ahead of Tom Thayer and Robert Milligan’s SPEEDWELL. The third went to Brice Dunwoodie’s RAVENETTE.
“The combination of shorter windward/leewards in the morning and the Bay tours in the afternoon requires every aspect of tactics, boat handling, sail handling, and, most importantly, endurance,” said Howe. “Crisis management has been key; no boat has been without incident, but keeping a cool head and staying focused is important to overcoming challenges. I’m very proud of my crew; they’ve worked hard with heartfelt enthusiasm and stayed flexible and focused even when things went sideways.”
He and his crew were dually awarded the Pacific Yacht Club Association’s Jesse L. Carr Perpetual Captain and Crew Trophy, which rewards not just the skipper, but the crew as well, for excellence on the water.
ORC A DivisionIn this fleet of nine boats, Peter Wagner’s team on the J/111 SKELETON KEY finished third, just one point away from taking the silver medal. Andrew Picel’s J/125 ARSENAL finished in 5th place and Nesrin Basoz’s J/111 SWIFT NESS took 6th place.
ORC C Division- J/Teams Sweep Top 5!In this eleven-boat fleet, Zach Berkowitz’s J/100 FEATHER won by a robust 13.5-point delta over BACHANNAL, a J/133 owned by Ron Epstein. Barry Lewis racing his J/120 CHANCE finished in third.
“I’m pleased with our result,” said Berkowitz. “I have put a fair amount of work into the boat this year. We cut the rudder off by four inches, we bought a new jib, put more rake in the mast, and added some weight to the boat. It all paid off and the boat is going fast.”
Berkowitz added, “The new MarkSet Bots that the event is using are fantastic. They are spot on, the starting line is great, there are no postponements— it’s revolutionizing race management!”
The balance of the top five included David Halliwill’s J/120 PEREGRINE and John Arens’s J/109 REVERIE in 4th and 5th, respectively. Camille Moussette’s J/99 LATENCY ended up in 7th place. For more ROLEX Big Boat Series sailing information

(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! 

(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

(Stamford, CT)- Hosted by Stamford Yacht Club, Labor Day weekend’s Vineyard Race is a classic American yachting event. The 238.0nm course stretches from Shippan Point 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”, 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 cruising, 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 which is all inside Long Island Sound. 
VINEYARD RACE
ORC 9 DivisionThis huge 26-boat fleet has a wide range of J/crews. Those teams include Trevor Roach’s J/121 TOUCH OF GREY, two J/133s (Steven Brownlie’s ASSARAIN IV & One Haxthausen’s RUMBA), Lennie Sitar’s J/160 COUGAR, June & Amanda Kendrick’s J/44 PALANTIR 5, Albrecht Goethe’s J/46 HAMBURG II, and NEKA Sailings J/105 SLEEPER. 
PHRF 7 DoublehandedSailing this fleet are Peter Becker & Adrien Blanc’s J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN and Todd Aven & Basia Karpinska’s J/99 THIN MAN. 
PHRF 8 DivisionThis huge 34-boat fleet is loaded with leading J/teams, nineteen to be exact! Some of the leading teams may be Bill Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL, David Rosow’s J/122 LOKI, and John Greifzu’s J/109 GROWTH SPURT. All three boats have won various offshore races and events on Long Island Sound. With a possible 110.nm windward beat out of Long Island Sound to Buzzards Bay Tower in light 6 to 10 kt winds from the easterly quadrant, don’t be surprised to see these three boats in the top five overall!
SEAFLOWER REEF RACE
PHRF 4 DivisionRacing in this half-dozen boat fleet is Chris Ercole’s J/109 SWEET CAROLINE and Bill Lewis’s J/e7 CALIENTE. For more Vineyard Race sailing information 

J/111 PRAVDA Smokes ORC Division
(Newport, RI) – The 19th Ida Lewis Distance Race hosted forty-five teams, including both world-class and recreational racers. The competition’s 24-hour format saw seven classes leave Newport Harbor at 11:00 AM Friday, August 16, and return on Saturday to a finish line sighted from host Ida Lewis Yacht Club where volunteers were on watch to record times and meet each team on the water with a congratulatory bottle of prosecco!!
“With the forecast for light air, we chose a course of 135.0nm for all three ORC classes and a shorter 120.0nm for the four PHRF classes,” said Will Museler, a member of the race team. “Most of the other established distance races in the country have the same set course, from start to finish, each year. Depending on the wind, you can be gone for a day or three days, you never know. Here you know!”
ORC DivisionBy all accounts, the sailors were pleased with the courses, which for ORC took the competitors out to Buzzards Bay Tower, then west past Block Island to a mark off Montauk, back to Buzzards Bay, and home again.
ORC 3 DivisionEdward Kaye’s J/111 PRAVDA from Marblehead, MA finished in 1d 1h 39m 20s to win ORC 3 Division and also take the silver medal for ORC Overall, only missing winning ORC Overall by a mere 5 minutes!
PHRF DivisionPHRF’s shorter course sent the teams first to the south side of Block Island, then east to Cox Ledge, Buzzards Bay Tower, and back to Newport.
PHRF Bagheera DivisionJeff Johnstone’s J/99 AGENT 99 (Newport, R.I.) won this division quite easily and just missed the podium for PHRF Overall by a mere 26 seconds! Johnstone’s AGENT 99 pulled off a daringly strategic downwind start, launching a spinnaker well before it crossed the pin end of the line. The boat rode low on a puff to separate from the fleet and then capitalized on a right shift that eventually enabled the team to get a mile ahead of the fleet within the first hour of racing.
“That start set us up mentally for the next six hours,” said AGENT 99 crew Tom Kirk. “In sailing, anything you do well motivates you; the key is not to let the bad things slow you down.”
Just finishing “out of the chocolates” was EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT, settling for 5th place. 
PHRF Coronet DivisionThis ten-boat division saw three J/crews predominate in the top four spots. David Rosow’s J/122 LOKI is on a roll this summer, taking the silver medal and 3rd PHRF Overall. John Pearson’s J/111 RED SKY 4 took the bronze medal and 6th PHRF Overall. Then, Jim Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER took 4th place and 9th PHRF Overall!
Youth Challenge DivisionWinning the Arent H. Kits van Heyningen Trophy for the Youth Challenge was James Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER (Cranston, R.I.), which finished fourth in Coronet. Digger had a total of eight youths and two adults on board, and they were up against three other Youth Challenge entries. NOTE- Youth Challenge entrants must have more than 40% of the team reaching their 14th birthday, but not their 20th birthday before August 16.
Ida Lewis Distance Race Gold Sponsor was Contender Sailcloth. Silver Sponsors were Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard and Hogan Associates/Christie’s International Real Estate. Bronze Sponsors were Gold’s Wine and Spirits, Langan Design Partners, Newport Construction Services, Inc., and North Sails. Contributing Sponsors were Toni Mills Graphic Design, Mac Designs, Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, and Stella Artois. Sailing photo credits- BLOCK ISLAND STEVE/ Stephen Cloutier. Follow Ida Lewis Distance Race on Facebook  For more Ida Lewis Distance Race sailing information

(Newport, RI)-  The 2024 Ida Lewis Distance Race has attracted nearly 50 entrants for the revered 24-hour race on August 16 in Newport, RI. From south of Pell Bridge in Narragansett Bay’s East Passage, the fleet heads off to some of the most storied cruising grounds in the Northeast, including Rhode Island Sound, Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, Long Island Sound, and the waters south of western Long Island before returning to a finish off host Ida Lewis Yacht Club.

“It’s a fun distance race that has been enjoyed by veterans and newcomers alike for 18 editions,” said Event Chair Anselm Richards. “Fine-tuning over the last few years has all but guaranteed that every boat will finish in 24 hours, so that makes the time on the water just right: not too long, not too short.”
Richards added that the Ida Lewis Race Course Development Team has plotted a choice of several courses between 100 and 235 nautical miles; before the start, it will determine which class will sail what course, based on weather and handicap ranges for each class.
Teams sail either in ORC (classes 1, 2, and 3) or PHRF (classes Aloha, Coronet, Bagheera, and Double handed) for top-three and overall trophies as well as special trophies for Collegiate and Youth Challenges. The event also is a qualifier for the Northern Ocean Racing Trophy and Double-Handed Ocean Racing Trophy.
Returning this year is perennial favorite Spirit, a J/92 skippered by EC Helme (Newport, RI). “Last year’s race was pretty interesting for us,” said Helme, who finished second in Bagheera class and will sail in that class again. “Being the smallest and lightest boat combined with those steady, strong conditions made it a real test for Spirit and crew, but it made crossing the finish line that much sweeter.
“Being pushed a little physically and mentally is one of the reasons why we keep coming back. The Bay races generally don’t offer that, and the Ida Lewis Distance Race is just the right distance to make it an honest challenge while being ‘reasonable’ on a 30-foot boat.”  For more Ida Lewis Distance Race sailing information

(Newport, RI)- “With the J/9, we set out to reimagine how to make sailing easier, more relaxing and more inclusive,” said Jeff Johnstone of J/Boats. “This is a boat you can sail by yourself in just minutes, or bring along the whole gang with plenty of room to spare. Escaping to the water and enjoying shared family adventure has never been more important, and the J/9 is the perfect solution.”
The July 4th Independence Holiday weekend in America is all about celebrating family, freedom, and the joy to celebrate such experiences with family and friends around the world.
“We sailed the J/9 on a cracking fall day on Chesapeake Bay in an ideal 10 to 12 knots, and man, it did not disappoint. As advertised, the layout is simplicity personified: one hand on the tiller, the other on the mainsheet. There’s no traveler, the boom is controlled by an ingenious bridle setup. There’s a clear view of the B&G plotter on the coachroof, the solid Sparcraft vang aids in boom control, and lazy jacks for the main keeps everything manageable. And, the J/9 sails like a witch, notching just shy of 7 knots hard on the breeze, and topping that number cracked off on a reach. The joy of sailing, eh? Here’s your ticket.”  Excerpted from Boat Reviews article by Herb McCormick, Cruising World Magazine
Learn more about the J/9 performance daysailer here:

J/Newsletter- July 3rd, 2024
The Sun Never Sets on J’s Sailing Around the World
Welcome to this week’s edition of J/Newsletter, your premier source for the latest sailing events and regattas from around the globe for J/Lovers. As the summer heats up, so does the competition on the water. In this issue, we bring you highlights from recent events and a preview of what’s to come in the world of sailing.
The Kiel Week Regatta 2024 concluded on Sunday, June 30th, after thrilling and varied races. Sailors faced everything from gentle breezes to stormy gusts under predominantly clear, blue skies. The nine-day event provided warm, summery conditions on the Baltic Sea, often reminiscent of the Caribbean, making it a memorable experience for all participants and spectators.
The 85th Queen’s Cup Race took place last weekend on Lake Michigan, featuring an overnight challenge from Milwaukee, WI to South Haven, MI. Organized by Milwaukee’s South Shore Yacht Club and the South Haven Yacht Club, the event was a hit with the J/Teams on Lake Michigan. The race was marked by excellent pre- and post-race festivities, ensuring a fantastic experience for all involved. 
Upcoming Events
La Rochelle Nautique is set to host the J/80 World Championship, an event that promises to be extraordinary. Following the merger of the Société des Régates Rochelaises and the École de Voile Rochelaise, La Rochelle Nautique draws on the combined expertise and history of these two venerable sailing institutions. The French J/80 Class, together with La Rochelle Nautique, has planned a top-tier competition and a well-organized event, thanks to the support of local governmental bodies. Sailors and fans alike can look forward to an exceptional championship.

Celebrate the LOVE of Sailing- the J/9 Daysailer!
(Newport, RI)- “With the J/9, we set out to reimagine how to make sailing easier, more relaxing and more inclusive,” said Jeff Johnstone of J/Boats. “This is a boat you can sail by yourself in just minutes, or bring along the whole gang with plenty of room to spare. Escaping to the water and enjoying shared family adventure has never been more important, and the J/9 is the perfect solution.”
The July 4th Independence Holiday weekend in America is all about celebrating family, freedom, and the joy to celebrate such experiences with family and friends around the world.
“We sailed the J/9 on a cracking fall day on Chesapeake Bay in an ideal 10 to 12 knots, and man, it did not disappoint. As advertised, the layout is simplicity personified: one hand on the tiller, the other on the mainsheet. There’s no traveler, the boom is controlled by an ingenious bridle setup. There’s a clear view of the B&G plotter on the coachroof, the solid Sparcraft vang aids in boom control, and lazy jacks for the main keeps everything manageable. And, the J/9 sails like a witch, notching just shy of 7 knots hard on the breeze, and topping that number cracked off on a reach. The joy of sailing, eh? Here’s your ticket.”  Excerpted from Boat Reviews article by Herb McCormick, Cruising World Magazine
Learn more about the J/9 performance daysailer here:

Spectacular Kieler Woche Regatta!
 (Kiel, Germany)- The Kiel Week Regatta 2024 came to an end on Sunday (30 June) after extremely varied sailing races between light winds and stormy gusts. The skies were crystal clear blue for most of the nine days of predominantly warm summery, sometimes Caribbean conditions. 
“That was the new Kiel Week weather,” beamed Dirk Ramhorst after two decades on the Kieler Woche team, ten of them as head of the organization. The Principal Race Officer Fabian Bach agreed, “If the level of service on the courses and shore is and remains first-class, the athletes from home and abroad will honor this with their entries.”
The combination of the popular sailing regatta of world renown with Northern Europe’s largest summer festival is what makes Kiel Week so unique. Blessed with breeze and good weather both the J/24 and J/70 fleets sailed ten races! 
J/24 ClassTwenty-five J/24 teams participated from Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. In the end, it was Fritz Meyer’s HUNGRIGER WOLF team (Mortiz Book, Thorsen Paech, Jonas Lyssewski, and Jannik Duehren) that won with 23 pts net. Second was Stefan Karsunke’s SCHWERE JUNGS crew (Christian Carstens, Malte Gibbe Luise Boehlich, and Tim Habekots) with 36 pts net. Then, rounding out the podium to complete a German sweep of the podium was Manfred Konig’s VITESSE team (Tina Luelfing, Nils Glockow, Jom Harms, and Marcel Rhode) with 45 pts net.
J/70 ClassThe J/70 class fielded a stunning entry of forty-eight teams from across Europe! It was a record turnout for any J/one-design fleet in the history of Kieler Woche! It was a very closely fought regatta for the top of the leaderboard. Winning was Kim Christensen’s Danish crew (Gustav Schwenneden, Jonas Warrer, and Mathias Lehm Sletten) on DEN 1343 with 28 pts net. The second went to Frederik Hvalso’s Danish crew (Mads Larsen, Kristian Kvid Sorensen, and Morten Sogaard) on DEN 1410 with 30 pts net. Then, rounding out the podium was Kai-Uwe Hollweg’s German crew (Alex Heiken, Jork Homeyer, and Magnus Simon) on GER 1165 with 33 pts net.  Kieler Woche entries and results  For more Kieler Woche sailing information

J/122 ELBOW ROOM Crushes Queen’s Cup Race

(Milwaukee, WI)- The 85th challenge for the Queen’s Cup Trophy took place last weekend on Lake Michigan. This overnight race across Lake Michigan departs from Milwaukee, WI for South Haven, MI. Both Milwaukee’s South Shore Yacht Club and the South Haven Yacht Club provided a great experience for both pre and post-race festivities. The race is popular with J/Teams on Lake Michigan. Here is the breakdown by division. 
J/111 ClassWinning by just 5 minutes was Blane Shea’s STRIKING BACK. Second was George Golder’s TERRIER, followed by Colin & Mark Caliban’s NO QUARTER in the third position. Rounding out the top five were Brad & Ian Faber’s UTAH and Jeff Schaeffer’s SHMOKIN JOE, in fourth and fifth, respectively. 
PHRF 1 DivisionNine boats competed in this division of large gold-plated speedsters. Ending up in fifth place was Bill Schanen’s J/145 MAIN STREET.
PHRF 2 DivisionWinning this eight-boat division was Doug Evans’s J/122 ELBOW ROOM. It seems that this ex-J/109 Chicago Mackinac Race-winning team has not lost their touch after “upgrading” to the much bigger J/122!
Doublehanded DivisionThis shorthanded division featured ten teams of all stripes and sizes! Taking the silver medal was Ron Otto’s J/110 TAKEDOWN 2. Just minutes behind them on corrected was Justin Acker’s J/88 MCQUEEN.
Relive the experience on YB Tracker here. 
For Queen’s Cup Trophy  Race resultsQueens Cup Trophy Race website

UPCOMING EVENTS

J/80 World Championship Preview
(La Rochelle, France)- Building on the merger between the two clubs that were the Société des Régates Rochelaises and the École de Voile Rochelaise, La Rochelle Nautique capitalizes on the know-how, the skills, the history of these two sailing institutions supporting sailing in La Rochelle. The entire La Rochelle Nautique team is committed to making the J/80 World Championship an exceptional event, with the support of its institutional partners: the city, the department, and the region.
The French J/80 Class is organizing the J/80 World Championship in La Rochelle. In addition to a high-level competition, the J/80 class has prepared with the La Rochelle Nautique Club a very beautiful organization for the pleasure of the participants.
Music FestivalFor your information, the City of La Rochelle is also organizing a major music festival with internationally renowned artists- check it all out here:. 
Seventy-one teams from seven nations are competing; including Belgium (5), China (1), Spain (16), France (46), Hong Kong (1), India (1), and The Netherlands (3).
Not surprisingly, the Ladbrokes Betting Parlour is placing all bets on the French or Spanish teams occupying the podium. Both nations have most of their champion teams participating, e.g. those that have won National, European, and World Championship events. 
For the Spanish, the top teams include Luis Martin Cabiedes’s NOTICIQ, Jose Azqueta’s BIOBIZZ, Javier Padron Torrent’s EUROFRITS & AVIKO, and Jose Maria “Pichu” Torcida Seghers’s FREDO LA ESTRELLA DEL NORTE. 
For the French, their top crews include Sylvain Pellissier’s INTUITIVE SAILS, Luc Nadal’s GAN’JA, Ludovic Gilet’s NUMERO J, Simon Moriceau’s SAILNG FRA29, Christine Briand’s YACHT CONCEPT, Maxime Roussaux’s J’RAFON, Patrick Bot’s SIRIUS, and Pierre Laouenan’s TELESTO. 
For any information regards the French J/80 Class, please don’t hesitate to contact the class President- Ludovic Gilet- at president@classej80france.com
For more 2024 J/80 World Championship sailing information 

J/Cotton Polo- July 20% Off Special
(Newport, RI)- Well-made with comfortable cotton, still a favorite among cruisers and racers alike. This J/Polo pique is soft, but rugged and comes in extra-large sizes for a diverse crew. Specify your J logo which is embroidered.
Material:-  6.8 oz/yd / 230 gms, luxurious 100% Peruvian Pima cotton
Features:-  Dura-Pearl™ buttons- Rib-knit cuffs and collar
Perfect crew shirt 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/Peruvian Pima Cotton Polo here:

(Newport, RI)- The second week of June traditionally marks the start of the summer sailing season for the New York Yacht Club. The 170th NYYC Annual Regatta will be taking place over the June 14th to 16th weekend on the waters of Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound. Hundreds of sailors are looking forward to visiting the seaside resort of Newport, RI- “the city by the sea”- for some fun and frolic. The regatta format features the incredibly popular Round Island Race on Friday (a 21.0nm circumnavigation of Conanicut Island) and then two days of either round-the-buoys racing or PHRF navigational racing. 
ORC C DivisionSailing this 14-boat fleet is Bob Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE from Barrington YC.
ORC D DivisionThis 15-boat fleet features twin J/112Es and a trio of J/122s. The J/122 teams include Tom Sutton’s  LEADING EDGE, Robin Team’s TEAMWORK, and Jack Gregg’s TARAHUMARA. The J/112E teams include George Harrington’s #BIGSANDWICH and Al Minella’s THE ROCC. 
PHRF 2 DivisionThe fourteen-boat fleet will feature several top J/teams; including two J/121s (Joe Brito’s INCOGNITO & Steve Levy’s EAGLE), Constantine Baris’s J/122 DIRE WOLF, Erik Asgeirsson’s J/45 ACADIA, and Brian Hiller’s J/125 CROSSFIRE. 
PHRF 3 DivisionThe eleven-boat fleet has twin J/111s sailing- Doug Curtiss’s WICKED 2.0 and Abhijeet Lele’s VARUNA. Joining them is Bill Kneller’s J/109 VENTO SOLARE.
PHRF 4 DivisionThe huge 18-boat fleet has two strong J/99s sailing- Adam & Shannon Zakka’s WIZARD and Jeff Johnstone’s AGENT 99 in the mix. In addition, Chris Tate’s J/105 BLITZ, Brian Nelson’s J/105 HONEY BADGER, and EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT will be pushing hard to the top of the leaderboard. For more New York YC Annual Regatta sailing information

(Rye, NY)- The 2024 American Yacht Club Spring Regatta wrapped up three solid days of sailing on May 3-5, with the Friday coastal race leading into the weekend’s mix of windward-leeward and coastal courses. The regatta featured one-design class racing for J/99s, J/105s, J/100s, and J/44s, plus offshore handicap racing in ORC and PHRF classes.
Friday Coastal RaceOn Friday, May 3rd, 5 classes (ORC, PHRF 1-3, and PHRF Non-Spinnaker) hit the starting line. PRO Nick Everett set up 3 courses ranging from 9.5nm to 18.5nm. The sailors finished off the day in full sunshine, hanging out on the club lawn with a band and complimentary food.
Drew Fung, of the J/100 FREEDOM, noted: “The J/100 fleet had a terrific Spring Regatta with spirited competition all three days. Our Friday double-handed Coastal Cruising race was a blast, in addition to being quite a workout given the terrific breeze and course the Race Committee gave us.”
Saturday brought consistent ENE winds in the 10 to 18-knot range, while Sunday was shiftier with an easterly bending to the south, with wind ranging between 7 and 14 knots across various parts of the Sound. On the East Course, PRO David Barton got in 4 races running windward-leewards in 3 different classes (J/44, J/105, ORC). South Course PRO Nick Everett kicked off the 4 class coastal race with a downwind start to keep things interesting.
While Sunday was supposed to be cold and wet, the rain held off and the sailors got off 3 races on the East course and 1 race for the coastal classes, including a reach leg where the sailors had a chance to break out their code-zeros.
After racing every day, the sailors kicked back to food and music, catching up and sharing tips and anecdotes from the day. As Race Committee Chair Barry Gold put it, “It was like the old days with lots of people staying late to enjoy each others’ company at the club, even after a hard day of work on the water.
Event Chair Erik Asgeirsson summed up the regatta, “We had a fantastic three days of racing and shoreside festivities. Our three-day dual event format, now in its second year, continues to receive a lot of positive feedback. Finally, we also greatly appreciated the increased involvement of the AYC Spring Regatta Sponsors.”
The principal trophies were all won by J/Teams:- 1888 Trophy (best overall level racing): J/44 MAXINE- Edward Richards Trophy (best overall ORC): J/112E The ROCC- Rampant Trophy (best overall PHRF): J/46 HAMBURG II
J/44 One-DesignWinning the J/44 class was Bill Ketcham’s MAXINE with 10 pts net. Battling hard to keep up with them was the women duo of June & Amanda Kendrick’s PALANTIR 5, taking the silver medal with 12 pts net. Then, rounding out the podium with the bronze medal was Willets Meyer’s BEAGLE. 
J/105 One-DesignThe competitive J/105 class saw Dave Willis’s SOLUTION win counting only bullets (4) and deuces (3) for 8 pts net. Chasing them hard, but not having much luck, was Paul Beaudin’s LOU LOU who ended up taking the silver medal with 11 pts net. Then, hopping on the third step of the podium for the bronze medal was John & Marisa Koten’s GRAY MATTER with 15 pts net. 
J/99 One-DesignFor the first time, the J/99s on Long Island Sound held their first major one-design event. Winning was Kevin Marks’s VELOCITY 2, followed by Todd Aven’s THIN MAN in second, and Ray Warner & Jeff Johnstone’s AGENT 99 in third place.
ORC Windward-Leeward DivisionWinning the ten-boat ORC fleet was Al Minella’s very well-sailed J/122E THE ROCC. They posted an impressive two bullets and four deuces to handily win with 10-points net. 
Coastal PHRF 1The big boat PHRF 1 division was comprised of eleven boats from 38 to 50 feet. Winning class in a repeat performance was Erik Asgeirsson & Tom Stokes’s gorgeous J/45 ACADIA. Then, Len Sitar’s magnificent J/160 COUGAR took the bronze medal, while Steve Brownlie’s J/133 ASSARAIN IV ended up in fourth place.
Coastal PHRF 2The eight-boat PHRF 2 division saw a sweep by all three J/Teams entered. Winning was Albrecht Goethe’s pretty red J/46 HAMBURG II. They were followed by Bill Ingraham’s gorgeous blue J/124 TENEBRAE in second and Rick West’s J/120 CHARLOTTE in third place. 
Coastal PHRF 3The dozen-boats PHRF 3 division was dominated by Kevin Marks’s J/99 VELOCITY 2 with a 1-2 for 3 pts. Third place went to JC Zucconi & Jim Townsend’s J/92 EASY RED. Rounding out the top five was Todd Aven’s J/99 THIN MAN in fourth place and John Greifzu’s J/109 GROWTH SPURT in fifth place. 
Coastal Non-SpinnakerThe PHRF Non-Spin division of nine boats was yet another sweep my J/Crews… all J/100s! Winning was the trio of Tom Boyle, Bob Clyatt, and Doug McKiiege on BLUEFIN with double bullets. Similarly, taking the silver medal with double deuces was John & Corinne Foster’s SALTIRE. Then, repeating that math with double treys was Bill Hennes’s LIBERTY to take the bronze! For more American YC Spring Series sailing information