Blog

This past week, we had yet more thrilling moments from the high seas for our passionate J/Sailors in both one-design and offshore sailing regattas. From the breathtaking shores of France to the picturesque harbors of Finland, our global sailing community has been busy making waves and breaking records. So grab your compass and let’s set sail on a journey through the highlights of the past week’s most exhilarating regattas.
J/45 FurlerBooomFirst, we kick off our voyage with a fascinating demonstration of the mainsail furling boom by FURLERBOOM, showcased on the sleek J/45 from J/Composites in Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Witness the seamless integration of Danish engineering and French craftsmanship as this cutting-edge technology transforms the way we sail, facilitating easy single or doublehanded sailing for couples.
Epic Ocean ChallengesNext, we chart a course across the Atlantic to Newport, Rhode Island, where the legendary OSTAR Race is underway. David Southwell’s J/121 ALCHEMY leads the fleet, battling fierce winds and relentless currents on the historic journey from Plymouth, England, to the shores of Newport. 
Championing ExcellenceFrom the azure waters of the Adriatic to the sun-kissed beaches of Mexico, J/Boats continue to dominate the racing circuit with unrivaled skill and precision. Whether it’s the J/99 JOY conquering the ORC Doublehanded European Championship in Italy or BLACK MAMBA clinching victory at the J/70 North American Championship in Puerto Vallarta, our J/Crews leave no doubt as to who reigns supreme on the race course on J/70s in Europe, ranging from Finland in the north to Switzerland in the Swiss Alps to the sun-kissed shore of Portugal.
Celebrating Tradition and CamaraderieAs the sun sets on another unforgettable Antigua Sailing Week and PalmaVela regatta, we raise our sails in salute to the enduring spirit of camaraderie and competition that defines our sport. 
Looking AheadAs we prepare to embark on new adventures, we cast our gaze towards the horizon and the promise of exciting regattas yet to come. From the windswept shores of Harwich, England, to the stormy waters of the North Sea, the RORC North Sea Race beckons with the allure of adventure and the thrill of competition. 

J/45 Mainsail Roller Furler Boom video 
(Les Sables d’Olonne, France)- Enjoy this video demonstration of the mainsail furling boom from the Danish brand FURLERBOOM on a J/45 from the J/Composites shipyard based in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Taking place in front of the famous departure port for the Vendée Globe Race, you will see a hoisting of the mainsail, a reefing, the adjustment of the outhaul, and of course, the lowering of the mainsail. 
The boom was installed on a J/45 cruising version with a shoal keel. She will be based in Newport, RI this summer for interested customers!
The boom is the T18-V model, with several options including outhaul adjustment as well as the zip cover that is ideal for storing and sheltering your sail. 
Manufacturing qualityFURLERBOOM booms have been developed and manufactured since 1998 in Denmark. The company is now managed by Jørn Nissen who ensures the quality and performance of these products thanks to his numerous sailing trips.
The Furlerboom booms allow you to benefit from a high-performance mainsail, fully battened with a leech round. Above all, it’s a guarantee of safety for sailors and the booms provide a finish worthy of the finest sailing yachts.
Find details of GV Furlerboom furling booms on our site
Watch the J/45 FURLERBOOM demonstration video here
For more J/45 offshore performance cruiser information

J/121 ALCHEMY Leading the OSTAR Race!

(Newport, RI)- David Southwell’s J/121 ALCHEMY is sailing the 2024 OSTAR/ TWOSTAR Race that started off Plymouth, England on May 5th, 2024. Currently, he is enjoying a 100+ mile lead boat-for-boat three days after the start!
The OSTAR is the oldest solo ocean race in the world dating back to 1960 when Blondie Hasler raced against the legendary Francis Chichester. The course is deceptively simple: the 3,000-mile race runs from Plymouth in Devon against the prevailing wind and current to Newport Rhode Island, leaving Nantucket to starboard.
If you’re interested in following along with his adventure, you can track him through the YB Race Tracker App.
Also, ALCHEMY has a boat tracker from Iridium/ Predictwind.com. That link is here.
As David explained, “I’m expecting the race to take around a month. So, if all goes well I’ll be arriving in early June.  I expect to be posting regularly on the boat’s Instagram account here.
For any of you who will be in Newport at the finish, I’ll be pulling into the Newport Yacht Club on Long Wharf Mall. 

J/99 JOY Crowned ORC Doublehanded European Champions
(Caorle, Italy)- The 2nd edition of the annual ORC Doublehanded European Championship crowned three new champions among 29 entries from four nations after a 195-mile offshore race completed in the northern Adriatic Sea. Organized by Circolo Nautico Santa Margherita (CNSM) in collaboration with the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) and UVAI, this race was sailed alongside a larger fleet of 62 teams entered in the 30th edition of La Duecento, an annual offshore race that starts in Caorle to round Grado and Susak island in Croatia before returning to the finish in Caorle. 
Starting with light winds, the total fleet of 91 boats encountered varying conditions along the course. Thermal winds along the Istrian coast, accompanied by occasional thunderstorms and lulls in the wind, particularly affected the smaller boats in this fleet while on their upwind leg toward the finish line in Caorle.
In Class C, the Slovenian crew of the J/99 JOY sailed by Vladimir Borstnar and Bojan Gale emerged victorious. Borstnar shared his thoughts on the win: “It was an interesting race, with more wind than expected throughout the course. From Grado to Susak we sailed south with the spinnaker, and in Quarnaro we encountered gusts of up to 20 knots. We never stopped while our competitors found wind holes on the upwind leg, which helped us achieve the win.”   For more ORC Double European Championship sailing information

BLACK MAMBA Crowned J/70 North American Champions!
(Riviera Nayarit/ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)- For the 2024 edition of the J/70 North American Championship, the Nayarit Yacht Club in Riviera Nayarit hosted twenty-six teams from the USA, Mexico, Canada, and Argentina. Situated just around the famous Bahia de Banderas to the west-northwest of the famous Mexican resort town of Puerto Vallarta, the Nayarit YC has been fortunate to have the famous Banderas Bay sailing conditions materialize for this talented fleet over the past few days. Incredible conditions prevailed for four days and a full slate of 11 races.
Open DivisionFernando Perez Ontiveros’s BLACK MAMBA won the first contest and held off all competition to earn the title. With his crew of River Paquin, Goncalo Ribeiro, and Patrick Wilson, the Vallarta Yacht Club-based boat never finished out of the top six and netted 28 points. David Jannetti’s VERY ODD (Enigma) superstar team from the USA (Willem Van Waay, Travis Odenbach, & Andy Horton) remained near throughout but settled for the runner-up position at 40 net points. Eduardo Saenz’s NIMBUS superstar team (Bill Hardesty, Will Felder, & Josh Kapell) compiled a solid week for the bronze spot at 53 points. 
Rounding out the top five was Ignacio Perez Morett’s ZAGUERO in fourth and Alejandro Perez Ontiveros’s ALGARETE in fifth place. 
Corinthians DivisionEduardo Oetling’s AXOLOTL ruled the eight-boat Corinthian division. Taking the silver was Marco Sparvieris’ BUENJAJUNTA, while Alan Elihu Baron’s NAWAL took the bronze medal. 
The J/70 Class extends its appreciation to PRO Chip Till, Regatta Chair Linda Green, and many gracious volunteers. Photos are available on the International J/70 Class Facebook page. For more J/70 North American Championship sailing information.

J/122 EL OCASO Crowned Lord Nelson Trophy Winner @ Antigua!!      
(English Harbour, Antigua)- The 55th edition of Antigua Sailing Week attracted 88 boats from 20 different countries and 750 crew from all over the world. Antigua Sailing Week is one of the most celebrated regattas in the sailing world; the 2024 edition added another great chapter. Light winds gave a gentle start to the regatta but that built to a full-on foam up by the final day. The racing through the classes was fierce and the camaraderie was strong.
The Final Prize Giving was held in the historic surroundings of Nelson’s Dockyard. Guests of Honour were the Governor-General of Antigua & Barbuda  His Excellency Dr. Sir Rodney Williams & E.P Chet Greene, Minister of Parliament for ST. Pauls. J’ana Million sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem of Antigua & Barbuda. Antigua Sailing Week President Alison Sly-Adams thanked all of the sponsors and the volunteer SWAT team, over a hundred strong, for their hard work. ASW Race Manager Jaime Torres was the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the trophy winners to the stage. All of the Class Winners received Locman Italy watches presented by Camilla Holme.
The Lord Nelson Trophy is the biggest prize at Antigua Sailing Week and is adorned with the names of famous race boats over six decades. Two boats have won the famous trophy three times in previous editions: Larry Ellison’s Farr 90 Maxi SAYONARA and Sir Peter Harrison’s Farr 115 SOJANA. For the 55th edition of Antigua Sailing Week, the  J/122 El Ocaso has joined that elite club. Chartered to British couple Tony & Sally Mack, McFLY on EL OCASO lifted the Lord Nelson Trophy in Nelson’s Dockyard Antigua for the best performance at Antigua Sailing Week.
“I am feeling just fantastic!” exclaimed Tony Mack. “This is a lovely place to come sailing. I have been to world championships and I have never been to a prize giving like this one! The message to anybody is that if you can come and race out here, do it! Antigua Sailing Week is great fun.”
“You hope to surround yourself with good people and we have a golden rule that if we do well it is always a team effort. If we do badly it is down to me; the blame culture stops there! This has been very much a team effort, everybody worked so hard. We won and lost races by seconds, it was ever so competitive and that makes it mean a lot.” For more Antigua Sailing Week sailing information.

Gorgeous & Spectacular PALMAVELA!
(Palma Mallorca, Spain)- The 20th edition of PalmaVela took place this past week at the Real Club Náutico de Palma at Palma Mallorca, Spain. One-design fleets of J/70s and J/80s enjoyed the amazing sailing conditions inside Palma Bay for their three-day regattas. And, the offshore ORC Divisions also featured beautiful sailing offshore.  DAY 1As they say, after the storm comes calm. After two days with very strong winds, the “Eolo wind” became milder with about 11 knots from the southwest.
The J/70s are warming up in this PalmaVela for the next J/70 World Championship, which will be organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and will be held at the end of September. RCNP patron María Bover already won last year at PalmaVela in the J/80s and is now the leader with BALERIA in the J/70s.  
The J/80s have also completed three tests, with the Valencia RCN boat ISER appearing at the top of the leaderboard. Manuel de Tomás’ ISER team won all three races. NOR DID SAL, from CN Arenal, a boat built for the President of the Balearic Sailing Federation- Cati Darder- has Neus Fernández as its skipper and was sitting in second place. The Mallorcans remain one point behind the provisional leaders. 
DAY 2In the J/70 fleet, María Bover on BALERIA commented, “The bay was quite complicated today; you have to be very careful because the pressure is coming in from time to time; you might be sailing on the right side and suddenly you get pressure on the left side. All this makes it more challenging.”
J/70 ClassIn the end, Bover’s BALERIA won by winning 6 of 8 races for a runaway victory. The silver went to Kai Uwe Hoolweg’s OMG with 13 pts, while taking the bronze medal was Krystyn Gills’s KANGURU team from Australia. 
J/80 ClassLike the first day, the finale ended up being a hard-fought series between the top two teams, In the end, Manuel de Tomas’s ISER won with 13 pts. Cati Darder and Neus Fernadez’s NOR DID SAL took the silver medal with 15 pts. The podium was rounded out by Nuria Sanchez’s DORSIA SAILING TEAM. 
ORC 4 DivisionHoping to pull off a three-peat in this division was Scott Beattie’s J/97E team on JUST THE JOB. Going into the fifth and final race, they were in contention for the lead just one point out from the top of the podium. However, a final race 4th torpedoed their chances, and had to settle for a bronze medal on the podium! For more PalmaVela 2024 sailing information

Warsash Spring Series- Weekend 5 Report
(Warsash, England)- The Warsash Sailing Club continued the Warsash Spring Series for IRC Racing classes last weekend.  Four more races were held over the Spring Championship weekend. Here is how it all broke down for the tenacious sailors taking on the always capricious, ever-changing Solent. 
Spring SeriesWinning the IRC 1 Class was Paul Griffiths’s J/111 JAGERBOMB with straight bullets. Then, it was a clean sweep of the podium by J/Teams in the IRC 2 Division. Winning was Kevin Taylor’s J/99 JUMP 2 IT with a 1-2-1-2 tally for 5 pts net. They were followed by Mike & Susie Yates’s J/109 JAGO in second with a 3-1-2-2 for 8 pts net for the silver medal. Then, taking the bronze was Chris Burleigh’s J/109 JYBE TALKIN with a 2-3-3-3 for 11 pts net. 
Spring ChampionshipSeven of the eight teams in IRC 1 Division were J/Crews. Not surprisingly, with six of them being J/111s, it was a complete blitzkrieg of the top four spots. Winning was Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB with a 4-1-4-1-3-1 for 10 pts net. Taking the silver based on a tiebreaker was a surprise newcomer from the Royal Hamilton Dinghy Club in Bermuda, Paul Wollmann’s FREQUENT FLYER with a 7-4-1-3-2-2 tally for 12 pts net. Then, rounding out the podium with the bronze medal and losing the countback on the tiebreaker was Cornel Riklin’s JITTERBUG with a 2-3-3-5-1-3 scoreline for 12 pts net. 
The seventeen-boat IRC 2 Division saw John Smart’s J/109 JUKEBOX with a 1-1-6-1-2-1 tally for 6 pts net. Spots 4 to 7 were all J/Teams. David Richards’s J/109 JELLYFISH was 4th, Kevin Taylor’s J/99 JUMP TO IT was 5th, Rosie Berry’s J/109 JENIE was 6th, and Jean-Baptiste Brian’s J/99 JOLLY JUMPER was 7th. For more Warsash Sailing Club Spring Series sailing information

J/Domination @ American YC Spring Regatta! 
(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

Yachting Cup Regatta Enjoys Gorgeous Sailing!
(San Diego, CA)- As a blustery weather front cleared Sunday morning to reveal clear blue skies and white caps at sea, sailors on the final day of the Yachting Cup were excited to get out on the water in some ‘sporty’ conditions. After a fierce competition on the water, the teams all came back to celebrate their wins and camaraderie with a Cinco de Mayo trophy celebration. Festive beverage sponsors Mount Gay Rum and Ballast Point brought the fiesta to life along with a surprise tasting of a new-to-the-Club tequila, Ricava. 
For J/Teams across the board, it was a fun regatta with a lot of great sailing and competition over the weekend in one-design classes for J/111s, J/105s, J/22s, J/24s, and ORR offshore handicap divisions. 
J/111 ClassIn the J/111 class, the rivalry between San Diegan Ed Sanford’s CREATIVE and Northern Californian Peter Wagner’s SKELETON KEY continued for the second day. Though CREATIVE tried to get “creative” with their strategy, SKELETON KEY prevailed with two firsts and a second to take home first place. This was another notch in their belt as they work towards the J/111 North American Championship in Los Angeles come June. Behind these two protagonists, it was Brian Ganz’s ZOOM that took third on a tiebreaker at 19 pts apiece. Losing that countback to take fourth place was the Dornberrg/Duker due on REVO. 
J/105 ClassJUICED, skippered by Chuck and Stephen Driscoll, claimed the 2024 Yachting Cup Overall Winner. Stephen Driscoll commented that the breezy conditions and stiff competition made for a challenging but rewarding day in their 9-boat division. The team was thrilled to receive the award and was particularly pleased with the Helly Hansen gear that accompanied it. The balance of the podium included Jim Dorsey’s J-AQUATIC in second, followed by George Scheel’s SUN PUFFIIN in third place. 
J/22 ClassSailing some of the San Diego YC’s fleet of J/22s made for fun, close racing. Winning was Robbie King, with Summer Greene’s MOSTLY HARMLESS taking second, and Danny North’s DADDY ISSUES finishing third place. 
J/24 ClassThe half-dozen-boat J/24 class saw a veteran win in grand style. Susan Taylor’s TAKE FIVE won the class with four bullets in her scoreline and only scoring podium finishes for 9 pts total! A distant second place was Christian Seidel’s WHARF RAT with 18 pts, followed in third position by Mark Thaidigsman with 19 pts. 
ORR-EZ 2 DivisionThis dozen-boat division saw strong performances by J/Crews. Not surprisingly, the talented Chuck Nichols’s J/120 CC RIDER took the class honors. Second went to Mark Stratton’s J/122 CHEEKY, followed by John Laun’s J/120 CAPER in fourth place.
The Yachting Cup would like to thank the over 40 volunteers on the organizing, race, and protest committees that made this regatta possible. And a very special thank you to our neighbors Southwestern Yacht Club for utilizing your vessels for committee boats. We always appreciate everyone who comes out and we can’t wait for an even bigger Yachting Cup in 2025!  For more Yachting Cup regatta results

Fun-loving, Challenging Annapolis SAILING WORLD Regatta
(Annapolis, MD)- Knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay and its light, shifty winds paid off for local sailors this past weekend in the Helly Hansen Annapolis Sailing World Regatta Series hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club.
The regatta is incredibly popular for passionate, enthusiastic J/Sailors! Look at the astonishing statistics for this past weekend. A total of 152 offshore keelboat teams were participating, of which 111 of them (73.0% of the fleet!) are J/Crews sailing J/22s, J/24s, J/70s, J/80s, J/30s, J/35s, and J/105s! Below is how it all panned out in those various classes for the three-day event. 
J/70 ClassCate Muller-Terhune, of Annapolis, owner of CASTING COUCH, won the 25-boat class and was selected as the regatta’s overall winner, which earned her team the Annapolis berth at the Caribbean Championship in the British Virgin Islands, hosted by Sunsail in October. Rounding out the podium was Alec Cutler’s HEDGEHOG in second, and Brian Keane’s SAVASANA in third place. 
J/22 ClassIn the hotly competitive fifteen-boat J/22 class, Jeff Todd’s HOT TODDY took class honors on a tiebreaker of 39 pts each. Losing that tiebreaker on countback was Todd Hiller’s WHAT? NO WOOO WAAAY. The balance of the podium was also settled on a tiebreaker at 48 pts each! This time it was  Glenn Darden, current J/22 Midwinter Champion, taking the bronze with his BABY DOLL crew. Losing that tiebreaker was class veteran Brad Julian sailing YARD SAIL to take fourth. Rounding out the top five just one point back was Chris Doyle’s THE JUG 4 1! That was a LOADED top five of past J/22 Champions!!
J/24 ClassThe five-boat J/24 class saw Mark Hillman’s HILLMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT take class honors with nearly all firsts- 6 in 7 races! Second went to Pat Fitzgerald’s RUSH HOUR, with Peter Rich’s BUXTON taking the bronze. 
J/30 East Coast ChampionshipThe seven-boat class experienced great racing as always for this “classic” fleet amongst the top three boats. Winning for the umpteenth time was Bob Rutsch & Mike Costello’s BEPOP counting five 1sts in their ten-race scoreline for 23 pts. Second was Dan Watson’s AVITA based on winning a tiebreaker at 28 pts apiece. Losing that countback was David Johnson’s AVENGER to settle for third place. 
J/80 ClassEnjoying one of their best turnouts in years was the 27-boat J/80 class. Stunning the fleet was the consistent, fast performance of Sarah Alexander’s MORE COWBELLS, posting an enviable 3-4-6-1-2-2-2 tally for 20 pts total after seven races! Tom & Jennifer Kopp’s KOPP OUT took the silver medal with 26 pts, while JR Maxwell’s SCAMP collected the bronze medal with 33 pts. 
J/88 ClassRepeating their remarkable performance at Charleston Race Week, Chris & Liz Chadwick’s CHURCH KEY dominated the J/88 class for their second win in a row! Taking second place was class veteran Bill Purdy’s WHIRLWIND, followed by John Bell’s HIWASSEE in the third position. 
J/105 ClassThe two-dozen-boat J/105 class always enjoys excellent racing and competition. Ray Wulff’s PATRIOT started slowly in the first race with a 7th, but then went on a tear and peeled off three bullets in a row to establish a commanding lead, winning with 27 pts in seven races. Sailing consistently was Doug Stryker’s team on MAYHEM to bring home the silver medal. The bronze medal was determined by a tiebreaker at 43 pts each. Winning on the countback was Brian & Kristen Robinson’s VELVET HAMMER, with Arthur Libby &  Tom Carter’s DOG HOUSE settling for fourth place. Rounding out the top five was Ben duPont’s WAR BRIDE just 3 pts back with 46 pts.  
ORC DivisionThe seven-boat division saw Jim Sagerholm’s J/35 AUNT JEAN in 3rd place, followed by Steve Young’s J/109 PATRIOT VII in fourth position, and  Kevin Sherwood’s J/99 BAY RETRIEVER in sixth place.  For more Annapolis Sailing World Regatta information

ALANDIA SAILING TEAM Crowned Finnish J/70 National Champions!
(Helsinki, Finland)- This past weekend the Finnish J/70 National Championships were held just west of Helsinki in the seaside town of Helsingfors. The host for the enthusiastic fleet was Nylandska Jaktklubben. The NJK Race Committee and PRO team managed to run eight races over the three-day regatta. 
Winning was Markus Ronnberg’s team on ALANDIA SAILING TEAM (Emil Nordlund, Jasper Karlsson, & Staffan Lindberg). They sailed an extremely consistent series, posting all top-five finishes over their twenty-five competitors. 
Second was Hemming Hanses’s ALMACO TEAM with a crew of Mathias Tennstrom, Isak Nordlund, and Melker Lundberg. Then, rounding out the podium was determined by a tiebreaker at 21 pts net each. Winning that countback was Tusse Tallberg’s FINNISH FLASH with a crew of Victor Silen, Mikke Berg, and Kasimir Johansson.  For more Finnish J/70 class sailing information

Regattaclub Oberhofen Win J/70 Youth SAILING Champions League
(Vilamoura, Portugal)- In an exciting final of the J/70 Youth SAILING Champions League 2024 in Vilamoura, Portugal, Regattaclub Oberhofen once again secured the title of winner of the Youth SAILING Champions League.
The sailing conditions in Vilamoura were challenging, but the young talents showed impressive boat handling and sailed at the highest level. Seventeen clubs with sailors who are 23 or younger from all over Europe took part in this prestigious event, including the Finnish team Helsingfors Segelklubb, which probably made the longest journey. A total of nine nations were represented- Austria, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. 
The regatta began with impressive dominance by the Swiss, French, and Spanish teams, they all made a strong statement right from the start. Regattaclub Oberhofen, which had already won the title the previous year, was able to fight its way to the top early on and hold on to it with 11 wins out of 14 Flights.
In the dramatic Final Four, the qualifiers were the Swiss Club Regattaclub Oberhofen, Real Club Náutico de Arrecife from Spain, the French team Ecole Navale, and the Swiss Club Stäfa. Regattaclub Oberhofen initially showed weakness in the first race, which gave the French team Ecole Navale the first victory in the Final Four. However, they were not discouraged and went on to confidently win the second race and thus the coveted Youth SAILING Champions League title.
“As a five-time participant in the Youth SAILING Champions League, we bring a wealth of experience and expertise with us, which helped us to bring the title back to Switzerland,” added Nick Zeltner, skipper of Team Regattaclub Oberhofen. His crew consisted of Cedric Schenk, Nicolas Wyss, and Jannick Frei.
The second-place French team from Ecole Navale consisted of skipper Paul Loiseau and crew of Mathieu Le Cleach, Tugdual Guillemot, and Jean-Mael Morin. 
The third-place Swiss team was from Segelclub Stafa, with skipper Simon Kaiser, Niklas Kaiser, Carlos Biiber, and Robert Resch. For more SAILING Champions League 2024 information

Club Nautique de Versoix Win J/70 Swiss Super Sailing League- Act I- Oberhofen
(Oberhofen, Switzerland)- The first regatta for the 2024 season for the J/70 Swiss Super Sailing League took place in Oberhofen, Switzerland on the north shore of the Thunersee Lake. As one might imagine, Oberhofen is an incredibly cute storybook little town on a gorgeous Swiss mountain lake with a magnificent 8+ century old castle from the Middle Ages- https://www.schlossoberhofen.ch. 
Enjoying the sybaritic environment were eighteen teams from just about every major sailing lake in Switzerland. In the end, the sailors enjoyed eight races over the two-day weekend in gorgeous sailing weather. The racing was so competitive that the entire top five was determined by tiebreakers! That’s amazing and, perhaps, a first for one-design class racing!
Tied at 21 pts apiece, winning the countback was the Club Nautique de Versoix team with skipper Victor Casas and crew of Romain Defferrard, Benjamin Delaloye, and Romuald Hausser. Losing that battle to settle for the silver medal was RegattaClub Oberhofen with skipper Stefan Seger and crew of Till Sger, Karin Nordstrom, and Matthias Fahmi. Just one point behind the leaders was Bordee de Tribord- La Neauveville with skipper David Biedermann and crew of Max Haenssler, Lorenz Kausche, Ysaline Petermann, and Morgane Emery. Then, fourth was yet another tiebreaker only one more point back at 24 pts each! Winning that countback was SV Kreuzlingen with skipper Thomas Ruegge and a team of Martin Hagen, Michael Hermann, and Celine Maywald. Losing that countback to take fifth place was RegattaClub Bodensee with skipper Julian Flessati and a team of Laurenz Granher, Stephan Ammann, and Rene Ott.  For more J/70 Swiss Sailing League regatta information

Race to the Straits = J/FUN & Silverware!
(Seattle, WA)-  Hosted annually by Sloop Tavern Yacht Club in Seattle, WA, the Race to the Straits featured two days of racing 30.3 nm from Shilshole to Port Townsend and return over last weekend. When the fleet arrived at Port Townsend, they were treated to an amazing “Halfway Party” at the Northwest Maritime Center. The racing didn’t disappoint either, with the usual challenging conditions facing the fleet, having to deal with current, holes, streaks, and various forms of commercial traffic doing their best to frustrate the sailors. In the end, many J/Crews earned their fair share of silverware, and then some!
Class 14In this nine-boat division, Tolga Cezik’s J/111 LODOS took the bronze medal while Chris Lanzinger’s J/111 HOOLIGAN finished fifth. 
Class 13Not surprisingly, the two well-sailed J/120s in this division cleaned house. Winning was Chris Butler’s HINZITE, with Brett Fey & John Kazaras’s LUMMI earning the silver medal. 
Class 12This ten-boat division also saw a sweep of the top two spots. Winning was Stephanie Arnold’s J/112E MYSTERY, followed by Paul Hanson’s J/35 TCHOUPITOULAS in second place. Fourth place went to Matt Gardner-Brown’s J/88 SEA STORIES. 
Class 11- J/105sThe eleven-boat class had excellent racing. Winning was Al Hughes’s CREATIVE, followed by Mike Caine’s PANIC in second, and Travis Gosnell’s MOONGLOW. 
Class 8- J/70sYes, it’s hard to believe the hardy J/70 sailors in the Pacific Northwest would make it 30 nm, but it’s just about 6.5 hours of sailing. Winning was Spencer Kunath & Chris Roberts’s LAKE SHARK, followed by Lek Dimarucot’s FLYING ACE in second, and Bill Heston’s GREENWICH in third position.
Class 7- J/80sLike their J/70 colleagues, this is a serious adventure to tackle a 30.0 nm race. Winning was Gerry Gilbert’s VELOCE, followed by Steve Neidhardt’s UNDERDOG in second and Ryan Porter’s well-known veteran team on JOLLY GREEN in the bronze position. 
Class 4This eight-boat division was Ulf Georg Gwildis’s J/30 IMPULSIVE take the silver medal, missing first place by just 45 seconds corrected PHRF handicap time!!
PHRF OverallIn general, the J/Teams did quite well overall in the 98+ boat fleet. Second went to Stephanie Arnold’s J/112E MYSTERY. Fourth was Cezik’s J/111 LODOS, fifth was Chris Butler’s J/120 HINZITE, sixth went to Hughes’s J/105 CREATIVE, ninth was the Fey/ Kazaras’s J/120 LUMMI, and tenth was Hanson’s J/35 TCHOUOPITOULAS. Not bad for J/crews to take seven of the top 10!!  For more Sloop Tavern Yacht Club Race to the Straits sailing information

J/Crew Silver @ RORC Myth of Malham Race
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- This past weekend, several J/Teams sailed the RORC’s Myth of Malham Race, a 235.0nm often very challenging race from the Royal Yacht Squadron’s starting line off Cowes, Isle of Wight, then heading west out of the capricious Solent, past the infamous Needles to Eddystone Light near Plymouth, England and return to the Cowes RYS finish line. 
Despite the earlier timing than usual – on the early May bank holiday – conditions were largely very pleasant, including a long downwind leg from the start at Cowes to the Eddystone Light House, south of Plymouth in around 10 knots of breeze. However, on the return leg to Cowes, the competitors had to negotiate complex weather patterns associated with a small area of low pressure in the west of the English Channel, including a front off the coast of South Devon. 
IRC 1 DivisionNot surprisingly, the protagonists in the IRC 1 Division renewed their rivalry to vie for division honors. Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 BULLDOG took second place, with Michael O’Donnell’s J/121 DARWOOD third about 26 minutes behind on corrected time. 
IRC 3 DivisionJean-Lin’s J/99 YALLA team from France finished second, an hour behind the winner. However, these were the only two boats to escape the shutdown on the second evening of racing. Though caught out by the near glass-out, Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN still ended up taking fourth place- a noble effort! For more RORC Myth of Malham Race sailing information

RORC North Sea Race Preview  
(Harwich, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s North Sea Race, hosted by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, has attracted over 50 boats. The North Sea Race is one of the oldest in the RORC Racing Calendar dating back to 1931. The race is run in association with the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association, the Yacht Club Scheveningen, and the North Sea Regatta. The North Sea Race is the sixth race of the 2024 RORC Season’s Points Championship, the world’s largest offshore racing series.
The 180.0 nm race across the North Sea starts from Harwich on the East Coast of England and finishes close to the famous Dutch sailing city of the Hague and the Yacht Club Scheveningen. The majority of the entries come from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with over 300 sailors taking part including crews from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Norway, and Poland.
Racing in the IRC Doublehand division, last year’s overall winner J/122 AJETO! is back, sailed by Robin Verhoef & John van der Starre from the Netherlands. 
In IRC One, two Dutch J/122s will be going head-to-head, Frans van Cappelle and Michelle Witsenburg’s MOANA, which competed in the RORC Transatlantic Race and RORC Caribbean 600, will have a close match with Uneco de Meester’s OTRA VEZ. Both teams are from the Yacht Club Scheveningen.  For more RORC North Sea Race sailing information

J/Gear May 20% Off Specials
(Newport, RI)- The J/Stripe Hoodie sports the J Logo which was established in 1977 with the design of the J24. Mid weight Blended fabric for comfort on or off the water during warmer evenings. Material: 8 oz., 60% cotton, 40% polyester sueded fleece Feature: 3-piece jersey-lined hood with sewn eyelets and contrast drawcords Contrast self fabric panels on chest, arms, and hood Contrast twill tape back of neck tape 1×1 rib cuffs and waistband Set-on pouch pocket Tear away label You may customize with your J Class logo by selecting the class in the drop down and then in the Custom Section choose Left Sleeve. Use the next Custom Box to add the Boat name underneath the logo if you choose…. Another option we can offer is your boatname in large block print across the back.  Order J/Stripe Hoodie here:

J/9 Video
[mx_youtuber type=”playlist” id=”PLVJNzJFuYaa4DqEddBp3ToG4EWkFLgQwW”]

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The penultimate RORC Offshore Points Series race- the 120.0nm Channel Race- will be taking place this coming weekend. Coming off a very lightly attended Cowes Weeks, this RORC race may be the most lightly attended event in a long time. However, those boats that are vying for the offshore point series lead are all participating for valuable series points. The Royal Ocean Racing Club, in coordination with the Royal Yacht Squadron, will be starting the race off the famous “Squadron line” off Cowes, Isle of Wight on Friday evening. The 120.0nm race around the English Channel is often just a large offshore triangle, starting and stopping off the Cowes line. Nevertheless, the RORC Race Committee has the option to configure any set of offshore buoys for the race to address potential weather and current conditions. Here are the J/Teams participating in the race. 
IRC 1 Division- 6 entriesGilles Fournier and Corinne Migraine’s J/133 PINTIADerek Shakespeare’s J/122 BULLDOG 
IRC 3 Division- 9 entriesThree J/109s- Mike & Susie Yates’s JAGO, Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN, David McGough’s JUST SO.Jean-Lin Flip’s French team on J/99 YALLA.  
IRC Doublehanded Division- 11 entriesTwo J/109s- David McGough’s JUST SO and the Yates’s JAGO. For more RORC Channel Race sailing information

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- Nearly half of the impressive fleet of nearly 90 boats in IRC Three come from the drawing board of three tried and tested designs: Sun Fast 3200, JPK 1010, and J/109. Also in the mix are some of the latest production yachts such as the J/99, as well as historic boats and sailors from years gone by. While the majority of the boats in IRC Three are about 10 meters in length, the sheer size of the armada means that the total waterline length is greater than the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa!!
The J/99’s IRC Rating is generally a few points higher than both the Sun Fast 3200 and the JPK 1010, but the more modern hull shape, longer bowsprit, and minimalistic deck layout make the J/99 a real downwind flyer. The J/99 DISKO TROOPER CONTENDER SAILCLOTH (AUS) is definitely on a mission, raced by Jules Hall & Jan Scholten, a pair of Laser sailors from Sydney, Australia. DISKO TROOPER will be racing with over 100 double-handed teams throughout the IRC classes. Note, the pair did not ship their boat from Australia, the duo will be racing Wayne Palmer’s Hamble-based J/99 JAM. This will be DISKO TROOPER’s first big race since winning the inaugural IRC Double-Handed class in the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the boat now has a symmetric option for the first time. DISKO TROOPER is one of four J/99s in action, including Emigdio Bedia GORILON (ESP), Phillipe Guennal’s JIN MOTION (FRA), and Mark Kendall & Tom Holloway’s JIRO (GBR).
J/109 Class (within the IRC 3 Division)The J/109 Class has its prize for the Rolex Fastnet Race and twelve of the 35ft (10.67m) bowsprit design are eligible for the J/109 RORC Trophy, as well as class and overall honors under IRC.
Mike & Susie Yates’ JAGO (GBR) competes both fully-crewed inshore and doublehanded offshore. For the Rolex Fastnet Race, Mike Yates will be double-handed with Will Holland, a rigger for Pip Hare’s IMOCA team. For Mike Yates, the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race is to resolve some unfinished business from 2021 when his doublehanded entry had to retire. “We retired for many reasons,” he recalls. “Not least by putting my knee through the oven door which meant no food – kind of important for a doublehanded crew!”
Mike Yates will compete Two-Handed on JAGO with Will Holland © Rick Tomlinson
Wim van Slooten & Jochem Nonhebel will be racing J/109 FIRESTORM (NED). They are a highly experienced double-handed team from Jachtclub Scheveningen. Wim has been competing Two-Handed and this is the fifth Rolex Fastnet Race for Firestorm. Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN’ (GBR), fully crewed by family and friends, is having a superb season with RORC. MOJO RISIN’ is in third place for the RORC Season’s Points Championship.
The Royal Engineer Yacht Club raced in the first edition in 1925 and the long association continues with J/109 TROJAN (GBR), crewed by servicemen and women from the Royal Engineers YC. The Royal Armoured Corps YC, formed in 1949, will also be racing a J/109 WHITE KNIGHT 7 (GBR). The RACYC has a long history in the Rolex Fastnet Race including the team lying a hull 50 yards from the Fastnet Rock on the tragic 1979 race. They were swept many miles away from the Rock, and then they sailed home unscathed. 
The Royal Engineer Yacht Club’s J/109 TROJAN (GBR) © ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi
Experts may agree that the winner of IRC Three may well be the best IRC corrected time, such as a J/109, and only that class victory can secure a chance of winning overall. For the previous five editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the elation of overall victory has been enjoyed by a team racing a yacht of less than 40ft, so the dream of lifting the Fastnet Challenge Cup is more than a possibility for the winner of IRC Three.  The 50th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race starts from Cowes, Isle of Wight on Saturday 22nd July.   For more Rolex Fastnet Race sailing information.

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- Nearly half of the impressive fleet of nearly 90 boats in IRC Three come from the drawing board of three tried and tested designs: Sun Fast 3200, JPK 1010, and J/109. Also in the mix are some of the latest production yachts such as the J/99, as well as historic boats and sailors from years gone by. While the majority of the boats in IRC Three are about 10 meters in length, the sheer size of the armada means that the total waterline length is greater than the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa!!
The J/99’s IRC Rating is generally a few points higher than both the Sun Fast 3200 and the JPK 1010, but the more modern hull shape, longer bowsprit, and minimalistic deck layout make the J/99 a real downwind flyer. The J/99 DISKO TROOPER CONTENDER SAILCLOTH (AUS) is definitely on a mission, raced by Jules Hall & Jan Scholten, a pair of Laser sailors from Sydney, Australia. DISKO TROOPER will be racing with over 100 double-handed teams throughout the IRC classes. Note, the pair did not ship their boat from Australia, the duo will be racing Wayne Palmer’s Hamble-based J/99 JAM. This will be DISKO TROOPER’s first big race since winning the inaugural IRC Double-Handed class in the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the boat now has a symmetric option for the first time. DISKO TROOPER is one of four J/99s in action, including Emigdio Bedia GORILON (ESP), Phillipe Guennal’s JIN MOTION (FRA), and Mark Kendall & Tom Holloway’s JIRO (GBR).
J/109 Class (within the IRC 3 Division)The J/109 Class has its prize for the Rolex Fastnet Race and twelve of the 35ft (10.67m) bowsprit design are eligible for the J/109 RORC Trophy, as well as class and overall honors under IRC.
Mike & Susie Yates’ JAGO (GBR) competes both fully-crewed inshore and doublehanded offshore. For the Rolex Fastnet Race, Mike Yates will be double-handed with Will Holland, a rigger for Pip Hare’s IMOCA team. For Mike Yates, the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race is to resolve some unfinished business from 2021 when his doublehanded entry had to retire. “We retired for many reasons,” he recalls. “Not least by putting my knee through the oven door which meant no food – kind of important for a doublehanded crew!”
Mike Yates will compete Two-Handed on JAGO with Will Holland © Rick Tomlinson
Wim van Slooten & Jochem Nonhebel will be racing J/109 FIRESTORM (NED). They are a highly experienced double-handed team from Jachtclub Scheveningen. Wim has been competing Two-Handed and this is the fifth Rolex Fastnet Race for Firestorm. Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN’ (GBR), fully crewed by family and friends, is having a superb season with RORC. MOJO RISIN’ is in third place for the RORC Season’s Points Championship.
The Royal Engineer Yacht Club raced in the first edition in 1925 and the long association continues with J/109 TROJAN (GBR), crewed by servicemen and women from the Royal Engineers YC. The Royal Armoured Corps YC, formed in 1949, will also be racing a J/109 WHITE KNIGHT 7 (GBR). The RACYC has a long history in the Rolex Fastnet Race including the team lying a hull 50 yards from the Fastnet Rock on the tragic 1979 race. They were swept many miles away from the Rock, and then they sailed home unscathed. 
The Royal Engineer Yacht Club’s J/109 TROJAN (GBR) © ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi
Experts may agree that the winner of IRC Three may well be the best IRC corrected time, such as a J/109, and only that class victory can secure a chance of winning overall. For the previous five editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the elation of overall victory has been enjoyed by a team racing a yacht of less than 40ft, so the dream of lifting the Fastnet Challenge Cup is more than a possibility for the winner of IRC Three.  The 50th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race starts from Cowes, Isle of Wight on Saturday 22nd July.   For more Rolex Fastnet Race sailing information.

Sustainability and performance – at first glance, it seems like a contradiction in terms. But, both complement each other with outstanding design in every detail. At Kiel Week 2023, AUDI Chief Designer Marc Lichte, a J/99 owner, provided insights into what connects the design of sailboats and cars.
Watch on YouTube.com now (in German).
Translation of AUDI Chief Designer- Marc Lichte’s commentary is here:”The design is the symbiosis of sustainability and performance.
The sea draws me magically to it. I started sailing as a little boy at the age of six on an inland lake, and I always dreamed to sail on the sea… which then happened for the first time here in Kiel.
So, sailing for me is really a source of inspiration to clear my head, which generates my creativity and inspiration. So, that is the feeling of the sea for me.
There are many parallels between car design and sailing, everything really has to be perfectly separated in terms of performance, and I have my very own passion for the cars that I design.
The basic form I make in the wind tunnel with my team, that means we try to generate the best possible CV (coefficient of drag) in the design.
I believe we create the connection from all these aspects- aerodynamics, efficiency, and sustainability.
I love fast sailboat performance, too. This is also one of the missions of AUDI, and longevity is, too.
The sailboats that I sail are very progressive; they are very fast, very easy to sail, but, they are durable and strong, too.
And, I aim to do the same at AUDI design. We have truly progressive designs, but at the same time, they’re durable and, therefore, sustainable.
The performance of the sailing boat is, of course, significantly influenced by the mast and sails. Of course, first and foremost, the sails are made of carbon membranes. That means they are extremely durable. Therefore, extremely stiff, and generate maximum lift or power. They are made of a special material which is very light, and very strong, and therefore does not yield. Power from the wind is applied to the keel and the rudder, those two foils are perfectly matched together. This generates maximum performance and, therefore, speed.
AUDI has critical Sport Performance details that are similar to good sailboat design. That means the flow of wind around the car body is critical. For me, the absolute highlight of the process is the virtual one- Design, Sustainability, Aerodynamics, and Performance. The sum of the details parallels the overall picture of sailboats, too.
The sea world and the car world can inspire each other. Everyone can learn from the other and that’s exactly what drives me every day when I design cars!”

Sustainability and performance – at first glance, it seems like a contradiction in terms. But, both complement each other with outstanding design in every detail. At Kiel Week 2023, AUDI Chief Designer Marc Lichte, a J/99 owner, provided insights into what connects the design of sailboats and cars.
Watch on YouTube.com now (in German).
Translation of AUDI Chief Designer- Marc Lichte’s commentary is here:”The design is the symbiosis of sustainability and performance.
The sea draws me magically to it. I started sailing as a little boy at the age of six on an inland lake, and I always dreamed to sail on the sea… which then happened for the first time here in Kiel.
So, sailing for me is really a source of inspiration to clear my head, which generates my creativity and inspiration. So, that is the feeling of the sea for me.
There are many parallels between car design and sailing, everything really has to be perfectly separated in terms of performance, and I have my very own passion for the cars that I design.
The basic form I make in the wind tunnel with my team, that means we try to generate the best possible CV (coefficient of drag) in the design.
I believe we create the connection from all these aspects- aerodynamics, efficiency, and sustainability.
I love fast sailboat performance, too. This is also one of the missions of AUDI, and longevity is, too.
The sailboats that I sail are very progressive; they are very fast, very easy to sail, but, they are durable and strong, too.
And, I aim to do the same at AUDI design. We have truly progressive designs, but at the same time, they’re durable and, therefore, sustainable.
The performance of the sailing boat is, of course, significantly influenced by the mast and sails. Of course, first and foremost, the sails are made of carbon membranes. That means they are extremely durable. Therefore, extremely stiff, and generate maximum lift or power. They are made of a special material which is very light, and very strong, and therefore does not yield. Power from the wind is applied to the keel and the rudder, those two foils are perfectly matched together. This generates maximum performance and, therefore, speed.
AUDI has critical Sport Performance details that are similar to good sailboat design. That means the flow of wind around the car body is critical. For me, the absolute highlight of the process is the virtual one- Design, Sustainability, Aerodynamics, and Performance. The sum of the details parallels the overall picture of sailboats, too.
The sea world and the car world can inspire each other. Everyone can learn from the other and that’s exactly what drives me every day when I design cars!”

(Port Credit, ONT, Canada)- The Susan Hood Trophy Race presented by driveHG, and hosted by Port Credit Yacht Club, usually known as the “Coolest Race” became the “Hottest Race” on the Lake with just under 80 boats at the start line and shirt sleeve weather for much of the ride. 
After a near postponement at the start due to a storm cell in the area, all divisions started on time in good air.  Then, as predicted by Ron Bianchi the local weather expert, and like most LOOR events, the fickle wind conditions tested everyone’s mettle and sanity all the way to the Niagara mark.  Conditions stabilized for the run down to Burlington and in the early morning hours, the winds really settled in. That made for a splendid fetch to the finish line at PCYC.
This year’s Susan Hood Trophy Race provided racers with a bit of everything added to the challenge of a Lake Ontario race, albeit without the biting flys.  Stories were told at the dock after the race around the boats of sleepless skippers and crew.  They were all with smiling faces and a “where do I sign up for next year” attitude. No question, several J/Sailors were delighted by the outcome of the race. 
In the PHRF Solo division, Ard Van Leeuwen’s J/112e HIGH TEA ended up second in class, followed by Evan Dinsmore’s J/99 SELKIES in third place!
Winning PHRF A division of eleven boats was Graham Toms’ J/120 THE CAT CAME BACK. Just off the pace was Bruce Pierce’s J/122 HOOLIGAN II, finishing seventh. Then, in the PHRF C division, Robert DeWitte’s J/100 PERSPECTIVE took fourth place just minutes from getting second place!  For more LOOR Susan Hood Trophy Race sailing information

J/111 SHAMROCK Crowned Overall Champion!
(Chicago, IL)- The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta series returned to Chicago Yacht Club with 130 keelboat teams competing in 13 separate fleets. It was an action-packed weekend of sailboat racing on Lake Michigan for one-design classes of J/70, J/88, J/105, J/109, and PHRF handicap racing for the North Sails Rally. The first two days produced gorgeous sailing of the benign variety from the east to southeast quadrants over the first two days. On the Sunday finale, the forecasted northerlies of 15 to 30 kts and massive waves associated with an enormous frontal system ultimately materialized, with the CYC RC/PRO team wisely flying the “AP/A” flags to cancel the day’s racing. Here is how the regatta unfolded over the two days.

Day 1While Daniel Floberg was at work on a glorious summer Friday in Chicago, he turned the family J/88 MISTY to his friend Will, who started in high gear on opening day by not just winning the first race of the morning— by a Lake Michigan mile— but then winning the next one and finishing fourth in the third to close the day with a 1-point lead in the seven-boat class.
For the first day of this early-season Chicago summer classic, three races were scored across all four race circles, and with winds on the tamer side, conditions were ideal for race teams new and old to reacclimate with their boats and their positions after the long offseason. 
For Tod Patton, the professional sailmaker and skipper of the J/122e BLONDIE, today was an opportunity to better understand a boat that is new to the team. 
“This is the first buoy race regatta we’ve done since we’ve gotten the boat,” Patton says, “and given that we’re happy with our results today— the crew work was great and that certainly helped.” With a trio of second-place finishes in the six-boat PHRF division, Patton’s BLONDIE padded themselves a 3-point lead.
Jeffrey Davis’ team on the J/111 SHAMROCK also put a pair of wins on the scoreboard to lead their division.
In the J/109 fleet, George Miz’s team on SMEE AGAIN got off to a rocky start with a fifth in the first race after seemingly getting caught out on the morning’s first big wind shift. But, with that result behind them, they rallied with a 1-2 for the next races and closed the day tied at the top with Peter Priede and his team on FULL TILT, winners of the final race of the day.
For Mark Fruin and his teammates on the J/105 NYCTOSAUR, today on Lake Michigan was a banner day and an even better start to their season. After winning the first-race wire-to-wire they finished second to Josh and Laura Lutton’s KINSHIP in the next. Their win in the third race, Fruin says, was all on account of a full-speed start. From there, however, he doesn’t remember much. He was doing his job concentrating on driving and letting the crew do the rest of the good work, including his tactician, Bob Berstein, a local champion with plenty of experience on Lake Michigan. “It was all about the right side today and Bob put us in some great places,” commented Fruin.
For Saturday’s coming races, Fruin says the plan is to stick with what’s been working: “We’ll just listen to Bob, put ourselves in clear air, and sail fast.”
On the regatta’s one-design circle, which features the J/70, it was Rich Witzel’s team on the J/70 ROWDY that went undefeated to build a 9-point lead over Dick Kalow’s crew on SUPERIOR 1. 

Day 2Davis’ J/111 SHAMROCK went on a winning streak, posting three straight bullets for the day, and as a result, sat 5 points atop its J/111 one-design division.
In the J/109 division, Team NORTHSTAR won two of three races to move into the overall lead by a single point over George Miz’s SMEE AGAIN.
In the PHRF 1 fleet, Tod Patten’s J/112e BLONDIE posted three wins to put them solidly at the top of the standings with one more race day remaining.
Richard Witzel’s ROWDY, with tactician Carlos Robles calling the shots, remained the top J/70 with top-5 consistency in what is a fleet stacked with pro talent. ROWDY entered the final day of racing with a 14-point lead over Fernando Perez Ontiveros’s BLACK MAMBA, from Mexico. Bob Willis’ RIP RULLAH was the top Corinthian, currently sitting seventh overall in the 24-boat fleet. William Howard and his junior sailing teammates on the GROM SQUAD were the top junior team.

Day 3Inside Chicago Harbor, the northerly wind blowing through the protected mooring field was deceiving. Conditions appeared benign enough to send some sailors out for the final day. But, out beyond the breakwater, whitecaps frothed and the weather stations reported the truth: it was gnarly out on Lake Michigan, just too much for safe racing. Ahead of the official 0900 morning signals, organizers made the preemptive call and hoisted “AP over A” on the yardarm; so, racing was abandoned and the previous day’s preliminary results were, therefore, the final results.
From among the winners of 17 individual classes and 162 teams, one overall winner was later selected to represent the Chicago regatta at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Caribbean Championship in October.
Jeff Davis, skipper and owner of the J/111 SHAMROCK, emerged as the challenger, and while his team delivered the boat back to its homeport of Cleveland, Ohio, the veteran skipper shared his thoughts on the weekend’s races and the developing dynamics of his winning crew of Bob Knestrick, Danny Corrigan, Samantha Foulston, Stu Johnstone, Michael Lis, and Travis Odenbach. SHAMROCK won five of six races. Here was our interview with the winner.
SW: Sometimes, winning a three-boat fleet can be just as difficult as a larger fleet, especially when everyone’s at the same level as it was for the J/111s this weekend in Chicago.
JD: Yes, we’ve raced against each other in the past, so they’re fairly well-matched boats. The J/111 class is fairly strict, so we’re very competitive, all of us. I think this weekend was a function of the fact that we tend to be light-air sailors and inland lake sailors, and so for us, we thrive in these kinds of conditions.
SW: Flat-water, light-air, shifty conditions are your strength then?
JD: They really are. The boat is really set up for light air. I think the crew, we’ve all been sailing together probably for about 15 years. And since our base is in Cleveland, Ohio, for us, it’s a light-air lake. So, these conditions really fit our boat, our rig, our tune, and ourselves. We set up the boat for a light breeze. But as most sailors know, you gotta pick the shifts. And there’s a little bit of luck involved.
In the first and second races, we did a good job of really picking the right shifts and the right side of the course to be on and we had good starts. In the third race, we wound up second and it was really a function of us being on the wrong side of the course. And it’s really hard to come back from that. You know, when your competitor keeps picking the right shifts, you just never catch up.
SW: Having only two boats to beat, how did that change the tactical approach to the weekend?
JD: We tended to stay pretty close together, in part because we’re using this for North Americans, which will be here at the Chicago Yacht Club later in the year. So, we wanted to see what kind of conditions we would have and what kind of conditions that we would be competing in, and what the setup of our boat was going to be like compared to others. There was a little bit of match racing going on and a little bit of that in terms of our tactics.
SW: Speaking of tactics, you had a new crew calling the shots this weekend.
JD: We did. We’ve been sailing for about 15 years with Wally Cross who was unable to sail this regatta, so we had a new sail trimmer/ strategist. Travis did a great job. He built on what we have been working on with Wally at Quantum Sails, and Travis just expanded the base for us. He brought in some new ideas, but he amplified some of the things that we normally do… like listening to Stu J. call the tactics and wind as we go around the course… Stu’s a brilliant tactician… unparalleled by anyone else in my experience. Stu J. is like our “wind whisperer”… from God’s lips to his ears.. amazing!
SW: What were some of Travis’ ideas that made a difference over the weekend?
JD: We’ve spent a lot of time tweaking the rig. Travis was more inclined to just set the rig to the standards that we have developed and not make as many changes. His focus was a little bit more on strategy, especially at the start.
SW: Did you notice the change from the first day of racing into the second?
JD: I think each day and each race we got better and the chemistry developed more. We did have one day of practice which helped us a lot. Then, what you gradually see is we’ve developed a language. After you’ve been sailing with somebody like Wally Cross and the same team for 15 years, you get accustomed to the communication style everybody has.
Travis was new and he had to try to adapt to our communication style and we had to adapt to his. It made a huge difference once we started getting on the same language, especially in the starts, and the comfort in the corners. The corners are where you’re usually gonna mess up. And, because we all spoke the same language and we got more comfortable with each other, it just got smoother and the crew work got better.
SW: You’ve got a big event coming up later this summer.
JD: We do have the J/111 North Americans coming back here to Chicago and it’s something that we’ve been working on for most of the year. Last year, we had a very disappointing North Americans for us. It was based in Cleveland. But, we were over early in the first two races, and the fleet is so tight and so competitive. We wound up fourth. But, this year, we’re looking forward to coming back and we’ve got something to prove!

J/70 ClassIn the 24-boat fleet, it was a bit of a shocker for most teams to witness a stunning string of four bullets in the first four races for a local “homeboy”- Rich Witzel.  Rich and his ROWDY team blitzkrieg the fleet with smart sailing and good speed and closed out the regatta with a 4-3 to win with just 11 pts. Behind them, it was another story. Three boats dueled for the balance of the podium until the final race. By just two points, Fernando Perez Ontiveros and his Mexican BLACK MAMBA team from Valle de Bravo grabbed the silver medal with 26 pts. Taking the bronze medal was Jim Prendergast’s USA 167 with 28 pts. Rounding out the top five was Bryce Kaloow’s SUPERIOR 2 from Minneapolis, MN in fourth place, and taking fifth place was another local “homeboy”- John Heaton’s EMPEIRIA. 

J/88 ClassThe seven-boat fleet experienced extremely tight racing for all seven races. It was not until the last race that the final standings were determined. Ending up tied at 19 pts each were Andy Graff’s EXILE and John & Jordan Leahey’s DUTCH. EXILE won the tiebreaker “countback” by winning their last two races to take the title over DUTCH. Similarly, by only one point, Dan Floberg’s MISTY took the bronze over Grace & Mike Gillian’s JULIA! Rounding out the top five was Alex Abell’s PAJAMA PARTY. 

J/105 ClassSimilar to their 88 colleagues, the J/105s also had to settle the score on a tiebreak and countback scenario. It was Mark Fruin’s NYCTOSAUR tied on 14 pts with Josh & Laura Lutton’s KINSHIIP, both boat’s first-ever battle for the lead in the hard-fought, hotly-competitive Chicago J/105 fleet. Both boats won two races in the six-race series, so the tie was broken on 2nds, with the nod going to the NYCTOSAURs! The third step on the podium went to a 20+ year Chicago J/105 Class veteran- Jon Weglarz’s THE ASYLUM.
J/111 ClassWhile Jeff Davis’ SHAMROCK ran away with class honors after posting five 1sts in six races, it became a close battle for the balance of the podium between Tom Dickson’s WARLOCK and Kevin Saedi & Raman Yousefi’s MOMENTUS. That outcome was determined by the last two races when WARLOCK took two 2nds to MOMENTUS’s two 3rds. WARLOCK earned the silver with MOMENTUS settling for the bronze. 

J/109 ClassThe eight-boat J/109 class saw a three-way battle emerge for class honors over their six races. With all three boats having somewhat roller-coaster scorelines, it was “clear as mud” which teams would emerge victorious in the end. Ultimately, it was Team Northstar on NORTHSTAR that won the series with a 1-6-3-1-3-1 for 15 pts. Just one point back was the quartet on SMEE AGAIN (Miz/ Dreher/ Hatfield/ Neenan) with a 5-1-2-3-2-3 tally for 16 pts. And, just one point in arrears of them was Bob Evans’ GOAT RODEO with a 2-2-6-2-1-4 scoreline for 17 pts! Close, fun racing was had by all!
PHRF Spinnaker ClassIn the fleet of a half-dozen boats, not many were likely anticipating a complete blowout of the fleet for class honors. But, that is exactly what took place as Tod Patton’s J/112e BLONDIE, sailing its inaugural regatta in Chicago waters, won with three 1sts and three 2nds for a 9 pts total. 

ORC 1 & 2 ClassesThe ORC offshore divisions sailed a government marks race course offshore, with a total of 17 boats participating. Starting in a light southwester, the wind backed into the southeast in the 6 to 9 kts range, and the fleet enjoyed a nice long day of taking a tour up and down the picturesque Chicago waterfront and skyline.  In ORC 1, taking 3rd was Jens Papoutsis’ J/133 RENEGADE, followed in 4th by Arne Fliflet’s J/120 MAZAL TOV. Taking 4th in ORC 2 was Mike Hettel’s J/105 GLOBAL NOMADS.  Sailing Photo Credits: Walter Cooper/Sailing World.   Sailing World photo gallery here.  For more Chicago Sailing World Regatta Series sailing information

(Newport, RI)- The second week of June has traditionally marked the start of the summer sailing season for the New York Yacht Club. The 169th NYYC Annual Regatta will be taking place over the June 9th to 11th 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), followed by a combination of course racing and navigator racing on Saturday and Sunday. 
By far the two largest fleets participating are the four ORC and four PHRF handicap divisions consisting of 85 offshore keelboats. There is significant participation by J/Boats teams, with twenty-four J’s racing (28% of the fleet!).
ORC C DivisionParticipating in this nine-boat division will be Ken Comerford’s J/121 DARK STORM from Annapolis, MD, and Albrecht Goethe’s J/46 HAMBURG II from Lakewood, TX. 
ORC D DivisionIt’s looking like the ten-boat division looks like a J/122 one-design class event, with five of them sailing. Those teams include Don Dwyer’s BLUE YONDER, Tom Sutton’s LEADING EDGE, Robin Team’s TEAMWORK, Constantine Baris’ DIRE WOLF, and Jack Gregg’s TARAHUMARA. Joining that rogue’s gallery of offshore mercenaries is the well-sailed J/133 VAMOOSE- skippered by Bob Manchester. 
ORC E DivisionIn the ten-boat division, the sole J/team is Al Minella’s new J/112e THE ROCC, he’s hoping that legendary Long Island Sound sailor Kerry Klingler can get their team going fast in the right direction!
PHRF 2 DivisionThe seventeen-boat will have their hands full getting off this “big boat” starting line that features several hot J/teams in the mix. Sailing is Joe Britto’s J/121 INCOGNITO, Jim Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER, Kevin Kelley’s J/122 SUMMER GRACE, and two J/111s (Doug Curtiss’ WICKED 2.0 and Abhijeet Lee’s VARUNA). 
PHRF 3 DivisionEqualing PHRF 2 as the largest division in the regatta, the seventeen boats in this fleet will have a “mixed bag” of experience to contend with on the starting line, from World-class sailors to Wet Wednesday “beer-canners”. The fleet includes Jeff Johnstone’s J/99 UPBEAT, two J/109s (Bill Kneller’s VENTO SOLARE & John Greifzu’s GROWTH SPURT), EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT, three J/105s (Doug Stryker’s MAYHEM, Rob Marsh’s BLOW BOAT, & Chris Tate’s BLITZ), and Dawson & Ben Hodgson’s J/100 GRIMACE. 
PHRF 4 DivisionThe nine-boat fleet will feature Jack McGuire’s J/29 DIRTY HARRY and Daniel Stone’s J/92 TRIPLE PLAY. For more New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta sailing information