J/Newsletter- May 24th, 2023
In the mesmerizing dance of wind and waves, where the grandeur of the seas meets the majesty of the skies, lies the irresistible lure of sailing. It’s a world not just of serene seas, gentle breezes, and gorgeous vistas, but also of thunderous storms and gales challenging even the most experienced sailor.
This is the world of international sailboat racing, where sailors test their mettle against the forces of nature and their counterparts from around the globe. It is not merely a sport; it’s a saga of enduring human resilience, courage, and the pursuit of glory.
This week, we begin with the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 2023 North Sea Race, an event that has imprinted its unique signature on the international sailing calendar. Hosted by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, this mesmerizing event drew in a diverse fleet of 73 boats, undertaking a challenging 180.0 nm course. These modern Argonauts wove their way around the towering structures of the Galloper wind farm, before setting course to Smith’s Knoll Buoy, and then to the globally renowned sailing city- the Hague. Here, sailors from different parts of the world, including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Israel, and the USA, combined their prowess to navigate the dancing waves of the North Sea.
A different scene unfolded along the picturesque Brittany shoreline. There, a local crew embarked on the famous J/99 J-LANCE 25 to compete in the beloved 130.0 nm overnight offshore challenge known as “La Nuite Armen Race”. A remarkable demonstration of skill and tenacity unfolded under the Brittany moonlight that led to another podium finish for a J/99.
Moving across the English Channel to the waters of The Solent, the 2023 RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup was sailed over two thrilling days. Fifty boats were hosted by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The fluctuating northeasterly breezes, at times reaching 20 knots, added a layer of complexity to the event, challenging the skills of sailors in one-design and IRC-rated action.
Further west, the Lake George Club in Diamond Point, NY, hosted the 2023 USA J/24 National Championship. This intense regatta saw forty-two J/24 teams navigating the crystalline waters of this Adirondack mountain lake, testing their skills in shifty conditions over three days of fierce competition.
Our journey concludes on the western shores of France, where the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale Regatta was held. From the J/80 teams competing in the GPEN to the emerging J/70 class holding their 2023 National Championship, the event was a testament to the enduring appeal and competitive spirit of one-design sailing.
Upcoming Events:
RORC Myth of Malham Race Preview- there is a record fleet of 159 boats entered for this “Fastnet practice race”. The impressive fleet is expected to have over 850 race crew from 19 different nations- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Huge STC Block Island Race Fleet Set Sail this weekend! The Storm Trysail Club’s famous Block Island Race starts Friday evening off Stamford, CT, and sends the fleet east down the length of Long Island Sound, rounding Block Island to starboard and back down the Sound to the start/finish line off Stamford Yacht Club- a 186.0nm “dash” for the fast J/crews. Of the fifty-six boats entered, twenty-one are J’s (38.0% of the fleet) ranging in size from the 28-foot J/88 up to the 53-foot J/160.
J/Community:
In this section, read about the J/125 HAMACHI Puget Sound Experience as explained by Sail-World USA editor David Schmidt. Then, in closing, we have a tribute of “Eight Bells” for a famous sailor- Buddy Melges.
J/122E AJETO Stuns Offshore Fleet! Crushes RORC North Sea Race!
(Scheveningen, The Netherlands)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 2023 North Sea Race, hosted by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, attracted 73 boats for the 180.0nm race. The course across the North Sea meanders around the Galloper wind farm before heading north to Smith’s Knoll Buoy and across to the famous sailing city of the Hague and the Yacht Club Scheveningen. The majority of the entries came from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with over 350 sailors taking part that include crew from Belgium, Germany, Israel, and the USA.
The stunning J/122E AJETO won the North Sea Race in both ORC & IRC Overall! The extraordinary Dutch doublehanded team of Robin Verhoef & John van der Starre showed that you can have a comfortable boat that performs well and still win the silverware. AJETO won all five classes it participated in – IRC Overall, IRC 2, IRC Doublehanded, ORC Overall, and ORC Doublehanded!!
The overall winners of the North Sea Race were tired, but elated dockside in Scheveningen. Robin Verhoef and John van der Starre from Ajeto! spoke about their victory.
“This was a great experience; it was a race with a lot of things in it. In the tactics for the long upwind to Smith’s Knoll, you needed to take the correct shifts, and I think we did that really spot on. After racing AJETO for seven years, we know how to run the boat. The different modes and settings become like a computer game, knowing how to set up the boat. For example, in choppy water, it makes a big difference for us to be constantly adjusting the boat. We are always busy, but it is worth it for good boat speed and to be competitive.
Our result (under IRC) always depends on the wind. For the North Sea Race, we had 16 knots on the reach at an angle that some boats could not surf. If that had been 20 knots, more boats would have been planning, so our chance of winning would have been less. AJETO is a very good all-round boat, it does well upwind and downwind, so we always have a chance, whatever the conditions. The J/122 is not an extreme boat like some of our competitors, and we have modified it so that on every type of course we can sail well. Also, working with Kevin Sproul, we have a sail wardrobe with big cross-overs. This means that we can avoid many sail changes, these take a lot of time when you are Two-Handed.”
AJETO will be competing in IRC DoubleHanded Division for this year’s ROLEX Fastnet Race, with over 100 double-handed teams expected on the start line in Cowes on July 22nd.
“The Fastnet is going to be a fantastic race! This will not be our first rodeo, so to speak! In fact, we have already raced five times! Of course, we want to win, but it’s also about having fun, that gives us the passion to race hard,” commented Verhoef.
The remarkable performance of AJETO was replicated, to some degree, by several other J/Teams. Many earned their fair share of silverware on the podium as well.
Finishing 6th IRC Overall, 1st IRC 1, 2nd ORC 1 was Frans van Cappelle & Michele Witsenburg’s J/122E MOANA. Evidently, the race course and wind conditions were favorable for fast-sailing J/122E teams on the North Sea!
Then, 11th IRC Overall, 2nd IRC 3, and 4th ORC 2 was S. Tienpont’s J/35 FEVER. Their performance is a good example of how a “classic” J/Boat design, well-sailed, is a spirited and competitive performer nearly 40 years after the first 35 was launched in Newport, RI! Following their colleagues in 15th IRC overall, 4th IRC 3, 4th IRC Double, and 2nd ORC Doublehanded was Wim van Slooten and Jochem Nonhebele’s J/109 FIRESTORM. Yet another J/109, Martijn Graafmans’ J/109 EAU J, took 5th IRC 3, 5th IRC Doublehanded, and 6th ORC Doublehanded.
Two J/99s were sailing but scored solely in ORC handicap ratings. Taking third in ORC 2 division was Jan Scholtes’ J/99 WARP 5. Then, finishing fifth in ORC Doublehanded was Paul Manuel’s J/99 JONGEHEER.
Notably, J/Teams faired incredibly well as a group in the ORC Doublehanded division, taking 4 of the top 6 finishes!
The RORC North Sea Race is part of the 2023 RORC Season’s Points Championship, the world’s largest offshore racing series. The ten-month series comprises 15 testing offshore races. Over 600 international teams are expected to compete this year. Every race had its famous prize for the overall winner after IRC time correction with more coveted trophies for class honors. Sailing photo credits- Sander van der Borch For more North Sea Race sailing information
J/99 Aces Armen Race!
(La Trinite sur Mer, France)- Over last weekend, a local crew of friends hopped aboard the famous J/99 J-LANCE 25 and sailed the popular overnight offshore race called “La Nuite Armen Race”. Here is the report from one of the crew- Fred Bouvier.
“Before the start, our team decided to sail just the overnight race version of the Armen Race. This permitted us to have fun sailing offshore, as well as having time to visit family and friends over the long French bank holiday weekend.
Our decision was also a good way to continue proving the versatility of the J/99 by competing in this race. Interestingly, this is primarily an “Osiris- OSH” French handicap event, a handicap system mainly based on ORC.
The weather conditions were driven by a powerful High-pressure center over western England. As a result, that meant we would be treated to clear weather over our 130.0 nm course up and down the Brittany coastline. This also meant that we would see a largely reaching race, with northeast winds being influenced by thermal breezes along the shore in the late afternoon due to the sunny, warm weather conditions.
We had a very strong start for our race. A few hours after our start, one of the famous Maxi Ultime 100 meter multihulls came flying by us (literally) going over 25 knots faster than us– a bit like the runaway TGV (tres grand vitessse) train blowing by!
It was apparent that the predominant reaching conditions would be challenging for us, as the boat was set up with symmetric spinnakers for matching the preferred sail wardrobe for the predominant doublehanded fleet in France.
As a result, we made many sail changes to optimize our VMC (velocity made good on course). We did a lot of “spinnaker peels” between the big S2 kite and the smaller Code 0 to keep our lead.
At the first turning mark, the only boat ahead of us after eight hours of sailing was the Solaris 50-footer!
Then, during the second part of the night, we saw a J/105 catching back up to us like a rocketship with his perfectly sized big code 0!
We had to push hard in the second half of the night to regain enough time on the J/105 to be clear on corrected handicap time. This was easier for us with the strong stability of the J/99 and a closer angle of wind. We had 20 knots TWS, which was perfect for our small code 0.
The last part of the race was upwind at sunrise in a very choppy sea. We even extended our lead to save on corrected time by 3 minutes on the J/105!
After having a nice breakfast, we discovered that finally, our biggest challenger was the smallest rating boat of the fleet- an old Contessa 33 which rated like a J/22! OMG! Amazingly, we found out we finally beat them by less than 90 seconds on corrected time in OSH ratings over 20 hours of sailing! Such things are always a shocker since we never saw them! For more J/99 sailing information
Glorious Vice Admiral’s Cup Weekend!
Fun & Games & Tight Racing in J/111 and J/109 Classes!
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The 2023 RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup featured fifty boats racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Racing concluded on Sunday 21 after a second superb day of racing in The Solent. The northeasterly breeze wicked up to 20 knots at times, but was once again variable in speed, giving complexity to the one-design and IRC-rated action. Three races were held for all classes on the final day, completing the six-race series.
J/111 Class
Going into the last day, Tony & Sally Mack’s McFLY held a two-point lead after three races from Louise Makin and Chris Jones’ JOURNEYMAKER II. McFLY continued their winning ways taking Race 4 by just 28 
seconds, then there was a JOURNEYMAKER comeback. JOURNEYMAKER crossed the line first in Race 5 by just 3 seconds. But, after racing JOURNEYMAKER II was protested by McFLY and disqualified. JOURNEYMAKER II won the final race by 18 seconds.
After six races, McFLY was the winner of the J/111 Class from JOURNEYMAKER II. While the battle for the J/111 victory was fierce, so was the battle for the final podium position. Paul Griffith’s JAGERBOMB held off a spirited challenge from Cornel Riklin’s JITTERBUG to finish third by a single point.
J/109 Class
Going into the final day, Mike & Susie Yates’ JAGO was two points behind Charles & Rosie Berry’s JENIE at the top of the leaderboard. JAGO scored a hat trick of bullets on the last day to win the J/109 Class by four points with JENIE in second. David Richards’ JUMPING JELLYFISH scored all podium finishes for the regatta to take third.
“It was brilliant, especially winning!” laughed Mike Yates, who also races J/109 JAGO with the RORC offshore in IRC Two-Handed. “Despite the small fleet, we were all very competitive, it was great to see our young crew winning and the young team on JENIE has really picked up some pace. The racing was mega-shifty, which creates loads of opportunities and snakes and ladders on the course. Well done to the RORC for running everything perfectly to time, and the courses were spot on. I especially enjoyed the round-the-cans races in the mix, which made tactics and boat handling a bit different. Maybe with our offshore experience, we had a bit of an advantage on the long courses.” For more RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup sailing information
Marshall Three-peats USA J/24 Nationals!
(Diamond Point, NY)- Forty-two J/24 teams participated in the 2023 USA J/24 National Championship hosted by The Lake George Club in Diamond Point, NY. The regatta featured great sailing, shifty conditions, and lots of drama to conclude the regatta after three days of competition on the spectacular Adirondack mountain lake.
Day 1- Friday
Spectacular conditions lit up the lake under sunny skies with warm spring temperatures and a breeze ranging from 13-22 knots. Four races were completed, and reigning World Champion Mike Marshall’s AMERICAN GARAGE soared to the early advantage, posting a 1-4-3-2 for 10 points. Tony Parker’s BANGOR PACKET racked up a solid day for second place (15 points), while Carter & Molly White’s YOU REGATTA stood one point back in third. Leading the Corinthian Division was Mike Stasko’s REDLINE (fifth place overall).
Marshall launched the Championship with a victory, well ahead of Travis Odenbach’s HONEYBADGER and Parker’s BANGOR PACKET. Odenbach steered to the top spot in race two, with Stasko’s REDLINE and Bill Fastiggi’s FAWN LIEBOWITZ in on the action. Parker took line honors in the next contest, trailed by White’s YOU REGATTA and Marshall. Odenbach earned his second bullet to close out the day, leading Marshall, White, and the fleet back to shore. Sailors gathered at the quaint Lake George Club after racing for debriefs and an Italian-themed dinner.
Day 2- Saturday
Six races were in the books by the end of the second day. With the discard coming into effect, the leaderboard underwent a shuffle on the regatta’s middle day. Odenbach’s HONEYBADGER jumped up the standings to first place after posting a pair of seconds Saturday (and dropping a 13th from day one) for 8 net points and the lead. Two teams were tied at 14 for the next two positions: Parker’s BANGOR PACKET and Marshall’s AMERICAN GARAGE. Stasko’s REDLINE continued to lead the 20-boat Corinthian Division.
Temperatures declined Saturday, as did the wind speed, allowing only two races. The breeze began around 5 knots and built to 8 before easing as the day went on. Finn Hadlock’s BOREAS opened with the win, followed by Odenbach and Fastiggi’s FAWN LIEBOWITZ. Parker earned the next victory, with Odenbach again runner-up, and the White’s YOU REGATTA in third. Teams came ashore in the early afternoon with hopes of returning to the racecourse. But, Mother Nature did not cooperate. Competitors then enjoyed a formal dinner with a live band and fireworks, a Lake George Club tradition.
Day 3- Sunday
In the end, it took seven races to sort out the chutes and ladders for the J/24 Nationals at The Lake George Club in Diamond Point, New York.
There was one lone race on the final day and it proved to be one full of huge drama and much anxiety for the protagonists at the top of the leaderboard!
The final contest was a duel between Marshall’s AMERICAN GARAGE and Odenbach’s HONEYBADGER. Winds were quite varied in the final race, including a hefty shift that propelled Marshall to earn his third consecutive J/24 US National title.
The Newport, Rhode Island-based skipper led his team of (L-R)- Jeff Hayden, Geoff Becker, Kelly FitzGerald, and Rich Bowen. Odenbach settled for second place at 20 pts, tied on points with Parker’s BANGOR PACKET, who ended up taking third place.
More than half the fleet competed in the Corinthian Division, topped by Stasko’s REDLINE, with Hadlock’s BOREAS and Denny Vaughan’s EASY STREET rounding out the top three. Redline’s crew included Austin Zauner, Gavin Smith, Tom King, and Aaron Holland.
Marshall summarized, “It came down to teamwork, all working together and never giving up. All the way through the regatta, there were places where we could have done this, that, and the third thing a little better. As we progressed, we did them a little bit better, so it just comes down to a full team effort.”
FitzGerald credited fellow crew- Geoff Becker- for keeping focus, particularly in the last race following a tough first weather leg. “These guys really pulled a rabbit out of a hat,” laughed FitzGerald. For more J/24 USA National Championship sailing information
Moriceau Leads J/80 Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale!
(Brest, France)- One of the premiere events of the French one-design sailing season has long been the famous Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale hosted by the French Naval Sailing College in Brest, France. Popular since its inception, the GPEN is organized by the Association de soutien au Grand Prix de l’École Navale, with the support of the École Navale and the French Navy.
Thirty-one of the leading J/80 teams from across France participated in this year’s GPEN. The racing was close for the top of the leaderboard between two of the veteran teams in the French J/80 circuit. In the end, it was Simon Moriceau’s ARMEN HABITAT- PL YACHTING team that took the top honors; his crew included Hugo Abeguile, Julien Augereau, Damien Fleury, Xavier Haize, and Lucas Rual.
Moriceau explained, “It was a race to the end with my good friend- Luc Nadal. We were tied this morning. But, we were able to take advantage of great opportunities today. It’s been a long time since we won here! It is nice because we are all from the same club- the APCC Nantes.”
Having campaigned J/80s for over twenty years, second-place finisher Luc Nadal is considered one of the most experienced veterans in the class. His crew on GAN’JA consisted of a mostly family crew, including Maureen Nadal, David Nadal, and friend Pierre Mousselon. Third went to another J/80 class veteran- Patric Bot and his crew on SIRIUS ECOLE NAVALE LOCA PONTON- Nedeleg Bigi, Gwenk’hlan Catherine, and Frederic Hauville. Rounding out the top five was Jean Baptiste Bernard’s TELESTO EN21 in fourth and Nicolas Richard’s CNST CAST GRAND OUEST ETIQUETTES in fifth position. Sailing photo credits- Pierrick Contin. Follow GPEN on Facebook here For more Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale sailing information
ELITE ECOLE NAVALE Crowned 2023 French J/70 National Champions!
(Brest, France)- As part of the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale Regatta, the French J/70 class held their 2023 National Championship. The class continues to gain traction and has gained a number of the top J/80 sailing teams in France. The level of competition is extremely high, even in a fleet of just over a dozen boats. It’s self-evident that top-quality teams with strong local competition can do well, as witnessed by the stunning victory of Swiss J/70 teams at the recent J/70 World Championship in Monte Carlo, Monaco- the Swiss won both the Open and the Corinthians division!
As explained by Christian Ponthieu, tactician for Pierre Laouenan’s ELITE ECOLE NAVALE Team, “There are fewer boats than in the J/80 class right now. But, there are four or five crews that are well ahead of the competition even at the European level. We won the Spi Ouest France Regatta. Now, others are suspicious of us, LOL! We are more watched than before! The J/70 is lighter than the J/80, so you have to be a little more reactive and the boat has multiple modes of sailing downwind, which makes the J/70 a lot of fun and very challenging!”
In a final epic battle on the last day, the two protagonists for the French J/70 National Champion came down to the two most experienced J/70 teams- Laouenan’s ELITE ECOLE NAVALE and Damian Michelier’s SAGE ENGINEERS.
Starting off with two bullets on the final day, SAGE ENGINEERS looked like they might have had the upper hand going into the last two races. Meanwhile, Laouenan’s team posted a 2-3 to drop into a tie after nine races. The “tale of the tape” in the last two races determined the outcome. ELITE ECOLE NAVALE won the last two races with SAGE ENGINEERS taking two deuces. Consequently, the French Navy academy sailing team of ELITE ECOLE NAVALE won- Laouenan and his team of Paul Medinger, Jean Queveau, Pierre Loic Berthet, and Christian Ponthieu. Second was Michelier’s SAGE ENGINEERS crew of Clement Galliache, Charlie Guth, Alois de Guitaut, and Jean Yves Martin. Third went to Timothe Rossi’s JEUNES MADE IN SUD crew of Thibault Demai, Jeremy Moutout, and Yann LeCorre. Rounding out the top five was Herve Leduc’s JIBE SET in fourth and Nicolas Rostand’s LE TIB in fifth position.
Pierre Laouenan commented on his team’s participation, “We wanted to challenge ourselves, to put ourselves in a difficult position and continue to learn things. We had a good battle against Michelier’s experienced team. We had a two-point lead this morning, which means nothing. Then, our top competitor won the first two races of the day. So we had to motivate ourselves, we had no choice! So, we pressed hard in the last two races. Thankfully, we won both of them!” For more French J/70 National Championship sailing information
UPCOMING EVENTS
RORC Myth of Malham Race Preview
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- For this year’s RORC Myth of Malham Race, there is a record fleet of 159 boats entered for this “Fastnet practice race”. The impressive fleet is expected to have over 850 race crew from 19 different nations- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
On Saturday 27th May, there will be multiple starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line off Cowes, Isle of Wight. The 235.0nm race is set to have the largest fleet for an offshore race, anywhere in the world this year, and the largest fleet in the Myth of Malham Race since records began. Spectators can watch the start from Cowes Parade and along the shore of the Western Solent. Fans can continue to follow the fleet via satellite tracker (https://yb.tl/mom2023).
The Myth of Malham Race can be compared to a mini-Fastnet Race. The course mirrors the first hundred miles of the Rolex Fastnet Race, which will be held in July with a record 500 boats expected.
Numerous J/Teams are participating in the race and they hope to get invaluable offshore training before the Fastnet Race.
Of the thirty-nine boats entered in IRC One, Michael O’Donnell’s J/121 DARKWOOD, Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 BULLDOG, and Gilles Fournier & Corinne Migraine’s J/133 PINTIA from France (winners of the RORC Cervantes Trophy overall) hope to be amongst the top of the leaderboard. PINTIA was second overall in the 2021 Myth of Malham and won the race in 2016! Joining this trio are Paul Griffiths’ J/111 JAGERBOMB, Lawrence Herbert’s J/133 CORAZON, Henry Ayres’ J/160 JEU D’ESPRIT, Andy Theobald’s J/122 R&W, and Clive Miles’ J/122E JANGLE.
The 47-boat IRC Two class will feature just two J/Teams- Maxime Mesnil’s J/99 AXE SAIL from France and Simon Harris’ J/112E J’OUVERT from Great Britain.
Thirty-one teams are entered in IRC 3 Division, including seven J/109s, three J/105s, and two J/99s. The leading J/109 is Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN’ after a podium finish overall in the De Guingand Bowl. Mike Yates’ JAGO, sailing doublehanded, is second for the season so far, less than seven points behind. Plus, Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN’ is also in the pack of J/109s racing in the Myth of Malham. Amongst the J/105s are Richard Newsom’s JAVELIN, Max Angood’s JAMALA, and Mary Sturgess’ JALDI. The two J/99s include Wayne Palmer & Mark Emons’ JAM along with Mark Kendall & Tom Holloway’s JIRO.
The lone ranger in the 20-boat IRC 4 Division is Tim Tolcher’s J/97 RAGING BULL.
In the 50-boat IRC Doublehanded class, nine J/Teams are participating. The top J’s include Mike & Susie Yates’ J/109 JAGO (IRC Three winner for the 2022 Myth of Malham), Tolcher’s J/97 RAGING BULL, Simon Harris’ J/112E J’OUVERT, the three J/99s (AXE SAIL, JAM, & JIRO), and Miles’ J/122E JANGLE.
The Myth of Malham Cup was presented to the RORC by Captain John Illingworth in 1958 and is named after his famous boat, which won the 1947 and 1949 Fastnet Race. The Myth of Malham Race is part of the 2023 RORC Season’s Points Championship, the ten-month series comprises of 15 testing offshore races. Over 600 international teams are expected to compete this year. For more RORC Myth of Malham sailing information
Huge STC Block Island Race Fleet Set Sail!
(Stamford, CT)- This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer offshore sailing season for many J/Teams in the northeast. The Storm Trysail Club’s famous Block Island Race starts Friday evening off Stamford, CT, and sends the fleet east down the length of Long Island Sound, rounding Block Island to starboard and back down the Sound to the start/finish line off Stamford Yacht Club- a 186.0nm “dash” for the fast J/crews.
Of the fifty-six boats entered, twenty-one are J’s (38.0% of the fleet) ranging in size from the 28-foot J/88 up to the 53-foot J/160.
Sailing the seven-boat PHRF 2 Doublehanded class are two J/99s (Adam Zakka’s WIZARD & Kevin Marks’ VELOCITY 2), Nicolas Delcourt’s J/88 OH JEE II, Adam Hayden’s J/109 SMILE, and Sara & Josh Reisberg’s ABILYN.
In the PHRF 4 Class are two J/120s (Brian Spears’ MADISON & Richard West’s CHARLOTTE), Maggie & Eric Deichmann’s J/112E MISCHIEF, Kurt Locher’s J/42 ATALANTA, and William Ingraham’s J/124 TENEBRAE.
PHRF 6 Class is an all-J/Boats affair. Sailing are two J/111s (Bill & Jackie Baxter’s FIREBALL & Pito Chickering’s THE ROOST), the King’s Point Academy’s J/44 COMET, and the John Storck family’s J/130 BLITZEN.
The nine-boat ORC 7 division is 90% J/crews! Some of those teams included Steve Levy’s J/121 EAGLE, Andrew Clark’s J/122 ZIG ZAG, June & Amanda Kendrick’s J/44 PALANTIR 5, and Albrecht Goethe’s J/46 bright red HAMBURG II.
Finally, in the seven-boat ORC 8 division, sailing will be Len Sitar’s beautiful navy-blue J/160 COUGAR.
For more Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race sailing information
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J/125 HAMACHI- the Puget Sound Experience
By Sail-World USA editor David Schmidt
“A curious thing happened on Saturday, May 13, on the waters of Puget Sound: It was warm and there was wind for the Seattle Yacht Club’s annual Vashon Island Race, which is the second event in the SYC’s great Tri-Island Series. While this kind of weather report likely doesn’t generate much editorial ink in most places, Puget Sound offers its own kind of magic, with most racing unfurling during the breeze-on winter months, while the warmer and dryer months are usually reserved for cruising (read: little wind).
But Saturday was special. Despite forcing my poor friend Fritz to meet me for an (as it turned out unnecessarily) early alpine start in Bellingham (0515 hours… I owe him one!) for the slog south down I-5 to Seattle’s Shilshole Marina, the day dawned sans a single cloud in the sky. Better still, there was plenty of action in the forest canopy as I drove, and PredictWind’s HRRR forecast model was saying all sorts of pretty things about the day’s adventure and our prospects for good northerly flow.
It wasn’t wrong.
While the SYC offered several different courses for the different assembled boats, our crew aboard Dark Star, Jonathan and Libby McKee’s Riptide 44, were sailing the long course. This began just off the breakwater at Shilshole, and it took the fleet south, past Point Robinson Lighthouse (on Vashon Island’s east-southeast flank), then counterclockwise around Vashon Island, passing north through Colvos Passage, then past Blake Island, and then up and across Puget Sound to the finishing line, which was in the same location as the start.
Fritz and Jonathan nailed our start as helm and tactician (respectively), and our trimmers made darn sure that we had good VMG for the downhill push to Point Robinson. The boat’s new kite helped this effort, as did the perfect luff curl that our kite trimmer, Fritz (there were two aboard), brought to the game.
We enjoyed some fast sailing as the waves just flirted with the idea of exposing some white caps (the breeze was 12-20 knots), coupled with huge amounts of sunshine and warmth. I found myself flying the kite wearing a pair of shorts, a thin jacket, and a lifejacket — not the 47 layers of fleece, Gore-Tex, and puffy jackets that almost 15 years of sailing on these waters trained me to bring.
In fact, my biggest packing faux pas involved forgetting a UV-blocking shirt and some high-SPF lip protection… the sort of gear that most sailors pack first, but that we in the Pacific Northwest can almost always safely skip.
Our great breeze held almost all the way to the entrance of Quarter Master Harbor, on Vashon’s southern aspect. Then, it became a short game of wind whispering and of being quick with sail handling and changes, plus a pinch of luck.
While the latter was largely elusive, we soon picked our way to a shaggy carpet section of water, hoisted our J 1.5 (we soon peeled to a J 2.5), and filled the water-ballast tanks for the uphill push home.
Our race was roughly 60 nautical miles, but it all blew by way too fast. I sat on the rail, watching as the finishing line slowly hove into view, realizing that I’d be more than happy to simply keep sailing. Normal enough, of course, but I somehow drew the finishing line a few miles further north than it actually was… so, sadly, our perfect day of racing ended a handful of tacks sooner than I was expecting.
I’m not sure I’ve ever been so sad to finish a fantastic race. Call it the ghosts of my former self (I grew up sailing in New England), but there was something downright fine about being able to feel all ten fingers and ten toes, not to mention both legs and arms, all day long, while also enjoying the solid breeze and a fantastic day of racing on Puget Sound with great people.
While I can only guess at the karmic bill that will come due soon (perhaps during June 3’s Blake Island Race, which is the SYC’s final Tri-Island Series race of the year), I promise it will be worth it, given that my smile still hasn’t faded some ten days ex post facto.”
Thank you – David Schmidt- Sail-World.com North American Editor
Eight Bells- Buddy Melges
Harry Clemons “Buddy” Melges Jr., considered to be one of the greatest competitive sailors in the sport of sailing, passed away at 93 years on May 18th, 2023. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy as one of the most accomplished and revered sailors in American history.
Born on January 26, 1930, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Buddy dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence on the water. Growing up on Delavan Lake, he honed his skills sailing the boats crafted by his father, Harry Melges Sr., at Melges Boat Works.
From its humble origins as a wooden rowboat builder, the family business evolved into a trailblazer in sailing innovation. In particular, they were renowned for building the leading brand of scow sailboats- the A, C, and E one-design classes spread throughout the Midwest. And, after 1994, when J/Boats pioneered the “radical” new innovation in sailing- the J/105 with retractable bow-sprit asymmetric spinnaker- Buddy helped develop and grow the Melges 24 class. Coincidentally, Melges Boatworks was a J/Boats dealer in the Midwest for over 25 years and his sons (Harry and Hans) and the Porter brothers (Brian and John) were J/24 Midwest Champions numerous times.
Over his eight-decade career, Buddy advanced the sport and etched his name into the annals of sailing history, showcasing his unmatched skill, strategic brilliance, and unwavering passion for the sport. While being a fierce competitor, Buddy made lifelong friendships both on and off the water. His triumphs in international competitions solidified his status as a sailing icon.
Beyond his accomplishments, Buddy generously shared his knowledge and served as a mentor to aspiring sailors, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. His captivating lectures and teaching abilities inspired countless individuals across the world. Often referred to as the “The Wizard of Zenda,” Buddy was a beacon of inspiration and a true legend in the sailing world.
For all of his remarkable achievements, Buddy remained humble and approachable. Known for his colorful personality and infectious love for the sport, Buddy was always willing to lend a helping hand and offer words of encouragement to fellow sailors, inspiring them to “always start first and increase your lead”!
Buddy and Gloria had an indelible impact on the Bob Johnstone family when they lived in the Chicago area (Wilmette, IL). With the advent of the Soling fleet in the Midwest, Bob J. and Mary J. (seen above on a 470) started campaigning Solings for several years. Buddy was a helpful mentor for the Johnstone’s regarding boat preparation, boat speed tips, and even suggestions on sailing better tactically and strategically. It was not surprising that Buddy and his close friend Bill Bentsen and fellow E-Scow Champion Billy Allen, along with the Johnstone’s, were the top Soling teams in the USA for years.
Buddy taught the J/family how to go ice-boating in front of their house on Lake Geneva. The Johnstone boys (Stu and Drake) were quick learners and loved ice-boating ever since… often going to mutual friend Peter Harken’s house on Pewaukee Lake and taking his Nite-class ice yacht- called “Captain America”- out for hours on the frozen expanse of the lake.
Additionally, perhaps the most invaluable lesson Buddy taught to Stu and Drake J. during the inaugural 1973 U.S. Youth Championship at Sheridan Shore Yacht Club in Wilmette, Illinois was the concept and phenomenon known as “ventilation”. Bob J. invited his good friend Buddy to be the “coach of honor” at that first U.S. Youth Championship that featured the International 470 doublehanded class and the ubiquitous Laser singlehanded class. Each day, Buddy would do a “debrief” in the evening at Sheridan Shore YC. On the second day, as Buddy was observing the 470 class, he saw Stu & Drake J. squander an easy lead as they approached the leeward mark going DDW (dead downwind). At the debrief that evening, Buddy looked at Stu & Drake and said very frankly, “Boys, do you remember what I said about iceboats going dead downwind?” Of course, the boys laughed and said, “Yes, we know… iceboats don’t go DDW with the sail strapped hard on centerline…you have to gybe a lot”. Buddy laughed and remarked, “Well, why didn’t you do that going down to the leeward mark? If you ventilated and kept the wind flowing across your spinnaker, you would’ve rounded first with a bigger lead!” He then explained in detail what it meant on boats like scows that play the apparent wind speed angles and keep the wind flowing across the sails to generate lift. That was an invaluable life lesson and sailing lesson that Stu & Drake took to heart and never forgot!
Buddy is survived by his loving wife of 69 years- Gloria- and their children (Laura Melges, Hans Melges, and Harry C. Melges III), and numerous grandchildren. Thanks for Scuttlebutt Sailing contribution
About J/Boats
Started in 1977, J/Boats continues to lead the world in designing fun-to-sail, easy-to-handle, performance sailboats that can be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of sailors. The International J/24 has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world with over 5,500 J/24s cruising the waves. The J/70 one-design speedster has become the world’s fastest-growing sportsboat ever!
Today, there are 15,000+ J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65 and ranging in style from one-designs to racers, cruisers to daysailers and, of course, the ubiquitous J sprit boats- J/Boats’ innovation in 1992 for easy-to-use asymmetric spinnakers and retractable carbon bowsprits.
J/Boats has the best track record in sailing for innovation and designs as evidenced by: 20 Boat-of-the-Year Awards; the SAIL Award for Industry Leadership; two American Sailboat Hall of Fame Designs; and five World Sailing International One-Design keelboat classes (J/22, J/24, J/70, J/80 and J/111).
Counting crew, every year there are over 100,000 friends to meet sailing J’s, populating the most beautiful sailing harbors and sailing the waters of 35+ countries around the world. Sailing is all about friends. Come join us and expand your social network everywhere! For more information on J/Boats.
MAVERICK MARKETER- Bob Johnstone’s New Book
Enjoy reading this page-turning business memoir and love story from this National Sailing Hall of Fame yachtsman, wrapped up in a narrative about problem-solving when following one’s dreams to create the leading performance brands in boating,… J/Boats and MJM Yachts.
Overview:
In “Maverick Marketer,” Johnstone considers the course of his life, from taking the helm of a sailboat in a race at age 2, through college days at Princeton, to creating the leading performance brand in sailing, then doing same with powerboats. Regaling readers with sailing stories and how award-winning boats were created, Johnstone seeks to ignite a creative spark in others, urging them to follow their passion and chart their course to victory. Part memoir, part love story, part marketing case study, “Maverick Marketer” is an entrepreneurial success story brimming with lessons on innovation, business development, and problem-solving. Rebecca White, an award-winning Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Tampa, said, “I’d recommend Bob Johnstone’s book for every college student today.”
You can order the book here (as PDF, printed book, e-book):