{"id":18487,"date":"2022-12-08T02:43:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T03:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwest.jboats.com\/?p=18487"},"modified":"2023-04-02T00:20:11","modified_gmt":"2023-04-02T00:20:11","slug":"j-newsletter-december-7th-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jboatssouthwest.com\/j-newsletter-december-7th-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"J\/Newsletter- December 7th, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sunset<\/p>\n

This past week marked the end of one famous sailing series in Southern California as well as the conclusion of a famous Jamaican J\/22 regatta sailed in Montego Bay. Plus, we got a report from our Australian friends “Down Under” about more offshore victories… seems like they never stop down there, do they?!<\/p>\n

First off, the amazingly fun and hospitable 33rd annual Jammin’ J\/22 Jamaica Regatta was yet again hosted by the gorgeous Montego Bay Yacht Club. Eleven teams from across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Texas sailed in spectacular, extremely epic, and windy, “blowing dog off chains” sailing conditions. The report by the MBYC Commodore is entertaining… enjoy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then, hopping west across the continent to southern California, we find the San Diego Yacht Club in San Diego, CA completed the third and final race of their notoriously fun-loving Hot Rum Race Series, a series of PHRF pursuit races held over three weekends over 6 weeks. While the pair of J\/105s didn’t hang on to win the PHRF Overall, they did clean house in PHRF 3 Division. In PHRF 1 Division the trio of J\/145s sailed well, given that they were up against the hottest TP 52s on the West coast. Then, in PHRF 2 Division, the usual suspects of hot J\/120s and J\/111s were having a hard time this year cracking the top three.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Going still further southwest across the Pacific Ocean to Sydney, Australia, we discover that our HOT J\/99 and J\/122 teams continue to dominate the offshore fleet in Sydney Harbour. This time, it was the latest race in the Bluewater Point Score Series. The event was the 172.0nm Cabbage Tree Island Race, hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.<\/p>\n

Finally, there are two important announcements down in the “Upcoming Events” section. The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club are hosting the IRC Middle East Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from December 17th to 18th, 2022. Forty boats are expected to participate in the regatta. Many J\/Boats owners are quite active in the Middle East, with the possibility the fleet will include J\/22s, J\/24s, J\/80s, J\/92, J\/105s, J\/111, and a J\/122.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The RORC combined with UNCL P\u00f4le Course du YCF and La Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique de la Trinit\u00e9 Sur Mer (SNT) is hosting the inaugural IRC Two-Handed European Championship at the beginning of July 2023. The Championship will be decided by the combined results from two RORC offshore races: La Trinit\u00e9 \u2013 Cowes (350.0nm) starting on the 2nd of July and Cowes – Dinard – St Malo (150.0nm), starting on the 7th of July.\u00a0<\/p>\n


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\"J\/45<\/a><\/p>\n

J\/45 Wins CRUISING WORLD 2023 Boat of the Year:\u00a0 Best Performance Cruiser Award!\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

(Newport, RI)- This division truly lived up to its name, with a solid lineup of five nominees that lit up under sail.<\/p>\n

\"J\/45The Johnstone family business has certainly evolved in the 45 years since the company launched with the J\/24 back in 1977. But, the common denominator in the boats it has built since then is pretty straightforward: they\u2019re all terrific sailing craft. Over time, J\/Boats pivoted from one-design classes to ocean racers and full-fledged cruisers, and all that experience has culminated with this sleek, slick, dual-purpose 45-footer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs expected, this boat sailed beautifully,\u201d judge Ed Sherman says. \u201cIts 75 hp Volvo Penta Saildrive gave us ample speed when motoring, and was quiet too. I see this boat as an answer to the hardcore racer who wants to scale back a bit and enjoy cruising with the family in comfort while not sacrificing the performance they\u2019re used to.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fellow judge Mark Pillsbury explains what put the boat over the top in his mind: \u201cDuring Boat of the Year sea trials, we\u2019re usually accompanied by builders or dealers who tell us what a boat\u2019s intended to do, and we\u2019re left to determine how successfully they hit the mark. In the case of the new J\/45, we got to hear directly from an owner himself, who wanted a boat that he could seriously race with his mates, and then take his family of four young daughters off cruising. After a summer of doing both, the verdict was in: He loved his new J\/45. And after our sail, so did we. \u2018Rides like it\u2019s on rails,\u2019 I jotted in my notes. \u2018Very smooth.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"J\/45<\/a><\/p>\n

The arrival of the cold front could not possibly have been more surreal. At precisely 5 p.m. this past October 17, coinciding exactly with the official pronouncement that the annual US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, had concluded, a fierce thunderstorm rolled over the Chesapeake Bay, generating sideways rain and powerful gusts. Chaos ensued. Exhibitors on land breaking down tents and packing up displays were left doused and scrambling. The crews on boats untying lines to depart the docks ducked for cover. It was a mess for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Except, that is, for our team of judges for the 2023 Boat of the Year contest, the sea trials for which were scheduled to begin early the next day. For us, hiding out from the fray, the timing couldn\u2019t have been better. We knew that the front was also bringing a fresh breeze\u2014a couple of days of pumping northerlies before a welcome swing to solid southerlies. Game on.<\/p>\n

Full disclosure: It\u2019s not every year that every nominee in our yearly BOTY competition gets tested in superb conditions. Chesapeake Bay can be a fickle test bed in mid-October, particularly on flat-calm mornings, when it takes some time for the capricious sea breeze to fill in. Truthfully, sometimes it never does. But not this year. And while the winds did fluctuate somewhat over the next 72 hours when our panel conducted sea trials for this year\u2019s fleet of 17 entries, overall the conditions were almost ideal\u2014some of the best, most consistent pressure in the 20-odd-year history of the event. Each entry got a fair opportunity to strut its stuff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And it was a great year for that to happen because while the fleet may not have been the largest ever, in terms of sailing prowess and performance, it was exemplary across the board. The sailing, quite simply, was outstanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But about those numbers: It\u2019s safe to say that the effect of the pandemic on worldwide sailboat manufacturing is lingering. Last year in Annapolis, builders were inundated with orders, and for some companies, order books were full for the following two or three years or more. Which meant that if you laid down a deposit for a new boat in 2021, it was by no means unusual for delivery to be scheduled for 2023, or later. That trend is slowing, but it has not ceased. What seems to have been shelved for many brands is the R&D that goes into new models. It makes sense.<\/p>\n

All that said, even in years with two dozen entries or more, it\u2019s rare to be presented with a fleet with such a resounding international presence. The 17 boats that comprise the BOTY \u201923 field were produced in nine different nations: Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, South Africa, Slovenia, Sweden, the United States, and shockingly, even Ukraine. Sailors by nature are known to be a resilient lot, but so too are those who create the craft we sail. We salute them.<\/p>\n

There was one final, unique aspect to the Boat of the Year 2023 competition: the number of owners aboard the yachts that we tested for the sea trials. Manufacturers reps and designers are our usual presenters, but having the sailors who purchased and commissioned the vessels always adds a new and fascinating dimension. Hearing what they chose and why is valuable input.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"J\/45<\/p>\n

J\/45 ACADIA<\/strong>
In that vein, we\u2019d like to recognize Erik Asgeirsson on the J\/45 ACADIA, a lifelong sailor who\u2019s the very definition of a racer and cruiser. He enjoys competing aboard the boat, but also sailed it across the windswept English Channel in a full-on, rip-roaring gale Force 7 after taking delivery, and he cruises with his wife and four girls all over New England (seen above).<\/p>\n

As always, the contest was conducted in two parts, with a series of dockside inspections of the overall build, systems, and layout preceding the sail trials. And, as always, we want to thank all the participants, who were gracious with their time and very accessible, even when we closed down their boats for viewing during busy periods during the Annapolis boat show.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Eventually, as they invariably do, the winds calmed and the Chesapeake Bay was placid. Which meant it was time to convene, deliberate, and choose some winners. This year, in particular, was the hard part. What follows is a roll call of the winners and a closer look at every nominee. For our team who puts it together, our Boat of the Year program is always some of the best sailing we ever get to do. And this year, breeze on, was special indeed.\u00a0 For more Cruising World Boat of the Year information<\/a>.\u00a0 For more of the Cruising World J\/45 offshore cruising yacht review<\/a><\/p>\n


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\"J\/122<\/a><\/p>\n

J\/99\u2019s and J\/122\u2019s on Form Leading Blue Water Pointscore Series<\/span><\/h2>\n

(Sydney, Australia)- The 172.0nm Cabbage Tree Island Race (hosted by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) was held over the December 2nd to 3rd weekend with a combined fleet of sixty-nine yachts of which fifteen were sailed two-handed. \u00a0Again, we saw more outstanding success from the J\/99 and J\/122 competitors. The growth of the two-handed fleet has been phenomenal and is a real credit to a remarkable bunch of sailors who band together to drive their sport.<\/p>\n

The Cabbage Tree Island Race started in Sydney Harbour on Friday evening, heading north to the island (just north of Port Stephens) and returning to finish back in the harbor.<\/p>\n

Shane Connelly from J\/99 RUM REBELLION commented, \u201cit was a great run up the coast to the island. I should have gybed closer to the island, but ended up going too deep. Rounding the island, we had about 3 hours of windward sailing before the wind swung east then northeast for a great run the rest of the sail home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Results of the race:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n