Australian J/70s On Show

(Sydney, Australia)-  Since the J/70's arrival in Australia, interest continues to increase in the dynamic little speedster that has been taking the world by storm since its introduction in America in the spring of 2012.  With record turnouts in American winter/ spring regattas and building fleets in Europe, the world of sailing in the Asia-Pac world is just beginning to get its taste of the J/70 magic.

From May 23 to 26, the J/70 will be debuting at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, its first big show and first “Australian International” show since its arrival.  For those passionate J sailing enthusiasts in Australia, this is a great opportunity to enjoy a classic "fall boat show" Down Under and learn more about why the J/70 will soon be the world's next giant international one-design class!  After all, when club sailors were having a ball sailing their J/70s in 20-30 kt breezes (with no boat breakages) recently in the Charleston Race Week regatta, many sailing "other sportsboats" were doing cart-wheels across the water with massive breakages and capsizes taking place everywhere (rigs blowing-off boats and crews seen standing on keels in just 20 kts of breeze!).  Learn more about the fun, family-friendly, one-design speedster- the world's most popular new sportsboat- J/70!

J/Teams Win IRC Double Class- Vuurschepen/ North Sea Races

(The Hague, Netherlands)- The start of the offshore sailing season in the Netherlands has been good to J/Teams!  With the combination of the Netherlands's Vuurschepen Race and the RORC's North Sea Race, two top J/Teams are on top of the offshore double-handed world! Many of the top teams from both sides of the "ditch" enter into the criss-cross races over the English Channel in May to not only get a head-start on the season, but ensure they're competitive for the overall RORC Season offshore championship series in both the UK and in the Netherlands.

The long weekend started with the Vuurschepenrace, part of the Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta, a 100nm blast across the Channel from the Netherlands to Harwich, England.  After a day of rest in Harwich, England, the classes sail back across the English Channel in the 180 nm race from Harwich to the Smith's Knoll Buoy off the North Norfolk Coast then across the eastern parts of the North Sea to Scheveningen.

On the initial leg across to Harwich, the J/111 XCENTRIC RIPPER, sailed by the strong offshore duo of John van de Starre and Robin Verhoef from the Netherlands, managed a 4th overall in IRC Class, taking 2nd in the Double-handed Division.  Just behind them was the J/122 JUNIQUE sailed by Chris Revelman and Pascal Bakker.

On the return leg to Scheveningen, it was a completely different story for all of the teams entered. The 210 nm race from Harwich to Scheveningen looked like it could be a fast sleigh ride across the North Sea. Fresh southwesterly winds with gusty rain squalls were predicted, which could produce an ideal angle for an exhilarating race.  Gusting over 25 knots with rain squalls, the early part of the race was not a comfortable one, but more settled weather in the latter part of the race with glimpse of sunshine coming through the cloud cover was welcomed by the 75 yachts that entered the race.

In the Two-Handed class the Dutch team of Chris Revelman and Pascal Bakker retained the class title racing J/122 JUNIQUE.  Chris Revelman & Pascal Bakker's Dutch J/122 won the IRC Two Handed Class last year and the duo are back to defend their win. "It is looking like we will have a fast race," commented Chris Revelman. "However, we are not making any special changes because of the conditions. We will have a good meal tonight and plenty of rest, as during the race we will get little sleep and eat simple bread and soup. Our objective will be to win the race and it will be a big part of our build up for the highlight of the season, the Rolex Fastnet Race."  Their words could not have been more prophetic before the start of the race from Harwich back across the Channel to Scheveningen, the top two teams flip-flopped. This time the J/122 JUNIQUE took top honors and the J/111 XCENTRIC RIPPER was second in the IRC Double class. Remarkably, in IRC Two Class (including fully crewed boats), the J/122 was 5th overall and the J/111 6th!

Following their lead were a small armada of other J's sailing both fully-crewed and double-handed in IRC 3 and IRC 4 divisions. Leading the charge in IRC 3 was the beautifully restored J/35 RAGAZZA led by the trio of Gabriel/ De Bie/ Malchair, taking 3rd in class!  Fourth was Kees Mijs J/109 ARETHUSA and fifth was the double-handed duo on the J/109 YETI sailed by Paul & Mike van der Pol.

In IRC 4 Class, the J/105s performed well in the tough offshore conditions.  It was Stan Fenton's well-known FAY J that took 2nd in class while the Double-handed team of Harry Roek in HARPOEN took third overall.  For more Vuurschepen/ North Sea Race sailing information

PROCEDES DIVA Takes German J/80 MAIOR Regatta

(Wannesee, Germany)- As the northern European sailing season gets underway, it's apparent the J/80s in Scandinavia and in Germany are rapidly getting organized in their regional fleets with a focus on sending a few good teams to the J/80 Worlds in Marseilles, France in July.  We recently got a nice report from the German J/80 team that took third place in the MAIOR Regatta, the first of the season.   Here is Henning Buchman's commentary:

"This year MAIOR greeted us with blue skies and moderate wind conditions. Sixteen J/80 teams were registered and fifteen ended up starting in the event. Like every year, we shared the main local hotel and the race course  with the M24s, P25s and SB20s.  The J/80s were, in fact, by far the strongest and largest field this year's event.

Literally with a bang, most J/80 sailors were taken out of hibernation at the first start. Friday morning shortly before eleven came the first sound signal and all was clear!  Second start - "Oh great, then we can look at the start of the other boats in peace!" But the late spring had probably left some of the participants still in the "fog of winter"-- two or three boats hadn't noticed that both the start pennant "one" and pennant "two" were flying simultaneously! Something no one had experienced to date!

As a result, the first start was a common starting signal for all fleets, not a real race start.  What a commotion, no fleets were happy, especially us J/80s!  No one was really satisfied with the situation. Fortunately, the race committee relented and we got our own J/80 start on the second day of sailing.

There is not much to say about the other days of sailing. Sun sun sun! The wind shifted to the west and we sailed the last two days with the wind coming from the direction of the Wannesee rather than on the Baltic Sea.

In the end, it was PROCEDES DIVA that took first overall, PIKE was second and we were third on VIVACE.  Fun sailing!

Despite the unusual starting order on the first day, we want to thank the race committee that made the really difficult sailing conditions on the following days easier for everyone- a truly fantastic job. A really great race!  We look forward to the next event and hope to see many teams at the J/80 World Cup!"  Thanks for contribution from Henning Buchman- skipper VIVACE.  For more J/80 Germany sailing information

J/88 One-Design Offshore Speedster Hatched!

(Newport, RI)- The latest J sailing machine from the stable of offshore, one-design sailing speedsters is the J/88.  A family-friendly, easy-to-handle sailboat that can fly around the course or easily slip into "cruise-control"-- have a fun time sailing with family and friends around the harbor or for a lazy evening sail under main alone. Weekday evening "beer-can" racing will be a frolic for the crew, especially with all the important amenities like cooler and real marine head!

The J/88 is an outgrowth of its sisterships, the J/70 and J/111.  With a huge, highly ergonomic cockpit designed for a party, it serves not just offshore racing functionality, but the more sybaritic pursuits of laying back in the comfortable cockpit seats, enjoying the experience and beautiful views across the water.

Learn more about this exciting offshore hot-rod today!  With over two-dozen boats on order, one will certainly be coming to a regatta near you!  With eye-blistering acceleration and heart-pounding power off-the-wind, J/88 will be ready to set new standards for fun, appealing performance boats in the family-friendly 30 ft size range.

In fact, with a June launch for Hull #1, you will be able to see J/88 at Storm Trysail's Block Island Race Week and soon after back to Newport for dealer/customer demo sails!  Be sure to contact your J/Dealer today to book a demo sail soon!  For more J/88 one-design speedster sailing information

Family J/70 Sailing With Children- Some Perspectives

(Stonington, CT)- After this past weekend's J/70 competition in the Annapolis NOOD Regatta, we received an amusing note from Brandon Flack sailing their J/70 with his wife and two kids. 

Here's Brandon's commentary for other women, children, family sailors:

"A couple of things I wanted to share that people have asked me about...

One- My wife is not a sailor. She is learning as we go with this thing, and she is game for anything we can do as a family.

Two- Neither of my kids are die-hard Opti sailors. Both take lessons and have done some regatta's, but they are by no means top of the fleet sort of kids. My son Dylan (8) is still a green fleeter (yes, the kid you saw steering a lot downwind).

Three- We enjoy all this together, but by no means are we completely into it. The kids enjoy the hotel pool, flight, heck pushing the buttons on the elevator, just about as much as the sailing. However, they do love the whole package and while educating them about Jimmy Buffet on the road trip home they said that last weekend was one of the best vacations ever!

My point is we are your typically family where the husband has probably sailed more then the rest. We have a self-imposed limit of 15 kts breeze and three races per day that we have established to keep it fun and safe, and we TRY to keep it light on the water (I need the most help with this... We almost had to call social services during a few of those huge shifts and lulls!!!).

We really hope more families or teams with kids get out and race with us. It's a tribute to the J/70 that we can do this easily and really enjoy it together.

We have the Sheraton (8 min from AYC) booked again for next year at $89 a night and the kids want more friends at the indoor pool (where they serve drinks for Mom & Dads might I add)!!"  Thanks for contribution from Brandon Flack

GOLD DIGGER Wins J/44s AYC Series

Wilbanks Duo Crush J/105 Class
(Rye, New York)- The conclusion of the American YC Spring Series took place this past weekend with some interesting outcomes for some of the classes, both IRC as well as in the one-design realm.  As usual, the AYC PRO's did a fabulous job of producing great race management and ensuring the fleet enjoyed eleven races our four days of racing on the notoriously fickle Long Island Sound!

After the first weekend of sailing, the thirteen strong J/105 class had great racing and Sean and Susan Doyle's KESTREL were leading the class. However, after a brilliant start to the series, the second weekend of sailing proved to be their "Icarus-like" fall from the skies, dropping in some whopper races like 10-8-10 finishes to drop into second place for the series.  Rising like a "phoenix from the ashes" was the team from Cedar Point, George and Alex Wilbanks, on board REVELATION.  Sailing like champions, they hung tough on the last weekend to "close the deal" and take the J/105 Spring Series class championship.  Third was Paul Beaudin's LOULOU.

Amongst the J/44 one-design class, their "ring-leader", Jim Bishop on his famously sea-foam green GOLD DIGGER, led all the teams home onto the podium, sailing a remarkably consistent series and never falling below fifth for the series to be crowned J/44 class champion.  Sailing equally as well was Len Sitar's VAMP, finishing strongly with a 2-1-3-1 but not enough to dethrone the champion of all J/44 sailing- the DIGGER boys.  Third behind these veterans were RESOLUTE (Don & Rick Rave), fourth Bill Ketcham's MAXINE and fifth Jeff Willis's CHALLENGE IV.

In the IRC 1 class, the province of the big, exotic boats from New York and Connecticut, the J/133 ANTIDOTE sailed by Ron Richman sailed a terrific series of five races on the last weekend to climb into fourth overall.  A very consistent and well-deserved performance.

In IRC 3 Class, the J/122s were led home by the WINGS team with Mike Bruno and crew finishing with an emphatic 1-1 to claim second overall for the series.  Stephen Furnary's PATRIOT was second J/122 and 4th in class overall.  First J/109 was not too surprising, Rick Lyall's STORM taking the fifth spot in class.

PHRF 1 saw an ascendant team onboard Sedgewick Ward's J/111 BRAVO winning the last race and securing 3rd overall in class.

PHRF 2 had the J/109 ZUMA sailed by the trio of Macrae, Sykes and Chronert earn a 4th overall in their division.

Finally, in PHRF 3 we find the domain of J/29s contested quite heavily each and every year.  More often than not, the family team of John and Tony Esposito onboard their famous HUSTLER are riding their horse hard around the track to win just about every time they're competing.  Incredibly, 2013 was an unlucky year for this duo, having to settle for 2nd overall.  Another J/29, SMOKIN J, sailed by another family team- Tom and Julie Sinatra, sailed a very nice series to take 4th overall.  For more American YC Spring Series sailing information

J/Sailors Relish Antigua Sailing

(English Harbour, Antigua)- Few would doubt that the sailing waters around Antigua provide one of the best race tracks anywhere in the world and English and Falmouth Harbours offer some of the best facilities, hotels, restaurants and bars in the Caribbean.

However having the best ingredients for success is not enough. Combining those raw materials requires dedication and expertise and for a regatta, that should always start with the race management. Antigua Sailing Week's tag line is 'where sailing comes first' and above all else providing well-run, competitive racing has been the key to the regatta's success in recent years.

By Antiguan standards, weather conditions were lighter than usual with wind speeds varying from 10 to 20 knots during the week. Only one day produced fully powered Trade Wind weather but the full schedule of racing was completed and the lighter winds created some tactical conundrums for the competitors.

You could almost feel the tension on the dock as the fleet sailed out to battle for the last day of racing in Antigua's fabled race week. With many class winners yet to be decided, the pressure was heightened by tricky conditions.  The breeze was rarely more than 10 knots and there were huge wind holes appearing all over the racing area. However, the Race Committee did an excellent job getting in a fair race for all classes. Starts are always important, especially in light airs and several yachts could not control their urgency enough, resulting in several individual recalls and two general recalls. The last day of racing in the 46th Antigua Sailing Week was not for the faint hearted.

Beautiful sunshine, crystal clear blue skies and a gentle breeze produced a positive vibe for the first few days of racing, with grins all around on the sailor's faces after hours of racing in paradise-- just can't beat Caribbean-style sailing when the weather is simply so sweet!

In CSA 3 Racing, past J/105 owner, Phil Lotz, sailed his Arethusa to the class title by winning the last race.  Rick Wesslund’s J/120 EL OCASO struggled in the light airs and could only finish 6th in their last race to secure second for the series. Too bad, as after three days of racing, it seemed pretty certain that Wesslund's gang of merry-makers on EL OCASO were again ready to take silver in one of the longest running "classic Caribbean" regattas running.  In the end, Wesslund’s EL OCASO team may have lost the battle this time, but they won the sailing wars on the Caribbean, EL OCASO was named the CSA Travellers' Trophy for the most successful yacht in the most 2013 Caribbean regattas.

CSA 4 Racing produced one of the most competitive series of races at Antigua Sailing Week with four different yachts all winning races. The beautifully maintained J/39 SLEEPER VIII sailed by a crack team from the UK were keeping skipper/owner Jonty Layfield in the hunt for the top five, coming on strong in the end with a 1-3 score, good enough for 4th overall.

Finally, Tom Mullen and crew on the J/95 SHAMROCK VIII had yet another great year of sailing the 2013 Caribbean tour of regattas, placing yet again on the podium in CSA 6 Racing, taking third place overall.

In addition to the sailing, Antigua Sailing Week also offers fantastic after-race parties with some of the best bands and DJs entertaining the crowds late into the evening.

On Tuesday night or Lay Day eve, Nelson's Dockyard became a cool open-air night club for thousands of revelers with live music from Tian Winter and his Iconic band and DJ's Private Ryan of Trinidad and Woogie of the United States spinning dance tunes into the night.

Lay Day on Wednesday is more than just a day away from the race course. Pigeon Beach is walking distance from the main marinas and the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge provided a marvelous fleet racing spectacle for hundreds of spectators. Nonsuch Bay Resort also provided a fantastic beach barbecue under the watchful eye of its award winning Caribbean Chef of the Year, Mitchell Husbands.

The final awards party on Friday evening heralded the end of the week and crews gathered in Nelson's Dockyard for one final time along with dignitaries including Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Honorable John Maginley, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, to celebrate the winners, dine on fantastic seafood and dance late into the night. Many crews commented that the grand finale was the best awards party they had ever attended, not just in Antigua but in the Caribbean.  For more Antigua Sailing Week sailing information