Wednesday, October 6, 2010

J/80 Worlds Having a Gear-buster

J/80s sailing World Championships
(Newport, RI)- Sixty-two teams are competing in Rhode Island Sound and on Narragansett Bay this week.  So far it has lived up to its promises to be one of the most competitive J/80 Worlds to date. The six past World Champions are having a go at one another over the first three days of racing, but none of them are leading!

The sailing has simply been extraordinary.  Tuesday's northeaster blowing 15-25 knots offshore with ginormous waves from the east made for some incredibly long planes/ surfs on what seemed like a long roller-coaster ride.  Wednesday's WNW breeze offshore was incredibly tactical and shifty.  That was followed up by yet another even shiftier and tactical day on Thursday inside Narragansett Bay.

At the moment, the current J/80 European Champion, Carlos Martinez, is winning on PERALEJA GOLF by only one point over the American team of Scott Young and Terry Flynn on QUANTUM RACING.  They are ahead on a tie-breaker over Jose Maria "Pichu" Torcida sailing ECC VIVIENDAS, the 2007 Worlds winner in La Trinite, France.  Fourth is Glenn Darden sailing LE TIGRE and fifth is Jeff Johnstone on LITTLE FEAT.The last day of racing promises to be a cliff-hanger for these top five teams as they all mathematically have a chance of winning, especially if at least two races are sailed offshore in Rhode Island Sound.  Another gorgeous day is forecast with strong WNW winds with spectacularly clear skies.  Follow all the action, photos and results for the J/80 Worlds.