35 J/Boats turned out for the inaugural Sprit Fest Regatta held June 2-3rd at the Breakwater Yacht Club, Sag Harbor, NY. The event originated as the J/80 Long Island Championship and was this year expanded to include the J/80, J/105, and J/109 owners. Each class sailed one-design for a championship trophy including the J/80 Long Island Championship, the J/105 Fleet 24 Championship and the J/109 East Coast Championship. A total of five races took place just off the bluffs of Sag Harbor on Noyack Bay. With rain in the forecast, the fleet was treated to blue skies with temperatures in the low 80s and winds blowing 6-12 knots through-out the day Saturday. After the first three races the competition was quite close in all classes. Saturday night festivities included a BBQ at the club with great food, fun people, and video of racing action.Sunday brought gray skies and 8-12 knot conditions. Early in the day two races were sailed and then, with the remnants of a tropical storm system threatening, the RC called it a day and led the fleet back to port. At the awards presentation after a 5 race/one throw-out weekend Steve Tedeschi’s Tastes Like Chicken claimed the J/109 East Coast Championship hardware with 11 points. David Betts, Instant Karma won the J/105 Fleet 24 Championship trophy with a near perfect 5 points and Blake Fleetwood with USA 352 defended his J/80 Long Island Championship title with a low point score of 13. After the awards everyone departed but will not soon forget this fun weekend of sailing. A special thanks to David Jannetti, to Breakwater YC and to all the volunteers, competitors and sponsors… results.
