J/97 JENGA Wins Overall!
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England- August 1-8)- Over 700 boats had enormously variable set of weather conditions for their week of sailing on the Solent-- and it was a good test for the newest J hatched on the block-- the J/97 JENGA (pic right). Everything from calms to breeze, rain/mist and massive amounts of current didn't dissuade the tenacious crew aboard JENGA, sweeping into the overall "boat of the week" overall winner over all 700+ boats.The J/97 JENGA being campaigned by Paul and Marie-Claude Heys' simply dominated Class IRC 5 with six firsts and a third, so with one throwout they averaged first!! Wow, they were clearly the "class of the entire Cowes Week"!! JENGA won by eight points over the second place boat that averaged just over second place! Despite the often tricky conditions that perplexed their competitors, it was clear that Paul and Marie-Claude continued to lead the fleet home in virtually every race. Good on ya Paul and Marie-Claude, extremely impressive showing-- reminiscent of Stuart Johnstone's J/44 J-HAWK days when America was seen ruling Brittania again on the waters back in 1990 (much has changed since, one might add, seeing the recent results of the British Olympic Sailing Team!).
The J/109 One-Design Class had a fleet of thirty-two boats, the largest offshore one-design class gathering known in recent years on the Solent for 36 footers. Winners in the closely fought series were Ewart-Smith and Richards' ZELDA followed by ubiquitous contenders David and Kirsty Aphthorp's J-DREAM in second. Overcoming an early deficit midweek to finish third overall was the RAF Red Arrows team sailing the J/109 RED ARROW. They just beat out in the last two days Matt Boyle's well sailed and campaigned SHIVA. The racing was extremely and the last two races determined the ultimate outcome.The J/80 One-Design class had twenty-one contenders scraping for all the marbles. HOOLINGKAZAM raced by Mark Baskerville and Steve Sault put on a full frontal assault to overcome an early midweek deficit to win by two points the very competitive J/80 class. Early leaders Rob and John Fox's JEVAN were contenders for the lead midweek but fell from the graces of the wind Gods to finish third. Stepping into the frying pan for the silver podium finish was Gordon Craigen's JUICY by one point over JEVAN, by virtue of winning the last race!
After a rough start, John and Jill Patterson's J/122 PANACEA overcame significant obstacles to finish fourth overall and Ian Matthew's J/122 JINJA finished 5th in a highly competitive and closely fought Class IRC2.
In Class IRC3, the well-sailed J/39 SLEEPER sailed by Jonty Layfield wins by two points over Tom McDonald's J/90 JOE 90 in second. Sure enough, the standings were mixed enough day-to-day that anything that could happen did happen in this very competitive class. However, never in anyone's wildest predictions would have these two boats track eachother to the top of the podium! Congratulations Jonty and Tom, job well done!
In the overall J/Boats Class scoring for all J's sailing at Cowes Week, a special trophy for J Owners only, JENGA sailed by Paul and Marie-Claude Heys took home the honors followed in second by the John and Jill Patterson's J/122 PANACEA and Tom and Wise McDonald's J/90 JOE 90 taking the bronze positions. For more information.