Mark Sadler's ORION Wins
(False Bay YC, South Africa)- Who ever said the J/22s weren't stout little boats! The South Africans had a spectacular series of racing hosted in gorgeous sunny conditions, huge winds and ginormous waves in False Bay. The PRO at False Bay YC should be commended for running a wonderful regatta.Sixteen J/22s showed up for this years' 2010 J/22 South African Championships. Six of the boats sailing in the Nationals were ready to practice the day before the regatta started. ORION skippered by Mark Sadler, JUMP'N'JIVE skippered by Dale Kushner, MINI BILLY skippered by Peter Hill, BABY J skippered
by Markus Progli, GREENLIGHT skippered by Dave Hudson, and JENDES skippered by Manuel Mendes. However, with 30-40 knots gusting to 50+ knots in False Bay, even the bravest of souls thought prudence the better part of valor and all stayed ashore. Nevertheless, the sailing for the championship was spectacular as the gales eased off to 15-25 knots, making for excellent racing. Race Officer John Spillhaus managed to get in five great races, with J/22s leaping off giant wave-tops upwind and experiencing long surfs on the Atlantic swells downwind under spinnaker. Exciting Racing! The pics show it all. Congratulations to Mark Sadler, Simon Eatwell and Gerrie Hegie for taking 1st place with ORION, Markus and Crew for 2nd on BABY J and Dale and crew for 3rd on JUMP'N'JIVE. For more South African Championship sailing information