(Long Beach, CA)- The J/120 North American Championships were contested at Long Beach Race Week in Long Beach, CA June 26th and 27th, 2010. A very competitive fleet of 10 J/120s raced in 10 to 12 knot shifty southerly winds - lighter and more variable than the Long Beach conditions in past years. Even though conditions were "not typical Long Beach", local J/120 veteran John Snook and his crew on JIM excelled, winning 3 of 5 races. It wasn't easy, however. The regatta was very much in play on the last downwind leg of race 4, but JIM passed his two closest challengers, Chuck Nichols' CC RIDER (2 time past J/120 North American Champion and a winner of 2 races in this regatta) and Peter Zarcades' MELTEMI, in the best breeze of the regatta with luffing matches and excitement to win the race and all but lock it up. Race 5 was a virtual parade lap for JIM, and they still scored a 3rd to lock up the championship.
At the trophy presentation, John was asked by he named his J/120 JIM. He looked puzzled by the question, since the hailing port on the transom provided the obvious answer - Starship Enterprise's tail numbers.
Local J/120 Southern California Fleet 4 is hoping to host the J/120 North Americans in Southern California in February or March of 2012 in anticipation of luring our northern Fleets to join us in large numbers. For more
J/120 North Americans sailing information.