JIM Wins 120 Class(Newport Beach, CA)- Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach played host to this year's J/Fest Newport Beach. And, what a fantastic time was had by all in truly classic Southern California sailing conditions. Sun. Wind. Beautiful days in the 70s. Can't beat it. Just wear SPF 1,000...scares away melanoma, even if you have it.
In the PHRF Handicap division, it turned out that the littlest J, Mark Hunter's J/80 IN APPROPRIATE, took all the marbles, sailing to a 2-1-3-2-2 score to win by 14 points. However, not without a bit of controversy, Seth Hall's gorgeous J/124 MARISOL scored a 9 (RAF)-2-1-1-1 to finish with 14 points. Without the RAF, Seth's crew would've taken the top of the podium. Just behind was Charlie Underwood's J/92 STING only one point back. In one-design world, Mark Wyland's LUCKY STAR was top J/105 with a strong score of 1-1-4-2-1 for nine points. Chuck Spear's TWELVE BAR BLUES strummed up a 2-2-3-1-3 for eleven points. The AQUABELLA crew skippered by Dan McGanty managed a healthy 3-5-5-3-2 for eighteen points to just beat rivals OFF THE PORCH for the bronze.
The J/109s had a good, competitive fleet as well, with the results in doubt until the last two races. Bryce Benjamin's PERSISTENCE sailed off with the silverware with a 2-2-1-4-1 score. Heinz Butner's RAPTOR took second just 3 points back and Chris Mewes SHADOWFAX simply sailed to straight 3rds to get 3rd!! How unusual is that for a tally?
The J/120s strong showing of ten boats meant that top three was going to be tough going for anyone wishing for any kind of silverware. Nevertheless, despite the not so easy conditions, John Snook's team on JIM simply walked off with the 120 fleet trophy, getting a 2-1-1-2-4 to win by an incredible ten points over some very strong teams. The fight for 2 thru 5 placings were very close, indeed. Second was past champion Chuck Nichols on CC RIDER with 20 points. Just behind him was a nearly 4-way tie for third. Third on a tie-breaker was Gary Winton's SHENANIGANS, just beating Shew/Durant's VIVA LA VIDA in fourth. Fifth was Mike Hatch on J ALMIGHTY only two points further back! For more J/Fest sailing information
The J/109s had a good, competitive fleet as well, with the results in doubt until the last two races. Bryce Benjamin's PERSISTENCE sailed off with the silverware with a 2-2-1-4-1 score. Heinz Butner's RAPTOR took second just 3 points back and Chris Mewes SHADOWFAX simply sailed to straight 3rds to get 3rd!! How unusual is that for a tally?
