(Seattle, WA)- The fourth of nine events in the 2011 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD series begins this Friday in Seattle. More than 150 teams in 22 divisions will be racing on Puget Sound. Last year's overall champion, Michael Johnson, returns with his HOT PURSUIT team to the 11-boat J/24 division. Says Mike Lovett, "I had the chance to meet Johnson at last year's NOOD Championship in the British Virgin Islands, and when we parted ways in Tortola, he mentioned he was planning to sail the J/24 World Championship this November in Buenos Aires, Argentina. If that's still the plan, you can bet Johnson and company will be in fine form as they prepare to head south."
J/80s have a solid fleet of boats with contenders distributed amongst the near dozen boats sailing. Hard to tell if the good money goes on CRAZY IVAN, HEART ATTACK, FEARFUL SYMMETRY, SKYE ROCKET or TAJ MAJAL. With names like that, betting is good that someone from that lot will win!
Last year, the J/105s saw a closely fought series and a run for the gold between JADED and LAST TANGO. However, without these two contenders sailing this year, it looks like Erik Kristen's JUBILEE from CYC, Robert Blaylock's USAWI from SBYC and Lorenzo Migliorini's ALLEGRO VIVACE from CYC will be dueling for the top three spots.
The J/109s are rockin' and rollin' again and it looks like David MacLean's ILLUSIONIST sailing from CYC and J-TRIPPER sailed by the Nordquists from Seattle YC may be amongst the contenders to take honors in this fun-loving one-design/ cruiser/ racer class.
The J/24s have more than a dozen entries and certain to be amongst the contenders will be last year's winner, HOT PURSUIT sailed by skipper Mike Johnson from Corinthian YC in Seattle. Sure to be factors in the racing and vying for honors on the podium will be last year's third place team, SELF ABUSE skippered by Harry Dursch from Corinthian YC in Seattle as well as fellow CYC member Scott Milnes sailing TREMENDOUS SLOUCH. Thanks for contribution from Mike Lovett- Sailing World- For more Sperry Topsider Seattle NOOD Sailing information
