(Sydney Harbour, Australia- July 8th)- With clear blue skies and a gusty
westerly wind averaging 13 to 16 knots, the first J/111 into Australia
managed to fit in one of the last winter series club races before the
season ends and still allows time to participate in the Sydney
International Boat Show. There was time for a quick test sail during the
week to make sure all was working after commissioning and tweak the rig
with a superb set of sails from the Ian Short sail loft.The crew met at the CYCA dock and interested sailors passing by delayed departure time for the race with Sydney Amateurs Sailing Club based in Cremorne across the harbour but we made the start line in Athol Bay close to Taronga Zoo just in time.
With a mixture of forty-plus footers to well sailed modified sport boats in the division before we knew it we were off. Great start at the committee boat end and heading West up the harbour trying to spot the club top mark in Neutral Bay. We took a conservative middle lane while concentrating on trimming the boat and getting the feel of her. It was soon apparent we had great speed and height and were first around the top mark. Bear away set onto a starboard run down the harbour to Rose Bay and staying in the channel of wind we noted on the beat. Kite up and pulling then no wind, the channel of wind was moving north, no problem lets gybe--- calamity, “we can’t gybe” comes the call from the bow.
The starboard sheet has tangled and requires re running. We stay on our current course sailing into an ever decreasing wind pattern in the shifty Sydney Harbour westerly and watch as the boats behind set spinnakers and power down the harbour in the new wind lane. A few minutes later we gybe and the race is well and truly on again.
Back in 6th place but in the same pressure as our competitors the J/111 starts to light up and we rapidly start to gain on the front runners. Into the Rose Bay bottom mark dousing the spinnaker we find ourselves in 3rd place.
We settle into the beat back up the harbour and find the sweet spot of the J/111. Despite the gusty weather we are tracking between 7.1 and 7.5 knots and pointing high. By the second time around the top mark we are back in the lead and no mistakes on the run/ reach back towards Sow and Pigs reef where a gust gave us a glimpse of 14 knots boat speed with the 130 sqm. running kite set. We round the bottom mark and are close reaching towards the next mark at Shark Island. Another potential calamity but this time in the form of a Flying Tiger on port tack in a wild broach coming down the run on its side but still scooting across the water. Thanks to our extensive avoiding maneuvers it missed us by a few feet (barely!!).
We leave Shark Island to starboard and look for the finish line close to the zoo. The next boat through is 6 minutes later. We’ve been racing for 88 minutes and wishing the race had another lap.
A resounding success for the J/111’s first race in Australia. Our warm glow and total enjoyment of the boat is fueled by the fact we know there is more performance to come as we learn this easy to sail 36 foot speedster.
If you would like to have a closer look at this exceptional boat she will be on the J/Boat stand in the Sydney international Boat show alongside the J/80 in pen 35 & 36 on the Cockle Bay side of Darling Harbour. Or alternatively call YachtSpot for a private viewing.
