(Annapolis, MD)- The 2011 HCM (Hillman Capital Management) J/24 East
Coast Championship will be a 21st Century Event like you cannot
imagine-- Halloween costumes included! This Fall Classic will be better
than ever. Live race video and commentary on the web, coaching on the
water and debriefing (with cocktails) on-shore are part of this year's
event.
Nearly SIXTY boats are competing and the entry list keeps growing like
kudzu weed every day. At the moment, forgetting the fact that Ken Read,
Brad Read, Terry Hutchinson and Ed Baird, amongst others, are a bit
busy with some other sailing events, this year's J/24 East Coasts reads
like a "who's who" of current class leaders-- all capable of winning
since amongst them are World Champions, North American Champions,
Midwinter Champions and Champion of Champions-- did we miss anything
here?
In completely random order are teams that you've got to watch out for on
the leader-board since they can all wreak havoc at a moments notice.
Amongst them, look for some characters on the yacht called COUGAR with
Will Welles and Chuckie Allen brokering traffic behind them. Class
stalwart on BANGOR PACKET, Tony Parker, is working with friend Geoff
Ewenson to keep them out of the corners. Some guy named Tim Healy
skippering SAILORS FOR THE SEA hopes to ensure his World's credentials
aren't resigned to the ash-heap of history. Keeping everyone in check
at the start line and, most certainly, at the corners of the course are
World Team Race Champions and another J/24 not-so-newb sailing WEST
MARINE RIGGING- do both Peter and Carol Levesque and Charlie Enright
ring a bell (is that fair?)? Then, don't forget some old characters who
are a throwback to the past in the J/24 class (like Mr Parker) but may
be far, far more dangerous than ANY scorpion bite you've ever
encountered-- a pilot/trainer for Alaska Airlines called Mark Laura may
have your number far faster than you can snap themselves into a
seat-belt, plus he's got MIT Master of the Universe Number Cruncher
Steve Cucchiaro calling statistical analyses and tactical arbitration on
every puff and wind shift. If that weren't enough, fellow Bostonian
Mark Hillman (yeah, the regatta sponsor) on WIP has a helluva strong
team, so does Dave Van Cleef on CAROLINA GIRL. Nameless on their boats,
but absolutely not nameless in their track records are Mike Ingham
(doh, another J/24 Champion?) from Rochester, NY and Mike Hobson
(Ultimate Yacht Race Champion) from Annapolis, MD simply making sure the
younger kids on the block don't get too uppity.
So, why such a stellar group of J/24 sailors thrashing around the buoys
in Annapolis in late October masquerading in all kinds of Halloween
costumes trying to remain un-noticed in the parking lots, chain hoists
and the yacht club bar? Well, next year's J/24 Worlds in Rochester, NY
are an "open" J/24 Worlds, the first ever. And, this event in Annapolis
is one of the last "district" events you have to sail in to qualify to
sail next year's 2012 J/24 Worlds! That also explains why the "long
distance" traveler award can already be named! TEAM SOKOKUMARU with
Satoshi Kume from Tokyo, Japan at the helm-- now's never too late to get
some practice in for next year! For more J/24 HCM East Coast Championships sailing information