(London, England)- Shocked? While the French sailboat reviewers were
having fun evaluating the J/111, the sailors across "La Manche" in
England had first-hand experience either sailing aboard or racing
against the J/111 all season long on the Solent and in the Fastnet
Race. Many of them were Yachts & Yachting Magazine readers.The UK had a sun-filled season. One which lifted the spirits, and one which further boosted that feeling of "goodness" by a number of special events that had the sailing scene buzzing. The America’s Cup launched its World Series and came to Plymouth and Cowes Week got a new sponsor. The result, with Aberdeen Asset Management’s branding, was the liveliest Cowes for years – especially with the J/111s criss-crossing the Solent in wild, planing rides buzzing past everyone and keeping pace with TP52s on some legs- hitting steady 16 knots with bursts to 22 knots! Plus, the 111's had a great time in the Around Island Race, that 65nm classic around the Isle of Wight, winning their class. If that weren't' enough proof the 111 could sail well in a wide variety of conditions, it finished 2nd in IRC Class 1 in the Garmin Hamble Winter Series (more below) and even got a 3rd in IRC Doublehanded in the Rolex Fastnet Race despite being parked for hours within a stone's throw of the finish line (and watching a sure overall win evaporate as time passed by).
As a result of all that activity, the Yachts & Yachting readers selected the J/111 as "Yacht of the Year" in the UK! As described in Y&Y, "it's no wonder the J/111 won, imagine a J/109 on steroids – a one-design that’s nearly 20 per cent lighter, with a longer waterline and bigger sail area! It's fast and it shows, the trophy shelves are already stuffed with all the Queen's Garrard silverware!" Sailing photo credits: Paul Wyeth @ PWPictures.com Find out more about the J/111 story in England in the latest February 2011 issue of Yachts and Yachting. For more J/111 sailboat information.
