(Stockholm, Sweden)- It's been a great
season for many of the Swedish J/Boats. Long time J/boat aficionado,
Peter Gustafsson, got his new J/111 BLUR in time for SPI-Ouest France
and managed a top three finish! But before handing his old J/109 BLUR
over to the new owner, he and his team won both the Marstrand Big Boat
Race and the inshore part of AF Offshore Race (Around Gotland Race).Back on-board the new J/111 BLUR for the balance of the Scandinavian sailing summer, they quickly adapted to the boat. Here's Peter's quick summary of their sweet summer season aboard the 111:
"We were 3rd in the super competitive R40-class in Færderseilasen in Norway, 2nd in class in Around Hermano, winning the feeder race to Around Tjorn and last weekend they topped it off with a 3rd overall of 436 boats in Around Tjorn, Sweden's largest yacht race.
The Around Tjorn is the highlight of the year for many, gathering all kinds of boats and sailors. This year we had Fredrik Loof straight from winning the Olympic Gold Medal in his Star and the Swedish guys from GROUPAMA (Volvo Ocean Race Winners) racing in the 28 mile race around the island of Tjorn.
We had very close racing with the two First 40s that came first and second. We led on the first beat despite winds up to 14-16 knots but when it opened up, it quickly became a waterline race. We knew we were faster downwind, so we just had to hang in there. Turning the corner, the chase begun through the narrow passages in the archipelago. It was just crazy, doing 15 knots with the big kite just a few feet away from the rocks. In the end we were very close but lost out on handicap.
To round of a great weekend I did the same course solo on Sunday after the race. We were ten boats that tested if the format would work for a new solo race in 2013. Sailing the J/111 solo worked beautifully!! I really love the boat.
On the agenda for the season is to top 20 knots-- so we have the crew on standby for one or two September low pressures!" We wish them well. We have NO DOUBT (like the famous musician) they will top 20+ knots boatspeed!
Other J/boats that's are winning races in Sweden are J/105 JAVELIN with Sebastian Larsson who won Around Naset overall and the J/97 SAILING FOR JESUS skippered by Lennart Jansson who won his class in Hermano Runt. Sailing photo credits- Ake Fredriksson
Sailing reports:
http://www.blur.se/2012/06/10/faerderseilasen-2012/
http://www.blur.se/2012/08/06/hermano-runt-2012/
http://www.blur.se/2012/08/20/tjorn-runt-2012/
http://www.blur.se/2012/08/20/mellan-broarna-solo-2012/