J/70 Debuts with Largest Fleet Ever!(Annapolis, MD)- With 211 boats participating in this year's Sperry Topsider Annapolis NOOD Regatta, it promises to be quite the "class reunion" for many J sailors across eastern America. Why? For the simple fact that 156 boats are J/Teams (74% of the whole fleet) competing in eight J one-design classes (J/22, J/24, J/70, J/80, J/30, J/105, J/35, J/109)! In other words, for the few boats that comprise the six other classes (average of less than 10 boats per fleet) it may be a tad overwhelming to have nearly a thousand J Sailors criss-crossing the northern Chesapeake Bay and flooding the evening tent parties sponsored by Mt Gay Rum and other enthusiastic sponsors!
Leading
the charge again are the J/70s-- setting a record fourth regatta debut
as the largest one-design class. At forty-eight boats (Key West, St Pete
NOOD and Charleston already in the books), the J/70 has completely
eclipsed all attendance records for any sportboat worldwide in inaugural
regattas since sprit-boats first exploded onto the sailing scene with
the J/105 in 1991. The J/70 fleet is on a rapid learning curve and based
on performances at past events, it's clear as mud who will be regatta
leaders after the dust settles in the latest 70 battles. Perhaps most
importantly, it was self-evident, based on the huge "can't wipe the grin
off my face" smiles after the epic first day at Charleston in 15-30 kts
of breeze, all J/70 sailors were having a rip-roaring great time
sailing their boats!After four regattas, the betting will on a number of leading teams that will be seen somewhere at the top of the leader board for the 70s. Included in that group may be Tim Healey's HELLY HANSEN, Joel Ronning's CATAPULT, Brian Elliott's B-SQUARED, Bob Hughes on MUSE/ HEARTBREAKER, Bennet Greenwald's PERSEVERANCE, Henry Brauer/ Will Welles' RASCAL, Jud Smith's RELATIVE OBSCURITY, Peter Vessella's RUNNING WILD, Bruno Pasquinelli's STAMPEDE, Henry Filter's WILD CHILD and a cast of local characters each of whom are capable of good performances, like Peter McChesney's TROUBLE, Tate Russack's DIESEL, and Cole Allsopp's MOXIE.
Next
up are the J/22's with an excellent showing with twenty-eight boats
(second largest J fleet). They will be vying for class honors bragging
rights, as well as getting great practice for their J/22 World
Championships that will be taking place in Newport, RI later this
summer. For those familiar with teams that faired well in Charleston
some weeks ago, it's clear that Chris Doyle and his "JUG 4 1" gang from
Rochester, New York will be the ones to beat. Giving them serious
heartache will be a rogue's roost of J/22 veterans, including Allan
"Albie" Terhune on DAZZLER, Kurt Swanson on SLINGSHOT, Vic Snyder on
MO'MONEY, Jeff Todd on HOT TODDY, super hot sailor chick Sandy Adzick on
HOT TICKET, Mark Hillman on HAROLD GOES SKA and perhaps newcomer
"gurl-stud" Jen Gaffney on PIRATE PRINCESS RACING TEAM. Amongst this
crowd, anything goes, as it always has been!
With
the third largest J fleet, the J/80's sailing with 23 boats are
fielding a very competitive fleet. Like their J/22 sisters, for some
American teams, the event provides great practice for J/80 Worlds in
Marseilles, France. Amongst those teams, look for Brian Keane's SAVASANA
and the Danish family team- Thomas Klok and the Crumps (Will and Marie)
on their boat R80 to be amongst the top teams. Some other notable
veterans in the mix will be Kristen Robinson's ANGRY CHAMELEON, Chris
& Liz Chadwick's CHURCH KEY, Ken Mangano's MANGO and Ramzi Bannura's
STACKED DECK.The J/105's have a strong showing of an "all Naptown" fleet of eighteen boats and amongst them are some champion teams from past Chesapeake Bay and North American regattas. Sure to figure in the running for overall honors will be a cross-section of the old guard and some new faces, including Bob Reeves on A-TRAIN, Andrew Kennedy on BAT IV, Gerritt Schulze on MAX POWER, Jack Biddle on the infamous RUM PUPPY, Donald Santa on SANTA's REIGN-DEAR (for real!) and Scott Gitchell on TENACIOUS.
At
fifteen strong, the J/24's are probably now on their fifth generation
of owners and the competition simply does not diminish as the next-gen
teams hop in, learn fast from the veterans, and simply continue to
advance the ball in one of the world's most evenly-matched and
competitive ISAF one-design keelboat classes. Remarkably, one of the
most competitive veterans (now working on his 4th decade!) happens to be
a highly respected, most knowledgeable local J/24 sailor- Tony Parker
sailing BANGOR PACKET! He will be challenged by some "newbies" and some
old guard teams, amongst them could be Mike Marshall from Conanicut YC,
Jack van Dalen's ARNOLD GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, Pat Fitzgerald's RUSH HOUR,
Mike Hobson's SPACEMAN SPIFF, and Frank McNamara's ZOT.For the J/109's seven boat class, the event represents their J/109 Mid-Atlantic Championship! J/109 Fleet 4 provides great hospitality under the leadership of Fleet Captain Bill Sweetser and his gang aboard the famous RUSH! Assisting him is 109 class leader Bob Schwartz on NORDLYS from Manhasset YC and the Western Long Island Sound fleet of J/109s. With many new faces showing up in the 109 class, it's perhaps one of the most difficult classes for general prognostication, other than the obvious- Bill and Bob! Yet, any omniscient observer of this class will tell you there's always some new surprises in store for these veterans. More news soon on the outcome!
At ten boats, it's pretty clear the J/30s have not only achieved "classic" status, but perhaps "legendary" status, too. The first quintessential cruiser-racer J built in the early 1980s (some might argue it was the J/24-- not!). Nevertheless, the Chesapeake crew of 30s are having some fun, that's for sure. And, the NOOD is an annual reunion of like-minded 30 owners who LOVE their boats and it shows-- some look better than new! TEN BOATS! Amazing. Well, let's see if the "gurl-boats" have it this year (as owners or co-owners)! Included amongst the girl teams are Pam Morris' BUMP, Michel's LEAPFROG, Kathleen's MARY LOU and Sheila's INFECTIOUS SMILE! So guys, that's a "four-way" that may crush you this weekend, girls's may rule sooner than anyone imagines!
Finally, the J/35s. Like their "classic" sisterships (at minimum the J/24 and J/30), they were the second derivative of another boat that was incredibly successful (the J/36) in the early 1980s. With seven boats, the J/35s continue to show their offshore performance worldwide is not just legendary, but fun, too! One of the more famous boats participating is AUNT JEAN sailed by the Sagerholm/ Christofel team. But, BAD COMPANY, MAGGIE and MEDICINE MAN won't be far from the limelight. Plus, like her J/30 sisturz' the 35s could be facing an insurrection from Stephanie Reuer on DAKOTA GIRL! Watch out, some sparklers may be flying in this rather diverse group of sailors. Sailing photo credits- Onne Vanderwal, Tim Wilkes and Meredith Block/ Charleston Race Week. For more Sperry Topsider Annapolis NOOD Sailing Regatta sailing information
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