Sunday, September 8, 2013

HEAVY DUTY Tops J/80 DataComm Cup

J/80s sailing DataComm Cup off Sweden(Sandhamn, Sweden)-  A number of J/80s and a J/70 participated in this year's fun-loving DataComm Cup, a pursuit-style race hosted by KSSS (Royal Swedish YC) that has the slowest boats start first and the fastest last with the winners being those who cross the line first!  Sixty-six boats sailed under brilliant sunshine on Kanholmsfjärden.  The wind forecast was northeast to east 3-5 m/s, however, that never materialized-- while there was a good breeze for the start, the wind slowly diminished to 2-4 m/s from the east.

J/80 one-design sailboats- sailing off SwedenThe KSSS Race Committee, led by Michael Holinder and Mats Dalunde, laid out a 16.7nm course starting at Kanholmsfjärden with the finish just north of Santahamina.  The first boat started at 1030 hrs with pursuit and the last boat  (fastest boat) started at 1206 hrs.

At the finish sixteen boats finished within 10 minutes starting at about 1440 hrs,  which was slightly earlier than sailing the RC had expected.  In fact, the entire fleet of  crossed the finish within 30 minutes. Leading the J/80s home was Pontus Tornlund's HEAVY DUTY, beating the next J/80 by over four minutes.  Second was Philip Karlberg's LUFFA followed by Johan Gransten's SEGEL & KAPELL NACKA in third.  Sailing also on handicap was Anders Rosenberg's new J/70 DYNAMANT, just 55 seconds behind the top J/80 after 16.7nm of sailing!   For more J/80 DataComm Cup sailing information