(Newport, RI)- The 2013 J/22 World Championship, presented by Fidelity
Investments, is celebrating its Thirtieth Anniversary and this year
features a fantastic turnout of 72 teams from Canada, the Cayman
Islands, South Africa and the USA. Hosted by Sail Newport, racing takes
place from October 1st to 5th; many special events are planned in honor
of the World Championship and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the
boat. Along with Presenting Sponsor Fidelity Investments®, other
sponsors have joined including Waterline Systems, J/Boats, Coral Reef
Sailing Apparel, Gosling’s Dark and Stormy® and the Rhode Island State
Yachting Committee.A Legends Regatta on September 30 reunites past J/22 champions as well as noteworthy J/22 sailors who have been members of the Class during its long history. After racing, the Legends sailors will join the opening ceremony on Monday evening to launch the World Championship week. Sail Newport Executive Director Brad Read says, “The October championship will showcase exciting racing and most likely a myriad of sailing conditions. The competition will be very tight.”
Many past class champions are sailing this year's Worlds. The American contingent has a formidable group of teams participating, including past J/22 World Champion Terry Flynn from Houston YC in Seabrook, TX sailing MARGO; Benz Faget from Southern YC in New Orleans, LA skippering FATS; Chris Doyle from Rochester YC in Rochester, NY sailing the famous The JUG 4 1; Brad Julian sailing THREEDORIES.COM; Mark Foster from Corpus Christi, TX sailing TEJAS; Will Welles from Newport, RI sailing COUGAR; Travis Odenbach from Rochester, NY sailing BEAR CLAWS; Cory Sertl from Jamestown, RI sailing LUCY; Kevin Doyle from Rochester, NY on MO'MONEY; Martie Kullman from Buffalo, NY on NEW WAVE; Sandy Adzick on HOT TICKET from Annapolis, MD; and Jeff Todd from Annapolis, MD sailing HOT TODDY.
Amongst the leading foreign entries are John Koppernaes from Ottawa, Ontario sailing RAISED J; Mike Farrington from Georgetown, Cayman Islands skippering JUST LEASING; Shellee Nel from Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa; and Jessica Lenz from Fairland, Gauteng, South Africa.
With forecasts for mostly sunny skies and southerly winds the first few days and switching to light northerlies dying and switching to southwest sea breezes in the afternoon for the balance of the regatta, the fleet will surely be challenged by classic Newport fall sailing conditions. The SailNewport race management team is one of the best in the world and they will likely test the skills of the sailors in every imaginable scenario, with shifty, puffy sailing north of Newport Bridge inside Narragansett Bay as well as gorgeous offshore oscillating sea breezes in ocean swells offshore on Rhode Island Sound. Sailing photo credits- Paul Todd/ Outside Images.com For more J/22 World Championship sailing information and "live updates"
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