(Annapolis, MD)- Hosting this year’s J/105 North American Championships from
October 31st to November 3rd is Annapolis YC, renown for providing a
wonderful combination of excellent race course management as well as
laying out the red carpet for regatta participants. With twenty-eight
boats participating there will be no question the racing will be fast,
furious, closely fought and will see the top ten boats riding
roller-coaster scorelines all the way to the final gun of the last
race. With a weather forecast that includes strong southerly breezes
through Friday (with potential for gale-force winds) and shifty WNW
winds behind the large frontal system, the large fleet of talented
sailors will be challenged harder than they’ve been in recent years.The top talent in the fleet will surely have to include Bruce Stone (and tactician Nicole Breault) from San Francisco, CA on LOULOU to be near the top of the pack, especially having won the J/105 NA’s in the past. Most likely giving them a "run for the money" will be top Canadian team HEY JUDE sailed by Royal Canadian YC member Jim Rathbun from Toronto, Ontario. Chasing these two hard will be perennial top contender Damian Emery sailing his famous flag-blue boat- ECLIPSE- from Long Island Sound. Local Annapolis favorites include Cedric Lewis on MIRAGE, Carl & Scott Gitchell on TENACIOUS and Jack Biddle on RUM PUPPY. Finally, Ken Colburn (with Bob Slattery as tactician) will be sailing his famous GHOST from Marblehead, MA— Colburn has always been a top J/105 sailor and was also the first New York YC Invitational Cup Champion (with J/24 World Champion Ken Read as tactician) aboard his Swan 42 APPARITION. For more J/105 North Americans sailing information
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