(Annapolis, MD)- The J/80 North American Championships were held in
Annapolis over the weekend of September 10-14, with Annapolis YC
hosting. A total of 32 boats showed up to the line, coming from Texas
and Ontario. Out of the 32 boats, 18 were locals.
At
the end of the day on Saturday, two Texan teams were dominating the top
of the standings. Terry Flynn of Quantum Sails from Houston, Texas took
his team QUANTUM RACING to the top of the podium with 13 points over
seven races, winning four of them. Coming off his East Coast
Championships win earlier in the month was Glenn Darden and his LE TIGRE
team from Fort Worth, Texas, taking second overall with four 2nds in
their seven race tally! And, rounding out the podium was the local team
of Will and Marie Crump with Thomas Klok onboard R80. Paul Parsons’
PARSONS PROJECT was fourth and fifth was local Napolitan rock star, Mike
Hobson’s MELTEMI.The Chesapeake Bay has one of the most active (and talented) J/80 fleets in North America, so it was tough to see so many great sailors lose the battle on their home turf. Discussing the results after the awards party, Nicole Weaver (who sailed onboard GROMIT with James Praley) commented, “We’re all capable of winning races here, but the question is whether we can do it consistently!”
The
J/80 North American Championships were the second in a trifecta of J/80
events happening on the Bay in 2014, culminating in the J/80 Worlds
hosted by Eastport YC September 28 through October 5. At press time, 35
boats have registered, coming from as far away as Hawaii and France to
compete on the Chesapeake. Darden and Flynn will be back, but so will
Brian Keane and his crew on SAVASANA (fresh off taking 3rd in the J/70
Worlds), as well as many other top-notch J/80 racers. The competition is
going to be incredibly stiff. To track the J/80 Worlds competition,
please click on http://j80worlds2014.org.Sailing photo credits- by Dan Phelps. For more J/80 North Americans sailing information
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