(Cedar Point, CT)- As one of the newest regattas on the late spring
sailing circuit, the Cedar Point YC One-Design Regatta has continued to
grow significantly year over year. For their 2015 edition, running from
May 16-17 to May 30-31, sixty-five boats across seven classes are
looking forward to the extraordinary hospitality displayed by members of
Cedar Point YC. A long-time hot-bed of J one-design sailing, it’s not
surprising that 48 teams of J sailors (J/70s, J/30s, J/105s, &
J/109s comprise nearly 75% of the fleet) have made their spring
pilgrimage to Cedar Point for fun sailing and even better social
activities. The J/70s have attracted a diverse and talented number of crews from Connecticut, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Minnesota and South Carolina. The fleet of twenty boats has more than their fair share of Midwinter, North American and World Champions in their midst; and virtually all of them are incredibly generous with their thoughts on tactics, tuning, boat-handling and equipment ideas— just ask them! Chief amongst them may be Allan Terhune racing the electrifying DAZZLER from Annapolis. He is joined by other top teams like Joel Ronning’s CATAPULT (#2 at the 2014 J/70 Worlds), Noel Clinard’s LOONATICTU from Nantucket, Kerry Klingler’s MENACE (J/80 World Champion), Tom Bowen’s REACH AROUND from Charleston and Ted Johnson’s VITAMIN J from Marblehead.
Amongst the J/30s, a famous team led by Carl Sherter will be guiding the equally famous FAT CITY across the choppy waters of Long Island Sound. They’re joined by Stefan Jans skippering PALE RIDER and John McArthur’s SMILES.
Looking at the 35 footers that are slowing migrating from Western Long Island Sound, to Eastern LIS, then Newport, then Block Island Race Week, we find both classes (J/105 & J/109s) have a slew of champion teams ready to pony up to the starting line. The ten boat J/105 class will be featuring recent Edlu Distance Race leaders, Za & Libby Jelliffe on ARETE from American YC. They will have to take all that practice and hope to stay in contention with teams like ECLIPSE (Damian Emery), LOU LOU (Paul Beaudin), STRATOS (Marcus Wunderlich) and SHAKEDOWN (Jordan Mindich).
On a per foot basis, the massive 17 boat J/109 fleet will be thundering across the starting line with many hoping to keep free air for the first sixty seconds into the race! With a herd like that, having to tack off and duck transoms soon after the start is not a pretty picture! The 109s have undergone a renaissance of sorts with new owners jumping into the fray after having sailed J/105s, J/30s and what not over the years. And, the veteran teams are still having fun sparring with one another even as the racing gets tighter and tighter. Sure to be a battle that has been repeated over the years will be Bill Sweetser’s RUSH from Annapolis against Rick Lyall’s STORM from Long Island Sound. Both have won more regattas than Heinz has pickles! Wannabes to the throne include boats that are easily capable winning, such as Jonathan Rechtshaffer’s EMOTICON, Adrian Begley’s MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN, Bob Siegel’s PAX 3, Jim Vos’ SKOOT and Jack Forehand’s STRATEGERY. It will be fun & games for this band of merry rogues! For more Cedar Point One-Design regatta sailing information
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