Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Key West Highlight- J/88 Oceanvolt Racing O.D.!

J/88 Oceanvolt- sailing off Newport, RI- Narragansett Bay (Key West, FL)- The 2016 Quantum Key West Race Week is shaping up to be one of the largest in recent years. Under the new stewardship of Storm Trysail Club and Regatta Chairman Bill Canfield, the event has 140 boats registered with 78 J/Teams (56% of the fleet!) spread across three one-design classes (J/70, J/88, J/111) and three handicap classes (IRC & ORR).

Racing is taking place from January 18th to 22nd in the gorgeous aquamarine waters of the Florida Keys.  One of the highlights for the week will be the inaugural J/88 Midwinter Championship with eight boats participating on the Division 3 course area. Featured amongst that enthusiastic fleet will be the Key West debut of the new J/88 Oceanvolt model.  Called BLONDIE 2, she will be sailed by Tod Patton and Jeff Johnstone.  They will be facing a rogue’s gallery of top teams from Canada, San Francisco, New York and Ohio.

The other significant one-design class debut will be the nine J/111s sailing their first J/111 Midwinter Championship on the Division I course area.  More news on all J/Teams and classes in next week’s Key West preview.

If you wish to view and/or take a “demo sail” on the new J/88 Oceanvolt in Key West (or for the Miami Boat Show), please contact J/Boats at Ph- +1-401-846-8410 or email- info@jboats.com.  It’s a perfect venue to learn about some of the most exciting sailboat developments in recent years- “solar sailing” and “hydro-regeneration”!  Plenty of sun, wind and water in Key West to learn about the joy of “silent running”.   For more Quantum Key West Race Week sailing information