(Geelong, Australia)- Two J/111’s were featured in the Geelong “Festival
of Sails” that sees 225 boats compete on flat water with strong
breezes. This is the largest regatta held in the Southern hemisphere and
typically sees all of the fastest offshore racing teams from around the
eastern parts of Australia participate in a week long festival
offshore.In the first passage race of 36 miles the two J/111s dominated, winning their class in lighter breeze building to 18 knots. Three windward-leewards were sailed the following day in a fleet containing M32 sportboats and a canting keel 36 foot Shaw from New Zealand. Those two races were decided by less than four seconds and a further one by eight seconds.
Rod Warren's J/111 JOUST led the series at this point, but strong winds were to come. The following day the planing sports boats regularly touched speeds over 20 knots.
At the finish after the four days and eight fantastic close races only the M32 and Thompson 920 stripped out sports boat stayed ahead of the two J/111s— with JOUST ahead of JAKE (skippered by Stuart Lyon).
The J/111 regularly lead to the top mark against fast lighter planing boats. Thanks to B&G for the new H5000 system and to Aaron Cole from North Sails and the cane farmer Aaron Linton as tactician. The Joust team plans to see you all in Cowes for the J/111 Worlds!
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