(Newport, RI)- This weekend, the New York YC will be hosting its Annual
Regatta in Newport, RI with the support of SailNewport at Fort Adams. A
strong fleet is registered in IRC and PHRF divisions as well as
one-design classes like J/105s and in the ORR Navigators races. The IRC
boats sail offshore on Rhode Island Sound on basic windward-leeward
courses while the PHRF sailors enjoy the random course leg scenarios
that are both a navigational and tactical challenge inside Narragansett
Bay.In the IRC fleet of forty-four boats, fully one-quarter of them are J/crews vying for overall class honors. A slew of J/109s include past North American Champion RUSH sailed by Bill Sweetser from Annapolis YC in the mix. Hoping to keep pace with them are Brooke Mastrorios URSA and Carl Olsson’s MORNING GLORY. Joining them in the hunt for silver include Sedge Ward’s J/111 BRAVO, Jamey Shachoy’s J/122 AUGUST WEST, Ray Rhinelander’s J/133 BELLA J from Newfoundland, Canada, Tom Sutton’s J/35 LEADING EDGE and three J/44s (Chris Lewis’ KENAI, Jim Bishop’s GOLD DIGGER & Lenny Sitar’s VAMP).
The J/105 one-design class has seen a phoenix-like resurrection for the event, with a half-dozen boats in attendance, including past North American Champion Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault sailing GOOD TRADE from San Francisco, CA. Joining them are Mark Lindquist’s STERLING from Beverly YC, Fred Darlington’s TONTO, and Mark Masur’s TWO FEATHERS from Fort Worth Boat Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
The eighteen boat PHRF Navigators division are a cross-section of hot teams on various J’s. Sure to be engaged in an epic duel will be two fast J/88s, Doug McKeige’s JAZZ from American YC and Jeff Johnstone’s ELECTRA from Ida Lewis YC. They will be up against a rogue’s gallery of good J teams like Bill Kneller’s J/109 VENTO SOLARE, Brian Kiley’s J/109 GAMBIT, three J/120s (Marcus Cholerton-Brown’s SUNSET CHILD, Bob Manchester’s VAMOOSE, & Steve Levy’s EAGLE), Vincent & Kristina’s J/33 COCONUT TELEGRAPH, and EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT.
In the ORR Navigators division, a random leg course each day, we find Howie Hodgson’s J/160 TRUE up against a cast of 45 to 60 footers across the cruising/racing spectrum of Swans and Hinckley’s. For more New York YC Annual Regatta sailing information
|