Saturday, November 12, 2016

China Cup Success For J/Crews!

J/80s sailing China Cup (Daya Bay, Shenzhen, China)- Success or victory can be measured in a number of ways. There are the ten teams that won their respective divisions at this year’s China Cup International Regatta, but there are also the victories within those fleets.  For example, the ten boat J/80 one-design class with crews from across Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.  The China Cup and the J/80 fleet have helped foster the groJ/80 China Cup 3rd placewth of competitive sailing in China. This was the 10th edition and it attracted 138 entries from 38 different nations and regions around the world. The event brings together first-time racers with some of the very best in professional sailing.

It was not a classic week for good breeze, with the previous week’s Typhoon Haima upsetting the usual weather systems and making this a predominantly light airs regatta. But, day three was windy and wavy.  Then, the conditions were very light for the final day.

J/80 J/Boats Race TeamIn the J/80 one-design class, Jim Johnstone steered J/BOATS RACING TEAM to easy victory with a string of bullets to win class with 4 pts in 4 races.  Taking second was the XIAMEN JIEPENG SAILING TEAM with scores of 2-2-2-6 for 12 pts.  Sailing a very consistent regatta was the TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY SAILING TEAM with 3-4-4-5 on their scorecard for 16 pts.   Rounding out the top five were FRESH SAILING TEAM in 4th place with 18 points and the famous CHINA NAVAL AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING INSTITUTE taking the 5th position just one point back with 19 points.

J/111 Mojito practiceIn the handicap world, it was Nick Southward’s J/109 WHISKEY JACK taking the silver in IRC C class.  And, in IRC A class, a mixed bag of boats that ranged from Mini-maxi’s to TP52’s to a J/111.  In the end, the enormous spread on handicap did nothing to help the J/111 MOJITO, sailed by Michele & Simon Blore into 7th place.  Here’s a nice YouTube sailing video of the team practicing off Royal Hong Kong YC this summer.  Watch this nice China Cup sailing highlights video here