Saturday, April 21, 2018

J/80 Westerns & PSSR Preview

J/80 sailing Western Championships (Seattle, WA)- It is that time of year in the Pacific Northwest! Yes, it is the annual Puget Sound Spring Regatta that is hosted by the Corinthian YC Seattle for both offshore PHRF racers as well as one-design classes of J/109s, J/105s, and J/80s.  In fact, for the J/80s it will be their first J/80 Westerns ever, sailed from April 21st to 22nd on Puget Sound.

There is no question there is a passionate group of Pacific Northwest J/sailors that continues to grow organically every year.  The original nexus of hard-core J/24 sailors over 30 years ago has evolved into a contingent of sailors involved at all levels of business (Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, etc) and in local sailing circles from the original J/24s up to J/145s and J/160.

This particular weekend will see the inaugural J/80 Westerns with eight boats participating.  Familiar crews will be there to help new fleet members, such as Bryan Rhodes CRAZY IVAN, Kevin Callahan’s NAMASTE and David Schutte’s TAJ MAHAL.

In the half-dozen boat J/105 fleet, the usual suspects will be engaged to determine who wins bragging rights that weekend; such as Jim Geros’ LAST TANGO, Jerry Diercks DELIRIUM, Chris Phoenix’s JADED or Erik Kristen’s MORE JUBILEE.

So far, the J/109s have several class leaders participating- Stu Burnell’s TANTIVY, Jerry Woodfield’s SHADA, and Tolga Cezik’s LODOS.  For more Puget Sound Spring Series and J/80 Westerns sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.