(Wayzata, MN)- Thirty-eight teams from across the United States enjoyed three nice days of sailing on Lake Minnetonka for their 2019 J/22 North American Championship. Eight races were run by Wayzata YC’s PRO Blake Middleton and in the end, Chris Doyle’s THE JUG 4 1 was crowned this year’s J/22 N.A. Champion. Here is how it all went down over the course of three days.
Day 1
The tacticians battled the wind shifts and each other as they fought for fleet supremacy. Four races were completed and the Youngstown Yacht Club team on THE JUG 4 1, including Chris Doyle, Will Harris and Nick Doyle, were leading the regatta. They recorded scores of 2-1-1-7 11 points. Local boat EN FUEGO, helmed by Mike Schmidt, had 18 points to claim second place. Mike Marshall on BAD NEWS from New York Yacht Club was in third place with 24 points.
Racing got underway in eight knots of breeze as Marshall’s BAD NEWS opened the Championship with a win. Doyle on THE JUG 4 1 and Schmidt on EN FUEGO followed in the top three. Doyle gained the second victory, pursued by Marshall and Colin Feik on STAMPEDE from Oklahoma City Boat Club. While winds worked their way up to about 13 knots, Doyle earned the next bullet, chased by local boats 963, helmed by Mike Bowers, and Schmidt on EN FUEGO.
Day 2
Doyle remained in the lead during day two. While many teams struggled with the wind shifts and fluctuating wind speed, Doyle strengthened his first-place advantage during Saturday’s four races. THE JUG 4 1 tossed out a 12, leaving them with net scores of 2-1-1-7-1-1-2 for 15 points. That’s 21 points better than fellow local boats FISH GREASE, helmed by Chad Olness, and TURN DOWN FOR WHAT, helmed by Kurt Taken-Holtze. Both boats moved up to tie with 36 points. Another local boat called WHO’S DRIVING (with team of Mike Bowers, David Brasch and Uta Moncur) was in fourth place with 50 points.
Day two started out sunny with lighter breeze. As the day continued, the wind increased to 15 mph. Thanks to professional race officer, Blake Middleton and the race committee, four races were completed under extremely challenging wind conditions. The day’s opening match was won by Mike Marshall on BAD NEWS, followed b Doyle and Schmid winning the other races.
Day 3
The fleet assembled on Sunday morning for their final day of racing on Lake Minnetonka. While the day started out promising, with sunny skies and a gentle breeze wafting across the lake, the land heated up quickly and killed any chances for a breeze to settle in. As a result, the standings from the previous day’s eight races would count for the final scores.
As a result, Doyle’s family crew on THE JUG 4 1 (which included Peter & Nick Doyle) was declared the 2019 J/22 North American Champion, the fourth such time he has won the award. Chad Olness and his local crew on FISH GREASE got the bullet in race seven and a second in race five but couldn't catch team Doyle. Coming in third was Kurt Taken-Holtze and his crew, Jeff Hames and Erik Alquist on TURN DOWN FOR WHAT. Rounding out the top five was Mike Bowers’ WHO’S DRIVING and Marshall’s BAD NEWS, in 4th and 5th, respectively.
Six of the thirty-eight boats were helmed by women. Coming in ninth overall for the championship, the top female driver trophy went to Judy Woellner, helming SHADOWFAX. Several J/22s were also raced by young adult teams. Finishing in 22th place for the regatta, the top youth driver trophy was won by Seamus Hendrickson along with his crew Kytalin Hendrickson, Graham Ness and Teddy Graham on MEDDLING KIDS.
For more J/22 North American Championship sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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