(Marblehead, MA)- The 2019 Helly Hansen National Offshore One Design
Regatta at Marblehead Race Week returns to Marblehead, MA, July 25 to
28. Boston Yacht Club will host more than 150 teams across 14 fleets.
J/One-Design classes include J/24s, J/70s, J/80s, and J/105s.Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, Jud Smith (Swampscott, MA), won the 2018 Marblehead NOOD and the 2018 J/70 World Championship in the same venue. “It’s a new year,” says Smith, “And, a lot of good boats are registered. We have three past J/70 World Champions in the fleet, including myself, Peter Duncan, and Joel Ronning, so the top end of the fleet is going to be stacked.”
Training and preparation were vital to Smith’s past success, and this season he plans to share his knowledge as a coach and mentor. Smith notes the importance of working out the kinks throughout the season so teams can peak at the right time.
“The
best method I’ve seen is to do a regatta every month or so, with
intensive training in between,” shared Smith. “With the wind and
currents in Marblehead, the NOOD will serve as a perfect training
platform for the World Championships in Torquay [England] later this
season. Marblehead is one of the top ocean venues in the country, and
with the NOOD Regatta coming here each year, it keeps the area at the
forefront of one-design racing. It’s the biggest regatta of the season
for many of us in New England, so everyone gets really excited to go out
and compete.”Joining these world-class competitors in the 25-boat J/70 fleet are Dan Goldberg’s BAZINGA, Travis Odenbach’s HONEYBADGER, Bill Lynn & Ed Keller’s KEY PLAYER, Sam Altreuter’s LEADFOOT, Henry Brauer’s RASCAL, Brian Keane’s SAVASANA, David Franzel’s SPRING, John & Molly Baxter’s TEAM VINEYARD VINES, and Nancy Glover’s WINTERWIND.
The J/80s will have good racing with top crews like Peter d’Anjou’s LE TRIGRE, Sam Cushing’s THE PARTY TREE, Jason Viseltear’s UPSETTER, Brian Gibbs’ BLIND FAITH, and Fred Baker’s BLUE SKIES.
On
a roll in the J/105 class is Bruce Stone & Nicole Breault’s GOOD
TRADE. Having had much practice in their hometown J/105 Fleet #1 in San
Francisco Bay. Fifteen J/105s are expecting to learn more about the
tricky Marblehead offshore sailing conditions, as it is also the site
for the 2019 J/105 North American Championship in September. Hoping to
give GOOD TRADE a run-for-the-money are teams like Bill Zartler’s DEJA
VOODOO from Houston, TX; Bennet Greenwald’s PERSEVERANCE from San Diego,
CA; Mark Lindquist’s STERLING from Buzzards Bay, MA; and Mark Masur’s
globe-trotting TWO FEATHERS from Fort Worth, TX.The Marblehead NOOD, hosted by Boston YC, with race committee support from Eastern and Corinthian yacht clubs, will produce the final entrant for the Caribbean Championship sponsored by Sunsail in the British Virgin Islands on October 27 to November 1, 2019. For more Helly Hansen Marblehead NOOD Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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