The racing was incredibly competitive despite the enormous amount of time spent off the water in this pandemic year. The top five teams, in particular, took turns trading off podium finishes over the three days. In the end, it was Graham Clapp's JEEPSTER that was declared 2020 J/70 U.K. National Champion over the reigning J/70 World Champion- Paul Ward's EAT SLEEP J REPEAT.
RACE DAY ONE
Not surprisingly, the regatta started off with a three-way tie for first place after the first three races.
As if by magic, a solid south westerly breeze kicked in shortly before the start of the first race. The wind speed rose steadily through the day, piping up to 20 knots in the gusts. The RSYC Race Team, led by PRO Charlie Stowe, reeled off three excellent windward leeward races in the spectacular conditions.
At the end of the day, three teams were tied on points at the top of the leader board: Martin Dent's JELVIS led on countback from EAT SLEEP J REPEAT and Peters & Calascione’s CALYPSO. Clapp’s JEEPSTER was also a race winner. In the Corinthian Division, King & Wilson’s SOAK RACING was on top of the charts.
Spectacular conditions with close racing right through the J/70 fleet. (© Louay Habib)
Martin Dent’s Jelvis is somewhat a family boat, with Martin on the helm and his daughter Ruby at the front, with the two Wetherell brothers, Jack and Henry, mid-boat.
Martin Dent's J/70 Jelvis (© Louay Habib)
“We are kind of a North Britain boat, the Dents from Scotland and the Wetherell’s from Yorkshire,” smiled Martin Dent. “It was amazing to be out there today, having missed, like everybody else, a summer of sailing. We were blessed with fantastic conditions giving us the full spectrum of J/70 sailing modes from displacement downwind to full-on planing mode, sending it downhill. The class has always provided competitive nip and tuck racing and this year, despite being in the midst of a global pandemic, the UK fleet is getting stronger with some serious new teams. I am sure everybody enjoyed themselves today.”
L-R SOAK RACING and Jonnie Goodwin's RYS team lock horns downwind. (© Louay Habib)
Marshall King & Ian Wilson’s SOAK RACING is the reigning J/70 Corinthian World Champion and at this regatta, defending the national championship.
King & Wilson's J/70 SOAK RACING. (© Louay Habib)
“Tactically, we decided that we wanted to win the right and the first two races went well in that respect, but in the last race we had a bad start and paid the price,” commented Ian Wilson. “The competition was really good today, and it’s great to see new young teams joining the class and going fast, we need them to turn up, and make it worth our while to retire! Spending Friday, away from work, surfing around The Solent at 15 knots was just fantastic!”
JP Alvarez YC Argentino - GBR 742 (© Louay Habib)
JP Alvarez is racing at the UK J/70 Nationals with a crew all from Argentina. “We have chartered a J/70 from the Royal Thames Yacht Club, and we all work in London,” explained JP. “We have never sailed together before as a team, and we knew that this regatta would be a very high standard. We sail at home in the Rio de la Plata, so we know about current, but The Solent is a very tricky place to sail. We really enjoyed today, and we hope to improve during the regatta. During the second race today, one of the crew said look at the boat next to us. I did and it was the world champions! It is great take part in this regatta.”
RACE DAY TWO
The Solent is a tricky place to sail, especially when the wind is all over the place. Uber wind shifts postponed the start of the second day of the J/70 UK National Championships, but once the wind direction stabilized, three windward leeward races were hard fought for the 22-strong fleet. Ward’s EAT SLEEP J REPEAT took a brace of bullets to lead the regatta by two points. Clapp’s JEEPSTER scored a 1-2-1 to move up to second. Dent’s JELVIS dropped to third but was still in with a shot at the title going into the final day.
Eat Sleep J Repeat’s Ruairidh Scott is a World Champion in the J/70, J/80 and J/111 classes, and commented after racing, “it wasn’t easy in a competitive fleet, especially upwind when the chop gets going, it is challenging to keep the speed up. Crew weight, technique and also mast rake has a big influence on performance. This fleet is spirited and upwind there is not a lot in it. However, the first downwind leg today, we were the first boat to go into wing-on-wing, and that got us away.”
Ben Saxton, NACRA 17 World Champion, has been racing in the J/70 Class for four years, Ben is part of Clapp’s crew on JEEPSTER. “To win in the J/70 Class, you need good teamwork,” commented Saxton. “If you start well and you are quick enough, then you can bring your tactics into play. We are pretty stacked for weight, so quick upwind but not as fast downwind. We have been working on downwind technique and we are getting faster, which shows in the results. We have worked hard to get it right and we passed EAT SLEEP J REPEAT upwind today for our win, so that was a good feeling.”
Tales from the Peloton
Patrick Liardet’s COSMIC, sitting in 12th position with a crew of young talented sailors (son Freddie, Jack Hanslope and Richard Anderton), had an interesting perspective from "the peloton".
On the race track and in the results, COSMIC is mixing it with sailors from the Olympics, World Champions and top professional sailors.
“It is the first time we have all sailed together and mixing it up in the fleet has been good fun,” commented Patrick. “This is a very tough fleet with strong sailors, and it’s tremendous. Richard is a World Champion Fireball crew, Freddie is very strong in dinghies and keelboats and Jack is his friend from University, who is a great team racer. The boats are evenly matched, so you are really fighting for every place, all the way down the fleet.”
RACE DAY THREE
The J/70 UK Class boast reigning World Champions in both the Open and Corinthian Classes. However, a dramatic end to racing resulted in two new national champions. Spectacular conditions on the final day were used to the full by the Royal Southern YC Race Team, led by PRO Charlie Stowe, the scene was set for a memorable finale to a superb regatta. Graham Clapp’s JEEPSTER is the new J/70 UK Open National Champion, and Charles Thompson’s Brutus is the new J/70 UK Corinthian Champion.
In the Open Championship, Paul Ward’s World Champion team on EAT SLEEP J REPEAT was second. Newcomers to the class, Nick Phillip’s CHAOTIC was third.
Graham Clapp’s J/70 Jeepster (© Louay Habib)
“We have really got the boat going well, and we are also having a lot of fun on board, which is a winning combination,” commented Clapp. “I have known Ben (Saxton) since he was a child, but this team have only come together recently, and our performance improved as the regatta went on. The competition has been really exciting with great racing which is what this class is all about. A big thank you to Charlie (Stowe) and the all the Royal Southern team, who did a fantastic job in organizing the regatta.”
Charles Thompson was grinning from ear to ear after a bullet in the last race secured the Corinthian title for J/70 BRUTUS. 2019 World Champions, Wilson & King’s SOAL RACING was second and Doug Struth’s DSP, runners up at last year’s world championship, third.
Charles Thompson’s J/70 Brutus (© Louay Habib)
“It feels good to have the trophy in my hands, but I have to say quite a surprise after the first couple of days, we didn’t think we would make the top three” commented Thompson. “The last two races went well for us, and that was helped by getting off the start line in the right place. Thanks to my crew, we got a bullet at the end! Teamwork is unquestionably important, sailing with a positive crew is fundamental.” Thompson is the only owner/ bowman in the fleet. “I am definitely the oldest bowman in the fleet, and there is only one word for it– wet!”
J/70 UK Class Chairman, Paul Ward was quick to congratulate both JEEPSTER and BRUTUS. “They both had a fantastic last day and have sailed well all regatta. To knock two world champions of their perches is great for the class. We have four more events in the J/70 UK Grand Slam Series, and they are going to provide fantastic racing.” Sailing photo credits- Paul Wyeth Follow the J/70 U.K. class on Facebook here. For more J/70 U.K. Class sailing information