Leveling Community Through Sailing

The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center (Milwaukee, WI) is a private, not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 agency located just north of downtown in the heart of Veterans Park at McKinley Marina. MCSC’s mission is to promote sailing and make Lake Michigan available to everyone in the Milwaukee community through quality programming. Amongst the teaching platforms is the famous J/24 sailboat.

Facilities like this are the gateway for introducing people to the sport, and WDJT-TV, a CBS-affiliated television station in Milwaukee, recognized the center’s leader in its weekly segment, Natalie’s Everyday Heroes:

The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center works hard to make sure sailing is accessible for everyone. The center is unique in that you don’t have to have a lot of skills, or a lot of money, to get out in a boat. Holly Church is the director at the center, and she’s this week’s everyday hero.

Church understands learning something new can be intimidating for anyone. “They’re all scared, in the beginning, because none of them really know what to expect or what’s going to happen,” she said of new students.

But every year, kids and adults alike come to the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center to do just that. “Basically, what we do is we teach people how to sail and then they get free access to our equipment to sail on all summer long,” Church said.

She has been working with the sailing center for the last 25 years, but her love for sailing started long before that. “I learned how to sail here when I was 18,” she remembers, and has been a cheerleader, innovator, and advocate for the organization ever since.

“She’s very instrumental in coming up with a lot of the different programming down here,” said Don Ellingsen, member and former board president.

Church is proud that the City of Milwaukee had the foresight to keep the lake accessible for everyone. “Most places privatize the lake,” she said. “And Milwaukee has kept it public and I think that’s amazing.”

Ellingsen, who’s been a member since 1981, said Church’s leadership has made a big difference in the quality of the programs they offer. “She’s really re-energized the club, in that she’s really brought kind of a new spirit to the club,” he said.

US Sailing agrees. Church was recently named Outstanding Organizational Leader. She’s humble about the national recognition.

“The sailing center is one of the country’s premier sailing facilities,” she said. “And we were lucky. It doesn’t just take one person, though.”

But Ellingsen stresses that she helps create an environment that keeps people coming back. And that’s what Church wants—for people to set sail and enjoy all that Lake Michigan has to offer. “I think it gives people a chance to just get off shore for a little bit. Leave everything on shore, just regroup, especially in these days,” Church said.

But the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center’s work isn’t only done on the water. It also goes into middle schools around the city to teach a S.T.E.M program using sailing. “We learn things like angles and weight distribution and how displacement works,” she said.

She calls it an equalizer, and said it doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from, anyone can learn. “Sailing is a leveling platform. It doesn’t matter to kids, when you get into a boat, if you’ve never been in a boat it’s a leveling platform,” Church said. Thanks for contribution from Scuttlebutt Sailing (http://sailingscuttlebutt.com). Add to Flipboard Magazine.

More Regatta Cancellations & Postponements

(Newport, RI)- Sadly, several more major events have been either cancelled or postponed as the cycle of the pandemic sweeps through other countries around the world. 

2020 J/80 World Champs is cancelled
Due to current events impacting sailing regattas, travel, and related global disruptions, the J/80 North American Class Association Executive Board has cancelled the 2020 J/80 World Championships that were originally scheduled to be held from September 28 to October 3, 2020 in Newport, RI.

While the J/80 Worlds will return to North America in 2022, the 2021 J/80 World Championship will be hosted by the Royal Danish Yacht Club in Hellerup Denmark.

2020 J/70 North Americans is cancelled
The International J/70 Class Association (IJ70CA) and the Port Credit Yacht Club have decided, because of the varying levels of infection and disruption across the world, to cancel the 2020 J/70 North American Championship scheduled for September 20-27, 2020 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The Executive Committee has been closely monitoring the worldwide developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. They understand the huge commitment of time and money it takes to participate in a major Championship, as well as the enormous resources that our host clubs dedicate to such events.

The 2021 J/70 North American Championship will remain as planned from May 12-15 at the Annapolis Yacht Club in Annapolis, MD. The Class intends to hold the 2022 J/70 North American Championship at the Port Credit Yacht Club, meaning the 2023 J/70 North American Championship will be hosted by St. Petersburg Yacht Club in Florida (originally scheduled for 2022).

J/24 North American Championship Postponed to August 2021
The International J/24 Class Association (IJCA) and the Sayville Yacht Club in Blue Point, New York today announced the postponement of the Good Samaritan Hospital J/24 North American Championship slated for August 11th to 16th, 2020. The revised dates are August 18th to 22nd, 2021, pending approval of the SYC Board.

The Organizing Authority reviewed COVID-19 guidance documents from World Sailing, US Sailing and New York State, as well as working closely with event sponsors.

The Sayville Yacht Club started an Infectious Disease Committee which has been monitoring the CDC, state and local government agencies in order to develop the Club's policies for the summer of 2020.

Joseph Buonasera, SYC Rear Commodore and J/24 NAC Regatta Chairman, said, “First and foremost, the organizing committee has the responsibility to make sure that all of the participants, including the volunteers and the race committee are able to participate in a safe and secure manner. We also have a responsibility to our sponsors. We understand this is very disappointing for all of us. There has been a great deal of work done to prepare for this regatta, and due to reasons beyond our control we feel that this postponement is the right thing to do. Our sponsors are ready to come back in 2021, and it will allow our participants to have the event that they have come to expect and deserve.”

The previously scheduled J/24 North American Championships will now shift one year, with Kingston, Ontario Canada hosting in 2022 and Sandusky Sailing Club in Ohio in 2023. In the meantime, the Class wishes all J/24 sailors and their families the best in these unusual times. We look forward to resuming sailing as soon as we can. Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Celebrating the Community of Women in Racing

* A perspective offered by Cindy Einhouse, co-owner of the J/105 OVATION.

"According to Dictionary.com, the definition of “role model” is “a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people.”

There were very few women skippers and/or boat owners in the Cleveland area when I started sailing. My husband Tom and I were introduced to the sport during the summer of 1987 and
show that people are more likely to emulate role models with whom they can identify.

That’s what extraordinary about people like Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race in 1989. And, Dawn Riley - the first woman to manage an entire America’s Cup syndicate in 2007. They influenced many young women to go beyond commonly accepted boundaries and insert themselves into a previously male-dominated sport. Role models and inspiration can be found in many places, though.

I crewed on a C&C41 out of Edgewater Yacht Club from 1988-1994. Eventually (because we were the ones who always showed up for every single race!) over time, the skipper relied on us for recruiting, training and organizing crew for club races and travel regattas. At first, it was the men on the boat who primarily got the regular crew positions, while the women generally would ride the rail. However, that eventually changed when inevitably we were short on regular crew, and women were ready and able to do some hands-on learning.

It was at the end of 1994 that Edgewater YC member Corrine del Bane had the idea to form a women’s sailing association, and I joined the inaugural group that kicked off the organization with a fundraising event at the University Club in early 1995, with Dawn Riley as keynote speaker. Now known as the North Coast Women’s Sailing Association (NCWSA), the group is still going strong with 200+ members, and the original mission still in place: “To empower women to become more actively involved in sailboat racing through regattas and clinics, and to create a spirit of good fellowship among members.”

Hosted by Edgewater Yacht Club and operated solely by volunteers, NCWSA organizes races, educational meetings, social events and an annual regatta throughout the year. The group encourages men to be active in coaching, training and race committee, and relies on many to loan their boats for NCWSA activities. Fleets include J/22s, J/24s, Ensigns, Dragons, as well as JAM, PHRF and Race “Prep” boats for those who are brand- new to sailing. Tom and I both participate with NCWSA as well as regular club races and regattas on our own boat.

That same year of 1994, we bought our first boat when our oldest son was three months old– the J/29 OVATION– and put together a crew. For the next several years, we took turns; one of us raced while the other stayed home with our son, and a few years later, two sons. This allowed us to equally develop our skills and confidence at the helm. Eventually, when we started to race together again, we had to work on our team management skills, since we were both used to being “in charge.”


In 2018, we sold the J/29 and bought a J/105, still named OVATION, and began racing in the one-design fleet at Edgewater YC. We still take turns at the helm, while the other takes the pit, sail trim, foredeck or navigation, depending on whatever needs to be covered. We have found one-design racing to be a welcome challenge, extremely competitive, with a hugely supportive fleet.

The one-design fleet reminds me of what is special about all-women crews– the camaraderie. But nothing beats an all-woman crew, because female networks tend to feel warm, welcome, and safe. Just ask anyone who is in a book club. Same thing.  Sailing photo credit- Cindy Einhouse Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/70 Mexico Regatta Report

(Valle de Bravo, Mexico)- The new year had started off well for "nuestros amigos" in Mexico. The 2020 Mexican J/70 Circuit blasted off with a lot of enthusiasm and families and teams looking forward to a winter/spring regatta series across the country in some of the more famous "watering holes" in Mexico. 

Here is the brief report from Mexican J/70 Fleet Captain Ignacio Perez Morett, just before the world went off the cliff and into the abyss of the pandemic.

"We started this year with the first two J/70 Mexico regattas in 2020. The first regatta was held in Valle de Bravo at the La Peña Sailing Club, over the January 11th to 12th weekend, with the participation of six boats.

The top of our leaderboard had some of our most exceptional sailors. Winning was Hector Guzman's ESCIPION, followed by Diego Reyes' RAGTIME in second and Roberto Escalante's LAMPUGA bringing home the bronze.

Our second regatta was sailed off Puerto Vallarta on January 18th to 19th on the famous Bahia de Banderas, famous for being one of the world's most beautiful places to sail, with its highly reliable 10 to 18 kts seabreeze that builds like clockwork from 11:30 am onwards.

In this regatta, we had eight boats participating. Wow! I can tell you from my personal experience, the competition was getting significantly better over last year! The leaderboard was comprised of Fernando Pérez Ontiveros' BLACK MAMBA taking class honors, with José Luis Pérez Morett's AMIGO earning the silver, and Eduardo Cano's CHILCANO holding the bronze medal."

Like many other J/70 sailors around the world, they are anxious to get out sailing again in a socially responsible way-- perhaps, a Doublehanded J/70 World Championship, anyone? Anywhere? Serious!? Why not!? Simple to organize, BTW.

Editor's note- "Having done over 100 Around Conanicut Island circumnavigations (yes, that does include my J/World days in Newport), I can honestly say one of the most satisfying and enjoyable were my last two double-handed around the island races.  Ironically, the first was a complete lark.

A good friend at Ida Lewis Yacht Club- Dan Faria- offered his Shields 30 ft. classic, beautiful, day sailor to do the race. Of course, we took him up on his offer, as it was the first (of three) Round Jamestown races that summer- Cafe Zelda's version is always the first. It was a blast. Spectacular day in Newport. Sunny, a gentle seabreeze blowing out of the south/ southwest.

Our principal competitor was a green Shields from Jamestown with SIX guys aboard, about average weight just a bit north of 250 lbs (our best guess, they looked like NFL offensive linemen). Most importantly, when asked what was in the Igloo Cooler in the middle of their cockpit before the start, they simply replied "beer". LOL. As is the tradition of the Round Island race (a day race, thank God), the partying had started early, like pre-noon.  So, after the start, they were first to the weather mark. We were not surprised.

However, the several mile downwind run from Beavertail Light to the top end of Jimmie-town proved to be their undoing. One wonders why!? LOL. A few missed shifts, a missing beer over the side, and they were done. Never saw them again... we simply gybed the Shields downwind, 470-style with tiller between my legs, handling both spinnaker sheets, while Julia gybed the spinnaker pole standing at the mast... a bit difficult sometimes, of course. Conversation during each gybe was, as you might imagine, along the lines of "What the hell honey, ease the sheets and bear off for God's sakes"...and, some other choice expletives hurled in the skipper's general direction.

The subsequent round island race was on a J/70. It was a "no dramas" circumnavigation. Fast. A blast. Perfect day. We had a scream as it reminded us of sailing in dinghies, like 470s, Hobie 16s, and International 14s. Upwind was simple, since the jib on a J/70 is easy to trim by anyone- young, small, old, man or woman. Downwind, gybing all day long was a complete "no-brainer". Having reflected on our Shields experience the previous year, it was laughably easier and more enjoyable. Change tacks, change gybes? Simple. Let go one sheet, pull the other, all day long.  Perhaps a consideration for the near future for J/70 events? And, true for offshore sailors, as well! Think J/88s, J/99s, J/105s, J/111s, J/121s, J/122s, truly the simplest, easiest boats to sail offshore double-handed, ever.  For more J/70 and J/70 Class sailing information. Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Re-define Normal and Enjoy It!

(San Diego, CA)- Last weekend on San Diego Bay, thirty-nine boats participated in the first race to be held since early March in all of southern California. Remarkably, the announcement had come out only three days earlier, and the strong response had everything to do with a smart plan and an eager audience.

As an active commercial and military port, the challenge with hosting events inside San Diego Bay is securing permission. However, amid this pandemic health crisis, optics are a challenge, too. For starters, the harbor is in plain view of government offices and an impatient population in downtown San Diego. To do this race, the boxes needed to be checked.

But, with strong relationships, and a track record for doing what they say, the Cortez Racing Association was able to work with the San Diego Harbor Police and U.S. Coast Guard to get their understanding and permission and created the CRA "Race Your Household I" event.  The hope is that it will evolve into a series all summer long!

As for the plan, it was shorthanded classes and same household crew, using government marks and a bare-bones race committee.

It was also about Corinthian spirit to cooperate and appreciate, and with Chamber of Commerce post-card sailing conditions, it laid the groundwork for future events.

Answering the call in the Singlehanded, Doublehanded, and Family Crew (3 or more) classes were an amazing cross-section of J/Teams enthusiastically heading "down to the sea again".  Those crews included Rudy Hasl's J/145 PALAEMON with family crew of Philip, Melanie, and Harris Hasl); Christina Seidel's J/24 CYGNET 2 (with family crew of Susan, Ella, and Holly Seidel); Bill & Robert Quealey's J/105 J-RABBIT SLIM; and Tim Lynch & Sandy Vissman's J/30 RUFFIAN.

In the end, winning the 3 or More Class was the Hasl family on their J/145 PALAEMON, while the Lynch & Vissman duo on their J/30 RUFFIAN sailed home to take the silver.

"Thank you's" to Race Committee Chair Colleen Cooke and Fleet Captain Rich Chambers! And, congratulations to the class winners, who will receive a $25.00 gift certificate from Fiddler's Green- compliments of owner Steve Rock! You have to LOVE Steve and his crew at Fiddler's Green, truly amazing people! :)

Said Scuttlebutt's Craig Leweck, "I have said this before, but for those harbors waiting to return to their normal competition schedule, you will be waiting too long. The season is on, people want to use their boats, and there are ways to do it. While major sports leagues struggle to return to their normal, we can re-define ours and still have a great time. We sure did!" 

Stay tuned for Race Your Household II, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 6!  Thanks for contribution by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News   Learn more about the Cortez Racing Association racing schedule here. Add to Flipboard Magazine.

A View from Pandemic Newport- Cats!

Following the thoughts and perspectives last week from the two J/Boats founders- Bob & Rod Johnstone, a few friends encouraged the "next generation" to describe their "home sheltering" experiences in the past few weeks.

Your J/News publisher/ editor- Stu Johnstone- has had one prominent theme while working at home for the past few weeks- "CATS"! LOL. 

My wife- Julia- and I live in a quaint "craftsman's cottage" in Newport that is shared with three complete characters (cats), each unique in their quirks and personalities. Living here is a bit like living on a boat, you're supposed to stay at anchor, stay on the boat, and occasionally you can row to shore to get supplies.


Meanwhile, the cats rule the roost. We started off a few years ago with one Russian Siberian forest cat we named "Allie". As an alpha female, she tries to rule the others, but at a strapping 8 lbs, her efforts are often for naught. She does claim your editor as her protector (as seen here) and enjoys spending lots of time hugging my shoulder while I type away and write the J/Newsletter. 

Our second cat came about for one simple reason, "Allie" seemed lonely or bored at times. So, Julia decided to call back the cat breeder of Allie and find another cute Russian Siberian forest "kitten".

While the story of meeting the breeder to pick-up "Allie" the first time would be described as "epic", the second adventure was even more adventurous. You might describe it as an "interstate buying trip." I had decided to buy a powerboat (yes, going over to the 'dark side' has its merits). But, without a tow-vehicle, I had to rent one! Thanks to Enterprise, I got a nice Ford F-150 quad-cab pickup with a hitch, drove from Newport to New Haven to pick up a brand new aluminum trailer, then drove through New York (via I-287/ Tappan Zee Bridge), through New Jersey (past Delaware Water Gap) onto I-80 in Pennsylvania to meet our "cat lady" halfway across Pennsylvania.


Much to our surprise, when we met her in a brew-pub parking lot just off the I-80 highway, she hops out of her car with a 7-month old "kitten" that was enormous- just your basic 17 lb. black panther hugging her shoulder. I nearly died of laughter... or, maybe it was shock! Nevertheless, "he" was a "lover" (as described by her breeder) and our new black kitty was promptly named "Hobie". Off we went to pick up the boat- a 30 ft Intrepid center console- in southern Long Island, with "Hobie" crawling all over inside the truck. Ultimately, we picked up the boat on Sunday 8:00am and drove back to Newport with the new "J/CREW" in tow (a bit larger than its predecessor- a 16 ft Boston Whaler!).

As if having two cats was not enough, segue forward three more years and my wife is now working at the Kitty Corner Cat Clinic in Newport. While I was "away at sea" over Thanksgiving weekend/ first week of December (I was racing a TP 52 with my cousin Jimmy in Phuket, Thailand, sailing in the famous King's Cup Regatta); my wife decided to add a THIRD cat to our household. This one was no spring chicken. Like Hobie, she was an enormous cat- a 13-year-old female Maine Coon cat tipping the scales around 17 lbs, too. Yikes! Sadly, she was a 'rescue cat', left by a previous owner, and was very timid at first. Her name was "Impy", but I nicknamed her "Whimpers". With both of us at home all the time, she's slowly coming out of her 'shell' and feeling more comfortable, and less intimidated, with the other two cats- Allie and Hobie. Thank goodness. 


As for your J/News editor, I had two "Throwback Thursday" moments while writing on Thursday. My calendar program promptly notified me at 9:00am that Charleston Race Week was taking place this weekend- remember that event? It was a poignant moment for me, as the original plan was to sail with my "Meatballs" friends on their J/88 ALBONDIGAS. Bummer. It reminded me of all the other wonderful times sailing in Charleston Harbour, racing J/70s and J/111s in the past. With Doug Curtiss on his J/111 WICKED 2.0, Heather and Joey on their J/70 MUSE, and Brian Keane's J/70 SAVASANA. Fond memories all...wishing that we can enjoy Charleston again in the near future...

The second throwback moment was a truly epic, adventurous trip to Chile that Julia and I took a year ago. Fourteen days. 12 hours flying from Boston to Miami to Santiago to Punta Arenas. A 30-hour trip by water on the Yagan Ferry down the Straits of Magellan, across the spectacular Beagle Channel (at least two-dozen glaciers spilling down to the seashore) to Puerto Williams, the truly "southernmost city" in the world.


Puerto Williams is part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago; it’s known as a starting point for trips around Cape Horn. It’s also a gateway to trails around the jagged peaks of the nearby Dientes de Navarino. (https://goo.gl/maps/v6PVoJkBAnVK4j379).

How far south is it? 55 deg south latitude...versus the next closest place to the north familiar to many sailors, the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island- 46 deg south- just 540 miles north!

So far, that is the furthest south the J/Newsletter has ever been published- Puerto Williams! Coincidentally, there is a J/24 fleet there- part of the Chilean Navy's training program (the southernmost J/24 fleet on the planet)!


Thereafter, we did hike the trails up to Dientes de Navarino (they do look like "teeth"). From that height, you can see Cape Horn down south! Then, visited the famous Torres del Paine National Park north of Punta Arenas. Then, up to Puerto Montt and visiting Lago Llanquihue- famous for being surrounded by three volcanic snow-covered peaks- plus there is a J/80 fleet on the lake.

Thereafter, it was a fun trip up to Isla Negra (remember last week's visit to Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's museum?). A trip to a spectacular vineyard northeast of Algarrobo, a day tour of eclectic Valparaiso. And then home. Next time, New Zealand's South Island!

Best wishes to all. Stay safe & healthy. Cheers, Stu & Julia"

Cruising the J/24 JUNGLE in the Med

* J/24 JUNGLE owner- Guus van den Akker- Maastricht, The Netherlands
Like the Stellin's cruising their J/42 on the Mediterranean, Dutchman Guus van den Akker has a great story to tell about sailing and cruising his beloved J/24 JUNGLE on the Ionian Sea around the gorgeous island archipelago off Greece. In short, he was reliving the voyage of Odysseus and, according to Guus it was a "fantastic experience".

"Cruising with a J/24 is a very nice thing to do. I am so lucky to have sailed my J/24 JUNGLE in Greece, especially the Ionian Sea, which is west from the mainland.

When I saw JUNGLE for the first time, for sale on a trailer at Lefkes Marine, her lines immediately struck my sense of beauty. Hmmm, Nefertiti’s nose. Aha, the hips of Brigitte Bardot, the behind of Naomi Campbell... In total, she was swift, elegant, fine for cutting waves. Small enough to touch the water delicately. Finally, my dream came true to buy this boat and start sailing in the waters where Odysseus had been splashing around a few millennia earlier.


The 2016-plan was to sail down to Kalamata and meet some family in Pylos on my way back. Remembering last year's experience, I was aware that it's difficult to plan for any distances while sailing. The lack of wind can make anyone annoyed, and even if you have a nice, steady wind, you can lose it in five minutes... such is the fickleness of cruising in the Mediterranean! Any rock, island, mountain can change the wind's strength or direction. And, of course, the incessant burning rays of the sun on the Med. With some luck, the wind begins in the afternoon and holds on until after sunset. The only average is change. Panta Rhei it will be.

JUNGLE is equipped with two anchors and some lines. Because her draft is only four feet, it's easy to anchor very close to the shore. That gives a surplus of possibilities and keeps her close to other people and beaches. JUNGLE makes friends. Everybody seems to know it's a J/24!

The interior became messy, but well-organized. I slept almost three months in her broad belly without complaint. Good waking up, in waves of small fishing boats, or by bells of nearby goats....


Sailing my J/24 JUNGLE as a cruiser, and singlehanded, was a constant joy. Responsive, agile, light, smooth. Easy to handle on the water. Enough deck for walking around. I did put some elastic cord around the helm for self-steering. My favorite weather is light to moderate wind, that's good for me. I like to fiddle around a bit and JUNGLE is fast. My only problem is lack of weight on the windward rail, when the wind is increasing above Beaufort four!

I am a cautious sailor, and start early in the morning, when my next harbour is a bit further along.

On some days, I really made some good distance, especially when helped on windless days by "Mr. Tohatsu" (my 4 HP outboard). But, when this dear friend refused to serve, it was possible to tack JUNGLE into creeks and harbours and moor the J/24 to the quay.

Sailing with friends makes friends happy. They steered and enjoyed that a lot, they did not want to leave the tiller! Their good fortune joining me enabled them to enjoy the fantastic surroundings. Greece is such a nice area for sailing, hiking, lazy afternoons at a cafe... Actually, just being there put you in a good mood...a peace of mind found nowhere else.

The food is fresh, the geography is astonishing, the variety is extraordinary, the delicious wine lifts your spirit, people are polite, freedom is the rule.


Once, while laying at anchor near Lygia, a yawl with three elderly man motored straight towards JUNGLE, I was a bit worried at their intent. However, just a few meters away from her, the yawl encircled my tiny JUNGLE, and one of the guys shouted with passion “J/24, the love of my life!” After this human serenade, the yawl vanished towards the blue horizon.

My J/24 JUNGLE had lots of compliments, and from all these remarks, you notice that experienced sailors still keep her dear in their heart. It seems that one view of a "J" is the trigger for good memories!


At the end of my fantastic trip, JUNGLE joined some regattas and we won a few prizes for being one of the fastest under 35 feet. That illustrates the abilities of this small cruiser/racer and even augments the esprit'd'corps and pleasure of being a "J" owner. The versatility of the design ensures you of even more friends and acquaintances, both in sport and on an adventurous cruise!

We ended safe and sound in Nidri. Now, I am working again as an interior designer and builder in The Netherlands and dream of this experience, wishing and hoping that I can do it again. Time is elastic, too. Someday soon....

For more perspectives on my experiences, watch a few of my videos on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tQNeI82Mfg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HAsBLQ-cyU 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__P58Hl6CeE

Greetings, Guus van den Akker"

The view from the J/42 Jaywalker- our pandemic world

(Harbor Springs, MI)- Bill & Judy Stellin's perspectives on living our current "pandemic" world.

Commented Bill, "I especially enjoyed the latest Newsletter. The virus pandemic has upset our lives in untold ways. The Newsletter gave me a chance to think peacefully. We still own JAYWALKER, J/42 hull# 6, and love every moment spent on it.

Some Perspectives for the J/Community
For several years this Newsletter had a small section devoted to J/Boat cruisers. It was discontinued recently, so I sent the editor- Stu Johnstone- a letter thanking him for including us. He asked for some thoughts and perspectives about couple cruising.

It’s easy to talk about, because 48 years of sailing, our two Atlantic crossings, and 8 years in the Mediterranean, was an adventure many just dream about and is almost too spectacular to describe.

First off, JAYWALKER our 1996 J/42, is safe, fast, easily handled under all conditions (by just the two of us), comfortable in big winds and seas on passage, as well as at anchor, and lastly drop-dead gorgeous. Where ever we were in Europe, passerby’s would want to come aboard to see her up close.

Secondly, we have very understanding children who gave us encouragement to make a dream come true. Fortunately, we had four years of sailing the boat before we retired at age 65 in 2000. This gave us the opportunity to really understand the boat through a combination of racing and Lake Michigan cruising. There is no substitute for time on the water in all kinds of conditions and racing hones skills faster than anything I know of.

I am lucky Judy loves all aspects of sailing, as I do. It’s a lifestyle. As such, we live on the boat 3-4 days each week during our short Michigan season.

One unexpected result of big-time cruising is the realization lots of people want to hear about it. I put together a PowerPoint show years ago which we’ve presented to countless groups. Colleges, library’s, senior centers, civic clubs, yacht clubs, Power Squadron’s. It’s been a great deal of fun for us, because we get to share and relive what was, unquestionably, one of the best periods of our lives.

I encourage all to sail, sail ,sail! It’s one of the best ways to clear your minds, relieve stress, be competitive and just plain have fun. Judy has a t-shirt which sums it all up: "Keep Calm and Sail On"!

Our best wishes to the entire J/Boat family and sailing friends!  Cheers, Bill & Judy Stellin- Grand Rapids, MI"

J/One-Design Class Updates- J/24 Worlds

(Newport, RI)- The International J/24 Class Association (IJCA) has confirmed the cancellation of the 2020 J/24 World Championship, which was to be held September 12-18 at Parkstone Yacht Club in Poole, United Kingdom.

“With the current COVID-19 situation, it is looking very likely that the lockdown in the UK is going to carry on for some time yet, and at this time no indication has been given on how an exit policy will work,” commented Bryan Drake, Regatta Chair. In addition to health and safety concerns, travel restrictions are likely to remain for some time as well as limited access to yacht clubs and marinas.

“The IJCA is extremely fortunate to have incredible World Championship hosts committed to the next four years that allow for this scheduling change,” said Nancy Zangerle, IJCA Chair. “We hope this approach will allow our Class members and our hosts to plan accordingly. At this time, of greatest importance is the health and well-being of our J/24 family. We all long for the time when we can return to the water.”

Future Schedule for J/24 World Championship title: 

• 2021 World Championship- September 24- October 2, Parkstone Yacht Club, Poole, UK
• 2022 World Championship- March (exact dates To Be Announced), Mendoza, Argentina
• 2023 World Championship- July 16-23, Corpus Christi, Texas USA
• 2024 World Championship- TBD, Greece

For more International J/24 Class Association information

Exciting News- J/Net Brokerage is LIVE!

(Newport, RI)- Here is some exciting news from our network of J/Boats dealers around the world. J/Net Brokerage is now live on J/Boats.com with a main menu link to dozens of quality used J/Boat listings from authorized J/Dealers.

Over twenty of our top J/Dealers are onboard and more are getting aboard each week. Browse dozens of listings that range from J/22s up to J/160s! It is an amazing array of your favorite J's from across the spectrum of daysailers, offshore cruisers, to race boats.  Day dream a little. Imagine where you could be now on your dream boat!

For those J/Owners that do not see their boat listed, be sure to contact your nearest J/Boats dealer to be listed on J/Net. 

Be sure to click here on J/Net and dream a bit more when we all have the freedom to explore the world... someday soon!

Who is that masked man Sailing Round the Pond?

(Charleston, SC)- Like his brother, Bob Johnstone has also been dreaming, wondering, when it would be possible to escape onto the water again? In the meantime, here are some of his thoughts on "pandemic life":

It seems the boatyards and boat trucking operations are carrying on with “Business as Usual”.  Just arranged for a June 10th hauling our new triple-outboard powered MJM 43z BREEZE from the City Marina here in Charleston to truck to Newport Shipyard in Newport, RI.  We have a condo rented there on Coddington Wharf, overlooking the harbor, from June 15 to September 15… with a 3-week cruise to Northeast Harbor in late July.  Booked at the Northeast Town Docks.

We had been planning to put BREEZE on our mooring off New York Yacht Club Harbour Court, but looks like their launch service won’t start until the end of June… so, we may be rowing an inflatable back and forth as “registered” dinghies can be kept at the HC floats.

The other option during the last half of June, particularly if the 14-day R.I. quarantine for "foreigners" still exists, we could keep the boat on the dock and either live on the boat at Newport Shipyard, which is offering deliveries to deal with the situation… or move into isolation in the condo.  After all, we spent a month aboard (the longest period we’ve ever stayed aboard any boat), cruising BREEZE from Naples FL back up the ICW (intra-coastal waterway) to Charleston and had a great time.

In the meantime, doing what comes naturally! Back to one-design sailboat racing… actually coming back full circle to model sailboats. 

My first one-design efforts, preceding J/Boats by 15 years, was when we were living in Cali, Colombia.  Got a dozen of my ex-pat friends to invest in Dumas model Star class wooden boat kits. I imported them.  It was a complete disaster. I was the only one who built one.  Guess we were going to take them out to our local golf/tennis- Club Campestre- and sail them on the pond, run around, pushing them back on course with our putters… as they weren’t radio controlled! LOL!

Good news is that I learned something in the past 58 years. “Build it and they will come!”  If I put all the kits together and handed a fully-tuned, completed boat to the owner, the program will take off (or, so I hoped). That story and some nice coverage by Craig Leweck in Sailing Scuttlebutt apparently got Tom Babbitt and Ben Hall psyched about starting fleets in ME and FL… and Rod’s been thinking about the same thing from his new house on an extension of Stonington harbor north of the RR bridge.


You can see my #24 (my official US Sailing Offshore number having the obvious J/24 connection) above along with half the new fleet one-design of DF-95s, each boat being a different color… trying to match the appeal of Nantucket’s Rainbow Fleet of catboats.  The dining room table of our cottage is now the local boatyard, as am rigging every boat for the new owners from a very complete “ready to race” kit. And, I thought we had one-design nailed down with the J/24! These are like mini-Volvo 70s. Of the 5-lbs total weight with carbon keel and unstayed carbon rig, the keel is 3 lbs.! Stiff boats! 

They anointed me Commodore of the Bishop Gadsden Yacht Club here on the campus. We are restricted to only 4 person groups with masks and social distancing… SC Governor says no more than 3.  But, the croquet people talked management into 4… so it was extended to sailing! With 16 sailors, we’ve had to split up into two hourly sessions, 11am and 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with one group of 4 on the North side of the pond and a second group of 4 on the East side of one of two ponds. So, everyone gets two days of racing a week.

What is the best part? Unlimited solo sailing… because sailing is more than just racing. It can be quite therapeutic.

We’re probably one of the few yacht clubs in the country, active, with a full regatta schedule.  The racing is fun.  Haven’t ever hear the word, “protest!”  Mark rounding jam-ups are causes for laughter and we don’t publicize a running daily score, but I keep a tally. It’s crazy enough sailing on these ponds with swirling winds. For example, yesterday afternoon every sailor had at least a podium 3rd place finish and can go home happy.

Reminds me of the movie, 'King of Hearts'… where the only sane people were those in the asylum, the insanity being the war around them.  Is there a lesson here for the sport?" 

Cheers and pray everyone is OK and doing well,
Bob

Perspectives from Rev. Mary Johnstone "sheltering"

(Charleston, SC)- "Bob & I are counting the days 'til Bishop Gadsden issues an 'all clear', or 'clear with precautions' for its independent living residents. We have lived in a CCRC (continuing-care retirement community) in Charleston, SC  since October 2018.

Great people, beautiful campus, wonderful cottage, good food.

Since Wednesday, March 18th, all residents & most Staff have been under strict quarantine - no one is to leave campus, no visitors allowed. Each resident is provided a "care package" every day to cover lunch, dinner & breakfast. BG provides a once a week food shop for max 15 items at BiLo & we can also order (for a price) from Harris Teeter or Publix. Pharmacy items are available for delivery from a few pharmacies we've never heard of. A wonderful woman named "Heidi" did a huge shop for us at Walgreen's. My car is 'running on empty', so it is sitting in the garage until its driver is freed up to come & go.

On the flip side, the pace of life is noticeably slower. More time to think, reflect & write, which I enjoy. More time to exercise - I take a daily walk around the grounds 1-3 miles. Always look forward to this! I am focusing on domestic stuff & also on connecting with friends from near & far via phone, text, Facetime or email, especially with the 3 generations of our family. ❤️

On Easter day, Bob & I watched & participated in the 11:15am service from Washington National Cathedral, standing to sing all the hymns, including one accompanied by 1,000's of Episcopalians from around the USA, generated by miraculous technology: Facetime? Zoom? Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preached (from his home) - it was an uplifting & hopeful message.

When we are collecting mail, or strolling around campus, we wear face masks, & wash our hands & keep our 6' distance from others. Dedicated to cooperating for the good of all, while inside our heads asking, "When & how will these behaviors end??"


This photo was taken on "Breeze", our 43z, during a February outing in Naples, Florida. Breeze sits patiently at Safe Harbor Charleston City Marina awaiting our return!

Warm greetings and love to all! Stay healthy, stay safe, stay sane!
Mary

Eight Bells: Dayton Carr

The sailing community lost a great friend, sailor, and champion as Dayton Thomas Carr passed peacefully at his New York City home on April 7, 2020. He was 78 years. Dayton was a great friend of the Johnstone family and a great supporter of J/Boats starting way back in 1977.

Dayton established the Venture Capital Fund of America Group (VCFA Group) in 1982 and is credited as being the founder of the secondary private equity industry. He was a visionary who was the first to recognize the opportunity to buy illiquid investments from the original investors in venture capital funds.

Dayton was a storyteller who often enjoyed re-telling the origins of his firm, the benefits of secondaries, and the many adventures he had through his life-long love of sailing.

Dayton began sailing as a 7–year old child in the San Francisco Bay area. His first boat was an El Toro dinghy which he raced in the Small Boat Racing Association in Northern California. Moving up to a Blue Jay, Dayton also raced a Rhodes 33 and crewed on a large racing schooner on San Francisco Bay.

At 15, he won the Pacific Coast Lightning Championship in Victoria, British Columbia and placed second in the West Coast Sears Cup Eliminations to Allen Holt who went on to win the Sears Cup.

Dayton’s family moved to Winnetka, Illinois soon after, where he was a member of the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club and a junior member of the Chicago Yacht Club. Aboard his 110 Class sailboat, he won the fleet championship on a number of occasions, won the Southern Lake Michigan Championships and the District Championships.

He also placed third in the World Championships held in San Diego, California, and sailed in two Chicago Mackinac races. During his youth he spent several summers teaching sailing on Lake Merritt in Oakland, California and spent one summer as the sailing instructor for the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club in Wilmette, Illinois.

While at Brown University, Dayton became captain of the sailing team, Commodore of the Brown University Yacht Club, and was active in intercollegiate racing for several years. After receiving his MBA from Harvard Business School, he moved to New York City and bought an International One Design class (the first in a long line of Gunga Din’s) which he kept at Larchmont Yacht Club.

With the IOD class, he won the fleet championship, the YRA of Long Island Sound Championship, and the King Edward VII Gold Cup for match racing in Bermuda in 1971 with his friend and crew Corny Shields, Sr.

In the same year, Dayton purchased the prototype Chance 30–30 which he named Ragtime and raced and cruised on Long Island Sound until about 1976 when he acquired a Tartan–10 Mandalay which he raced in PHRF races in the same.

Not content to race just his own boats, Dayton joined with a friend who had purchased one of the first New York 36s, Drive, and won the first New York 36 National Championship and many other races over the next several years.

Throughout the 1980s, Dayton chartered a number of boats with which he had great success, winning (among other races), the cruising division of several New York Yacht Club Cruises. Racing throughout New England and the Caribbean brought Dayton triumph on the race course and a camaraderie with his fellow sailors that he would tell stories about for years to come.

In May of 1993, Dayton purchased a Sweden Yachts–41, his final Gunga Din. He raced and cruised extensively up through this last year, racking up a host of high finishes in events hosted by New York Yacht Club.

In addition to racing Gunga Din, Dayton was a regular participant in superyacht events across the Caribbean, his most recent victory aboard Sojana with friend Sir Peter Harrison at the 2019 St. Barths Bucket Regatta, where they won the Les Mademoiselles del Mers Class.

While much of his sailing activity was related to racing, he enjoyed cruising under sail and power, the latter inspired by the twin-screw powerboat his family owned during his childhood in San Francisco. With his friends, Dayton cruised both Eastern and Western seaboards, the Great Lakes, Caribbean, Canada, and much of Europe.

But he declared his favorite sailing in recent years was in late fall aboard his meticulously kept yellow sloop Gunga Din on the waters of Narragansett Bay. He was known to recite the poem that inspired his boats’ name, raising his voice at the end to exclaim, “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!”

Dayton was a larger-than-life figure who made an impression on everyone that he met. Known for a mischievous streak, his antics often elicited raucous laughter (and sometimes ended with him in a pickle). A gentleman through and through, Dayton brightened every room he entered and was a master of meaningful introductions between people he thought shared common interests.

Generous of time and spirit, he was a champion and ambassador for the causes he supported.

He served on the Board of Directors of the National Sailing Hall of Fame for many years and played a vital role in bringing it to Newport, RI. Other organizations dear to him were US Sailing, Sail Newport, Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island, Herreshoff Marine Museum, Brown University and the Sailing Team, Harvard University, The Preservation Society of Newport County, Redwood Library & Athenaeum, Childfund International and many others.

The National Sailing Hall of Fame will hold a memorial event at its new home in Newport, RI on a future date when conditions permit so that his many friends may come together to share their memories of this extraordinary man.

Fair winds and following seas, Dayton. You will be missed. Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Helly Hansen NOOD Regattas Update

(Newport, RI)- Each year Sailing World magazine presents North America’s largest sailing regatta series, the National Offshore One Design Regattas. This incredibly popular regatta is broadly enjoyed by J/Sailors from around America, Canada, and Mexico. The only regatta that went off without a hitch so far in 2020 was the Helly Hansen St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta in St Petersburg, FL in early February.

At this time, the following Helly Hansen NOOD Regattas are scheduled to be held, two have been rescheduled. 

• Chicago NOOD- Chicago, IL- June 12-14
• Marblehead NOOD- Marblehead, MA- July 23-26
• Annapolis NOOD- Annapolis, MD- August 28-30 
• San Diego NOOD- San Diego, CA- September 4-6

For more Helly Hansen NOOD Regattas sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Virtual Racing: Better coffee, Less salt spray!

(Newport, RI)- During the coronavirus shutdown, Sail Newport has launched a series of virtual races in partnership with Sailonline.org, a non-profit online platform which uses real-time weather and designs simulated courses for virtual racing.

While most sailors, and everyone else, are either stuck somewhere or self-imposed at home, the race was welcomed entertainment for the sailing-obsessed globally, but especially for sailors in Newport, RI!

The inaugural race, The Quahog Cup, was held March 22 and received a monumental response as over 600 sailors registered for the Newport-area race.

On April 4 at 1700 (2100 UTC), Sail Newport started the second in their racing series titled “The Captain Bartholomew Gosnold Memorial Race” from Castle Hill in Newport.

This overnighter attracted over 300 sailors from the U.S., Croatia, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Portugal, Brazil, Bulgaria, Togo, France, and other countries.

The course was sailed on virtual TP52s, with the course beginning at Castle Hill Light and took online sailors along a tricky course around No Man’s Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, through Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds, in and out of the Elizabeth Islands, and then back to Newport for the finish.

Rufus Van Gruisen, avid sailor and owner of Cay Electronics, Inc (Portsmouth, RI) which equips sail and power boats with marine navigation and electronic systems, was one of the top US finishers of the 137.5nm course. As a new online racer, he shares his view of the genre:

How did you get ready for the race?
RVG: I prepared by looking at the weather forecast and studied polars and sailing angles for the boat, but other than that I didn’t do very much.

Did you provision?
RVG: No, I forgot and had no food. I had a pot of coffee on in the middle of the night, so I was well hyped-up.

How did you manage “on your own” with no crew?
RVG: I’m a bit geeky. In my home office I had the race up on a 24” screen, used a laptop for a zoomed-out view of the race and my iPad, so that I could lie on the couch for a while and take the race with me. Maybe I was taking it too seriously.

How do you mean?
RVG: I stayed up all night, probably had 1.5 hours of sleep in 24 hours.

Did other family members participate?
RVG: No, they thought I was totally nuts and went to bed.

What were the conditions?
RVG: The first four hours were tedious. There was little opportunity to pass other boats because of the reach out to Nantucket as the wind was just east of north. We had about 15 knots at the start but early on day two it died down to nothing. Around 6 a.m. it came back up out of the south.

Are you familiar with those waters? Anything particularly challenging?
RVG: Yes, I have done a couple of races in those areas. It was a bit challenging through the Elizabeth Islands. Quicks Hole was tight, and I remember sailing there before GPS, hoping you got all the flashing lights right on the buoys to get through. It felt a bit like doing the overnight Ida Lewis Distance Race; similar length but better coffee and less salt spray!

Without crew, participants admit they are crouched over monitors, using laptops and other devices to gather information usually fed to them by navigators and tacticians onboard. How did you find that factor?
RVG: I can see how singlehanded racing has become more popular. There’s no crew to contradict you!

Will you continue racing online?
RVG: Yes, I loved it. There are remarkable similarities with real racing, highly active, beating up wind, and some tedious sections on the run. It’s a lot of fun to race with so many boats, it doesn’t matter where you are in the race there’s always boats to compete with. It’s especially fun to race against people you know in your home waters. The chat rooms are quite active with comments. LOL! For example, some entrant asked if I was “having a barbecue on the island” on a slow leg around Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Hahaha, yes, I was "parked up" for a while there!

How was the last leg, any close maneuvering?
RVG: Yes, coming out of Woods Hole I was side-by-side with Brad Read (Sail Newport's Executive Director). I came up so close to his boat, I think he could smell the virtual coffee I was having. I almost had to put out some virtual fenders. It was a cat-and-mouse race from Cuttyhunk all the way back to the Castle Hill finish.

Brad Read, who designed the race with Sailonline.org, finished 4th in the race and was the top US finisher (though recused himself from the trophies).

Van Gruisen is a lifelong sailor and has most recently served as navigator in Bermuda Races and New York Yacht Club regattas.

He is also an active racer on Sail Newport’s J/22s for Newport Yacht Club's Tuesday and Wednesday night racing summer series. In the winter, he frostbites on Newport Yacht Club’s Turnabouts (no navigation required in the 8 foot "turn-a-tubs").

As for the race name, Captain Bartholomew Gosnold was an English barrister, explorer, and privateer. He led the first recorded English expedition to the Elizabeth Islands. Gosnold named Cape Cod for the plentiful fish supply he found there and named Martha’s Vineyard for his daughter.  Thanks to Scuttlebutt USA for the interview. Learn more about SAIL NEWPORT here Add to Flipboard Magazine.