Big Breeze for Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series Opening Weekend

(Warsash, England)- Brisk conditions of force 5-6 from the SSW greeted the hardy people who ventured out on Sunday 15 March for the start of the new season. Having reviewed the forecast, an early decision was taken to postpone the Combined Sportboat Class by an hour to allow the expected wind to moderate a little from the early morning predicted 20 gusting 30 knots, but still give everyone a chance for three races.

The conditions clearly suited Simon Cavy in the J/70 JUST4PLAY who took line honours in all three races, as well as winning them on IRC corrected time in the IRC Sportboat Class.


As it turned out, the wind stayed at 18-20 knots with regular gusts well into the mid-20s, which gave lots of opportunity for exciting downwind legs, but surprisingly few entertaining broaches.

Black Group enjoyed some long beats and runs or reached from the start near Goodall Roofing buoy. The windward mark for most classes was the newly named Team O Marine mark on the Ryde Middle bank, and from there the boats surfed down to Lee-on-the-Solent and back to the Ryde Middle a couple of times, before finishing just NE of the North Channel at Hamble Yacht Services buoy. Race Officer Peter Bateson noted that at 10-12 miles, the races were deliberately set a little shorter than usual, as seemed right for the blustery conditions in the first race of the season. Elapsed times ranged from 1.5 to just under 2 hours.


In IRC 2 Class, Chas Ivill's J/112E DAVANTI TYRES was the winner, baulked slightly by shipping on the last run across the North Channel, but holding her lead nevertheless. Gavin Howe's J/88 TIGRIS pulled off a fourth place in the demanding conditions.

As a precaution in view of the spread of Covid-19 virus, the daily prize-giving was postponed to avoid a gathering at Warsash Sailing Club. The prizes for the day's winners have been put aside for handing over later on.

The Series continues next Sunday 22nd March, so long as the RYA and government advice continues to be that it is sensible to do so; and the two Spring Championship weekends are on 18-19th and 25-26th April.

For more Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Windy Start to Hamble Winter Series

 
(Hamble, England)- The famous Hamble Winter Series has started on the Solent and Southampton Water, hosted by the Hamble Sailing Club. The classes include IRC handicap as well as one-design fleets of J/70s in southern United Kingdom.

It all started quietly enough on Saturday, with PRO Kathy Smalley announcing at 11:04 hrs on the WhatsApp group that they were “waiting for the wind". Later, she then announced, “still waiting" at 13:04 hrs. The prospects for the first day of the 38th HYS Hamble Winter Series looked bleak. Then, a glimmer of hope from the East. Barney Smith on the One-Design CV reported that, “the wind is coming", and so it did. One-design Race Officer Ian Bullock had suggested patience would be required and he was quite right. The team on CV Flightwing wasted no time starting two races for the J/70s in the Hamble One-Design Championship, the second one starting just before the 15:00 hrs cut off. Out on the IRC start area, in the vicinity of 4W (Goodall Roofing), by 13:00 hrs a light 6-10 knots from the East gave the boats in the Autumn IRC Championship one race. There were cautious starts all round and no recalls.

Over on the One Design Course, the Bullock/Robinson Race Committee PRO Team won all the plaudits by getting through four races on the day and having a complete series. The J/70's were particularly impressed by this. They placed the start line where they were when the water pump packed up on CV Flightwing. As the wind increased the view from the CV became rather exciting. There was a good deal of discussion as to what constituted "in the normal sailing position" when finishing. Did the top of the mast qualify as the front part of the boat during a broach?

Marshall King in SOAK RACING was able to discard a third and count only one second place for an amazing six points to win the J/70 Class. Tim Collins’ EV EXPERTS was five points back in second. Thor Askeland & Rob Larke’s MJOLNIR came third with 20 points. Rounding out the top five was Jack Davies’ YETI in 4th and Simon Weeks’ MIMI’S in 5th place.

In IRC 2 Class, Simon Perry’s J/109 JIRAFFE, a serial winter series winner, took the bullet followed by David Richards’ J/109 JUMPING JELLYFISH in 2nd and John Smart’s JUKEBOX in 3rd in what already looks like a J/109 benefit regatta. In IRC 1 Class, Chaz Ivill’s J/112E DAVANTI TYRES took second place.

With a nice steady west northwesterly forecast, but low water, the two RC PRO’s Kathy Smalley and Peter Bateson took the IRC Classes out to Ryde Bank for Race Day 2. The plan was to run a short cascade of windward-leeward courses, starting at one end of the Ryde Bank, and finishing at the other end.

"Everyone was very civilized on the start line with no recalls, best not to risk anything with a Smalley at each end of the line,” laughed Kathy.

The plan for the second race was to finish closer to Hamble, where beer and cheesy chips were the order of the day. However, as is often the case, the wind Gods had a surprise up their sleeves. Suddenly, the wind was up in the 20's with gusts closer to 30 knots. A number of teams radioed in to say thanks for the first race, but they were now off home! Nevertheless, many others loitered in the start area, as if they wanted a second race. The race committee was ready to provide it. With an increasing wind a simple course was set to West Ryde Middle, back to South Ryde Middle, then up to West Ryde Middle, and so to the finish.

Now the fun really began, and those with memories of Cowes Week could put their recently acquired heavy weather skills to the fore. There was even a suggestion from Lis Robinson that there was an RYA Directive stating that all events must have wind in excess of 25 knots to be considered “proper sailing” events. Be that as it may, the stronger conditions made for entertaining viewing from the CV committee boat.

"Boats were rocking all over the place downwind, many broaching wildly,” said one of the race team. Adding that, “it is slightly unnerving on an anchored committee boat seeing a boat with a bowsprit broaching straight at you!!”

Chris Daniel’s J/122E JUNO, leading IRC 1 Class overall, was unfortunately hit by a Sigma 38 in a port/starboard incident when the mainsheet jammed on. The subsequent hearing gave redress to JUNO,  allowing her to win class by two and a half points.

Perry’s J/109 JIRAFFE won IRC 2 Class with a 1-2-1 series. Third was Smart’s J/109 JUKEBOX, followed by Richards’ J/109 JUMPING JELLYFISH in 4th and Roger Phillips’ J/109 DESIGNSTAR in 5th place. In the J/109 sub-class, those four boats finished in the same order. Also, amongst the J/88 sub-class, winning was Gavin Howe’s TIGRIS, followed by Dirk van Beek’s SABRIEL JR in 2nd and Tim Tolcher’s RAGING BULL in 3rd place.

In IRC 3 Class, Ralph Mason’s J/92 JABBERWOCK finished tied for third place, losing the countback to finish fourth in class.  More great pictures of Sunday's action can be found on Paul Wyeth's website.   For more Hamble Winter Series sailing information

IRC Doublehanded Championship Preview

(Cowes, England)- The RORC’s IRC Doublehanded Offshore Championship is comprised of two components. The Offshore event is this coming weekend’s Cherbourg Race, an 80.0nm dash across the English Channel (La Manche) from Cowes nearly due south to Cherbourg, France. The second event is next weekend’s two days of around-the-buoys racing on the classic Solent random-leg courses off Cowes, Isle of Wight.

Participating in the IRC Doublehanded event at two J/109s (Chris Preston’s JUBLIEE and Mike Yates JAGO), Jerry Freeman’s J/105 JUILETTE, and Chris Miles & Mike Sellers’ J/97 HIGH JINKS. This quartet of boats will be up against all the top doublehanded teams from the 2019 RORC summer sailing season. For more RORC IRC Doublehanded Championship sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Windy, Fast, & Furious Cowes Race Week

(Cowes, England)- For many of the hundreds of sailors that participated in the 2019 edition of Lendy Cowes Race Week, it was one of the windiest on record, with many days in the 18-24 kts end of the range. For a few dozen J/Teams, the tough, demanding conditions made for some of the most exhilarating sailing experiences of the summer season.

In the IRC 2 Class, J/Teams took four of the top five. Three J/111s were 2-3-4; Tony Mack’s McFLY, Hans Zwijnenburg & Martijn Worseling’s SWEENY from The Netherlands, and Chris Jones & Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II. Fifth place went to Chris Daniel’s J/122 JUNO.

In a similar fashion, J/112E’s dominated IRC 4 Class. Winning was David Franks’ LEON, followed by B Huber’s XANABOO in second, Marie Claude Heys’ DAVANTI TYRES in fourth, and Team Knight Build’s HAPPY DAIZE in fifth position.

In IRC 5A Class, it was James & John Owen’s J/99 JET that took fourth place. Then, in IRC 5B Class, it was the J/92s that led a clean sweep; winning was David Greenhalgh’s family on J’RONIMO, second was the NIGHTJAR trio (Banks, Overstall, & Searle), and third was Andy Knowles & Alan Macleod’s SAMURAI J. Two J/97s ended up 6th and 7th, Bob & Jon Baker’s JAYWALKER and Nick & Adam Munday’s INDULJENCE.

While Tilly Harrison’s crew on SORCHA J won the J/70 Mini-Series, it was Paul Ward’s EAT SLEEP J REPEAT that took the J/70 class win for the week. Yet another woman skipper took the silver- Katie Davies along with her crew of Isabel Davies, Rhos Hawes, and Martin Wrigley on AURORA. Third was RTYC 5 team skippered by Stephen O’Driscoll.

In the J/92 Class, it was NIGHTJAR winning over J’RONIMO in second and SAMURAI J in third.  Fourth was Rob Salter’s JACKDAW and fifth Brian Malone’s BLUE DIAMOND DODJER.

The J/109 class was won by woman helm Caroline van Beelen on JACK RABBIT from the Netherlands. Second was Simon Perry’s JIRAFFE and third was Chris & Victoria Preston’s JUBILEE.

The J/80 class was won by Malcolm Thorpe’s KING LOUIE, second was Puddifoot family’s JIBBA JIBBA, and third was Alastair Ley’s JACKAROO from the Royal Naval Sailing Association.  For more LENDY Cowes Week sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Cowes Race Week Preview

(Cowes, England)- Cowes Week is one of the United Kingdom’s longest running and most successful sporting events and is a key highlight of the British sporting summer. It has been held in early August every year since 1826, except during the two world wars.

Traditionally, Cowes Week takes place after “Glorious Goodwood” and before the “Glorious Twelfth” (the first day of the grouse shooting season). Over the years, the event has attracted British and foreign royalty, and many famous faces in the sailing world. And, for the first time in years, it is also taking place after the Rolex Fastnet Race.

This year, Harrogate-based premium Gin brand- “Slingsby”- partnered as the Official Gin supplier for the regatta and headline sponsor of Ladies Day. On-lookers will should spot a ‘Slingsby Ladies Day’ flag flying proudly on all boats that have female sailors- many of which are women J/Crews!

As has been the tradition of J/Crews for the past few decades since 1979, a large fun-loving contingent of J’s will be participating in Cowes Week festivities all week-long! The largest concentration of J/sailors will be in the two one-design classes- J/70s and J/109s.

The huge thirty-five boat J/70 class is gearing up in their final major regatta before sailing the J/70 World Championship in the “west country” at Royal Torbay Yacht Club in Torquay. Many of the top teams will be working on refining their boatspeed, boat-handling, and tactics during the event.  Those crews are Terence O’Neill’s AQUA J, Tom Ripard’s CALYPSO, Paul Ward’s EAT SLEEP J REPEAT, Fiona Hampshire’s ELIZABETH (a top woman skipper), Martin Dent’s JELVIS, Andrew Barraclough’s JENGA 8, Simon Cavey’s JUST, Jeremy Thorp’s PHAN, Marshall King’s SOAK RACING, Tilly Harrison’s SORCHA J (another top woman helm), and Jack Davies’ YETI.

With seventeen entries, the J/109s will always be a competitive class in any race week.  Cowes happens to bring out strong family crews as well as a few “ringers” that hop on certain boats to help them on “go fast” techniques and, most importantly, classic Solent strategies to overcome the massive currents flowing up and down “the river”.  Top crews include Roger Phillips’ DESIGNSTAR 2, Christopher Sharples & Richard Acland’s JAZZY JELLYFISH, Simon Perry’s JIRAFFE, Arjen van Leeuwen’s Dutch crew on JOULE, John Smart’s JUKEBOX, David Richard’s JUMPING JELLYFISH, Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN, and Nick Southward & John Scott’s Hong Kong crew on WHISKEY JEDI,

In the seventeen-boat IRC 2 Class are a raft-up of leading J/111 teams, such as Chris Jones & Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II, Tony Mack’s McFLY, Hans Zwijnenburg & Martin Worseling’s SWEENY, Chris Daniel’s J/122E JUNO, Bernard de Smet’s J/122 ZUMEX, Performance Yacht Racing’s J/120 PYR-SUNSET, and K Coster’s J/122 SAILMON.

The seventeen-boat IRC 4 Class includes four of the new J/112E’s- Team Knight Build’s HAPPY DAIZE, David Franks’ LEON, B Huber’s XANABOO, and Marie Claude Heys’ DAVANTI TYRES. Joining them are Stuart Lawrence’s J/120 SCREAM 2 and Alain Bornet’s Dutch team on the J/109 JAI ALAI.

The huge thirty-five boat IRC 5 Class has over a dozen J/Teams participating. Six J/92s are looking forward to quasi-one-design racing, including Andy Knowles & Alan Macleod’s SAMURAI J, the trio Banks, Overstall & Searle on NIGHTJAR, Mark Waddington’s VAGABOND, Rob Salter’s JACKDAW, Brian Malone’s BLUE DIAMOND DODJER, and the famous J’RONIMO sailed by David Greenhalgh and the rest of the Greenhalgh sailing family.  Joining them are two J/97s- the Hunt family’s (Rachel, Robert, & David) JUMBLESAIL2 and Bob & Jon Baker’s JAYWALKER.  Two J/105s are sailing- Richard Kerns’ FLAWLESS J and Professor Roger Williams’ JOS OF HAMBLE.  Finally, James & John Owen’s J/99 JET, Dianne & Dirk Van Beek’s J/88 SABRIEL JR and the Royal Lancer’s Sailing Team’s J/019 AJAX will working hard to get in front of their stablemates.

The smallest J’s are sailing in IRC 7 Class; one is Craig & Emma Dymock’s J/22 LA VIE EN ROSE and the other is Edmund Gatehouse’s J/24 JUPITER.  For more Lendy Cowes Week sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Glorious Whidbey Island Race Week

(Oak Harbor, WA)- After nearly four decades, Whidbey Island Race Week delivered one of the nicest three days of sailing the Pacific Northwest has seen for awhile- three straight days of sun and breeze. This year’s event has attracted a fleet of sixty-one boats; twenty-eight of them are J/Crews- 46% of the regatta! There were one-design classes for J/80s and J/105s, with the rest sailing in various PHRF handicap classes. Here are the reports from those three glorious days of sailing.

Day One
Just two days before “the Whidbey” started, the weather did not look so promising. However, the first day of the 37th edition off Oak Harbor made for many happy memories before the fleet moves over to Point Roberts for the 2020 race week edition.

After an opening evening of renewing cross-border friendships, while dancing to live music on the lawn of the Oak Harbor Yacht Club, and a night of crispy winds and an unexpected rainfall, Charley Rathkopf’s Race Committee led the fleet of 61 US and Canadian boats south into what most sailors were hoping was the last day of an unusually cool and cloudy July.

The two one-design classes of J/105s and J/80s and J/PHRF sailors enjoyed the day’s courses that tested the crews’ fortitude and patience thanks to dying breezes and a 10-foot tidal exchange. Wednesday’s uncertain waters and wind caused skippers to greet the week with conservative starts and no “over-earlies”. The J/109 Lodos reveled in Wednesday’s southerly breeze though rued the calm waters that ensued as the wind slowly achingly and shifted to the west before finally evaporating for the day.

Day Two
What better way to stave off Saturday’s inevitable tears with a fun-filled blast from the past. Thursday’s 1980’s Reggae theme brought out a colorful cacophony of garb, from retro polo’s to tie-dye tees, plus boom boxes and wigs galore, including mullets, fro’s and dreadlocks. Even the weather seemed to join in and add to the light-hearted mood of the day.

Under intensely blue and cloudless skies, the cool morning soon grew into a warm afternoon. And right on schedule, Penn Cove’s forecasted westerly filled in by the “noon o’clock” first gun.

With a waning flood, most of the day’s first of three starts had at least one OCS. But, that minor inconvenience didn’t seem to deter some of those who were a bit too hasty to take a bite out of the on-course side.

Stuart Burnell’s J/109 TANTIVY, for example, turned their OCS, and a subsequent foul plus 360, into a tactical advantage and maneuvered to a third place finish, showing that a solid background of hard-earned experience can turn a negative into a positive.

Others weren’t as fortunate. For example, Buckey’s J/105 INSUBORDINATION managed to make contact with the committee boat’s fenders at the start. After that, and a series of other unfortunate events, they retired from the day’s third and final race, skulking back to the Oak Harbor marina with their tail between their legs and a whopping 12 points added to their score card.

Regardless, if Charley and his committee can pull out more multiple-race days like Thursday’s, INSUBORDINATION may be able to throw out that last-place finish. It’s not inconceivable that they’ll make a comeback, as they have several race week veterans, and winners, aboard, including Pat Denny (owner) and Gary Harr (skipper) of that infamous black boat- the J/29 HERE & NOW.

Mike Kalahar’s Port Angeles-based LITONYA darted around the course on Thursday to earn another bullet in the wily J/80 class.

No strangers to race week, John Aitcheson and his veteran crew aboard the J/105 MOOSE UNKNOWN took home first place honors for Thursday’s three races with two bullets and a second. With just 5 points going into Friday’s racing, they are poised to take home the overall trophy. It’s just the halfway point of the regatta. However, the J/105 fleet is one of the most hotly contested one-design classes on the Salish Sea, so they’ll have to fight hard to keep their lead.

Day Three
The bovine aroma off Blowers Bluff signaled the arrival of a solid westerly breeze (a bit like Mackinac Island’s famous aroma of fudge and horse manure wafting across the Straits!). On such a day, the air becomes very clear with no haze on the horizon. One crew excitedly announced, “the mountain is out!” While passing through the channel from Oak Harbor into Saratoga Passage, she was exclaiming that Mt. Baker had emerged over the eastern horizon.

Knowing with confidence that if that marine layer burns off over the Straits beyond Penn Cove’s west head, the breeze will indeed fill in nicely. As a result, that meant the smart money would try port tacking the fleet to hitch the elevator ride up the cove to finish line at North Beach. For that final leg, sailors were salivating, anticipating getting to Coupeville’s Red Barn, the garlic shrimp, and ice cream at Kapaw’s. Others, of course, were wishing there was more time for beer and fish’n’ chips at Toby’s.

Jerry Diercks’ crew on DELIRIUM was maybe a bit delirious in the beginning of the regatta, starting off quite slowly with a 3-4-8 tally in the eleven-boat J/105 class. However, in the next six races they came on strong like a locomotive gathering steam downhill, smoking the closely-fought class with three 1sts, two 2nds and a 3rd to win with 17 net pts after a single discard.  Second was Chris Phoenix’s JADED with 20 pts. Then, just two points back doing the “reverse fade” of the DELIRIUM tally was John Aitchison’s MOOSE UNKNOWN, a fun-loving Canadian crew. While the “Mooser’s” opened up with a stunning three bullets in a row, they slowly faded to black, closing the regatta with a 5-3-5-8 in their last four races to drop down to the bronze medal. The balance of the top five included Erik Kristen’s MORE JUBILEE in 4th and Buckey’s INSUBORDINATION in 5th place.

Never looking back after day one in the seven-boat J/80 class was David Schutte’s TAJ MAHAL. After leading day one, Schutte’s crew keep up the pressure on the fleet and won with just 12 pts net, counting only podium finishes in their scoreline that included five 1sts! Second was Bryan Rhodes’ CRAZY IVAN and third place was earned by Mike Kalahar’s LITONYA.

The six-boat PHRF 1 Class saw Bruce Chan’s J/111 65 RED ROSES II take the silver, missing the gold by a mere point.  Then, in PHRF 2 class, David & Vernice Cohen’s J/90 EYE EYE took the bronze. Rounding out the top five were Stu Burnell’s J/109 TANTIVY in 4th an Brian White’s J/35 GRACE E in 5th position. Two other J/109s finished behind them, with Tolga Cezik’s LODOS in 6th and Mike Campbell’s LAPA in 7th. In PHRF 3 class, it was Stephanie Arnold’s J/33 DASH that took 4th place. Finally, in PHRF 5 class, Christine Nelson’s J/29 SLICK took the silver.  For more Whidbey Island Race Week sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.

Epic, Windy Landsail Tyres J-Cup Regatta

(Hamble, England)- The J/Boat family bid a fond farewell to Paul Heys who “sailed away” in February this year. Before the start of racing, the sixty-boat fleet gathered in the vicinity of the proposed location for the Paul Heys Memorial Buoy for a special tribute. Whilst observing a minutes silence, Paul Heys' ashes were released in a seashell by his wife Marie-Claude, assisted by Paul's daughters, Gemma and Natalie. Over £25,000 has already been raised, covering the cost and maintenance of the Paul Heys Memorial Buoy for ten years. The target of £34,000, will ensure that the buoy will be raced around by Paul Heys' grandchildren and those of the J-Boat family. To make a donation: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/paulheys

Martin Dent (owner of the J/70 and J/111 named JELVIS) commented after the memorial to Paul Heys, “It was fantastic when we came in and congregated, I looked at the other boats and teams were standing in rows on deck to attention. It was very moving. We got to our feet as well in honor of an absolute legend. I am glad that we are fund raising to put a mark in to celebrate Paul. I hope the mark will be a place of much carnage..... If ever we are doing a mark rounding there, we will leave the drop late, rodeo drop, and possibly fling it in with borderline rights in honor of the greatest rogue. Paul Heys has made more impact on sailing than any other single person, and is responsible for so many Solent sailors, including my family and team Jelvis. I miss him.”

The Landsail Tyres J-Cup is an annual event in which all J/Boats are invited to attend, to race in one-design classes or under IRC. The 2019 edition was hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club with racing in the Solent. Sixty teams racing ten different examples of the J/Boat range were in action with skippers from Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and the United States. This year's regatta also featured the J/70 UK Class Training Event.

All nine races were completed over three days of thrilling racing for over 300 sailors. Conditions ranged from moderate to fresh and frightening. Mother Nature saved her best until last with 25 knots of breeze in clear blue skies for the last race of a fantastic regatta. Competitors enjoyed the use of modern facilities at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, including the spacious Upper Bar with elevated views over the Hamble River. In the dining room North Sails delivered a video debrief, a master class on heavy airs trimming and boat handling from: Dave Lenz, Ruairidh Scott, Jeremy Smart and Charlie Cumbley.

In the 16-strong J/70 Class, Paul Ward's Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat scored seven bullets out of nine races to win the class from Charles Thompson's Brutus. Clive Bush's Darcey was pushed hard by Graham Clapp's Jeepster for the podium, with Jeepster winning the last two contests. However, Darcey was third by a single point after nine race.

Paul Ward's Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat was awarded the J-Cup for their impressive performance, the first time a J/70 team has won the prestigious trophy. A very surprised Paul Ward was quick to thank his team and Paul Heys at the Prize Giving. “I am shocked, this is totally unexpected!” commented Paul. “A big thank you to Paul Heys, all of us here wish he was still around, and like many many of us, he has helped me enormously with my sailing. A big thank you to the Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat team, Charlie (Cumbley), Ruairidh (Scott), and Mario (Trindade).”

In the IRC Big Boat Class, Chaz Ivill's J/112 Davanti Tyres won the class for a third year in a row, but it was far from easy. Davanti Tyres put in a stellar performance on the last day, winning all three races to win the class, just ahead of Mike Wallis' J/122 Jahmali. Isabelle Hung's “The Outsiders” racing J/122 Jolly Jellyfish were competing in their first J-Cup, and finished on the podium in third.

In the IRC Small Boat Class, Frédéric Bouvier's J/99 J Lance 14 was in commanding form, scoring all podium finishes in nine races, including six bullets. Jeff Johnstone racing J/99 Jet was runner-up, and the American skipper gave the French J/99 a great battle, succeeding in victory and one tie during the regatta. President of J Composites SAS, Didier Le Moal was part of the J Lance 14, racing against the President of J/Boats Inc, Jeff Johnstone.

“What an amazing weekend,” commented Jeff Johnstone. Having this many J/Sailors together is when the magic happens - you can design boats in a vacuum, and you are never quite sure how people respond to it until you show up at a regatta like this. The racing has been fantastic, run by a stellar race committee. Meeting up with so many friendly people, enjoying their boats and testing them to the limits. I know I speak for the J Boat Company back home, and Didier (Le Moal), when I say that the great camaraderie shows great respect for Paul Heys, who started this event.”

Ten teams competed in the J/92 Class, a bumper entry for the high performance 30-footer. Robin Stevenson's Upstart impressed, scoring four race wins and a tie for first place to win the class and retain the J/92 National Championship. David Greenhalgh's J'ronimo, with VOR sailor and daughter Libby on tactics was second. A very close third was Alan Macleod's Samurai J scoring eight podiums out of nine races.

“With a new baby this year, the J-Cup is the first regatta of the season for Upstart,” commented Robin Stevenson. “The J/92 is the only boat I know, and this is a regatta full of great competition in the class. Boat handling was the key, especially for the last two days, and the Upstart crew performed very well in the big conditions”

In the J/111 Class, Tony Mack's McFly held off a strong challenge to win the class from 2018 J/111 National champion, Chris Jones & Louise Makin's Journeymaker II, and 2018 J-Cup winner Paul van Driel's Sweeny. In a high-octane close encounter, races were won by just seconds. Tony Mack was full of fun at the Prize Giving, and was quick to praise his crew. Journeymaker II and Sweeny tied for second place, both scoring equal points after nine races. Sweeny was scored second on countback after winning the last race of the regatta.

In the J/109 Class, eleven teams duked it out over nine races. Last year's runner up, John Smart's Jukebox, won the class scoring five race wins with Ireland's Mark Mansfield calling tactics. Simon Perry's Jiraffe was second, scoring seven race podiums, including a win in big conditions in the last race. Racing in the class is highly competitive, with a full program of J/109 events through out the year. Thirteen J/109 will be competing at Cowes Week and 19 J/109s are set for the Rolex Fastnet Race for the J/109 Fastnet Trophy.

Kirsty & David Apthorp's J/88 J-Dream was on the race podium for all nine races, including six bullets, to retain the J/88 National Championship for a third year in a row. Gavin Howe's Tigris scored all but one podium finishes, including a race win to finish the regatta in second place. Tim Tolcher's Raging Bull saved their best until last scoring a 2-1-4 on the final day to finish on the podium in third.

Video action from the 2019 Landsail Tyres J-Cup and J/70 UK Class Training Event. (Thanks to Louay Habib, Shaun Roster, and North Sails). Sailing photo credits- Tim Wright/ Photoaction.com.  For more Landsail Tyres J-Cup sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Dun Laoghaire Regatta Preview

(Dun Laoghaire, Ireland)- When the starting gun sounds off Dun Laoghaire’s famous harbour on Thursday, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta will not only surpass 2017’s fleet with a fleet of 498 boats, but will come close to breaking 2007's all time record of 528 entries.

A regatta of this scale brings key benefits to both the sport and the east coast town. It is a marine tourism boost and one that underpins Dun Laoghaire's place as Ireland’s largest sailing center and also the venue of one of Ireland’s largest participant sporting events with over 2,500 competitors on the water.

But, what’s even more satisfying for the Dun Laoghaire organizers this week is that nearly half the entries for 2019 are visiting boats – an indication of the future international prospects of the regatta.

Organized jointly by the four Dún Laoghaire waterfront yacht clubs (the Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, the National Yacht Club, the Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club), it provides a snapshot of the sport of sailing in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. With its focus on quality over quantity, the regatta has grown over 16 years into a premier sporting event, and is now competing with the best in Europe.

“VDLR owes its prominence to a number of factors. One is that it is one of the least expensive sailing events in Europe, thanks to generous sponsorship, so providing value for money,” says 2019 organizer Don O’Dowd.

Many of the hottest racing boats will be participating in the IRC Offshore class of twenty-eight boats; it will surely be tough competition!  JACKKNIFE, Andrew Hall’s J/125 from Pwllheli Sailing Club, is leading the ISORA Series overall and is a potent performer, particularly when she can get planing. She will be up against James Tyrrell’s fast J/112E AQUELINA, three J/109s (Paul Sutton’s JAYDREAMER, Peter Dunlop’s MOJITO, & Nigel Ingram’s JET STREAM), Edward Hampson’s J/105 MOJO, and Lindsay Casey’s J/97 WINDJAMMER.

In the IRC Cruiser 0 class of six yachts will be Jonathan Anderson’s J/122E EL GRAN SENOR from the Clyde Cruising Club in Scotland.  The team has enjoyed some early season success in the offshore circuit in Scotland and hopes to continue that trend in this regatta.

The twenty-seven boat IRC Cruiser 1 class is likely to be the most competitive and hardest class to pick a winner this year. The normal Irish and Welsh boats in this class will be joined by the Scottish RC 35 Class who are using Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta as one of the Celtic Cup events, so six of this class have travelled to the hub of Irish Sea yachting.

Sixteen J/109s are featured in this class and are known to be potent in light airs, so it is likely that two or three of the podium results will go to a J/109. So far this year, a J/109 has won the Scottish Series, the ICRAs and the Sovereign's Cup, in varying conditions.

The four J/109s that took the top four results at this year's ICRAs are all back, and all have good tacticians aboard. John Maybury's JOKER 2, From the Royal Irish, who was the 2017 Dun Laoghaire Regatta winner will have Olympian Killian Collins aboard. JELLY BABY, owned by Brian Jones from the Royal Cork has Killian's brother Mel on tactics. STORM 2, owned by the Kelly family from Rush has North Sails Nigel Young aboard, and OUTRAJEOUS, owned by John Murphy and Richard Colwell from Howth, has Olympian Mark Mansfield aboard. OUTRAJEOUS just won the Sovereigns Cup two weeks ago in Kinsale. Other top J/109s likely to do well will be Tim Goodbody's locally-based WHITE MISCHIEF from the Royal Irish, Brian and John Hall's SOMETHING ELSE from the National Yacht Club and Andrew Craig's Scottish Series winner, CHIMAERA from the Royal Irish.

Another good turnout is the 15 boats entered in the J/80 Class, which has proven to be particularly suited to Irish requirements. The impact of the J/80 may be relatively new, but one cannot help but notice that one of the favored helms in the class has to be Robert Dix, yet another product of the remarkable sailing nursery that is Malahide. His continuing sailing skill prompts us to remind the Royal Cork YC that at their Quarter Millennial Celebrations in 1970, one Robert Dix at age 17 emerged as the youngest-ever winner of the Helmsman’s Championship of Ireland. With the RCYC Tercentenary coming up next year, the Golden Jubilee of Dixie’s success is surely something that will get a special mention.

In the twenty-two boat IRC Cruiser 2 class, a quartet of J/crews have all been known to be top performers and have garnered their fair share of silverware in past events.  For starters, the two J/97s will be tough- Stephen Quinn’s LAMBAY RULES and Colin & Kat Kavanaugh’s THE JENERAL LEE, both boats hail from Howth YC.  Gary Fort’s J/92S JAGUAR and Andrew Miles’ J/35 SIDETRACK should in the hunt as well.

Despite the light airs forecast, the quartet of J/24s sailing in IRC Cruiser 3 class could be strong competitors.  Those teams include Steve Atkinson’s BAD, Lizzie McDowell’s SCANDAL, Doug Elmes’ KILCULLEN, and Flor O’Driscoll’s HARD ON PORT.  For more Dun Laoghaire Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

RORC IRC National Championship Preview

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- From modern lightweight planing yachts to evergreen designs of the 1970s and 80s, the IRC rule brings them all together for three days of intense racing. With courses varying from windward-leewards to round-the-cans and the possibility of reaching or downwind starts, any boat can have its day. Of course, that all depends on the wind direction, courses, currents, and wind angles- especially on the Solent. A biased upwind course versus a biased all downwind course, a notable problem on the infamous Solent.

Sailing in IRC 2 Class will be Chris Daniel’s J/122E JUNO and Stuart Sawyer’s J/122 BLACK DOG.

The IRC 3 Class will see a duel between a trio of J/112E’s, including James Chalmer’s HAPPY DAIZE, David Franks’ LEON, and Bruce Huber’s XANABOO.

The IRC 4 Class may be the province of the J/109s, like Phil Warwick’s RNSA JOLLY JACK TAR and Chris Preston’s JUBILEE. However, watch out for the sleeper in the class, Nick & Adam Munday’s J/97 INDULJENCE.  For more RORC IRC National Championship sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Round The Island Race Preview

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- If it's the first weekend in July, it must be time for the world-famous “Round The Island Race” in the United Kingdom, hosted by the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, Isle of Wight. The challenging 60.0nm race that goes around the Isle of Wight is by far the most popular race on any sailor’s social calendar all year long in the U.K.; particularly for those that love to get thrashed and challenged by the intricacies of the Solent.

As has been the case for over a decade, over a thousand boats will begin starting at 0630 hrs. First off is the IRC Zero class, followed by over two-dozen more classes sailing across the glorious Royal Yacht Squadron line in the summer morning soft orange light. It should be absolutely gorgeous for the thousands of sailors aboard all the teams making their annual, epic adventure around the Isle of Wight.

Taking on the challenge will be a veritable J/Navy sailing across the spectrum of classes.  In the world of IRC handicap classes, here are some of the notable teams to watch.

Nearly 40% of the 26 entries in IRC 1 A Class are J/teams.  Some of those include five J/122s (BLACK DOG- George Willis & Stuart Sawyer, JOLLY JELLYFISH- Simon Newton, R&W- Andy Theobald, JAHMALI- Mike & Sarah Wallis, & JANGLE- Clive Miles), three J/111s (JITTERBUG- Cornell Riklin, JOURNEYMAKER II- Chris Jones And Louise Makin, & KESTREL- Simon Bamford). Hoping to beat them all across the line in style will be Fergus Angel’s J/121 ROCK LOBSTER.

With 31 boats in the IRC 1 C Class are three J/112E’s- Bruce Huber’s XANABOO, Chaz Ivill’s DAVANTI TYRES, and Jim Chalmers’ KNIGHT BUILD LTD. They will be joined by Stu Lawrence’s J/120 SCREAM.

The 21 boat IRC 2 A Class has three J/109s (JUBILEE- Christopher Preston, JUKEBOX- Chris Copeland, & RED ARROW- Alan Beckheling) and one J/99- James & John Owen’s JET.

Nearly 60% of the 33 boat IRC 2 B Class are J/crews.  There are five J/105s; including FLAWLESS J’s Andy Uren, JAB JAB’s Richard Chart, and JIN TONIC’s Andrew Roberts. They will have to contend with a huge contingent of fifteen J/109s that include such top teams as David Richards’ JUMPING JELLYFISH and Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN.

The twenty-one entries in IRC 2 Class include two offshore-focused J/105s- Jim Wicks’ DIABLO-J and Gillian Ross’ GENE JENIE. The sixteen entries in IRC 2 D Class include the J/92 JABBERWOCK (Ralph Mason), J/97 JAYWALKER (Robert & Jon Baker), and the J/110 SHADES OF BLUE (Ed Holton).

As one of the largest classes in the race, the 38 entries in IRC 3 A Class include seven J/92s, such as J’RONIMO (David Greenhalgh), JACKDAW (Rob Salter), NIGHTJAR (Jack Banks), and SAMURAI-J (Alan Macleod & Andy Knowles).  They will be joined by one J/97- Rachel, Robert and David Hunt JUMBLESAIL II.

Rounding out the IRC handicap entries is the J/30 COLLENN sailed by Allan Hill in the forty-four boat IRC 3 C Class.

The one-design classes include J/70s, J/80s, and J/88s.  The largest one-design class is the sixteen boats entered in the J/70 class, including top crews such as Terry O’Neill’s AQUA-J, Andrew Barraclough’s JENGA 8, and Jack Davies YETI.

The five entries in the J/80 class include Richard Tricker’s FIDUCIAL from France, Phil Lightbody’s JEDI, and Simon Cameron’s JUNO.

The top J/88s in their class include Richard Cooper’s JONGLEUR, Tim Tolcher’s RAGING BULL, Dirk Van Beek’s SABRIEL JR, and Sam Cooper’s TIGRIS.  For more Round Island Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Epic, Brutal RORC De Guingand Bowl Race

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- With 40 knots of wind speed recorded during the 110.0nm race, the 2019 RORC De Guingand Bowl was undoubtedly a tough test for both the crews and competing yachts. Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, a four-mile downwind leg to Browndown provided a breath-taking start. The fleet then returned through the Solent upwind with a building tide through Hurst Narrows. The beating continued all the way to East Shambles off Weymouth. After the long hard beat, the fleet turned east for a long sleigh ride back around the south side of the Isle of Wight, with a beat to finish at Mother Bank.

“The southwesterly pressure and the tidal flow meant that heading east was not going to be a good option,” commented RORC Racing Manager Chris Stone. “The lesser of the two evils was to send the fleet east for an hour or more, then send them west through Hurst Narrows, when the water was still fairly flat. As a 24-hour test, these conditions are great for preparing for the bigger races that the RORC organizes, the Rolex Fastnet Race being one of them.”

Because the race was so brutal, most divisions recorded nearly all DNF’s.  The sole J/Team to finish was Chris Miles’ J/97E HIGH JINKS in taking 5th place in IRC 4 Division and 4th place in the IRC Doublehanded Division- quite a remarkable feat in such harrowing weather.  Fifteen boats finished, forty-two did not, an extraordinarily high attrition rate for any race!  For RORC de Guingand Bowl Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Landsail Tyres J-Cup Announcement

(Hamble, England)- The Landsail Tyres J-Cup, organized by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, by invitation of Key Yachting UK, is set to be a special event. The 2019 edition will run alongside the J/70 UK Class Training Event, incorporating the UK Grand Slam Series, part of the build up to the first J/70 World Championship to be held in the UK. Racing action is expected to be exciting and highly competitive, especially in the J/109 and J/88 Classes, which will decide their respective UK National Championships. From July 18th to 20th, up to nine races are scheduled on tight Solent courses over three days of scintillating action and legendary parties.

A Welcome BBQ on the eve of the regatta will be followed by daily video debriefs from experts at North Sails, along with daily prize givings for boats of the day, and crew suppers. The grande finale will be the J-Cup Gala Dinner on Saturday 20th July held at the Royal Southern YC Clubhouse, on the banks of the Hamble River, with live music from the Soul Lounge Band!

Early entries for the J/111 Class include three teams from the host club, the Royal Southern YC; Louise Makin & Chris Jones JOURNEYMAKER II (J/111 UK National Champion), Tony Mack's McFLY, and Simon Grier-Jones' SNOW LEOPARD. They will be joined by Jan van Berne's RED HERRING from the Haarlemsche Yacht Club, Netherlands.

The J/109 UK National Championship has provided some of the closest racing in the J-Cup. Mike & Susie Yates JAGO and Simon Perry's JIRAFFE will be racing for the host club. Christopher Preston's JUBILEE will be flying the burgee of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and Andi Radburn's RED ARROW will be representing the RAF Sailing Association.

“The J-Cup is the National Championships for the J/109 class and a fantastic opportunity to enjoy being part of the extended J-Boat family,” commented Simon Perry. “We love the rapid fire windward/leeward racing and are expecting to follow that with dock parties and of course the class Annual General Meeting. It’s the high point of the J/109 Calendar and we’re hoping for strong participation. It is always a great event with a very special atmosphere.”

In the J/92 Class, Robin Stevenson's UPSTART returns having won last year by a single point from NIGHT JAR, which will also be racing this year, sailed by Penny Jeffcoate. Alan Macleod's SAMURAI J, representing the Cove Sailing Club, will travel over 500 miles to take part. Six teams are currently entered for the J/92 Class.

2018 J/97 National Champion, Bob and Jon Baker's JAYWALKER, returns to action. Early J/88 entries include Dirk & Dianne van Beek's SABRIEL Jr and Gavin Howe's much travelled TIGRIS.

All J/Boats are invited to attend the Landsail Tyres J-Cup to race in the one-design fleets or under IRC. For more Landsail Tyres J-Cup sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Rough & Tumble RORC Myth of Malham Race

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Myth of Malham Race, with 138 boats competing, produced a thrilling racing for the fleet. The race started off light, but in the second half of the 30-hour race, having rounded the Eddystone Lighthouse off Plymouth, the fleet took off on high-speed sleigh-ride in the strong downwind conditions heading back into the Solent.

In IRC Two Class, the J/133 PINTIA, sailed by Gilles Fournier & Corinne Migraine (FRA) was second by just a mere nine minutes on corrected time. The J/122 JUNO, sailed by Christopher Daniel (GBR) was third. Three other J/doublehanders finished in the top eleven boats; Chris Preston’s J/109 JUBILEE took 8th, Chris Miles’ J/97 HIGH JINKS was 10th, and Jerry Freeman’s J/105 JULIETTE placed 11th.

In IRC Three, the Royal Navy Sailing Association’s J/109 JOLLY JACK TAR took 6th place, while Neil McGrigor’s J/109 was 8th, and Chris Preston’s J/109 JUBILEE was 9th.

In the IRC Two-Handed Class David McGough’s J/109 JUST SO took fourth place, just 18 minutes from taking the bronze on the podium.

The Myth of Malham Race was the fourth of the 2019 RORC Season's Points Championship. As a result, in IRC 2 Class Season Championship, Fournier/ Migraine’s J/133 PINTIA is now leading the class after sailing two races.  Similarly, in the IRC 3 Class Season, Preston’s J/109 JUBILEE is sitting in 5th place and the J/109 MOJO RISIN’ is hanging on to 8th.  Preston’s J/109 JUBILEE is also sitting in 4th for the IRC Two-handed division for the season; just behind them in 6th is Freeman’s J/105 JULIETTE.  For more RORC Myth of Malham sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

FIGAWI Race Preview

(Hyannisport, MA)- The third major offshore Memorial Day event, “The Figawi”, arose originally to celebrate community and local charity over thirty-three years ago. The event started last Saturday, May 18th for the 33rd Annual Figawi Charity Ball at the Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis, MA.  This year’s theme was FIGAWI FIRE & ICE and the music was provided by America's #1 Dance Party Band, the “Soul Sound Revue”, the hottest 9-piece Motown show this side of Detroit.


The sailing regatta is held every Memorial Day Weekend. The schedule begins on Friday in Hyannis with the Kickoff Summer Party that includes registration for the race and merchandise sales. Saturday morning, sans hangover (hopefully), the PHRF pursuit-style races starts off Hyannis at 10:00am and sends the fleet off on a 25.0nm race to Nantucket usually arriving late afternoon. Sunday is a lay day to enjoy the various events in the Figawi tents, walking the docks of Nantucket Boat Basin to take in all the activity, joining the spectators at the parade honoring fallen soldiers, and the infamous party in the big tent to close out Sunday night.

The race annually expects over 240 boats and 3,000 participants in 13 classes; it is quite popular with J/sailors in New England! Four teams are sailing in PHRF S1 division, David Southwell’s J/121 ALCHEMY, Jimmy Masiero’s J/122 URSUS MARITIMUS, Chris Lund’s J/133 JUMP, and Cory Eaves’ J/109 FREEDOM.

Seven J/105s are sailing in PHRF S2 division, such as the Nantucket High School Sailing team on CLIO, the trio on DARK’N’STORMY (Joyce, Reservitz, Wagner), Mary Schmitt’s HARDTACK, Gerry Lorusso’s LYRIC, Dwight Greenhouse’s SKIPPERDEE, Mass Maritime’s BOUNTY, and Ed Lobo’s WATERWOLF. Joining them are Sam Cushing’s J/80 THE PARTY TREE and Andrew Meincke’s J/97 ADRENALINE.

Two J/46’s are sailing PHRF B division, Nathan Owen’s SEABISCUIT and Richard Egan’s WINGS. There is also a duo of J/35s racing, Jeff Kent’s BLACKSEAL and Mike Hersey’s RESILIENCE.

PHRF C division has three J/crews, Ben Hodgson’s J/100 GRIMACE, Ira Perry’s J/29 SEEFEST, and Kirk Brown’s J/40 JAZZ. In PHRF D division is John Ryley’s J/30 OTIS. Tom Ellis’ J/34 COVERAGE is racing PHRF H division. Mark Barrett’s J/30 MOJO will be sailing PHRF L division.  FIGAWI Race sailing information-  Entries/ results.  Regatta site. Add to Flipboard Magazine.