Team 11th Hour-Sailors For The Sea Win J/24 Worlds

Or, Why "The Moose Is Loose" Is a Winning Formula

(Malmo, Sweden - August 18th)- Well Moose, it took just a few years to get there (e.g. it couldn't have been a better outcome for one of the nicest guys sailing on the planet).  Nevertheless, with a crackerjack team skippered by Tim Healey, Team 11th Hour-Sailors For The Sea took the coveted prize- "World Champions of the World"- a.k.a. J/24 Worlds 2010 gold.  It was not easy.  As described in "The Moose Reports" on SA (Sailing Anarchy), it nearly became "stealing victory from the jaws of defeat."  Apologies to all, but it's great reading, so here's the unabridged versions from Scot and friends at SA's "The Moose Is Loose Reports": 
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August 19th- Today was a good day- "Finally, good starts and good finishes, and deserved.  At least a little bit. Gordy stepped up in a big way and got us right on the line both starts (first raced we started bow to chainplate with Ingham who was BFD), we were able to use some speed (and I'd like to say smarts but it's still too early to talk about stuff like that) to pop a 1,2.  And no rain.

Both races were tough. The first race started with small jibs (though we knew we should have been in the big jib), we hooked a good start and were able to tack right into the great current (cool thing here, the current is all based on where the highs and lows are, the current flows from low to high, the high went south last night so instead of the northerly current of the last week, it went south), we were able to overcome about 10 degrees of pin bias to come across the left side and round first.  We did a quick change to the big jib in the way downwind, as did most of the fleet, and though there were a lot  of anxious moments downwind (I'll stop whining at some point) and a tricky beat where we hooked to the right again for current, though slightly out of phase, we managed to maintain ahead of Tony Parker, who came with us to go from 5 to 2 on the beat.  Good day for the ugly Americans.

The 2nd race was nerve wracker, we missed a little trying to be smart and were pinned going to the left, away from the good current.  We weren't quite able to hang with Ian Southworth, who popped out form a pretty good start from the left side, though we weren't able to quite hang with him we both did some fancy swerving to get around a group from the right, Ian rounded right behind a Japanese team in first, we slid into 3rd (don't ask how, stuff happens), we both rolled the Japanese and then we followed Ian around for 2nd.  It was a particularly tough race for both Ingham and Parker, they were stuck left and never recovered.  Casale, who was probably lying around 2nd gong into that race, also fell victim to the squirrelly breeze which leaves Southworth in 2nd, I think.

I haven't looked at results yet, that superstitious thing I've told anyone that asks that I've been in far bigger collapses, I hope we can hold on.  Tomorrow is forecast to be light and weird, I hope that's not right, we go well in breeze, in light stuff we have to think a lot more and that's where things go bad.  Hopefully I'll give you a good report soon."
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August 21- Moose tells you how to Close The Deal- "Well, we didn't make it easy on ourselves but we held on.  Ian Southworth sailed extremely well over the last three races to make a full charge at us, we helped him out a lot by hacking up the first race today, losing three boats on the run to the finish to put the end result in doubt. You may have seen our report from the second day, when I talked about losing three boats at the weather mark.  I call this points left on the course.  Points you had that you blew.  We could have sailed in after our poor first race today as champions, instead we left the whole thing up in the air.  For anyone that sails a lot, this is an incredibly important lesson: even in a long series, there are little points that you say coulda, whoulda, shoulda, those are the points that will make the difference down the road.  Don't give up on any points you've gained, keep pushing all the time, EVERY point makes a difference.  If we had only lost two boats the second day we could have sailed in.  If we'd only lost two boats on the run the first race we could have sailed in.  Frustrating.

Enough ranting, anyone that sails with me knows I whine incessantly, for better or worse (and you can guess which one it is, though most still want to sail with me).  Tim did an unbelievable job, total calm within the storm (anyone that sails with him knows there isn't a whole lot of noise from the back of the boat), very fast and particularly high upwind, great concentration and effort.  We used a chartered Italian boat from builder Paolo Boido (a truly class guy, deal with him if you can, if not go straight to Dunes) that was very comfortable all the way around the course, having confidence in the boat helps in a lot of decision making.  John Mollicone in cockpit made the comment- "who would have ever thought I'd  win a Worlds trimming?"

Well, he did, very capable upwind getting the genoa (and jib in the breeze) in better than almost everyone (after never doing it), and calling all the shots downwind (while, as expected, I whined about what he was doing, catching the theme?).  Gordy Borges, our bow guy (and former World Champ with Brad Read) was the glue that held the package together, the guy that does the bottom, makes the sandwiches, does the rig, all the crap that no one wants to do, and always with a smile (I think).  Dan Rabin, a Lightning stud and newer member to the team, joyfully sat below in all the rain (though today it was sun all the way around) and light air (porn not included), never complained and soaked up the experience (if not the sunshine), the perfect complement for a bunch of guys that sail the boats way too much.

For the rest of the fleet, there was  a mish-mash of results.  Former champion Andrea Casele, though quick, had a couple bad races but held on for third overall.  Maurizio Santa Cruz, defending champion, won two races but struggled for consistency.  Tony Parker was always fast but suffered a BFD in the last race to drop him to 6th after entering the day 2nd, a tough finish but a testament to Tony and his team for sailing a strong series.  Mike Ingham also fell victim to the black flag, he had moments of pure brilliance but consistency was not in the books and he ended falling out of contention today.  Overall, though, a good showing from almost every country represented.

I'm really glad this came together, not so much for me, because I have been lucky enough to sail with really good teams and have had success, but for the rest of the guys on our team.  I love the whole crew aspect, gathering diverse people and getting the most out of the mix.  We were fortunate; we sailed very well for several days and had success.  This doesn't always happen, I've finished 2nd three times (in the J/24 Worlds) and the bitter pill is tough to swallow. These guys busted their asses, they got the results.  I'm really proud, and glad, to have gotten the chance to sail with them."  Thanks to SA for The Moose Report- http://www.sailinganarchy.com    For more J/24 Worlds sailing results   For Sailing Photo Credits- Magnus Grubbe

YERTLE (the turtle) Wins J/24 Canadian Nationals

(Halifax, Nova Scotia)-  Just days after the J/24 Worlds finished in Sweden, the Canadians were conducting their 2010 J24 Nationals. The win by Ian Dawson and Craig Noake's YERTLE was a remarkable result, considering that YERTLE emerged from a three-way tie for first winning on the strength of three first place finishes in individual races. It was a crazy scenario...if this has ever happened before, I have my doubts. Here's the story by "Dr. Zeus":

"YERTLE had to win the last race and did so by overtaking Lisa Ross in JAMN'IT on the final leg of the last race. Ian and Craig needed Peter Wickwire to finish no better than third, which Peter, in fact, did, fully aware that if Lisa could hold on his SUNNYVALE would win the regatta. Both required Johnny Whynacht in STICKY FINGERS to finish eighth or worse (i.e. a drop), which he unfortunately did by coming in tenth for his worst race in what was otherwise a very consistent series."  Incredible. Stupendous.  Unbelievable. What other words can you possibly use here (or would the competitors use)!?!?

The event closed with a first class lobster supper and prize giving in the Squadron's Spar Loft attended by more than 150 sailors and officials. Class President Dale Robertson, who did a spectacular job recruiting sponsors, distributed the largesse of Sperry Topsider, Slam clothing and gear, Jackson-Triggs, and others to the countless volunteers who supported the event as well as to top finishers and notable also-rans (e.g., Best Dressed Lisa Ross and Best Comeback Eric Koppernaes). Plaques were distributed to all crew members of the top five boats along with many sponsor-provided items. The event concluded after the YERTLE crew collected their trophy and participants were told to look under their chairs for tags that indicated they had won prizes such as Sperry shoes or Henri Lloyd clothing provided by The Binnacle. A melee ensued and we can only hope that everyone left with shoes and jackets that fit.

By the time the band Big City was warming up for the finale, I have to admit I was too dog tired. It was nice, though, to see Tom Taylor from St. Catherines, who I used to sail with in Kingston, Ontario, and who brought his boat, A1, farther than any other competitor at the event. Tom was hoping for more wind than we provided this time but acknowledged that you couldn't knock the sun, which is usually harder to find in Halifax than breeze.

I got a second wind, myself, when Big City kicked into their version of "Suspicious Minds." I lasted long enough to get a few dances with my wife, Lorna, while the young women of BLACK JACK cut a "vicious rug."  Next August, when the J/24 North Americans come to town, we'll see if we can't come up with a shorter line up for measurement, no fog, a touch more breeze, equally comfortable temperatures, and the same good times and terrific competition."  So, now Dr. Zeus can relax and go to bed!  For more Canadian J/24 Nationals sailing information
  

Team Swiss Wins Dennis Conner Challenge!

(New York, NY)- The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation held its annual Dennis Conner International YC Challenge over the weekend, in New York Harbor.  It is the fourth running of this remarkable event designed to promote fun, camaraderie and international relations amongst all sailing clubs worldwide--- pioneered by founder of Manhattan Sailing Club founder Mike Fortenbaugh and renowned America's Cup Champion Dennis Conner from San Diego Yacht Club in San Diego, California.

It is both a historical event as well as a fun event.  "Doubting Thomas's" aside, it's a first class program that includes taking in all the wonderful sites and events that New York City has to offer as well as a fabulous social program for the four days of the event.  Mayor Bloomberg eat your heart out-- perhaps next year he'll sail, too!  For you Newporters, thank goodness the blockade in the War of 1812 by the British worked-- they just took a few bits of pine lumber from those quaint Newport cottages to repair their lumbering, slow warships and ultimately left.  Meanwhile, Narragansett Bay was shut down...the beneficiary was "New Amsterdam" (e.g. New York) which became the "new" trading port for the colonies.  The rest is history...most amusingly when an ancient Dutch Johnstone "ancestor/farmer" (non-sailor we might add) swapped 1,477 acres of the southern tip known today as "Manhattan's Wall Street" for a farm further inland near another town now called "Princeton" (Wall Street used to flood too much back in the 17th century, not conducive to growing crops).

First place went to Societe Nautique Rolloise (Switzerland) with 14 pts, in second was the fun-loving, Mardi Gras-loving, beads wearing gang from Southern Yacht Club (USA) with 15 points.  And, not to be outclassed by any measure were the lucky Leprechauns in 3rd from the Royal Cork Yacht Club (Ireland) with 17 pts.  Sixteen yacht clubs from around the world participated in the 4-day regatta raced on J/24s on the Hudson River-- lots laughs and many tears of joy and happiness as all departed to the seven seas around the world.  Next time, join us!!  For more J/24 Dennis Conner International YC Challenge.
  

American Rebirth At J/24 Worlds?

(Malmo, Sweden - August 18th)- After three days of racing at the 2010 J/24 World Championship, Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio (USA) has kept the 54 boat fleet on schedule with six of the ten scheduled races completed. With a drop race now recorded, and with American Tim Healy successfully gaining redress on a starting line penalty, Healy now holds an 11 point lead over fellow American Tony Parker in second.  This is quite a turn-around of events for the top Americans, having had all kinds of trouble getting off the starting lines and sailing seemingly every which way but the right way for the first few days.  In fact, after the first four races, Europeans dominated, taking 7 of top 10 places with Brazilian World Champion Maurizio Santa Cruz not having found second gear and fellow South American Matias Pereira from Argentina sailing strong to stay in second.  Now the tables have changed and racing continues through Friday.   For more J/24 Worlds sailing and results.
  

Chester Race Week Fun

J/24 and J/29 Fleet Love Fest

(Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada)- The beautiful little village of Chester played host to another wonderful Race Week. The racing concluded with the last classes crossing the finish lines in the late afternoon and the crews anxiously waited to learn the results on the boards at Chester Yacht Club. Many of the boats sail in handicap fleets which have to be calculated before the results are final.

"The weather and wind conditions could not have been better" said Randy Stevens, chair of this year’s regatta. "The winds were light earlier on but filled in on Friday and Saturday to make for excellent, competitive racing without the drama of gales and foul weather" Stevens added. "The regatta did not experience any unpleasant events and protests were few".

A total of 142 yachts competed in 12 classes on three different courses over the four day event which is the largest keel boat regatta in Canada. Boats were registered from all over Nova Scotia plus three from Prince Edward Island and two from New Brunswick.  For those viewing the racing from shore or on the water they were treated to a kaleidoscope of color with the spinnakers billowing and pulling the boats to the finish lines. The yachts varied from the 23ft Bluenose class to the magnificent classic yachts and the large ocean racers.

The social side was not neglected with Barbeques and parties every night until the wee hours. The popular Hopping Penguins Band entertained on both Thursday and Friday evenings. The festivities finished with an appearance of a band 'The Halifax Pirates' in full privateer regalia.

In the A2 Fleet, the J/35s sailed well, finishing 4th and 5th for the week against a slew of Beneteau 36.7s.  Gary Sullivan's J/35 SUMROO was 4th with a 7-7-5-2-3-7 record for 24 points, beating his stablemate Richard Oulton's J/35 WHISTLER'S AIR on a tie-breaker!

In the A3 Fleet, the J/92 POOHSTICKS sailed by Colin Mann finished second with a 1-3-2-2-2 record, to lose by only one point the top of the podium!

For the Cruising Fleet, the J/120 BRILLIANCE from Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron sailed beautifully to finish first with a 1-1-1-5 record.  Also participating in their class were Reg Goodday's J/44 AKUBRA and Mike Kennedy's J/105 GRAND CRU.

The J One-Designs had some great sailing with a good turnout for both classes.  The J/24s had seven boats participating.  After the final gun, it was John Whynacht's STICKY FINGERS that took the gold, with Gerg Blunden's ADRENALIN RUSH taking silver and Jamie Storey's WAVE RUNNER the bronze.

The J/29s had an excellent fleet with nine boats racing.  After a real donnybrook of a fight, it was the "dogs" on DOG PARTY that took first place, sailed by a bunch of characters from Charlottetown Yacht Club and ably captained by Terry McKenna and crew.  Second was Chris MacDonald sailing SCOTCH MIST and third overall was Larry Creaser's JAEGER from the host Chester Yacht Club.  For more Chester Race Week sailing information.
  

J/24 Worlds Report- by "Moose"

"The Moose Is Loose" Report- Moose McClintock from Dimension-Polyant gives you a J/24 Worlds report from Malmo, Sweden--  "Well, here we are in Malmo, Sweden, getting set to do another J-24 World Championship.  Attendance is strong (55 boats, 5 American with a good showing from Japan and Australia) and though there aren’t a lot of people here I know, there are the last two World Champions so there is more than enough competition, hopefully we’ll be in that mix.  Conditions have been spotty, certainly no shortage of rain (and as I write this I’m looking out the window at grey skies and 20 knots, some of the rain has been epic) but the wind is up and down.  The Swedish Nationals, held last week, saw good breeze but since we’ve been here the wind has been on the light side (the practice race was postponed an hour and then sent off with a fetch from the starting line).  Hopefully the addition of Peter  Reggio as the PRO will straighten that out though  running the races right off the marina entrance will make things pretty interesting if the wind shifts more inland.

Sweden is a nice place, very friendly (and blond) people everywhere who are very helpful and almost all speak English (I thought this was just another example of dumb Americans only knowing English until I realized that of 17 channels on TV, 13 are full time English speaking shows with Swedish subtitles, the kids grow up on English).  Despite the usual measurement hassle (and only two boats found with illegal lead encased, other than that it went pretty smoothly, though long, for the fleet) we’ve had a pretty good time getting acclimated to the area (though reading street signs here is no easy chore).  We’re staying right next to the Twisted Torso (shown) which has aptly been named the Twisted Sister.  We’re told this is one of the top ten innovative architectural designs, it just looks cool when you get next to it and look straight up.  As a landmark, it works because it towers over everything, whenever you’re lost you just head for it and viola, boat park and apartment.

Winner of the practice reach was Tony Parker of the US (2nd in last week’s Nationals), we were doing just fine but made the decision to tack for the weather mark right around the leeward mark while in 3rd, we were overstanding again when the mark got picked up and moved to the other side of all the boats reaching down from the mark.  Mark change?  Well, no one said there would be one, no signals.  Whatever, it’s a practice race, hope it gets better for the real deal.  In practice runs, everyone we’ve sailed against seems fast, particularly the Italians, defending champ Mauricio Santa Cruz and Americans Parker and Mike Ingham.  I’m not sure where we are on this list, we have a charter boat from Italy that seems quite good but until we actually get on the starting line in earnest we’ll be guessing.  Forecast for today is starting around 20 knots and dying to about 12 by the end of the day.  Forecast includes, of course, rain.

Update:
Nice day today, 15-25, small jibs all day (though we thought about the big jib (read: me pushing for it….it would have been a mistake) for the last beat).  Matias Periera smoked everyone, 1,2.  We had two really bad starts but were able to hang in for a 2,4.  Mike Ingham did a great job in the 2nd race, lost Periera near the finish but got him at the line, we were able to pass Southworth on the last beat to complete a comeback from 15th just before the weather mark, long painful race.  The committee was having a hard time keeping themselves anchored before the 2ns start, giving one boat time to go in and get a kite to replace the one they blew up (not sure where that stands in the J-24 class rules) but were able to get the race off, some funky stuff that may lead to a protest of the race, hope not.  First race had lots of broaches, best shot though was an upwind broach of a port tacker who didn’t see the starboard guy coming along, full on bat turn with the jib cleated, keel completely out.  Who says J-24’s aren’t entertaining?  2nd overall to a Periera and just ahead of a very fast German boat, forecast for tomorrow is not a lot of breeze.  Also, not a lot of rain.  If it doesn’t rain again I don’t care how we do, I’m sick of being wet."  Read more about Moose's exploits this week sailing the J/24 Worlds on Sailing Anarchy.com- http://www.sailinganarchy.com
  

Aussie J/24 Wins Winter Series

* Australian J/24s Show The Bigger Boats How It's Done!  The Winter Series at Middle Harbour Yacht Club only had one J/24 entered this year Brett Hudson's WILDFIRE skippered by Grant Dawkin-- and boy, did they show the bigger yachts how it's done!! Over 10 races, WILDFIRE produced 3 wins and 2 thirds (lovely Henri Lloyd jackets for all the crew!), taking them to an overall series win against the bigger boats!  A generally light wind series allowed the Js to pull away from the big boatS-- let's hope more J/24s decide to enter next winter and really show the fleet how its done!! For more news from J/24s sailing Australia- http://j24australia.com.au/
  

J/24 Legends Regatta

Big J/24 event of the Year!!

(New South Wales, Australia)- Leave it up to the fun-loving Australians for more out-of-the-box thinking and generate lots of enthusiasm for their ever-expanding J/24 program in Australia.  For starters, the J/24 Australian NSW State Championships will be racing October 2-3.  But, perhaps more importantly the Australian J/24 class is hosting the J/24 Legends Regatta on Monday 4th October 2010 at Gosford Sailing Club (e.g. like the 12 Meter "Legends Regatta" being held at New York YC's Harbour Court in Newport, RI this September).  Here's your chance to have one of Australia's J/24 Sailing Legends sail on your boat as either skipper or crew. This will be the most amazing collection of past and current World Champions and National Champions the J/24 class has ever brought together for a day of racing and conviviality. Immediately following the State Championship, this one day regatta will become the stuff of Legends itself. If you want to meet and talk with, sail against and have a beer with Australia's Sailing Legends, you need to book early and be at the Legends Regatta. 

Invitations to the J/24 Legends Regatta event include World Champions, National Champions and Women on Water winners and supporters.  The evening's Master of Ceremonies will be ex-J/24 sailor and "Master of the Universe", Rob Mundle.  They already have Legends Mark Bethwaite (yeah, same family who helped create a bunch of Aussie 18s, the International 49er and 29er classes), Ian MacDiarmid, Garry Geitz, David Suda, Sean Wallis, Sean Kirkjian, Hugo Ottoway, Steve Girdis and Rod Waterhouse confirmed.  BTW, are Ken Read, Morgan Larson, Terry Hutchinson and Ed Baird invited, too?  Some say they are distantly related to a few "ex-convicts" (a few dozen generations back) and qualify somewhat tangentially as "Aussies Too".  :)  If you are interested in entering, or being involved, please contact Terry on 0413 876184 or Paula on 0404 539176.  They'll be filling the ballroom pictured here!