Happiness Is The J/24 Circus Regatta

(New Braunfels, Texas- Nov. 19-21)- The last stop of the Texas Circuit took place on November 19-21, 2010 at Lake Canyon Yacht Club in Canyon Lake. It was a triumphant win for the "happy" gang on-board Bob Harden's MR. HAPPY.  They not only won the last regatta, they won the whole bloody season and join the ranks of other famous Texas sailors like John Kolius, Scott Young, Jay Lutz who've preceded them as winners of this epic, season long series held at some of the best watering holes in Texas.  Ever popular, this year's J/24 Texas Circuit continues to see strong, competitive fleets and rarely does the same boat win successive events-- must be too much tequila and salsa during the previous victory celebration that might have something to do with that issue.

While Bob and crew won, it was not without a strong challenge from Bryan and Vicki Dyer on RUMLINE.  They started out strong with a 1-2-4, throwing down the challenge to the others to match them.  However, they could not keep up the pace, falling off the proverbial cliff in the last two races with a 5-3 to drop them out of content for the series against the HAPPY crowd.  Third overall was Stuart Lindow racing TROPICAL AGGRESSION, finishing strong with a 2-2 to cement their claim to the bronze.  Fourth was Doug Weakley sailing AMBASSADOR with 26 points and fifth was J/24 Southwest Champion Kelly Holmes-Moon racing BADMOON with 32 points.   For more J/24 Texas Circus Regatta sailing information.   

Vincenzo Onorator- ex-J/24 & J/39 sailor competes for America's Cup

* Vincenzo Onorato- another former J/24 and J/39 sailor from Italy (and leader of the famous MOBY Lines providing ferry service to the islands of Elba, Corsica and Sardinia)- is now the leader of the MASCALZONE LATINO AC34 Challenge.  Vincenzo was a good sailor when he was racing his J/24 and J/39 and was always an honorable and fun-loving person that loved the sport of sailing and, most importantly, included many of his friends and family.  Recently he wrote Michele Tognozzi, editor of FareVela (a leading Italian sailing publication):  "Dear Michele,  I read Fare Vela Online with interest, every day. I have also read the criticism leveled at my club, seen as a sleeping partner of the Defender rather than a Challenger of Record worthy of its name. I partly feel responsible for these opinions as a direct result of our scant communication on the work we are carrying out. Oracle and Mascalzone, and their respective yachts clubs, inherited a disastrous Cup in terms of image, a result of the long and, I point out, legitimate litigation with Bertarelli. Russell and I meet almost every week and our teams are in daily contact.

All decisions taken are thoroughly discussed and thought through. It is also true we are going through an international economic environment, to say the least disastrous, and this is a further incentive to act with utmost care and caution. My silence doesn't mean I'm not doing anything,  but that we are humbly working, among other things, on carrying water to our mill. I'm Italian and my mill is called Italy, I would like to take to our country a series of events of the next Cup, just like I did last summer in La Maddalena.  A Jesuit priest that taught me in school used to say: Look at the substance of things, not their form. That's what I'm doing.  Your faithful and devoted reader, Vincenzo Onorato".  Full story can be read on Scuttlebutt USA here.

  

J/24 Crew Goes Swimming?

*  What do you do when you are near the finish line and a crew member falls overboard?  Tell them to hang on and keep racing!! Ouch! Can't imagine J/24 racing in New South Wales, Australia is that competitive?!  In Saturdays fantastic MHYC Race on 13th November, the J fleet comments are that a lot of fun was had – blue skies, good solid breezes, dolphins on the start line, shrimp on the barbie, lots of cold tinnies.  However, probably not so much fun for the wet crew member off the J/24 J-SPOT!!  Post race comments from Skipper Adam were along the lines of telling him they were only 20 miles from the finish line so he better hang on!  Tall story for sure--- eye witnesses report it was more like 150 meters.  The picture says it all.  Photo courtesy of Nicole Scott- for more pics go to http://www.sailingimages.net.au  More interesting J/24 tidbits below, though one hopes many kept their crews on board most of the time!   

Mike Ingham- new J/24 North Guru

* A long-time J/24 ace and supporter of the class, Mike Ingham, recently joined North Sails to help them on their one-design programs in general.  Mike is a past J/24 North American and National Champion. In addition to his North American and National titles in the J/24 class, he has placed second in the J/24 World Championship and is an East Coast and Great Lakes Champion. Mike will continue working out of his home in Rochester, NY, where he lives with his wife and three children.  Another long-time J/24 expert and champion, Vince Brun (btw he sailed in the first J/24 Midwinters in 1978 in Key West!!), had this to say about Mike, “he will be a wonderful addition to our team of J/24 class experts and will give us the opportunity to reach out to even more J/24 sailors nationwide.” In addition to many victories on the race course, Mike has coached at Cornell University, the University of Rhode Island and Yale University. He has been a personal coach and training partner for many successful sailors and has won numerous awards and including being named an All-American at Cornell University in 1986.  Photo is J/24 North American Champion, Pat O'Toole using North Sails.   

Terry Hutchinson & Ed Baird- Quantum Evolution

* What do Ed Baird and Terry Hutchinson have in common with Mike Ingham, Ken Read, Chris Larson and several other noteworthy (perhaps famous) sailors?  A J/24 World Championship.  Not to beat their drum for any particular reason, but Quantum seems to be targeting a lot of good talent that are coming out of the world's largest offshore one-design keelboat classes- the J/22, J/24 and J/80s.  Recently, Terry is taking a deep breath and jumping in with both feet to be Captain Fantastic (e.g. helmsman) aboard the great yacht ARTEMIS in the America's Cup 34th rendition, sailing super-fast, incredibly dangerous 72 foot carbon fiber catamarans powered by enormous carbon wing-sails.  As a result, Terry is leaving his duties as helmsman aboard the TP-52 QUANTUM RACING.  Jumping into the driver's seat is yet another J/24 ace, Ed Baird, formerly skipper of ALINGHI in AC33 in Valencia, Spain!  Ed Reynolds, President of Quantum, says Baird’s expertise as both a sailor and coach make him a great fit for the team, which clinched the Audi MedCup TP-52 World Championship title earlier this month. "Ed is an 11-time world champion, has sailed with many of the guys on our team and is very much committed to our program, which is as much about product development as it is winning races. Ed’s accomplishments both on and off the water are impressive and his analytical approach to sailing is a real asset. We’re very excited to bring him on board and will value his expertise as we work to put a new boat, rig and sails on the water."   

BAD MOON Rising Wins J/24 Southwest Championship

(Dallas, TX)- Congratulations to Kelly Holmes-Moon and Team BAD MOON crew members Chris Rousseau, David Haslip, Phillip Carroll and Dana Marxen for winning the Southwest Championship at Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club.  Their win qualifies them to compete in the J/24 Worlds taking place November 11-19th, 2011 at the Yacht Club Argentino, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The BAD MOON gang sure didn't shoot straight in the first race.  The crew on RUMLINE, sailed by Bryan Dyer, took off from the fleet and won the first race, while the BAD MOON gang was sucking on their exhaust pipe, finishing 5th.  MR HAPPY sailed by Bob Harden got a 2nd and 3rd was Stu Lindlow's TROPICAL AGGRESSION.  From there on end, the BAD MOON band got its act going and tore off a few bullets to bring home the bacon.  However, the last race turned into duel match races, one for first and one for third overall.  Winning by just one point over the hard-charging MR HAPPY team steered by Captain Bob was Kelly's BAD MOON. In the other pairing, Bryan's RUMLINE crew settled for third overall 5 points back, just one point ahead of Stu's TROPICAL AGGRESSION.  Watching all the histrionics and fireworks from the cheap seats was Jim Mitchell's FLYING CIRCUS, collecting 35 points for 5th place.    More sailing info at J/24 Texas Circuit site.  

SAILPAC Wins J/24s At Balmain Regatta

(Sydney, Australia- Oct 30-31)-  The Balmain Regatta is one of Sydney’s oldest sporting events, and has a long history with our waterways. It was first held in 1849 and continued until 1934, when sadly it was discontinued. It was revived in 1994 by the Wooden Boat Association, and Balmain Sailing Club participated in the Balmain Regatta in 1995 and 1996 as one of its Spring Series races.

In 1997, it was run as a separate event, jointly organised by the Balmain Sailing Club and the Wooden Boat Association. Today it is run by Balmain Sailing Club, in association with other sailing clubs and community organizations, and is a real celebration of Balmain, the harbour and our maritime heritage. The event attracts over 150 vessels on the water, making it one of the great annual spectacles around Balmain.

A couple of months ago Simon Grain was contacted by Neil Hamilton from the Race Committee and asked if they could get  a J/24 fleet together as they would like to give them their own division – after a lot of phone calls there's a fleet of 6,  enough to race!  Wildfire’s Brett Hudson is always keen to race, as is KAOTIC – both sailing down from Middle Harbour. FUN, newly owned by Paul Baker and David Lamb will just be wherever you tell them to be, MADDER'N'BADDER have the one design racing bug since coming to the NSW State Championship and local entry MARITIME TRAINING SCHOOL made up the fleet, joined by the new crew on SAILPAC.

A Spinnaker start in a 10-15 Northeasterly winds soon splits the fleet with MADDER'N'BADDER getting away, KAOTIC not far behind them and then a match race for the next 20 mins between SAILPAC and WILDFIRE.  FUN and MARITIME TRAINING SCHOOL not far behind!   Shifty winds and shadows from all the islands and headlands around make it a tactical race with a mix of works, kite runs and reaches.

Tim Briggs, steering SAILPAC in only his fourth race is going well. Further around the course, we see Janette, steering Arthur Crothers’ KAOTIC, sail into a hole and as we come around Goat Island – with only MADDER'N'BADDER in front of us a shy kite gets us where we want to be – in the lead.   Holding that lead is the key, and finishing in front of KAOTIC and MADDER'N'BADDER, it was an absolute joy to see Tim steer a J over the line first – a huge confidence boost for a new owner!

Balmain Sailing Club doesn’t disappoint, with fun and festivities on the water front – a great regatta atmosphere, life raft demos, rowing, BBQ and raffles.  A few wines later…the only thing sending people home on a glorious Sunday afternoon was the 6pm tropical downpour – a delightful days racing.  We were also definitely in good company, hearing J/24 Legends Gary Geitz and Ian Bashfords names dropped in post racing story telling!! Well done BSC!  Hopefully with a larger fleet, we will definitely be there next year.  Overall the finishes were first, SAILPAC (Tim Briggs), second KAOTIV (Janette Syme) and third MADDER'N'BADDER (Chris O'Neill).   For more Balmain J/24 Regatta sailing information.  

J/24 Australia Yachties

Gotta Go To Geelong- Vic Race Week!
(Geelong, Victoria, Australia)- The boyz and gurlz Down Under as usual are having a ball on their J/24s going to some cool events, Simon Grain again has a bloody amusing report about an upcoming event that all J "Yachties" ought to know about (in case any of you are so inclined after freezing your buns off up North).  "The annual Geelong Audi Victoria Week regatta over the Australia Day weekend is amazing! And, what a glam regatta it will be, again."

In the past, we had Terry Wise down from Sydney, Karl Chappell from Adelaide, both of whom are keen to come back. Call them and ask them about what a good time they had!  Hmmmm, maybe that had a lot to do with all those girls on my boat (see photo)?!  Actually, there is lots of everything. Lots of boats– around 600, lots of yachties– around 3,000, lots of cool refreshing drink (didn’t count), lots of bands playing lots of music (more than I could listen too) and, well, lots of girls, the sailing ones too!  I guess I should point out to the sailing girls– there are lots of guys too, but you knew that already. In fact, if you can’t get a sail and a cool drink in Geelong then you are definitely not trying. Its one giant party and it’s been going for 166 years.

Last year there were around 25,000 people that visited the annual Geelong Week Regatta and Festival (yes, it is that big), it turns Geelong inside out. The weather was great and, of course, will be again.  The Melbourne J/24 fleet is planning to make a big showing this season at Geelong and negotiations are underway to have our own division and prizes.

The week is ideally placed after our Nationals at the end of January and usually involves a race down the bay to Geelong and then a couple of days of round the buoys racing in mixed fleets at Geelong followed by a relaxing sail home to Sandy. Let me say it is a big event and you will feel like you have been through the wringer by the end of it but you won’t want to miss the next one once you have discovered what a blast it is. This is like no other regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.

For boats returning to Adelaide after the Nationals (or, coming from Sydney) – bring your boats back through Melbourne and we will store them for you and then launch them at Sandy before the racing. If you want to borrow or charter a boat from our fleet – get in early as there may not be many available, my guess is most will be going to the party. Or, maybe you just want to fly in and be a ROCKSTAR– do it, but get a crew spot early!

So the racing will be hot and if you’re coming from interstate, you will be racing against the likes of Dave Suda and Hugo Ottaway, or relative newcomers like Ron Thomson and Adam Evans, skippers that are dying to knock the best off their pedestals. Of course, you will have to race with the rest of the fleet too, now around 13 boats.

So this is a party not to be missed and you need to plan ahead. If you want to talk to us in Melbourne about sailing to Geelong then give us a call.  Call Luke Mathews on 0403 233 589 or the other bloke Simon Grain on 0413 870 046.   For more information on Audi Victoria Week    Also, more information on J/24 Australia Class site

  

Murrieta Wins J/24 Vela Pan-Americana

(Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- Oct 20-24)- The Copa de Naciones Vela Panamericana was organized by the Mexican Sailing Federation and hosted by Vallarta Yacht Club in conjunction with Paradise Village Marina and Resort.  It was a preparatory event for the Pan American Games in October, 2011 and for many classes will serve as eliminatory for the 2011 Games.

As always, the sailors were not disappointed with the beautiful Riviera Nayarit on Banderas Bay, an unparalleled venue for competitive sailing on the Pacific coast of Mexico.  Over the four days, eight races were sailed in winds that ranged from 12 - 20 knots during the afternoon, near perfect sailing conditions.

Like they did earlier in the year at Copa Mexico on Banderas Bay, the Mexican team of Jorge Murrieta sailing with Julian Fernandez, Bernardo Minkow and Alejandro Murrieta sailed a strong series to score 1-2-1-2-1-1-3-2 for a total of 10 points (with throw-out) to win.  Second overall was Yon Belausteguigoitia with 13 points.  Third was Ken Porter, a very good Mexican J/24 sailor from Cantiere Navale Valle de Bravo near Mexico City, finishing with 19 points.  For more Vela Pan-Americana sailing information.

  

J/24 East Coasts- Great Halloween Party!

(Annapolis, MD- Oct 30-31)- First, check out this video link on YouTube below.  Second, ask how Tim Healy and the gang from Sailors For The Sea won over 35 well-sailed boats? Theories, rumors and innuendo abound.  Will seems to think it was just plain voodoo.  Others think worse.  A hex?  All in keeping with the big Halloween weekend sailing events going on in Annapolis (three keelboat regattas at once!).

After three days of picture perfect fall conditions, consistency proved to be the winning formula at the Hillman Capital Management J/24 East Coast Championship hosted by the Severn Sailing Association and the Eastport Yacht Club of Annapolis. While many of the J/24 class's best participated and sailed well, only one team managed to make every race count, never posting a double digit finish and cumulatively winning the regatta with a 26 point cushion. Impressive for an eight race regatta with no 'throw-outs'. Fresh off his first World Championship title in Malmo, Sweden, Tim Healy of Newport, RI is on a roll as he and his team of Gordon Borges (bow), Ben McAndrew (mast), Geoff Becker (tactics), and Paul Abdullah (trimmer) took the East Coast title. National champion, Will Welles took the second place spot and Fraito Lugo from Puerto Rico finished third. Entries came from as far away as Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Canada. Many teams from all over the East coast participated along with four teams from the Rochester Yacht Club, host to the 2012 J24 World Championship in Rochester, New York.

The best part about this regatta? The fact that American Democratic Party strategist/ PR flak Tony Parker wasn't distracted!  Tony sailed BANGOR PACKET to another top five finish!  Can't argue with the J/24 gang, they continue to have fun and know a good party when they see one (or create one!).  Newbs welcome!  More importantly, they'll even train you to have fun!  What more can anyone ask for in this day and age when the economy continues to "go to hell in a hand-basket"?  Do you think the French farmers had a point?  Why not have retirement age at 22 (post-college, of course) and just sail J/24s!

While Tim Healey (Newport, RI) and the SAILORS FOR THE SEA crew won by a lot (26 points), much of that margin had to do with a disastrous 5th race for Will Welles (Newport, RI/ SailNewport) when they seemingly found themselves in the dungeon and no way to climb out of a 31st place- a race, in fact, that saw Canadian Ted Bartlewski from Port Credit YC win!  Otherwise, Will and crew were giving Tim Healey a run for the roses.  As it stood, Will Welles ended up second with 54 points.  Third was Fraito Lugo from Ponce Yacht Club in Puerto Rico with 66 points.  Fraito definitely got the "Long Distance Traveler" award and kudos to them for making the trip and sailing so well.   Fourth was Tony Parker on BANGOR PACKET just two points behind with 68 points.  And, fifth was Chris Jankowski with 71 points.  Sailing Results for the East Coasts.   Sailing photo  credits- Tim Wilkes.   Watch the J/24 East Coasts YouTube video here.