J/Fun @ Seattle NOOD Regatta

(Seattle, WA)- The fourth of nine events in the 2011 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD series was sailed this past Friday-Saturday-Sunday in Seattle, Washington. More than 150 teams in 22 divisions raced on Puget Sound.  Leaders from past regattas faired well and not so well, such is the nature of racing sailboats in Seattle's capricious waters surrounded by the spectacular, majestic Cascade mountain ranges that form the western ridge of the America's Rocky Mountains.

Last year's overall champion sailing J/24s, Michael Johnson, returned with HOT PURSUIT but could only manage a third overall in the J/24 class.  Winning was SELF ABUSE skippered by Harry Dursch from Corinthian YC in Seattle and second was fellow CYC member Scott Milnes sailing TREMENDOUS SLOUCH. 

Within the J/80 fleet, it was Chris White's CRAZY IVAN that ran away with fleet honors after winning the first race.  Second was Bill McKinnon's SKYE ROCKET and third was Joel Shapiro's HEART ATTACK.

In a strong upswing from last year's event, Lorenzo Migliorini's J/105 ALLEGRO VIVACE from CYC was not only dueling for the top spots in the regatta for J/105 class supremacy, they sailed a very strong series to end up winning by three points after 9 races, with a 3-2-1-2-4-4-1-1-1.  Their string of firsts at the end sealing the fate of their contender, Jerr Diercks on DELIRIUM with 22 points.  Third was Erik Kristen on JUBILEE with a 4-1-4-3-3-1-5-4-3 tally.

The J/109s in Seattle continue to have fun racing with one another and the spirited competition is interesting to follow as each team goes up and down the standings. Not easy to place in this fleet as the boats are so evenly matched.  Nevertheless, Stu Burnell's team on TANTIVY won with a 14 point score.  They were followed by Jack Christiansen on JEOPARDY with 26 points, narrowly squeezing ahead of Dave MacLean's well-campaigned ILLUSIONIST.

"The NOOD team and co-hosts Seattle YC & Corinthian YC did a great job organizing and showing once again that this is one regatta not to be missed," said Jack Christiansen of North's Seattle loft.  For more Sperry Topsider Seattle NOOD Sailing information  Sailing photo credits- Tim Wilkes Photography

  

Ingham Wins J/24 J-Daze

(Canandaigua, NY)- Canandaigua Yacht Club is a member owned sailing club located on Canandaigua Lake in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State-- it's dedicated to sailing, sailboat racing and social activities for its members.  This year CYC hosted the 22nd Annual Spring Invitational Regatta which is open to all J-24 class boats. Participants came from all over the Eastern USA and Canada.  Can you say "partaayyy?"  The CYC always hosts a fantastic event and along with their fall counter-part on Lake George, it's hard to imagine what's not to like about sailing in the spring or fall on some of New York's gorgeous mountain lakes (though the mountains may not be as big as these shown here).

This year, the J-Daze Regatta saw a venerable J/24 class champion show back up after years of enforced self-retirement from the racing game.  After a great showing in the Charleston Race Week event, Mike Ingham on BRAIN CRAMP showed he was no fluke and managed to sail to a strong 2-4-3-3-2-1-1 scoreline for 16 points to win the regatta by nearly 20 points!  Second was the Reynolds team on OKIE-BOATING sailing to a 1-8-8-1-9-5-4 score for 36 pts.  Third was the Merchant crew on WITCH WAY with a tally of 6-10-2-11-3-12-2 roller-coaster point total of 46 pts.   For more J-Daze Regatta sailing information.

  

The GREEN Revolution- Ed Baird- ex-J/24 World Champ

Crushes TP52 Medcup in Cascais, Portugal- A new chapter of Quantum's "green revolution" was completed on the fierce blue waters of the Atlantic off Cascais, Portugal when Quantum Racing won the Cascais Trophy for the TP52, the opening event of the 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit.  Green flashed hulls and sails are not the only common theme which the winning crews have in common.  For Quantum Racing, who won five races from nine starts, it is the first victory in the class for the America's Cup winner Ed Baird and for a brand new Botin Partners designed boat which is a successor to their 2008 circuit winner.  Quantum Racing came into the regatta well behind their desired schedule but were soon able to reveal excellent upwind speed in the brisk winds which prevailed through the nine races.  For more info- http://www.medcup.org

  

Brazil Wins J/24 US Nationals

The Famous BRUSCHETTA Wins By A Nose
(Dallas, TX)- The crews that showed up for this year's version of the J/24 Layline US Nationals were in for an experience no one bargained for.  As the fleet assembled at Dallas Corinthian YC, Mother Nature was brewing a storm of simply epic proportions off to the West.  By Wednesday, it was clear there was going to be no sailing.  It was blowing so hard with thunderstorms, line squalls and God's lightning bolts spraying everywhere, that people's shows were getting blown across the parking lot!  Forget about "dogs blowing off chains", this was human stuff flying everywhere!  By Thursday it was clear it was going to be just as crazy, so not much happened in the way of racing.  However, Friday worked out nicely and the fleet were treated to some terrific sailing.  By Saturday, the weather was nearly post-card, chamber of commerce perfect, with strong, shifty breezes and sunny skies.

Perhaps the story of the regatta was how a nice Brazilian guy named Mauricio Santa Cruz could show up on a lake in Texas, figure it out, then squeak by at the end, on the last day, to win the US J/24 Nationals by one point!  Must've been a cliff-hanger for the entire top five going into the last two races of the regatta.  Literally, anyone could've won!  Competing for those five spots were Mauricio on BRUSCHETTA, Bob Harden on MR HAPPY, Roger Harden on NEW RULES, Dave Irwin on IBAJ 2 and Jorge Murrieta on BMW/ SCAPPINO from Valle de Bravo, Mexico.  By winning the last two races, however, Mauricio and his Brazilian crew took the regata from Bob Harden on MR HAPPY.  In fact, it was Bob's regatta to lose, as leader of the J/24 pack at the beginning of the day.  In the end BRUSCHETTA had 28 points, Bob's HAPPY gang had 29 points due to a 7-9 for their last two races.  Third was Roger Harden on NEW RULES, sailing to a 2-5 to end up with 30 points.  Fourth was Dave Irwin's IBAJ 2 sailing to a 3-8 to get 31 points.  And, Jorge's BMW/ SCAPPINO finished fifth due to a 5-2 for a total of 35 points.  Imagine that, only seven points separated the entire top five!  Just  a wee bit of anxiety for the tacticians and even a few catatonic skippers wondering how they'd been beaten and twisted to a pulp to end up where they did!  Great racing and good times for the J/24 sailors in Dallas.  Pictured above was Mauricio's fan club from Brazil!  As usual, the DCYC hosts were simply fantastic.   For more Layline J/24 USA Nationals sailing information   Sailing photo credits- McDonald Photos of Dallas, Texas.

  

Seattle NOOD Regatta Preview

(Seattle, WA)- The fourth of nine events in the 2011 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD series begins this Friday in Seattle. More than 150 teams in 22 divisions will be racing on Puget Sound.  Last year's overall champion, Michael Johnson, returns with his HOT PURSUIT  team to the 11-boat J/24 division.  Says Mike Lovett, "I had the chance to meet Johnson at last year's NOOD Championship in the British Virgin Islands, and when we parted ways in Tortola, he mentioned he was planning to sail the J/24 World Championship this November in Buenos Aires, Argentina. If that's still the plan, you can bet Johnson and company will be in fine form as they prepare to head south."

J/80s have a solid fleet of boats with contenders distributed amongst the near dozen boats sailing.  Hard to tell if the good money goes on CRAZY IVAN, HEART ATTACK, FEARFUL SYMMETRY, SKYE ROCKET or TAJ MAJAL.  With names like that, betting is good that someone from that lot will win!

Last year, the J/105s saw a closely fought series and a run for the gold between JADED and LAST TANGO.  However, without these two contenders sailing this year, it looks like Erik Kristen's JUBILEE from CYC, Robert Blaylock's USAWI from SBYC and Lorenzo Migliorini's ALLEGRO VIVACE from CYC will be dueling for the top three spots.

The J/109s are rockin' and rollin' again and it looks like David MacLean's ILLUSIONIST sailing from CYC and J-TRIPPER sailed by the Nordquists from Seattle YC may be amongst the contenders to take honors in this fun-loving one-design/ cruiser/ racer class.

The J/24s have more than a dozen entries and certain to be amongst the contenders will be last year's winner, HOT PURSUIT sailed by skipper Mike Johnson from Corinthian YC in Seattle.  Sure to be factors in the racing and vying for honors on the podium will be last year's third place team, SELF ABUSE skippered by Harry Dursch from Corinthian YC in Seattle as well as fellow CYC member Scott Milnes sailing TREMENDOUS SLOUCH.   Thanks for contribution from Mike Lovett- Sailing World- For more Sperry Topsider Seattle NOOD Sailing information

  

Postcard Perfect Bermuda Sailing!

J/24s and J/105s Revel in Race Week
(Hamilton, Bermuda)- This years edition of the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week, powered by Bacardi Rums, proved yet again why crews love to get invited to sail in Bermuda.  What's wrong with this picture?  Get invited.  Go sail.  Go party.  Get picked up and delivered at the airport.  And, enjoy wonderful times with your gracious host!  For those who've experienced the extraordinary Bermudian hospitality, many simply say, "we've died and gone to sailing heaven".

The first day of racing for 83rd Bermuda International Invitational Race week started with beautiful sunny weather and winds out of the North between 15-20knots.   Day two of Race week was very exciting. Winds were 20-22 with gust to 30, the end result is the IODs had a little bit of damage.  Racing resumed day 4 (Wednesday) after racing was cancelled on Tuesday because of high winds 35-40.  Because of this the Tuesday night "Dock on the Dock" party was quiet because the racing was close for all classes. The rest of the week was both benign and beautiful.

The J/24 class in Bermuda threw down the red carpet and welcome mat again for their breathless guests.  This year there were teams from England (2), Canada (1) and USA (1).  Adorned with Bermuda shorts and polo-shirts, ready to tickle their toes in the famous pink sand beaches, and enjoying their first libations of Bacardi Rum drinks with umbrellas in them, it didn't take long for the visiting dignitaries to take on the sybaritic trappings of "island life" (where manana is manana-- e.g. tomorrow is tomorrow).  While being great and wonderful hosts, it did not mean the Bermudians were offering to duck everyone while on starboard or letting everyone "walk politely through the gate door first" and have room at the mark!  Au contraire!  The racing was fun but competitive.  And, having learned the ropes fast, young Trevor Boyce from Bermuda grabbed the "Wetty Gripper Trophy" for first overall.  The British team of Roger Morris managed to snag second and the Canadian team of Sean McDermott placed fourth.  Pete Ramsdale from Bermuda was third.

In the J/24 class there was some excitement on the first day.  Local boy, Trevor Boyce and his son decided to go swimming in the third race of the day getting a fourth in the that race after getting two bullets.  Lots of broaches in the J/24s, should be even more exciting tomorrow with higher winds.  At the end of the day, Trevor Boyce sailed very well and was first overall, and which was fairly certain before Friday's racing.  The major contest was for second, third and fourth place. The racing for those places was also decided right at the finish line with Peter Ramsdale just beating Sean McDermott by a nose and Roger Morris just beating Pete.  So Trevor was first with 17 points, Roger Morris from the UK was second with 25 points, Pete Ramsdale was third with 28 points and Sean McDermott from Canada was fourth with 30 points.  Talking with Trevor he said it was great racing all week and the competition was very close.

The J/105s have continued to grow as a fleet in Bermuda, taking advantage of the fact that you can buy great used J/105s in the USA and import them for less than half of what it cost to do new a dozen or so years ago.  This year, it is believed that it was the first time anyone had won a BIIRW Bacardi with nearly straight firsts!  Congratulations to Chuck Millican and Dave Brining for this remarkable feat.  Second was Jim McDonald and third was Ed Faries.

There was plenty of discussion at the Royal Bermuda YC bar about this year's race week and the weather.  What is interesting, since 1958, RBYC have never had a race week with the wind from the south!? And, that's despite the fact the prevailing wind in Bermuda is from the south!     Video of J/105s Sailing in Bermuda.      Video of J/24s Sailing in Bermuda.    For more Bermuda International Race Week sailing information.

  

BMW Joins J/24 Europeans!

(Dublin, Ireland)- Howth Yacht Club has announced that BMW Ireland is the title sponsor of the J/24 European Championship at Howth this coming September when up to forty boats from six countries are expected to compete.

One of the major regattas in Ireland this year, the BMW J/24 Europeans has already attracted interest from J/24 sailors in the UK, Holland, Sweden, Monaco, Italy, Germany and Greece. Racing will take place over four days (September 12th to 15th), and will be preceded by registration, measurement and practice starting on the 9th. The Principal Race Officer will be ISAF International Race Officer David Lovegrove while Bob Milner (UK) will chair the International Jury.  Howth Yacht Club has previously hosted six World and European Championships in the past, testimony to its ability to host major regattas. The BMW J/24 Europeans is the biggest event in a program of 22 local, national and international events being staged by the club in 2011.   For more BMW J/24 Europeans sailing information  and more sailing sponsor information from BMW Yacht-Sport here.

  

J/24s Clash @ Sandringham

(Sandringham, NSW, Australia)- Past champions clashed for the honours to be named the J/24 Sandringham Yacht Club Centenary Regatta winner. Adam Evans who has represented Australia in the 2005 International Cadet and 2009 J/24 World Championships, won the title after battling against the 2010 J/24 World Championship representatives Hugo Ottaway and Kirsty Harris. Evans and his crew of past Cadet sailors have only been sailing J’s for 6 months yet mastered the testing 5 to 10 knot breezes to score a 1-3-2-2.

Adams boat SDM was the quickest under spinnaker and this was the key to his win. Second was Hugo Ottaway and 2011 Laser Victorian Champion Sean Bly doing tactics with a 2-1-1-6 sailing his newly acquired BRUSCHETTA VI. Kirsty Harris and her mainly female crew scored a 3-4-3-1 sailing HYPERACTIVE. The J/24′s have enjoyed a huge growth this year with 15 boats actively sailing at Sandringham Yacht Club. The J’s flew Red and White Class flags in honor of the Clubs 2011 Centenary on the hardstand area creating colour and impact behind the main stage where the competitors gathered for the presentation of trophies.   For more J/24 Sandringham sailing information.

  

Terry Hutchinson- Why AC45 Cats are Faster than J/24s

Terry Hutchinson has been participating in the new America's Cup AC45 catamarans down in Auckland, New Zealand.  Terry has learned to stuff the bows already doing 20+ knots and "send it down the mine", as they call it- a euphemism for going down to the bottom of the sea!  Terry's ARTEMIS RACING Team is learning fast and are, simultaneously, sailing the Extreme 40 catamaran circuit in Europe and Asia.  Hear more about Terry's perspective on the "learning to sail catamarans for dummies 101".  Interesting stuff.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JusttO11jXo  

So, which former J/24 World Champion has the better sailing toy?  Terry's AC45 and AC72 or Kenny's VOR 70?  In either case, you, too, could have that choice if you started sailing J/24s, J/22s or J/80s!!

  

Ken Read's PUMA VOR 70 lives!

Designed by Juan K and built by buddy Tommie Rich at New England Boatworks! Or, what any self-respecting J/24 World Champion would want as a toy to go offshore across the Seven Seas. Looks a lot like the the last boat, just more black than red in the color scheme.  Looks FAST, though.  Just your basic box-boat 70 foot "scow" with a bluntish bow that's almost round.  Not exactly an aesthetic boat with romantic lines, just brutal, raw power manifest in all carbon-black (the interior is black, too-- pretty, eh?).  No micro-modal sheets, pillow tops and down pillows for these boys-- more like carbon cloth bunks, plastic clothes, plastic underwear and synthetic mainsheets easing constantly on carbon drums at 120 db every minute or so.  Fun? Just 38,000 miles worth, too.  Only for masochists paid to take the pain.   Nevertheless, we wish Kenny luck and God Speed on this venture-- the French brigade will be tough (Stan Honey thinks the French are even crazier and tougher than the Kiwi's offshore--- he oughta know, they even smoke Gaulouoise hand-rolled cigarettes when it's blowing 50 knots in the Roaring 40s!).   Sailing photo credits- George Beris

  

J/24 LayLine US Nationals

(Dallas, TX)- The 2011 J/24 US Nationals are being held in Dallas, Texas and hosted by the Dallas Corinthian YC.  It will be fun, challenging lake sailing with weather largely driven by frontal systems and gradient winds (no such thing as a thermal here).  The 25 registered competitors will be treated like kings by their Texas hosts, DCYC is renowned for their excellent race management and even better social events ashore!  A very competitive fleet is assembling for this Nationals, including last year's winner Pat Toole from Santa Barbara YC sailing THREE BIG DOGS.  Giving them a run for the roses will be top Mexican J/24 sailor Jorge Murrieta from Cantiere Navale Valle Bravo, that gorgeous lake in the mountains west of Mexico City.  Also sure to factor into the leader board will be Chip Till racing Murder Inc/Team Layline from North Carolina; current J/24 World Champion from Brazil, Mauricio Santa Cruz who recently won the Trofeo Accademia Navale in Livorno, Italy; and Chris Jankowski on STREET LEGAL fresh from two good performances in STS Charleston Race Week and STS Annapolis NOOD, amongst others.  For more J/24 US Nationals sailing information