San Diego NOOD Regatta Preview

A J/Festival of J/24s, 80s, 105 and 120s
(San Diego, CA)-  Starting this weekend, the Sperry Topsider NOOD Regatta in San Diego expects to have some good winds and weather.  There's a strong turnout of J's, particularly the J/120 and J/105 classes, including the J/24s and the J/80s, making up most of the biggest fleets at this years' STNR-SD.

As the largest fleet in the regatta, the seventeen boat J/105 fleet has attracted a good out-of-town contingent, including teams from Chicago, Blane Shea on TEAM STRIKING and Clark Pellett on J-OK.   The local California contingent will be strong as always, including John Howell on BLINK!, Don Poppe on the champion ROCK & ROLL from Santa Barbara, past champions Dennis and Sharon Case on WINGS and Rich Bergman on ZUNI BEAR.  There's no telling with this fleet how the results will pan out but, as in past San Diego NOODs, it often comes down to the last race!

The J/120 fleet has a strong turnout with eight very competitive boats.  Sure to be in the hunt for class honors will be past champions Chuck Nichols on CC RIDER, John Laun's CAPER, Peter Zarcades MELTEMI and perhaps even Jed Olenick on DOCTOR NO.

Showing great resilience, the local J/24s gang are showing up in force with an excellent fleet of twelves J/24s showing up to vie for top dog in SoCal.  Hard to handicap this group, but certainly amongst the leaders will be current North American Champion Pat Toole on 3 BIG DOGS from Santa Barbara, past National/ NA Champion Chris Snow on BOGUS (one of North Sails top one-design leaders) and past NOOD Champion Susan Taylor on TAKE FIVE.  It should be quite a fight amongst these three boats for the top three.

Finally, the J/80s have showed up in force as well.  Talk about out-of-towners, the long-distance award must surely go to Nizar Abuzeni sailing ARROW from St. Paul, MN and the St. Croix Sailing Club (USVI).  Past NOOD Champion Curt Johnson sailed AVET will be a contender as most likely will be John Steen on UNDERDOG, Kurt Wiese on 1316 and Mark Hunter on IN-APPROPRIATE.  For more Sperry Topsider NOOD Regatta- San Diego sailing information.   

J/24s Relish Miami Sunshine

Bacardi Miami Sailing Week Fun For J/24s
(Miami, FL)-  It was 'game on' for sailors in the  J/24 classes as they headed out to Biscayne Bay for their first day of competition at the 2011 Bacardi Miami Sailing Week presented by EFG Bank.  While the Stars were canceled due to thunderstorms in the area, the other classes were competing on two circles closer to shore where the overall conditions delivered water that was surprisingly smoother than yesterday when there had  been high chop due to a strong south-southeasterly wind.  "We've got a front coming in that went through Orlando and we've got a feeling that this is all going to turn nasty real quick," said one sailor. However, on the J/24 course the breeze from the south around 15 knots greeted the fleet, along with a sharp drop in temperature as a cold front made its way across the bay.  On the first day, Florida teams captured the top-three spots: Brian Kamilar (Miami) with Fran Bellocchio, Fabio Galarce, Mauricio Galarce and Enrique Quintero placed first; Patricia Walker (Vero Beach) with Richard Jarchow, Bill Scheureman, Gary Sprague and Thomas Wenzel were second; and Robert Pincus (Miami) with Patricia Amaducci, Eammon Delisser and JB Slater placed third.

For the second day, the air temperature cooled slightly, but not the action.  A north-northwesterly breeze and calmer weather on Biscayne Bay allowed four additional races by the J/24 gang.  How sweet it was.  With gusts, at times, to 20 knots, sailors that positioned themselves too far to the left suffered a lot.  Those who were successful positioned themselves to the favored side on the right with the wind coming in from the right. Two teams did all the winning in the J/24 fleet: Kris Werner (Rochester, N.Y.), sailing with John Enwright, Michael Mansfield, Fred Meyer and Kiki Werner won the first two races on the day, and Robert Pincus (Miami) with Patricia Amaducci, Eammon Delisser and JB Slater won the last two races. Pincus moved into first overall with seven points. Werner is second, tied on points, with Brian Kamilar (Miami), sailing with Fran Bellocchio, Fabio Galarce, Mauricio Galarce and Enrique Quintero.

On the final day, for the 472 sailors from 25 countries, conditions on Biscayne Bay were ideal as temperatures in the low 70s and sunny weather combined with shifty breeze to challenge them on the final day of racing at BACARDI Miami Sailing Week.  In the J/24 fleet: Brian Kamilar (Miami), sailing with Fran Bellocchio, Fabio Galarce, Mauricio Galarce and Enrique Quintero, finished 1-2-3 today to win the series with 12 points, one point ahead of Robert Pincus (Miami), with Patricia Amaducci, Eammon Delisser and JB Slater, who posted finishes of 2-1-4 over the final three races. Kris Werner (Rochester, N.Y.), sailing with John Enwright, Michael Mansfield, Fred Meyer and Kiki Werner, was third overall with 18 points.  For more Bacardi J/24 Sailing information.   

J/24s Tie For Audi Test Drive!

Fun @ Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta
(Sydney, Australia- Mar 8th)-  The report from our J/24 sailing friends from Down Under- "Last weekend saw some 300 boats over 13 divisions compete in the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta – we managed to get a J/24 fleet together with 6 boats on the Saturday start line! A solid 18 knots – some decent gusts – some great wind shifts and a huge tide-- mmmmm- not the easiest day!

Marc Tromp steering WATERBORNE again came out with a great lead in race 1, followed by a win for KAOTIC and a win for ACE.   Seeing KAOTIC's crew half under water at one point was pretty funny after a big gust and shift -- only to find ourselves on WILDFIRE also suddenly very wet too and fighting to stay on board.  Brett claimed he couldn’t get the main sheet off quick enough but I reckon it was something to do with me being his tactician for the first time.  Even funnier was then seeing David West do the same to his crew-- but didn’t settle for just once!!! Twice, in fact!  At least the water is still 23 degrees!!

Day 2 saw lighter winds, but still a bit flukey.  Unfortunately, WATERBORNE again couldn’t race so we were down to a fleet of five.  FUN and WILDFIRE trying hard to catch KAOTIC and ACE who won race 4 and 5, and MADDER'N'BADDER who picked the right side well to win the last race of the regatta!

Great sailing everyone.  Tight results. Janette Syme steering Arthur Crothers KAOTIC finished equal first with David West on ACE!!  On the tie-breaker (a.k.a. "countback") David just clinched it on ACE!  Lucky guy-- he now gets to go car racing at Eastern Creek in the challenge for a new Audi – we’ll let you know if he wins!!  Yahoo!!"

Of note, coming soon are the J/24 Victoria State Championships (fleet pictured here).  Jump aboard and take on some of the best J/24 sailing that Australia has to offer.  More information and NOR for the races on the site below!  For more J/24 Australia Sailing info.   

J/24 Sailing at Greenwich Flying Squadron- Australia

*  From our J sailing community Down Under, we recently got a nice note from Mark Rhodes in Sydney Harbour.  Mark commented, "I have owned my J/24, JAYTRIPPER (seen right under shadow of Sydney Harbour Bridge), for almost 17 years and have enjoyed every minute of it. We race with Greenwich Flying Squadron, a great little boatshed nestled into a little bay west of Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you are curious have a look at our website http://www.gfs.org.au and check out our gallery for photos and Youtube videos.

You will see our J/24s racing in White Division on Wednesday twilights. As well as a handicap series the J/24s have their own trophy based on scratch results so the 8 boats can also enjoy one design competition.  We also have two J/122s and a J/35 in Blue Division and a J/80 in Yellow. I think we also have a J/92s that races occasionally.  Thanks again for a great newsletter, Regards, Mark Rhodes".   

J One-Design Expertise Helps Racing Big Boats!

* J One-Design Expertise Helps!  Past J/24 World Champion John Kostecki (right) led the Farr 40 Worlds fleet home sailing on TRANSFUSION.  Another former J/24 Champion Chris Larson (left) was doing the same further down the ladder.  Great story, consistency is King, as they say in tight, college-style fleets.

In race nine Transfusion's crew were coughing dust for the first upwind leg and appeared to lack boat speed while defending champion Nerone was sailing hotter angles out in front on the first downwind run. Transfusion's US tactician, John Kostecki, now a three-time winner in the Farr 40 Worlds, lived up to his reputation as one of the world's best as the local boat clawed its way back to finish second behind Nerone, and win the title!  While five different boats won races during the series, Transfusion won only once, but never dipped below a seven.  Consistency pays.

Start sailing any one of the large International J/One-Design classes- J/22 (http://www.j22.org), J/24 (http://www.j24class.org), J/80 (http://www.j80.org)- and you'll learn darn fast! Or, why do you think top women sailors have a hard time winning the Rolex Women's Worlds sailed in J/22s or many of the top USA skipper/ tacticians and European or Australian skipper/ tacticians often started in the middle of the pack of J/22, J/24, or J/80 fleets at some point in their life learning how to sail better, faster, smarter?  Takes practice to get good, lots of it.   

J/24 Inspires children's book- "Nautical Mile".

* Donna McCartney is an author writing a children’s book series called, "NAUTICAL MILE".  The first book in the Nautical Mile Series is set to be released the summer of 2011.  A campaign for a national coloring contest is already underway, set to roll out the beginning of next school year.  Donna had a sweet comment for J sailors, "I was just reading an article written by Jeff Johnstone about the creation of the J/24 class.  I realized that my husband is probably right, our 1977 J/24, which is the backbone for the creation of my series and is the oldest J/24 boat we’ve ever encountered, comes from the very first production run of the J/24 series!!  I just thought I'd tell you that the boat is alive and well and still in use after all these years-- and still creating magic.  If you would like to see a few pictures, I have a couple out on our blog about my book and coloring contest at http://nauticalmileseries.blogspot.com -  Please let others know about our coloring contest- Many Thanks, Donna McCartney- ph# (804)-462-5019 or email- mommccartney@gmail.com  
  

J/24 East Coast Champs

(Newport, RI)-  The 2011 J/24 USA East Coast Championship, being held in Annapolis, MD from October 28th-30th, is experiencing a renaissance, with plans to celebrate the history of the event from its inception to present.  They are looking for photographs, videos, articles, interviews, results or trivia from past years.
For more J/24 East Coast Championship sailing information.