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(Buenos Aires, Argentina)- This year’s J/24 South Americans had a highly
competitive turnout of twenty-four teams from across the continent, including
Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. The high level of competition generated
electrifying combat on the muddy waters of the Rio de la Plata in simply
fantastic sailing conditions over the four day event. Perhaps most
importantly, the Club Universitario de Buenos Aires were simply amazing hosts,
looking after the needs of all the sailors both on-the-water and ashore with
some amazing post-race social entertainment.
Despite having to take a SCP scoring penalty in the first race, Matias Pereira
and crew sailed a masterful regatta aboard their renowned CARRERA, counting
four firsts in their nine race scorecard to win by ten points. Pereira’s
crew included Juan Ignacio Pereira, Guillermo Bellinoto, Federico Roberto, and
Bellinoto Ambrus.
The first day of racing had ideal conditions for sailing, with a mild
northeaster to start the day with the wind veering into the SSE by late
afternoon. With plenty of sunshine and relatively flat waters, the RC’s
PRO did a great job to keep the aggressive fleet under control and run three of
the nine races scheduled for the regatta.
The first race was an all Argentine affair in the shifty
northeasterly, with Sergio Pendola on CACIQUE taking the gun followed by current
Argentinean Champion Matias Pereira on CARRERA and Alexander Rossi on TOMMY
HILFIGER. The next race saw more wind coming out of the east and getting
shiftier and streakier. Pereira won quite handily followed by the
Uruguayan team of EXTASIS skippered by Pedro Garra and another Argentine team
sailed by Nicolas Cubria on RINA. By the last race, the wind had
increased to nearly 20 kts from the SSE with some teams changing over to
jibs. In the end, the Chilean team on VOLVO sailed by Matias Seguel won handily
followed by Cubria’s RINA and Garra’s EXTASIS.
The second day of racing was going to be a challenge for both competitors and
the CUBA RC. Starting out quite strong from the northeast, but rapidly
dying, the winds went very light with a strong current on the river. As a
result, the PRO wisely took the fleet in close to YC Argentino’s harbor
entrance to get some benefits of a building sea-breeze condition, enough to get
some races going for the day. In the first race of the day, Ezequiel
Despontin’s INDIGO took the gun followed by CARRERA and Robert Vernon’s
JOYITA. After completing the first race, the RC’s PRO again had to
postpone to let the breeze settle in at around 5-7 kts. The second race
of the day saw CARRERA win followed by INDIGO and EXTASIS. At this point
with five races counting, CARRERA had a substantial lead with just 9 pts, with
EXTASIS in second with 14 pts and VOLVO in third with 18 pts.
The last day dawned with yet more challenging weather conditions,
with the lack of wind forcing an hour postponement. Nevertheless, the
wind quickly built to 8-12 kts from the ESE, enabling the RC to quickly fire
off four races for the happy crews! In fact, by the end of the day, the
SE breeze had built to over 18 kts TWS and most of the crews changed from
genoas to jibs and back again during the race! Sailing fast and furious
was CARRERA, scoring a 3-BFD-1-1 to win the regatta by ten points (dropping the
BFD race).
Behind Pereira’s team was the Chilean team on JOYITA sailed by Robert Vernon,
followed by fellow countrymen on VOLVO skippered by Matias Seguel. This
was the best showing of these two Chilean teams at the South Americans in
recent years; a measure of how far they’ve improved on the international level
of J/24 competition! Rounding out the top five were the Uruguayan team on
EXTASIS with skipper Pedro Garra taking fourth and behind them were Argentinean
Nicolas Cubria on RINA in fifth.
There was some great social media and YouTube sailing videos of the event,
please see some of these links below:
For more J/24 South American Championship sailing information
(Porto Alegre, Brazil)- What could be more of a surprise than to have a “local”
win the Brazilian J/24s Nationals and to have a “foreigner” becoming a
“spoiler” to the party?? Well, that’s exactly what happened in this
year’s edition of the J/24 Brazilian National Championships.
With a great crew the Creole VDS team, led by Samuel Albrecht, was the winner
of the 2013 Brazilian Championship off Porto Alegre. In second place were the
Uruguayan’s PANTHER team, skippered by Diego Garcia from Punta Del Este.
Third was BRUSCHETTA sailed by J/24 World Champion Mauricio Santa Cruz from
Brazil.
"It was a
sensational championship, things were happening that were favorable to
us. We tried to sail without pressure, without getting anxious and doing
little risk. It was fun,” said Renato Plass. It’s also interesting to
note this team will represent Brazil in the sailing competition in the South
American Games in March 2014 in Chile.
The Uruguayan team that sailed very well in strong winds, left satisfied by the
result obtained in Porto Alegre. "The regatta was very good, with great
races, and it is always good to compete here," said the captain Diego
Garcia . Sailing photo credits For more J/24 Brazilian Championships sailing information
(Coconut Grove, Fl)- Coral Reef Yacht Club and J/24 Fleet 10 would like to
welcome the J/24 Class to the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay in Coconut
Grove, Florida for the 2014 J/24 Midwinter Championship Regatta- being held
from February 19th- 23rd, 2014. The committees are working on finalizing
details for local housing with club and fleet members as well as finding the
best hotel rates in the surrounding area and we will be posting that
information soon.
Also
be looking for some entertaining stories from past Midwinter Regattas at CRYC
in the 80's and 90's like.... “Do you know where the Black Flag came from”?
Look forward to future news to find the answer and expect to see the original
version of the Black Flag on the 2014 starting line after the first general
recall (that is, if you don’t behave)! And, some of our most entertaining
TV sailing personalities of today (think AC Cup recently) got their start
sailing J/24's in the 80's on Biscayne Bay ... there are stories to be told!
Oh, those were the days!
Coral Reef YC are looking forward to showing everybody a great time with some
of the best winter sailing you will find anywhere. Head on down and join the
fun! If there is anything you need to know, simply contact Mark Pincus, the
Regatta Chairman and Fleet 10 Captain at email- mwpincus@aol.com or phone#
305-915-1438. Sailing photo credits- Tim Wilkes.com For more J/24 Midwinters sailing information
(Galveston, TX)- Lakewood Yacht Club's annual J-Fest Southwest Regatta enjoyed
some of the most amazing sailing conditions they’ve enjoyed in years. Sailed
over the November 2nd and 3rd, the sailors were treated to Northerly winds in
the 20-25 kts range on Saturday, producing the usual “monster chop” renowned
for Galveston Bay. Then, on Sunday's “easy-going” breezes in the 16-20
kts range made for somewhat better conditions for the fleet of fifty J’s
assembled for this year’s hugely popular J/Fest Southwest!
Starting out with the J/22s, their seven boat fleet produced a runaway winner
in the “big breeze”. No question, it was Casey Lambert and crew on
BLACKBURN RACING that had the conditions wired, taking all firsts in six races
to win by a “Texas-mile”. Second on the distant horizon was Dov Kivlovitz
with 13 pts and rounding out the podium was Chris Morlan’s TILT with 17 pts.
As the largest fleet in the regatta, thirteen J/24’s enjoyed a nice resurgence,
showing up to lay it all on the line for Texas domination of the one-design
world. They enjoyed some close competition, but it was clear that Bryan
Dyer’s RUMLINE had everyone’s number in the breezy conditions, finishing 1st
with just 13 pts. Second was TROPICAL AGGRESSION sailed by Stu Lindow
with 17 pts. Happily finishing in 3rd overall was HAPPY DANCE skippered
by Bill Worsham with 19 pts; taking the tie breaker over GIGGLES sailed by
Natalie Penner.
As the “new kid on the block” and one boat shy of the largest fleet, the J/70’s
twelve boat fleet also proved to be one of the most competitive fleets at the
regatta and, given the windy conditions, clearly the ones that had the most fun
going into “planing mode” all over the Galveston Bay race course hootin’ and
hollerin’ like cowboys at a stampede! Appropriately enough, the winner by
a comfortable margin was STAMPEDE, Bruno Pasquinelli’s team from Fort Worth
Boat Club with a total of 10 pts. While STAMPEDE has enormous experience
sailing in a variety of highly competitive J/70 regional & national
regattas, the balance of the top five was extremely tight! Runners-up was
GB sailed by Chris Lewis from Lakewood YC with 18 pts. Following them in
third was JBoats SW sailed by Scott Spurlin from Austin YC with 21 pts.
They just nipped fourth place finisher Sean Nunes from Austin YC with 22
pts. A wind shift or two made the difference for 5th place finisher AKULA
sailed by Rick Bell from Corpus Christi YC with 27 pts.
J/80s had a very competitive fleet of seven boats participating with several
world and regional championship teams participating. Topping the fleet,
un-surprisingly, was GC/ QUANTUM RACING sailed by the team of Terry Flynn &
David Whelan, representing Fort Worth Boat Club. Against such formidable
talent, it was a duel for the balance of the podium with PARSONS PROJECT
skippered by Luke McAllum from Houston YC taking second with 18 pts. They
narrowly beat out third place finisher HENDRIX sailed by Kurt Vanderwall
from Dillon YC with 19 pts.
The eight boat J/105 class enjoyed close racing all weekend long. In
fact, the last two races of the regatta completely turned the standings upside
down. Closing with a strong 1-2, it was INFINITY’s Uzi Ozeri from
Lakewood YC that took class honors with 18 pts total. Starting slowly
with an 8th in the opening race, BLUE FLASH’s Matt Amo from Fort Worth Boat
Club dialed in two bullets in the middle races, but was insufficient to
overcome the strong closing of Ozeri’s crew, taking second overall with 20
pts. Sailing perhaps the most consistent regattas was JB Bednar’s STINGER
from Lakewood YC with a total of 22 pts.
Over in PHRF handicap world, the J/PHRF Sym fleet saw Chris Aik’s FOOTLOOSE
from Galveston Bay Cruising Association take first overall with 5 pts.
Second was Glenn Stromme’s PRESS TO MECO from the Seabrook Marina Association
with 12 pts. Taking third was TOCCATA’s Gary Trinklein from Galveston Bay
Cruising Association.
The J/PHRF Asym fleet had a diverse fleet of seven boats. Taking first
was the J/92 sailed by Kevin Hayes & Mike McGaugh from GBCA with 11
pts. Albrecht Goethe’s Lakewood YC team onboard the J/109 HAMBURG took
second with 16.5 pts. Making its debut was the J/88 IT’s A THRILL sailed
by J/Boats designer Rod Johnstone with 19 pts. For more J/Boats Southwest sailing information
(Limerick, Ireland)- As one of their last events in the fall sailing season,
the Irish J/24 fleet convened off Limerick, Ireland to compete for the
Estuary's most historic prize— the “Rinevella Plate”. Adrian O'Connell,
Racing Captain at the host Royal Western Yacht Club, says “that piece and its
relevance to sailors in Ireland is steeped in enormous amounts of history!”
First won in 1832 by the Knight of Glin, the coveted Rinevella Plate has become
a much sought after prize amongst the sailing community on the West Coast of
Ireland and its pride of place remains at the County Limerick Castle.
Hand crafted from Limerick silver, the plate depicts the many historic elements
associated with maritime traditions on the Shannon Estuary and right up the
west coast.
The Rinevella Plate, which resides on the dining room sideboard at Glin Castle,
was first won by the then Knight of Glin at the Galway Regatta when the family
commissioned the unique piece for a once-off regatta. Given to the then Galway
Yacht club as prize for the winner, the winning boat owner staked their claim
on the piece as the family sought to increase interest and participation on
Irish waterways.
From the archive Mr
O'Connell notes, "On the Shannon Estuary, with the Knight of Glin's
encouragement, the numbers of commercial sailing trading vessels were growing
apace, with the establishment of towns and sea-going trade along the Estuary.
It soon became an established fact of life during the summer months, that
interested groups decided to organize at each small port regattas for all the
types of craft to be found on the Estuary.”
Limerick yachts and sailors he said, “accounted for almost a quarter of the
club's membership and with prizes like the Rinevella Plate up for grabs,
interest, like in the mid 1800s, is growing again today! In the modern era,
interest in the waterways is experiencing somewhat of a resurgence as more take
to the water. Clubs in the region are noting an increase in membership.”
Despite only having the plate in their possession for a few short hours,
winners leave the West coast club in Kilrush with the honour of adding their
names to a long list that is almost 180 years old.
Like many years before, the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland hosted the
October series to determine the winner of the priceless Plate cast in Limerick
silver. More importantly, the competition lived up to its history and its
roots!
The “DJANGO Hyundai Ireland” J/24 team sailed their mighty yacht for the
Rinevella Plate and took the overall title this year after winning the IRC
Class 1 over the series of six races! Crewed by Martin MacNamara, Thomas
Whelan, Andrew Carey, Charlie Glynn and Diarmuid Whelan, the 2013 winners said
they were honoured to take the title amongst stiff competition.
Limerick boats from Foynes YC, together with Disaray sailing out of Tralee Bay
Sailing Club, and Kilrush-based yachts made up the tough competition to decide
the winners of this year’s historic plate regatta. Needless to say, “good
times” were had by all after raising a multitude of toasts to all over several
dozen pints of the best ales from County Limerick!
(Annapolis, MD)- The 35th annual Hillman Focused Advantage Fund J24 East Coast
Championship was held on November 1-3, 2013 in Annapolis MD and hosted by Fleet
8 Annapolis and Severn Sailing Association. The three day event saw an
unpredictable forecast, breezes between 5 and 20 knots, 30 degree shifts and
tricky conditions that left most of the 31 boat fleet scratching their heads.
But in the end it was Tony Parker’s BANGOR PACKET with a daily score of 2, 2,
and 1 on the last day for a total of 17 points that won the regatta and
anointed him as the 2013 Hillman Focused Advantage Fund J24 East Coast
Champion. Tony has sailed all 35 J/24 East Coasts and it is his third win. Tony
also won Top Amateur for the event, beating out many top names in the class.
Will Welles on COUGAR took second place with a total of 24 points. Travis
Odenbach on HONEY BADGER finished in third with 39 points. Mike Ingham on USA
5443 finished in fourth with 43 points and Ron Medlin Jr. on BASH had a very
nice event rounding out the top five with 47 points.
Day 1 began with 40 kts of breeze from the west and a driving rain which forced
an hour and a half on-shore postponement. The weather pushed thru and the 31
boats headed out on water to what was to be a predicted 25 kts breeze. The fleet
however was met with 10 kts of breeze from the south and a strong tide flood up
the bay. Race 1 had sailors deciding whether to go right for tide relief or
left for more pressure. With a split fleet, it was the left that won out.
Downwind was tricky with a dying breeze but it was John Wilsey on Panceta Doble
working the left on both beats that won the first race. Race 2 saw the wind die
even more. 5 kts wind, with a 1 kt current made it for another tricky first
beat where getting out to the right and out of adverse current seemed to be the
key. However a big left shift change that strategy. By the end of the first
run, the wind had died to just a few knots and once rounding the crowded gate,
everyone could barely make progress against the tide. But sailing fast and
consistent through all that was Al Constance in Blitz taking the win. Principal
Race Officer Juliet Thompson wisely sent everyone back to the docks where
sailors were met by the two-time National Oyster Shucking Champion George
Hastings and his fresh Virginia blue point oysters, along with homemade
Maryland crab soup made by Bill, and Pat Fitzgerald and the crew of Rush Hour
and a wide variety of fresh beers on tap.
Day 2 saw another decent forecast of 15 kts from the north never
materialize and leaving no wind and no races. The thermal which tried to make
its way filled in too little too late. Fortunately there was a Dark and Stormy
Rum party with home-brewed ginger beer and a buffet dinner of pork loin,
Jamaican jerk chicken and Cuban black beans and rice catered by SSA’s own John
Miller and Real Food, LLC. Dinner was accompanied by the previous day’s daily
awards and the raffle featuring a J24 skirted deck cover sponsored by North
Sails One Design.
Day 3 was met with a complete lack of trust in the forecast but the skepticism
was soon dismissed with rustling leaves blowing thru Eastport and a cool brisk
NW breeze. The 20 kts puffs, lulls, and shifts off the shore between the
antennas and the bay bridge on the way out to the course did not disappoint.
Race 1 was tricky for the RC to set a course and a line with wind shifts of 20
degrees or more. By the start all 31 boats with a blade, saw a considerably
favored committee end but left would turn out to pay out big with a left shift
and flatter water. Will Welles and Tony Parker were a good deal ahead of the
fleet from wire to wire with Welles taking the gun. Race 2 was still shifty,
but the wind had dropped. Some boats switched to the genoa but the genoa/jib
trade off was about equal with the lulls and puffs on the course. The left
shift from Race 1 was hardly existent and did not pay off on the left corner
this time. Tony Parker again finishes 2nd behind Will Welles. Race 3 saw the
wind drop to 15 kts and the fleet switched to the genoa. The wind had gone
right a little more, and through that leg, shifted approximately 30 degrees
right. There was no recovery from the left. Big shifts and holes made for huge
gains and losses! The final race is taken by Tony Parker along with the crown.
Teams were met on land with a BBQ of burgers and brats put on by Jay Mcginnis
and his crew aboard SWAG with the Daily and Final awards ceremony for the top 5
boats. The mid fleet award sponsored by Atlantis Weathergear was awarded to Pat
Fitzgerald and his crew on Rush Hour. Sailing Photo Ccredits- Dan Phelps/ Spinsheet.com.
For more J/24 East Coast Championship sailing information
(Annapolis, MD)- For their second consecutive weekend, the Eastport YC is
hosting yet another East Coast Championships on the choppy, muddy waters of the
Chesapeake Bay. This time is the J/24’s turn to experience the superior
race management and awesome hospitality of EYC. The thirty-one teams registered
will have their hands full with not just with top teams sailing the regatta,
but the rough winds forecast for the three-day long event. With Friday
offering near gale storm conditions with 15-25 kts southerly breezes, Saturday
providing benign, sunny, lightish WNW winds and Sunday bringing strong 15-20 kt
northerlies, the local tacticians will be matching wits with top national
talent to bring “home the bacon” (e.g. podium silverware).
J/24 Fleet 8 in Annapolis is proud to have the Hillman Focused
Advantage Fund (HCMAX) as the title sponsor for the 2013 J/24 East Coast
Championship; this year’s partnership will expand on the success of the
recently revamped J/24 East Coast Championship making it better than ever.
Plus, they will be offering lots of great “swag”.
Who will be top dogs at the end of this shoot-out across the water? That
will be a tough call since so many championship level teams are sailing that
have all grabbed their fair share of silverware over time. Surely one of
the top boats will be Mike Ingham’s Rochester, NY gang on USA 5443; but not far
off their pace will be Tony Parker’s BANGOR PACKET from Annapolis; Al
Constants’s BLITZ from Locust Valley, NY; John Poulson’s St Petersburg, FL team
sailing MURDER INC.; Paul van Ravensway’s local Washington, DC team aboard
MILLENNIUM FALCON; Pete Kassal’s local Annapolis crew sailing SPACEMAN SPIFF;
Robbie Brown’s USA 799 team from St Petersburg, FL; Travis Odenbach’s gang from
Rochester, NY sailing the famously infamous HONEY BADGER; and finally an even
more incredibly famously infamous team from Newport, RI led by Will Welles and
Tim Healy onboard COUGAR. Finally, the long distance traveler award
surely goes to Trevor Boyce from Hamilton, Bermuda, sailing NO SKIRT REQUIRED
with a cast of characters that includes well-known photographer Tim Wilkes from
Rochester, NY. For more J/24 East Coast Championship sailing information
