J/122 Cruises from Auckland to Sydney

Sandra and Ray Entwistle, our J/Boat dealers from Australia, had friends sail their J/122 LITHIUM from Auckland, NZ to Sydney, Australia, a distance of 1,350 nautical miles. Here's their story of crossing the Kiwi/Oz version of the English Channel-- "The Ditch" as it's also known is a brief chronicle of the delivery across the Tasman Sea from Auckland to Sydney.
 
“….as for the J/122, she performed like a sailing thoroughbred, clearing every hurdle presented. A long distance voyage like this with wind and sea conditions varying so much would have shown any vices - this flyer is free of vices. She tracked well in all conditions and went as magnificently in 35 knots in a boiling sea, as she did in near dead calm, it is a wonderful boat. The cabin and accoutrements made a very comfortable temporary home that helped provide the author with some regret that this adventure had drawn to a close. Do it again? Yes, on the J/122.
 
Just as we were about to depart on the crossing the weather forecast was both exciting and daunting - a storm was brewing in the vicinity of Lord Howe Island and was making its way across the Tasman Sea to Auckland. On Sunday 19th April 2009 the strong winds were already apparent, so we left Auckland harbour with a small jib and two reefs. 
 
We made good time to Tutakaka (about 90nm) and entered the harbour at about 21:30 hrs in dark and rough sea conditions. The following day we sailed to and anchored at the charming town of Russell in the Bay of Islands, a fisherman’s and sailor’s paradise and truly a lovely place.
 
Stewart and Bev from Russell Radio (the local marine rescue and forecast station) were excellent and became our personal weather service. The forecast was shocking – very intense lows in the Tasman with 40-55 knot winds forecast, it looked like we would be moored up for at least 4 days. There were reports of boats in trouble, one ketch on the way to Tonga turned back with shredded sails, motor failed, rolled twice and was now under tow. Another en route from Brisbane was in trouble with rig down and eventually abandoned. Lord Howe Island had been battered, the runway washed out and SES to the rescue.
 
The conditions eventually abated, and after 5 days of waiting we said farewell to Russell on Saturday 25th April. The first afternoon saw strong and gusty 35 knot winds in sloppy coastal seas with No4 jib and double reefed main. We hit our max speed of 12.4 knots surfing with the boat tracking splendidly.
 
Once through that melee we found ourselves between two weather systems and becalmed, the sea was now smooth and glassy, such a contrast. We motored for a day before we got back into some moderate breezes, then we had a series of sail changes as the wind direction and strength varied and we steadily made our way across a tempestuous ocean. During the journey we had the usual mix of calm through to stormy weather and generally speaking, although at times the conditions were uncomfortable, good progress was made. One day we achieved 200nm, with the wind favourable around 15 to 20 knots from the SE putting us on a broad reach.
 
The asymmetric kite was a joy to use, adding those couple of extra knots of boat speed to make the journey quicker.
 
At first we counted down the miles by hundreds, then fifties, then finally by 10’s. You are on your own out there, we only saw 3 vessels (no yachts) in 1,350 nm.
 
Our last night at sea saw a storm and lightening in the west (over Sydney), we motor sailed through the electrical storms, sheltering under the dodger because of the cold and rain. Sunday 3rd May, arrival in Sydney was fittingly at dawn. It was very quiet and dark coming in through the heads, but great to see the lights of Sydney after 8 days crossing the Tasman. While it was good to be home, we enjoyed the camaraderie and the feeling of ‘we made and made it well.’

J/122 North Americans

GAMBLER Rolls the Dice and Wins!
 
(Block Island, RI- June 22-26)- Ten J/122s showed up at Block Island Race Week to compete for the inaugural J/122 North American Championship, hosted by Storm Trysail Club's Race Committee on the White Course. An enormous variety of wind conditions both challenged and bedeviled the competitors over the five day event-- everything from 15-30 knot winds and towering breaking waves to flat water and light to moderate breezes. Certainly, whomever triumphed over the others would get a well-deserved wind considering the extraordinary variety of wind, waves, current thrown at them. In the end, Doug Shaffer and crew from Bayview, TX on-board GAMBLER threw down the gauntlet and with a bit of lady luck, took all the marbles home with them. Coming up short on the last two races were David Askew's FLYING JENNY VI from Annapolis, MD, missing the top of the podium by only three points after a disappointing fourth and eighth at the end. Just off the pace was Bill Coates and crew from Bellaire, TX on OTRA VEZ finishing third.

Doug Shaffer's GAMBLER had three points to make up on Thursday's leader FLYING JENNY VI, skippered by David Askew. GAMBLER accomplished that at the first weather mark when all the boats converged at the same time. "Everybody was ducking boats; we were in fifth place and jibed out to the left and picked up three boats (to finish second)," said Shaffer. "That was the regatta right there. FLYING JENNY had to take more boats at that mark (and finished eighth for second overall)." Shaffer, who has owned a number of different J boats over the years, says this is the first time he has won a regatta on a national level and gave credit to his crew, which included co-helmsman Eric Olving (Long Branch, N.J.) and tactician Jay Lutz (Seabrook, Texas).

Mike Bruno's Report on the eve of the final races Friday: "1st place and 3rd place will be hotly contested today—1st is between FLYING JENNY (great people from Annapolis—next to us on dock) and GAMBLER (nice folks as well from Houston)—both boats are extremely well sailed, and 3rd between the other Texas boat, OTRA VEZ, and WINGS. We have sailed well but did not deserve to place above FLYING JENNY or GAMBLER—both boats have been sailed flawlessly all week by extremely talented folks— quite impressive. Racing has been excellent and the fleet is pretty darn strong. Pete Dupont’s new boat is fast and very well sailed. The newest J/122, PUGWASH, with Larry Leonard aboard is improving daily and will ultimately be very well sailed, ditto PLUM CRAZY from Annapolis— a strong J/105 sailor previously. The J/122 owners are all quite enthused about their boats and we are getting pretty big press here. The J/122 is clearly considered one of the hottest one-designs out there at Block Island Race Week—many questions and much praise from the crowd about the boats—a lot of folks want one."

2009 OSTAR- J/122 Wins IRC1

Plymouth to Newport Classic Finishes with J/122 2nd Overall
 

(Newport, RI- June 17)- For starters, congratulations Rob Craigie to finish 2nd overall boat-for-boat and 3rd corrected overall on his J/122 J-BELLINO. Rob in fact won IRC-1 Class on corrected time, too!

Aboard his J/122 J-BELLINO, Rob narrowly missed winning the entire event overall on corrected time for IRC handicap. Rob was beaten on IRC corrected time by two much smaller boats that finished 3 days 5 hours behind (Tamarind) and 4 days 1 hour behind (Elmarleen). Neverthless, Rob only was 3 minutes 33 seconds behind second place and just 45 minutes behind the corrected time winner Elmarleen. Considering the fact Rob blew out his main spinnaker and destroyed part of his jib (e.g. sailing under a severe handicap in terms of the J/122s normal performance) it's amazing he achieved the feat he did to finish 2nd overall and 3rd on corrected. For more info.

J/122 CHRIS DRAGON Wins NYYC Regatta

Andrew Weiss's J/122 CHRISTOPHER DRAGON Wins J/122 Class
 

(Newport, RI- June 12-14,) – The three-day regatta, the longest running in America's history, attracted a record turnout of 105 boats. The event served up weather challenges that, while perhaps disappointing to beach-goers, delighted the 1000 plus sailors competing on Rhode Island Sound over three days.

With fog shrouding the first part of Friday’s 19-mile Around Jamestown Island Race, crews had to navigate with their instruments and keep themselves out of trouble from the capricious currents and wind eddies that swirl around the Island. Amongst the J/122s racing this legendary race, it was Mike Bruno and team aboard WINGS that won the race.

For the weekend racing offshore in Rhode Island Sound for Saturday and Sunday it was classic June conditions for Newport. With a combination of weather systems and the ubiquitous thermal engine trying to kick into higher gear, the tacticians had their crystal balls going full tilt trying to divine the next wind shift to streak to victory over their erstwhile rivals.

For the J/122 class, it was their inaugural event to race as a one-design class in the NYYC Annual Regatta. A ten boat turn-out saw some incredibly tight racing with tremendous changes amongst the leaders for every race. After the three races Saturday, five boats were within five points of eachother. However, it was Andrew Weiss on-board CHRISTOPHER DRAGON from Mamaroneck, NY that sailed consistently well in the three races on Sunday to stretch out their lead to win by four points over Doug Shaffer's GAMBLER from Bayview, TX and David Askew's Annapolis-Newport winner FLYING JENNY VI. For more info.