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.

J/122 PANACEA 3rd in RORC Nationals

Gales, Sun, Chop Don't Diminish the Good Spirits

(Cowes, IOW, England)- It was blowing half a gale overnight, but by dawn the skies had cleared to provide sparkling conditions for the competitors in the RORC IRC National Championship. Before the end of play, the weather closed in once more to give a variety of conditions for the crews in the eastern Solent, including a 60 degree wind shift on the last beat of the championship.

There were 60-odd boats competing in the IRC Nationals, a reasonable showing considering other conflicts on the schedule. In IRC Class One John Patterson's J/122 PANACEA took third overall. For more info

J/122 Wins Slow Annapolis to Newport Race

David Askew's J/122 FLYING JENNY VI Wins IRC II

(Newport, RI- June 8th)- The Annapolis to Newport race is one of the most historic and well-known of the US East Coast blue water races. Linking two seaports dating from our nation's birth, Annapolis and Newport, the race provides an enormous contrast between the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, and the stormy, brooding Atlantic Ocean. 

The course heads south for 120 miles from Annapolis to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, then east to the Chesapeake Light and hence northeast to Newport. After navigating the shallows and currents of the Bay, navigators have to decide if they want to sail the rhumbline to Newport, go in towards the shore or head further into the Ocean.

The J's had a good showing in this year's event with David Askew leading the pack on-board his J/122 FLYING JENNY VI, taking 1st over strong, experienced offshore competitors in IRC2 like the two J/44s- Leonard Sitar's VAMP and Jack Neades' GLORY.
The Yacht Club Challenge was won by the Annapolis Yacht Club with an entire J/Team comprised of FLYING JENNY VI (J/122), DOLPHIN (J/42) and WINDBORN (J/120). Photo credit- Don Dement. For more info

Pen Azen Wins Trophee Atlantique

The UNCL/ FFV IRC1 French Championship Dominated by J/122s

(Port des Minimes, La Rochelle, France- May 21-23)- The hosts at Société des Régates Rochelaises- Yacht Club Les Minimes put on a splendid regatta for the competitors vying for honors at the SIV Habitables Regatta and for the ultimate honor of winning the UNCL/ FFV Trophee Atlantique- emblematic of the French offshore spring championship series. With eighteen entries in IRC Classes 1, 2 and 3 it was not going to be a walk-over for any of the competing teams at this highly regarded event. Nevertheless, Philippe Delaporte and team on his J/122 Pen Azen again managed to sail a solid series, winning by one point over fellow J/122 Damacle with the world-renowned Christinne Briand as tactician. Both boats easily dispatched two very competitive Archambaut 40s (Batistyl and Stamina3) who finished third and fifth behind them, respectively. For more info

J/122 Pen Azen Victorious at Grand Prix du Crouesty

The Grey-blue French Rocketship Continues Domination of French IRC Offshore

(Crouesty, France- May 30-June 1)- The third major event of the French UNCL/ FFV offshore sailing season had excellent representation from passionate J owners from France, in particular. The Yacht Club du Crouesty Arzo hosted a wonderful event; the J's represented 50% of the fleet of the Grand Prix du Crouesty and forty one J/80s were present to do battle; not far behind in attendance were the J/22 and J/24 classes.
In the J/80's, Sylvain Pelissier won in a highly competitive fleet. In IRC1, the J122 Pen Azen again confirmed their supremacy over IRC1 competitors, beating stablemate J/122 Damacle with the renowned Christine Briand on-board as tactician. Also doing well was the J/109 Poulico, 3rd in IRC2 (beating three very competitive Archambaut A35s). For more info.

J/122s At New York YC Regatta

J/122 One-Design Warm-up for North Americans

(Newport, RI- June 14-16)- Nine very competitive J/122s are entered to race one-design in this year's New York Yacht Club's Annual Regatta held off Newport, RI. This classic event starts with the fun and challenging Around Jamestown Island Race on Friday and then proceeds to course racing on Saturday and Sunday off Brenton Point, about four miles southeast of Castle Hill. Teams are coming from as far away as Annapolis, MD, Denver, CO and Irvington, TX. Come down to NYYC's Harbour Court during the weekend and see why these J/122 owners are having such a fun time! For more info.