J/122 Duo Battle For Charleston Gold

(Charleston, SC)- For the 89 J's sailing (the largest brand represented at 1/3 of the entire fleet of 270), they will be divided into one-design and handicap PHRF fleets.  PHRF A class has two J/130s sailing, including Noel Sterrett's SOLARUS from Hanahan, SC and David Hackney's SUGAR MAGNOLIA from Folly Beach, SC.  Also racing with them will be Doug Curtiss' J/124 WICKED from Branford, CT just up from Florida after sailing at Key West Race Week.

PHRF B is shaping up to be one of the most competitive offshore PHRF classes with 5 of the 7 entries being 36-41 foot J's- J/111, J/120s, J/122s.  The J/111 VELOCITY will have to work hard to stay in the hunt against this tough group of hombres.  The two J/120s, local fleet champion John Keenan's ILLYRIA from Mt Pleasant, SC and Rick Moore's MOOSE DOWN from Summerville, SC know the local waters well and given the right conditions will be surely be in the hunt.  The two J/122s will be amongst the leaders as well, both strong sailing programs with great teams aboard.  Doug Shaffer's GAMBLER from Kemah, TX is a past J/122 North American Champion and Robin Team's TEAMWORK has won the Ft Lauderdale-Key West Race and also a top three finisher at Key West Race Week.

Sailing Photo Credits:
Paul Todd/ Outside Images New Zealand
Tim Wilkes/ Tim Wilkes Photography
For more Charleston Race Week sailing information.

  

J/122 Double-handed Europe Season Starts

(Southampton, England)- It was a great start to the 2011 Molson-Coors Double-handed Series in England with close racing in all 5 classes.  The Royal Southampton YC prides itself as the home of Double-handed Racing and last year celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first race Series.

Saturday’s race was the first of an eight race season comprising four inshore races and four offshore races. Entrants compete for individual races, the Inshore Series, Offshore Series and Main Series, each with their own prizes and trophies for each Class.  The fleet is raced in five monohull Classes – three IRC and two Club.  The Series has 73 monohull entries to date and a record 62 of those boats were on the start line off Hillhead at 10 AM boding well for another great season of Double Handed racing. At the attention signal the conditions were near perfect-- the sun shone and the breeze blew at around 12 to 18 knots from the west south west.

Courses were set with long legs to give more of a passage flavor rather than the usual round the cans short legs format. They took the fleets on upwind legs to Stanswood Bay and West Bramble, then back downwind to marks along the North Channel with a tactical decision for the deeper draught boats as to which side of the Bramble Bank to clear. All Classes had a reaching finish from their last marks to Coronation.

In IRC Class 1, shaking off a few cobwebs and getting dialed up for the season was the J/122 OOJAH sailed by Peter Tanner and Trevor Pountain.  Their third place out of the starting blocks for their double-handed season is a counter amongst this taught fleet of wily veterans.   For more Royal Southampton YC series sailing information.

  

J/122 JOOPSTER Dominates IRC 1 Again

(Warsash, Southampton Water, England)- At last, on the fourth week of the Warsash Spring Series, there was an opportunity for crew to sit on the windward rail whilst spray whipped across the foredeck.  After three quiet weeks, on Sunday 3rd April the breeze blew steadily from the south-west. Competitors and race officers alike enjoyed the livelier conditions.

The situation did not look favourable when the Black Group committee boat first anchored near Hamble Yacht Services buoy, in poor visibility with no discernible breeze. Then the mist slowly lifted, the wind filled in through the Needles Channel and by late morning the sun was shining. With this constant breeze and a midday high tide, Chief  Race Officer Peter Bateson proclaimed it "a most glorious day" and was able to set a range of courses with an initial windward mark at RORC buoy and a common finishing mark at East Knoll. For the first time this year, all classes were taken west of the Brambles Bank, to Williams Shipping buoy.  As the morning progressed, there was a clearly defined racing channel established, with all classes using the same strip of water. However, with some of the smaller classes using shorter legs and rounding marks to starboard, crews in the faster designs needed to keep a sharp look out for converging boats.

IRC1 was boosted by a growing contingent of J's, all preparing for the “Big Boat” Spring Championship which starts next weekend. This brought 15 entries to the line at 1000. Going around the track, the smaller boats in class were making good time against their handicap ratings against leading-edge teams like Nick Zenstroms' Swan 45 RAN, Neil Kipling’s J/122 JOOPSTER won the class for the second week running on handicap and moved to fourth in the overall standings, just three points up on the J/111 ARABELLA.  Second for the day was Ian Matthews J/122 JINJA.

The final two weekends (9th/10th and 16th/17th April), see additional racing on Saturdays for the Spring Championship. The Warsash Spring Series continues on 10th April 2011.  For more Warsash Spring Series sailing results.    Sailing Photo credits- Eddie Mays

  

J/122 LOST HORIZON Cruises to Victorious Tie?

How to Have Fun and Eat The Cake Too @ Rolex St Thomas
(St Thomas, USVI- Mar 27) – Living up to its reputation as "Crown Jewel of Caribbean Racing", and topping off three days of sun-drenched racing in the Rolex Regatta, the fleet was treated to yet another nearly "postcard perfect" Sunday on Pillsbury Sound.  The fleet completed distance courses that explored the cays and islands off St. Thomas, where the event has been hosted for 38 years by St. Thomas Yacht Club.  "This has been one of the best groups of boats and sailors we've ever had," said Regatta Director Bill Canfield.  "Sailors came from around the globe, and each class had a good number of boats with impressive depth of competition." 

The regatta started on Friday, the racing started with a lovely trip to town down around the southern side of St Thomas. The first of two “town races” went from the eastern end of St. Thomas, where the regatta’s host St. Thomas Yacht Club is located, to Charlotte Amalie Harbour, giving spectators an eyeful as they watched from scenic overlooks and other vantage points along the island’s hilly coastline. After a rainbow of spinnakers graced a downwind finish, the fleet turned around and headed back from where they came, counting the return trip as their second race.

As cliche as it sounds, the Rolex Regatta delivered on Saturday another round of sailing in paradise. And while for some that conjures up images of cloudless skies, azure blue water and brisk trade winds (the exact conditions that prevailed), for more serious racers it meant well planned race courses and exceptional execution by the race committee for some thrilling racing. The first race was a twice-around windward-leeward course that lasted an hour, while the second showed off the scenic south coast of St. John (USVI) on a 22-mile windward/leeward course that used Leduck island as its windward turning mark.

“It was really interesting,” said one big boat crew member. “There were rocks in the middle of the course that had to be avoided, so you didn’t have full use of the race course, but the entire fleet was pretty much side-by-side the whole time.” He praised the race committee for the courses they had designed, noting their ability to lay marks in shallow water and keep the course square to the wind, which some other Caribbean events are unable to do because of natural constraints.

By winning Saturday's single 19-mile race in the 10-boat CSA Non-Spinnaker class, Jim Dobbs’ (Antigua) J/122 LOST HORIZON moved into second place from third Friday while Tony Sanpere’s (St. Croix, USVI) J/36 CAYENNITA GRANDE replaced Friday's leader.  Dobbs, who lives aboard LOST HORIZON in the winter and races the boat throughout the islands, normally sails in spinnaker class and has sailed almost every International Rolex Regatta to date. He was short on crew this year and made a last-minute change to the non-spinnaker class, which Sanpere, last year’s winner, welcomed. “It’s nice to be in the same class to see how we compare to a very competitive boat,” he said. “Dobbs is one of the winningest skippers in the Caribbean.”

In the 10-boat CSA Non-Spinnaker class, James Dobbs' (Antigua) J/122 LOST HORIZON turned in a 1-2 Sunday to tie on point score (10) with Tony Sanpere's (St. Croix, USVI) very well-sailed and highly competitive J/36 CAYENITTA GRANDE, who scored a 3-1, but LOST HORIZON won the class after tie-breaking rules were applied.  LOST HORIZON was definitely the sleeper of the regatta, arriving with an incomplete crew to finish third overall after the first day of racing. On the second day, the team managed to rise through the ranks to second overall behind CAYENITTA GRANDE then top them in the finale.

 Sailing Photo/ Rolex Cup Regatta credits- Ingrid Abery and Leighton O'Connor for Rolex.  For more International Rolex Cup Regatta sailing information.

  

Antigua J/122 LOST HORIZON Ready for Rolex

(St Thomas, USVI)- As it has proven for 38 years, the International Rolex Regatta is a racing getaway that is as much about serious competition as it is about the festive yet relaxed Caribbean experience that host St. Thomas Yacht Club has created around it. The three-day event is scheduled this year for Friday, March 25, through Sunday, March 27, and features race courses that accentuate the coastal beauty of the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as shore-side gatherings - including a reggae music concert and uniquely staged Rolex Awards Ceremony - that remind visitors why "tropical" and "paradise" go so well together.  The sailing includes three days of weaving through the visually arresting cuts, cays and islands of the U.S. Virgins. Teams from the U.S. and Europe are always among those to beat, but no one dismisses the home-grown talent from St. Thomas and islands farther afield such as Puerto Rico and St. Martin.

"With dependable trade winds, great racing is assured, and we work hard to make it easy for sailors and their families to participate," said Regatta Co-Director Bill Canfield, explaining that the St. Thomas Yacht Club is the central meeting place for breakfast each morning and socializing after racing, with the exception of Saturday night’s party at Yacht Haven Grande for which transportation is provided.

"One of our traditions is the ‘town race’ on Friday, where the entire fleet races from the east end of St. Thomas right to the heart of the bustling commercial harbour of Charlotte Amalie," added Canfield. "Once the fleet is finished there, we start them again for the race back home. It gives us a chance to share the spectacle of a mass of colorful spinnakers with the people who live on St. Thomas and others who are visiting, and it gives the racers an opportunity to see St. Thomas’ beautiful and historic capital. Racing is rounded out on the weekend by a high caliber mix of island races and windward/leewards designed to test skills and showcase the stunning shoreline."  Just for fun, check out the Rolex Cup sailing instructions here, wonderful "chamber of commerce" friendly courses taking you on a tour of St Thomas and St John.

Amongst the top J's racing will be the J/122 LOST HORIZON sailed by Caribbean champion Jim Dobbs from Antigua.  Keeping Jim honest will be another champion crew aboard the J/120 EL OCASO sailed by Rick Wesslund from Miami, FL. Sailing Photo Credit- Tim Wright- Photoaction.com   For more Rolex Cup sailing information

  

J/122 LOST HORIZON Sailing St Barts Regatta

"Where are all the other J/122's!?," said Jim Dobbs aboard his J/122 LOST HORIZON.  After a great time at St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Jim and gang are headed down to St. Barts.  Jim is secretly hoping the 122s have a World Championship "down island", perhaps it can start with Key West and simply travel down island and end up where he lives in Antigua-- now that would be one unbelievable and unforgettable event, eh?  Next up on the Caribbean "J/122 LOST HORIZON Island Tour" is Les Voile de Saint Barth-- not a bad place to drop the hook, hang out, and do some serious racing against the locals who are sure to show some good programs where NOT to go!  BTW,  Tom Mullen's J/95 SHAMROCK VI will be participating as well.

When the stage lights are switched on for the second annual Les Voiles de St. Barth, it is a sure bet that the production, set for April 4-9, will deliver an unforgettable experience for its participating sailors, their friends and families.  After all, what other regatta claims Jimmy Buffett as its “godfather” or the world-famous French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier as one of its devotees?  And what other regatta reaps the benefits of being held on an unspoiled yet sophisticated island, during its off-peak tourist season, no less, when fine French food and wine are in abundance without the wait at popular harbor-side restaurants and where accommodations at boutique hotels and private villas—the most stylish of which are coveted by celebrities in the high season--are easier to come by and, better yet, less pricey?

“The Les Voiles de St. Barth is about the whole island of Saint Barthelemy in the shoulder season and how it represents a West Indian paradise like no other,” said Donald Tofias, a Newport, R.I. (USA) resident.  “It is about the island’s personalities, the local bands playing every night on the docks, the top chefs and wine cellars being involved, and the entire community being involved in the experience of a friendly, easy-going regatta.”

Since the late 1970s, Demarchelier has photographed covers for nearly every major fashion magazine in the world, including VOGUE and ELLE, and has—better than anyone perhaps--brought global attention to the island’s idyllic settings by his own through-the-lense infatuation with them.  “I have not too much time to do other regattas, so this is special to me,” he said about his upcoming get-away from his busy schedule and studio in New York.  “The conditions are always fantastic, with 15-20 knots, blue sky and beautiful waters.”

Jim Dobbs of Antigua, who races and lives aboard his J/122 LOST HORIZON in the Caribbean in the winter, will be one of Demarchelier’s main competitors, as he won his class here last year, and he has every intention of doing so again this year.  Even with only just one year under its belt, the Les Voiles de St. Barth is already a fixture on Dobbs’ competitive racing schedule.  “For me, it is on the way back to Antigua,” said Dobbs.  “I enjoy it because it has a different French flair to it.”

That is not to mention the intimate harbor of Gustavia serving as regatta central or the magnificent Caribbean Sea, which serves up dependable trade winds and stunning vistas with every new tack—those are at the very core of every racing sailor’s best dreams.

“The regatta got a great start last year, and you will see a whole range of sailors and boats that typically race in Europe, New England and the Caribbean showing up here,” said Donald Tofias.  “Word has gotten around, people love coming here, and all the right things are in place.  Soon it will be the size of some of the other Caribbean events; that is my prediction.”

And where will Jimmy Buffett be in all this? Suffice it to say, he owns a home in St. Barth, is an avid sailor, and often jams with local musicians.  His blessing of the regatta is inherent in his “godfather” title, so other than that, the organizers are being hush-hush.  Like fine wine, some things uncorked are better if they sit for a bit before being savored with the main meal.  For more sailing information on Les Voiles de Saint Barths.

  

J/122 North Americans @ Rolex Block Island Race Week

(Block Island, RI- June 20-24)- This year's Rolex Storm Trysail Club Block Island Race Week serves as both the 2011 IRC East Coast Championship and the J/122 National Championship. The event also will feature the debut of a new J/111 class and has eliminated former PHRF restrictions that will open up the event to more sailors.  Boats will be competing for individual class trophies daily and Rolex watches as overall prizes for top performances on each of the racing circles. A traditional around-the-island distance race will also be included, with a Rolex watch to be awarded to the top IRC boat.

The J/105 class, which is known for holding the longest one-design participation record in the history of the regatta, has always had a strong fleet and already six boats, out of an expected 24 or more, have signed up. 'There has been J/105 class racing at Block Island since 1996, and we have been there every year,' said Nelson Weiderman (Wickford, R.I.), owner of the J/105 Kima. 'It is a family vacation for us, and I’m hoping to have my daughter and two sons join us with their children. The family thing is big for me, and a week-long event is highly unusual, so there will be beach time for all who do not race.'

Weiderman, who sailed Kima to victory in the 2010 New England Solo/Twin, said he isn’t necessarily expecting to win at Block Island the year. 'Our best year at Block Island was when we came in second (1998),' said Weiderman. 'Coming in top half would be great, but having fun is of primary importance.'

Unlike the veteran J/105 class, the J/111 class will be testing out Block Island Race Week waters for the first time in history. 'There won’t be too many boats at Block Island, since it is the first regatta for the class and only around sixty hulls have been sold,' said David Tortorello (Fairfield, Conn.), owner of the J/111 PARTNERSHIP. 'We sold our J/122 of three years and are waiting on the new PARTNERSHIP, which is still in the box.'

Tortorello is no stranger to the regatta and has participated for many years, including in 2007 and 2009 aboard the J/122 PARTNERSHIP. 'It is more fun than you’ll ever have. The whole group is one big happy family, and Block Island is the best venue around here.'    For more Block Island sailing information.