Junior Sailors Thrive on Keelboats

More junior sailors are discovering the thrill of sailing larger keelboats, thanks to a slew of JBBS (Junior Big Boat Sailing) initiatives cropping up around the country. This is no more evident than on Long Island Sound, where young sailors have been competing in the Beach Point Overnight Regatta now for 50 years. For 2007, the event (also known as the Junior Distance Sailing Championship of Long Island Sound) drew 17 boats, ranging from 30 to 45 footers, all sailing the 60 mile course from Mamaroneck, NY to Stratford Shoals and back. Winning the top prize was the junior team from Black Rock Yacht Club (pictured at left), sailing Dave and Mary Ellen Tortorello’s new J/122 Partnership. Black Rock Yacht Club started an innovative JBBS program 7 years ago that now is being modeled elsewhere. US Sailing is also developing curriculum for JBBS, and will soon be providing sailing program directors with the tools needed to start JBBS programs in their communities. Check out some of these other junior keelboat initiatives that are making a difference in the sport - Team Tsunami . . . . . . Storm Trysail Club

J/Fest Weekend in San Diego

This weekend (9/28-30) J/Fest San Diego 2007 will be hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club and sponsored by Longboard Vineyards and JK3 Nautical Enterprises, Inc. Nearly 50 J/Boats are expected including J/24’s, J/80’s, J/105’s, J/120’s and J/109’s. It should be fun for all with great racing, seminars and parties.

After the traditional warm up race on Friday afternoon come visit us for the annual wine tasting party hosted by our good friend Robert with Longboard Vineyards. On Saturday morning we'll kick off the day with a seminar by B&G and then it’s off to the races!

Upon the return to the dock the festivities will kick into high gear! We’ll be raffling off tons of great stuff and tossing a few hats! This event is always the best of the year with lots of food, fun & friends. Look forward to seeing you all there! Complete Regatta Info Here.

Charleston Race Week 2007

J sailors from around the country continued their migration up the eastern seaboard with a stop in South Carolina for Charleston Race Week April 13-15. This annual spring event has become a must-regatta for many classes and this year boasted 150 entrants, of which 39% were J’s. For the J/105 class, it was the third stop of the Southern Circuit (after Key West and St. Pete NOOD). Brian Keane of Weston, MA won the class in a tie-breaker over Worth Harris’ RUM AT SIX of Raleigh, NC, and the overall winner of the J/105 President's Trophy for 2007 was Don Wilson and his crew aboard CONVEXITY from Chicago, IL. J/24s, J/80s and J/109s also saw one-design action with Daniel Borrer on JESUS LIZARD winning in J/24s, Kristen Robinson aboard ANGRY CHAMELEON topping the J/80 fleet, and John Yonover of Lake Geneva, WI winning the J/109 division. Results and news: www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm