J/22 Euro-League 2010

The J/22 class in Europe, led by class leaders from The Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy have announced their J/22 2010 Euro-League circuit.  This year's Euro-League will include the following events:
May 13-16      J/22 Open French Championship (Ecole Navale Lanvéoc, FRA)
Jun 26-Jul 4    J/22 World Championship (Scheveningen, NED)
Jul 30-Aug     Travemünder Woche (Travemünde, GER)
Oct 15-17       J/22 Dutch Open Nationals (Braassemermeer, NED)
For more J/22 Euro-League Sailing information.  

J/22 Grows and Grows in Germany

Hardy Kleinefeld has this to report about J/22 class development in Germany: "The Boot 2010 Sailboat Show has once again confirmed that the J22 continues to grow nicely as a class in Germany.  The two week boot show saw great interest in the J/22 class. The German J/22 Class Association was well prepared and had plenty of KV-members willing to accommodate the crowds that came by in their high-traffic location in Hall 17. The attention has been great and the J/22 class in Germany continues to grow. Since 2005, the number of members has almost doubled. And if the ice has melted, the class will start racing in March, probably around 40 boats on the Braassemermeer for the first event.  By the way, after Europe's 2010 "Ice Age", we will have a winter training session under the leadership of former J/22 World, European and Masters Champion, Dutchman Jeroen den Boer.  For more German J/22 Class Sailing information.

J/22s at Sailing World NOOD St. Pete

The J/22s apparently had some fun despite the low turnout.  Everyone won races and in the end they nearly all finished tied!  How's that for some healthy racing!  Nevertheless, it was a tie-breaker for first place with Jackson Pentith sailing DELERIUM winning the regatta by having more first places.  In second on the short end of that stick was Jim Chorostecki racing THREE'S COMPANY.  Finishing third was Daniel Kresge on board JABBERWOCKY.  Photo Credits:  Tim Wilkes   For more Sailing World NOOD Regatta and sailing information.

J/22 Grows and Grows in Germany

Hardy Kleinefeld has this to report about J/22 class development in Germany: "The Boot 2010 Sailboat Show has once again confirmed that the J22 continues to grow nicely as a class in Germany.  The two week boot show saw great interest in the J/22 class. The German J/22 Class Association was well prepared and had plenty of KV-members willing to accommodate the crowds that came by in their high-traffic location in Hall 17. The attention has been great and the J/22 class in Germany continues to grow. Since 2005, the number of members has almost doubled. And if the ice has melted, the class will start racing in March, probably around 40 boats on the Braassemermeer for the first event.  By the way, after Europe's 2010 "Ice Age", we will have a winter training session under the leadership of former J/22 World, European and Masters Champion, Dutchman Jeroen den Boer.  For more German J/22 Class Sailing information.  

Sailing World NOOD- St. Petersburg

J/80 2nd Stop of USA Tour

(St. Petersburg, FL- Feb 12-14)- The Sperry Top-Sider St. Petersburg NOOD is pleased to host the second stop of the J/80 World Championship Tour.  Premiere Racing's Nautica Key West Race Week, the first stop of the tour, saw nineteen J/80s on the starting line and the St. Pete NOOD is sure to see a strong showing as well with fifteen boats already registered. The J/80 tour will be heading up the East Coast throughout the spring and summer including a stop at the Annapolis NOOD and concluding with the J/80 World Championship hosted by SailNewport in Newport, RI during October of this year.  Look for class leaders like John Storck on RUMOR; Kerry Klingler on LIFTED; Al MInella on RELENTLESS; and Henry Brauer on RASCAL to be contenders for the podium-- all of them had flashes of brilliance at  Key West Race Week.

J/24s will also be participating with a twenty-two boat strong showing, one of the largest classes at the SW NOOD event.  Many of the J/24 Midwinters participants racing this past weekend at Davis Island Yacht Club will be racing in St. Petersburg, too.  In addition, the J/22s will have a fleet racing, too, with mostly local sailors and a team from Toronto, Canada looking forward to sunny Florida sailing.  For regatta and sailing news go here.

Sea Scouts at St. Peter NOOD

The St. Pete NOOD is pleased to welcome members of the Sea Scouts who will be racing two boats in the J/22 class and one boat in the J/24 class. All participating Sea Scouts are members of Ship 185, based out of Apollo Beach, FL. Don St. Amour has been an adult skipper for Ship185 for about 6 years. Sailing World is happy to have The Sea Scouts, a non-profit youth organization, participating in the event. Jabberwocky, a J/22 sailed by 3 young adults ranging in age from 14 to 20, will be skippered by Ryan Kresge, the Ship's Bos'n. Don will be skippering J/24 Black Magic. Don hopes to increase the number of Sea Scout boats racing in the St. Pete NOOD for 2011.

Sea Scouting is a part of the Boy Scouts of America, and is a co-educational program offered to young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. Sea Scouting is organized to promote citizenship, improve boating skills, increase knowledge through instruction, promote water safety, enhance outdoor, social, and service experiences, and expand knowledge of our maritime heritage.   For more SeaScout information.  

MERCEDES BENZ J/22 North Americans

(Buffalo Yacht Club, NY)- Even though many of us, in the Northeast, are getting ready to attack the slopes and wreck our knees and other body parts, some of us are making plans for the 2010 J/22 campaign. The Midwinters and the first spring regattas will be a great tune-up for the 2010 season.  The Buffalo Yacht Club and it sponsor, Mercedes-Benz, will be hosting the 2010 J/22 North American Championship. BYC have built-up a great resume in hosting many world-class regattas. As for the J/22 fleet, the word about Buffalo is out after hosting several J/22 “Raw Bar Regattas. The Raw Bar festivities will be moved to August 19-21 as the Buffalo Yacht Club celebrates its 150th year by welcoming you all to its beautiful facility on Lake Erie. August in Buffalo is usually blessed with temperatures in the 80s and 8-12 knot winds. The competition is great, and the camaraderie has been fabulous.

The J/22 NA's are going to feature not only the Gold Class (the fast guys and girls), but they'll present a Junior Division, a Ladies Division and a Masters Division.  Plans are to have one start for all classes but separate awards for the aforementioned. A practice race will be run on Wednesday, August 18 and Sunday the 22nd can be a travel day.  Help the Buffalo Yacht Club celebrate its 150th anniversary. Come join us in August!  For more J/22 regatta and sailing information.