DAZZLER Glitters @ J/22 Worlds XXX

(Newport, RI)- Allan Terhune and the DAZZLER team won the first race of the J/22 World Championship and never looked back. His crew of Katie Terhune, Kristine Wake and Marcus Eagan are now the 2013 J/22 World Champions (sponsored by Fidelity Investments and hosted by Sail Newport).  Seventy-one teams from Canada, the Cayman Islands, South Africa and the USA competed in the five-day event, marking the 30th anniversary of the J/22.

After dropping a 19th in race nine, Terhune's remarkably consistent scores of 1-2-3-9-2-2-1-4-4 for 28 net points in 10 races kept the DAZZLER gang in the lead. Brad Julian’s THREEDORIES.COM, with Matthew Schubert and Colin Robertson, made an impressive attempt to take over DAZZER with four consecutive bullets, but wound up six points shy and in the silver position with 34 points. Mark Foster with Brian Babbitt and Matt Romberg on TEJAS collected third place with 54 points.

“I had an awesome team. It was a total team effort,” commented Terhune. “Marcus was great on trimming and keeping the boat pointed in the right direction. Katie and Kristine were awesome at boat handling, keeping the mood light and getting everything done.” He also praised the host location, saying, “There’s nowhere better than Newport. Brad Read, Anderson Reggio and the whole SailNewport team are awesome!! We had great sea breezes, we had some Northerlies, we had shifty races, we had a little bit of everything, and that’s what makes it so fun. It was spectacular!”

Only one race was completed on the last day due to light winds. Julian’s THREEDORIES.COM continued a hot streak from Friday by tallying a third-straight bullet in race 10. Foster's TEJAS trailed in second, and Martin Kulman’s NEW WAVE in third. “I’m really excited for Brad and his team,” commended Terhune on his fellow Annapolis-based team. “They sailed a great event and didn’t make it easy on us at the end. They sailed well and fought to the end.”

The first day was notable for light, unstable winds which postponed racing and led to the abandonment of one race. The 71 teams had trouble starting too, with the Z-Flag coming out for both completed races. Despite the conditions, Terhune posted a 1-2 to lead the field.  After Thursday's pair of races, Terhune’s DAZZLER kept up the momentum and had accumulated just 11 points including a first and a second. THREEDORIES.COM, helmed by Brad Julian, held second place with 31 points and Chris Doyle’s THE JUG 4 1 stood two points further back in third.  After two more races were completed Friday, Julian’s THREEDORIES.COM knocked out two bullets to make a move toward the Championship crown. Terhune’s DAZZLER acquired a fourth in race eight but had to settle for a 19 in race nine, leaving them with 24 net points. Julian stood at 33 points. In third place, Chris Doyle’s The Jug 4 1 had tallied 50 points.  Saturday's final race day was marred by a light, unsteady breeze.

In the end, Terhune's DAZZLER team were declared J/22 World Champions.  They were followed by Julian's THREEDORIES.COM in second and Mark Foster's TEJAS from Corpus Christi, TX in third.  Rounding out the top five was Doyle's THE JUG 4 1 from Rochester, NY in fourth and Benz Faget's FATS team from New Orleans, LA in 5th.

Top women's team was Rochester, NY/ Jamestown, RI native Cory Sertl sailing LUCY with Amy Moran, Meg Myles and Annemarie Cook.   Sailing photo credits- Paul Todd/ Outside Images.  For more J/22 World Championship sailing information

J/22 Worlds XXX Preview

(Newport, RI)- The 2013 J/22 World Championship, presented by Fidelity Investments, is celebrating its Thirtieth Anniversary and this year features a fantastic turnout of 72 teams from Canada, the Cayman Islands, South Africa and the USA.  Hosted by Sail Newport, racing takes place from October 1st to 5th; many special events are planned in honor of the World Championship and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the boat.  Along with Presenting Sponsor Fidelity Investments®, other sponsors have joined including Waterline Systems, J/Boats, Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, Gosling’s Dark and Stormy® and the Rhode Island State Yachting Committee.

A Legends Regatta on September 30 reunites past J/22 champions as well as noteworthy J/22 sailors who have been members of the Class during its long history. After racing, the Legends sailors will join the opening ceremony on Monday evening to launch the World Championship week.  Sail Newport Executive Director Brad Read says, “The October championship will showcase exciting racing and most likely a myriad of sailing conditions. The competition will be very tight.”

Many past class champions are sailing this year's Worlds. The American contingent has a formidable group of teams participating, including past J/22 World Champion Terry Flynn from Houston YC in Seabrook, TX sailing MARGO; Benz Faget from Southern YC in New Orleans, LA skippering FATS; Chris Doyle from Rochester YC in Rochester, NY sailing the famous The JUG 4 1; Brad Julian sailing THREEDORIES.COM; Mark Foster from Corpus Christi, TX sailing TEJAS; Will Welles from Newport, RI sailing COUGAR; Travis Odenbach from Rochester, NY sailing BEAR CLAWS; Cory Sertl from Jamestown, RI sailing LUCY; Kevin Doyle from Rochester, NY on MO'MONEY; Martie Kullman from Buffalo, NY on NEW WAVE; Sandy Adzick on HOT TICKET from Annapolis, MD; and Jeff Todd from Annapolis, MD sailing HOT TODDY.

Amongst the leading foreign entries are John Koppernaes from Ottawa, Ontario sailing RAISED J; Mike Farrington from Georgetown, Cayman Islands skippering JUST LEASING; Shellee Nel from Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa; and Jessica Lenz from Fairland, Gauteng, South Africa.

With forecasts for mostly sunny skies and southerly winds the first few days and switching to light northerlies dying and switching to southwest sea breezes in the afternoon for the balance of the regatta, the fleet will surely be challenged by classic Newport fall sailing conditions.  The SailNewport race management team is one of the best in the world and they will likely test the skills of the sailors in every imaginable scenario, with shifty, puffy sailing north of Newport Bridge inside Narragansett Bay as well as gorgeous offshore oscillating sea breezes in ocean swells offshore on Rhode Island Sound. Sailing photo credits- Paul Todd/ Outside Images.com  For more J/22 World Championship sailing information and "live updates"