J One-Design Expertise Helps Racing Big Boats!

* J One-Design Expertise Helps!  Past J/24 World Champion John Kostecki (right) led the Farr 40 Worlds fleet home sailing on TRANSFUSION.  Another former J/24 Champion Chris Larson (left) was doing the same further down the ladder.  Great story, consistency is King, as they say in tight, college-style fleets.

In race nine Transfusion's crew were coughing dust for the first upwind leg and appeared to lack boat speed while defending champion Nerone was sailing hotter angles out in front on the first downwind run. Transfusion's US tactician, John Kostecki, now a three-time winner in the Farr 40 Worlds, lived up to his reputation as one of the world's best as the local boat clawed its way back to finish second behind Nerone, and win the title!  While five different boats won races during the series, Transfusion won only once, but never dipped below a seven.  Consistency pays.

Start sailing any one of the large International J/One-Design classes- J/22 (http://www.j22.org), J/24 (http://www.j24class.org), J/80 (http://www.j80.org)- and you'll learn darn fast! Or, why do you think top women sailors have a hard time winning the Rolex Women's Worlds sailed in J/22s or many of the top USA skipper/ tacticians and European or Australian skipper/ tacticians often started in the middle of the pack of J/22, J/24, or J/80 fleets at some point in their life learning how to sail better, faster, smarter?  Takes practice to get good, lots of it.   

California Dreamin J/22 Match Race

Let The Dreams Begin
(San Francisco, CA)- Two guys who have spent most of their lives sailing on San Francisco Bay should have heaps of advice for America's Cup match racers from around the world who'll be dipping into these cool and quirky waters over the months leading to the 34th America's Cup defense in 2013.

There were a few examples over the weekend climaxed by locals Shawn Bennett's 2-0 victory over Russ Silvestri on Sunday to win the first of three stops of the California Dreamin' Series. The next two events are in Long Beach (March 5-6) and San Diego (March 12-13).

The overall winner of the California Dreamin' Series gets a free pass to the Ficker Cup at Long Beach March 17-19, and the winner of that gains entrance to the most prominent match racing event in the United States, the Grade 1 Congressional Cup, which will feature a world class line-up on March 22-26.

Bennett, who won the 2010 U.S. Match Racing Championship last September in Detroit, MI, is looking forward to the America's Cup two years hence. "That's gonna be a blast," he said. "I'm general manager of a tugboat company and we have a dock right at Pier 17, so the finish line is going to be right near us."

As for offering advice to the participants based on his local expertise, Bennett shied away. "I doubt if I have the credentials to give anybody coming in here for the America's Cup any advice," he said. However, he added, "I can tell 'em about some good restaurants probably."  Full California Dreamin J/22 Match Race report.   

A Cliffhanger Determines J/22 Midwinters

HOT TODDY Wins Tie-breaker in Last Race!
(Tampa Bay, FL)- The setting was as dramatic as it was in the 2010 J/80 Worlds.  Just about anyone in the top seven could've won the regatta depending on where the chips fell in the last few go arounds.  In this case, the last three races saw a dramatic shift in the standings with past J/22 World and North American Champions playing "Chutes & Ladders", some screaming up the ladder to be amongst the leaders, then in a flash dropping just as fast down the chutes into moments of despair.

Not to be undaunted by global situations that couldn't be solved by a bunch of smart, fun-loving J/22 sailors, Benz Faget sailing TEAM FATS from Metairie, LA dominated the first day of the Layline J/22 Midwinter Championship at Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, FL. With scores of 2-1, Faget’s TEAM FATS ended the day seven points ahead of Scott Young and Chris Doyle on SOLID LAYER who were tied with 10 points. TEAM FATS were cruising for a bruising, enjoying the good times when good times were to be had.

Jeff Todd on HOT TODDY shot to the front of the 25-boat fleet on Day 2 of the J/22 Midwinter Championship as 4 races were held. Todd scored 11-1-3-2 for a regatta total of 21 points. Following Todd were Scott Young (22) and Chris Doyle (25), followed by a 3-way tie of Tim Healy on TEAM SAILORS FOR THE SEA, Terry Flynn on MARGO and Travis Odenbach on INSTIGATOR (27).  Good Lord, could you be in any tighter company than to have a squeeze play of a few dozen college All-Americans breathing down your neck?? Winds started at 8-10 knots and built to the high teens. A throw-out race took effect after race 5.

At the end of the fight for global J/22 midwinter domination, it was Jeff Todd on HOT TODDY who narrowly won the J/22 Midwinter Championship in a tie-breaker over Chris Doyle's SOLID LAYER. Only 8 points separated the top 7 finishers! Todd won the tie-breaker with his bullet in race 4. In third, Tim Healy on SAILORS FOR THE SEA squeaked past Scott Young (tied at 47). Travis Odenbach on INSTIGATOR trailed them by one point finishing fifth, then Benz Faget on TEAM FATS sixth and Allan Terhune on SEA BISCUIT seventh (tied at 49).  Bringing up the rear of this tight pack was past World Champion Terry Flynn in eighth on MARGO. The final day of racing featured 3 more races for a total of 9.  Don't know what was the cure, but a combo of Pepto Bismol, Advil and a "chill pills" (Bud or PBR?) may have been the prescription to keep these crew's anxiety under control and focused on the game at a hand.

Finally, as if the the top 7 wasn't tight enough, Sally Barkow did the Rolex Women's Seminar/ briefing to help the women get amped, focused and organized for the Rolex Women's Worlds in Rochester, NY later this year-- watch out!  BTW, they can all use a lot of volunteers to help get them all up to speed.   Sailing Photos by Chris Abate- Pixilico.   For more J/22 Midwinters sailing information.   

German J/22 Class BOOT-Dusseldorf Report

(Dusseldorf, Germany)- Much has happened at the Dusseldorf BOOT Show in 2011, a total of 250,500 visitors from 60 countries attended the Dusseldorf boat this year.  The German J/22 Class Association continues to grow in Germany, we're very committed and enthusiastic and participating one more time in this great Boat show brings us great exposure. In the class everyone is engaged, which is probably due to the structure of a large circle of friends and that helps to grow the class. And just as exciting, they were also on the exhibition and showed the interested visitors that "J/22 sailing” in our class association is a good choice.

The booth with a brand new J/22 and movies from the World Championships 2009 at Lake Garda was very nicely designed and attracted the visitors which came into the hall of the sailing center.  Everyone who sees the images of the J/22 fleet from Lake Garda is fascinated, those people we can’t help to find out how to go sailing on a J/22!

With the promotion of the "Marinepool European J/22 Championship" in 2011 in Travemünde Week, supported by “Dimension-Polyant” and “Marine pool”, visitors were able to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful J/22 but also recognize how strong the J/22 class is in Europe. So, whoever enjoys competitive sailing and is in a class of boat where the fleets in their regattas are decreasing, you're warmly welcomed in the J/22 Class Association!  The upward trend continues and the interest of attracting more and more sailors is increasing. And each of our members has a little part in it. Good prospects - right?"  To learn more about joining the J/22 Class sailing in Europe and America.   

J/22 Midwinters & Women's Rolex Campaigns Start

Week of J/22 Racing at Davis Island YC
(Tampa, FL– Feb 17)– J/22 racers from around North America are flocking to Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, FL for a week of competition on the bay.  From Thursday, February 24 through Saturday, February 26, approximately 30 J/22s will battle it out for the title of 2011 Layline J/22 Midwinter Champion.  The fleet boasts a number of acclaimed racers, so everyone is expecting a close match throughout the event.  Weather forecasters are predicting a sunny, warm week to welcome sailors escaping from the winter weather.

Preceding the J/22 Midwinter Championship, the first Road to Rolex clinic on the 2011 calendar will be held February 21-22.   Two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Sally Barkow, an accomplished match racer and 2008 Olympian, will lead the women-only clinic.  Registration on Monday, February 21, is followed by boat rigging with industry experts on hand to assist.  The afternoon’s on-the-water session will be filmed for review during a working dinner that evening.  Tuesday, February 22, the clinic will resume on-the-water.  A break at noon for a debrief will precede the short race series in the afternoon which will determine the clinic winner who receives a $200 credit toward her entry fee in the Rolex IWKC.  A debrief, reception and awards will close out the clinic.  Organized in preparation for US SAILING’s 2011 Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship, the Road to Rolex clinics facilitate the participation of women in keelboat racing.

It’s not too late to participate in either of these events!  Visit http://www.j22mw.com to register and for updated results throughout the week.   

J/22 Winter Series- The Netherlands

30 Boats Sailing Faster & Faster!
(The Hague, The Netherlands)- After a successful New Year reception last Friday, the J/22 fleet gather at their favorite place along the sea- "@ Sea"- the famous drink/ eat spot during the J/22 World Cup last summer.  Later in the day, with no breeze, 28 degrees, it was a bit dark, cold and bleak in the harbor of Scheveningen. So, everyone stayed inside for nibbles, drinks and delicious food. However, on Sunday it was time for another one of the Winter Series races.  The weather was a lot better and it was fully enjoyed by all.  As for the results, Eelco Blok on TEAM HH KESBEKE is leading with a 2-3-1-3 followed in second by Ronald Veraar sailing SIKA/ RHA MOJO with a 1-6-2-4. Third is Thomas Allart on SAILING SERVICE with a 12-1-3-2, rapidly climbing up the ladder!  Lying fourth is Menno Bron on STRIPES with an 8-7-4-1 and rounding out the top five is Team Broach on HAPPY SKY with a 5-11-6-5.

For next weekend, don't forget that on Saturday, February 12th there will be J/22 Winter Training run by Rick Boyer Sand.  If you want to participate email to treasurer@j22.nl your name and sail number and the course(s) you want to join. The courses start at 10.00am at the bar in the clubhouse. Make sure your boat is rigged and ready to roll with you on it! The training will be over around 15.30pm so you're showing up in time back to the GMA.  Learn more about J/22 Winter Training and Sailing in The Netherlands.   

JUST LEAVING Wins J/22 Commodores Cup

Girls Spank The Guys in the Caymans!
(Cayman Islands)- There was a "volte face" in this years edition of the Cayman Island Sailing Club's annual Commodore's Cup sailed on the clubs' J/22s-- the girls beating the boys.  The event was held over the weekend of 8th and 9th January 2011. Seven boats competed in the first major J22 sailing regatta of the year in what turned out to be one of the most competitive Commodores Cup regattas for many years.

The regatta was hosted by the Cayman Islands Sailing Club’s (CISC) Commodore who had just returned from his Antarctic expedition to face considerably more hospitable conditions in the North Sound.

Two courses, one a triangular course the other a windward / leeward course, were set in the North Sound by the well organized Race Committee, headed up by Peta Adams.

It was immediately apparent that the Christmas break had provided an opportunity for upgrades to various boats and that some of the crews had been finding time for some extra training. Of particular note was Sunshine, skippered by Peter Cunningham, which was sporting a brand new set of sails.

The winds on Saturday were generally light with ten degree oscillation that meant the skippers had to keep in phase to stay with the fleet. The first race saw Tomeaka McTaggart sailing JUST LEAVING display the form that would see her through the weekend as she sailed into 1st place. The rest of the fleet were close behind and all fighting for room at the marks. After a very close last upwind beat Jo Richards racing MAYHEM showed some cool nerves to grasp second from Peter Cunningham skipping SUNSHINE.

The second race saw Ralph Harvey, the CISC new Lead Sailing Instructor, on DMS show good form and pull away from the fleet with Tomeaka McTaggart working her way into second place ahead of Peter Cunningham's SUNSHINE. Jo Richards' MAYHEM was caught on port at the top windward mark of the first beat and was forced to do penalty turns pushing her to the back of the fleet, but she clawed her way back to 4th. The third race, and the last of the day for Saturday, saw Tomeaka McTaggart regain her form and take another first, just ahead of a hard charging Peter Cunningham who was followed closely by Jane Moon on CIAO who was now getting used to her new crew.

The racing on Sunday started with stronger winds that had clocked to the East. During the fourth race of the regatta Steve Adams on WRECKLESS started to show the form that had eluded him on Saturday as he finished a very close second to Tomeaka McTaggart, with Jane Moon a close third. Fourth place was hotly contested with Bruce Johnson's YAHOO trying unsuccessfully to edge out Peter Cunningham at the pin end of the finish line. The fleet experienced gusty conditions in the fifth race which saw Tomeaka McTaggart consolidate her grip on the fleet with another 1st place with Jane Moon finding her form with another 2nd place and Steve Adams close behind in 3rd.

Technical difficulties befell Tomeaka McTaggart in the sixth race, the crew was unable to drop the spinnaker, putting her in last place, whilst Jane Moon took advantage grabbing 1st place and Ralph Harvey (DMS) was back in the mix finishing 2nd just ahead of Peter Cunningham. For the final race of the regatta the winds dropped a little. Tomeaka McTaggart made another good start while Jo Richards on MAYHEM got shut out and had to tack across the back of the fleet to the right side of the course. Obviously clear air and an early lift helped Jo out and she round the windward mark on Tomeaka’s stern and ahead of the rest of the fleet. Again Jo Richards displayed cool nerves as she managed to stay ahead of the pack to pull out a 2nd place to finish ahead of Jane Moon.  For the final tally, Tomeaka's JUST LEAVING was first with 7 points, Jane Moon's CIAO 2nd with 16 points; Peter's SUNSHINE in third with 19 points; Jo's MAYHEM in 4th with 22 points and Ralph's DMS in 5th with 24 points.  For for J/22 Commodore's Cup sailing information on Cayman Islands.