Month: November 2024

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fall bacchanalian festival in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series”, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club, will be hosting the second race this coming weekend.
A fleet of 122 boats is participating in the series of three-weekend races that take place on Saturdays. The race is a simple “pursuit style” event, where the slowest boats start first and the fastest boats start last; whoever crosses the finish line first boat-for-boat is declared the winner. As has been the case over time, the classic building seabreeze often benefits the bigger faster boats that start late.
There are thirty-five J/Teams (29.0%) in the fleet. Here is the current status for each division.
PHRF 2 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, Rudy Hasl’s J/145 PALAEMON sits in third place. Fellow J/145 owner- Steven Ernest is in fifth place with AIMANT de FILLE.
PHRF 3 DivisionIn this large eighteen-boat fleet, Ed Sanford’s J/111 CREATIVE is in second place. Then, two J/122s are together- Erostino Dagfish’s DOUBLE HELIX in 5th and Mark Stratton’s CHEEKY in 6th place.
PHRF 4 DivisionA family J/crew sits atop this nineteen-boat fleet, Chuck Nichol’s & Kyle Clark’s J/120 CC RIDER. Currently, in fourth place is Jeff Shew’s J/121 RAVEN.
PHRF 5 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, Jim & Scott Barber’s J/109 FELEENA is in fifth place.
PHRF 6 DivisionThis huge twenty-three-boat fleet was dominated by top J/Teams on the first weekend. Leading is Jim Madden’s J/100 STARK RAVING MAD, followed by Dorsey’s J/105 J-AQUATIC in second, Hatch’s J/105 J-ALMIGHTY in third, and Bennet Greenwald & Dave Vieregg’s J/105 PERSEVERANCE in fourth place.
PHRF 7 DivisionThis seventeen-boat fleet has Chuck Bowers’s J/29 RHUMB RUNNER in fifth, while Scott Bennett’s J/92 FANDANGO is in sixth position.
PHRF 8 Finally, the “little boats” fleet of twenty-two teams has Tom Reilly’s SDYC J/22 JEZEBEL in fourth place!
For more San Diego Yacht Club Hot Rum Series sailing informationhttps://sdyc.org/calendar/event/hot-rum-series-1-24

(La Rochelle, France)- The traditional Christmas Cup, the last regatta of the season for sailors in La Rochelle, will take place on December 8th, 2024 for J/24s, J/70s, and J/80s.
This 2024 edition, organized by La Rochelle Nautique, will live up to its reputation for conviviality, with more than fifty participants expected and unlimited oysters upon returning from the sea!
For more J/70 Christmas Cup sailing informationhttps://www.classej70france.com/

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fall bacchanalian festival in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series” began this past weekend, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club. A fleet of 122 boats is participating in the series of three-weekend races that take place on Saturdays. The race is a simple “pursuit style” event, where the slowest boats start first and the fastest boats start last; whoever crosses the finish line first boat-for-boat is declared the winner. As has been the case over time, the classic building seabreeze often benefits the bigger faster boats that start late.
There are thirty-five J/Teams (29.0%) in the fleet.

PHRF Overall- Podium Sweep!A trio of J/teams led home the entire fleet to sweep the podium! Winning was Jim Madden’s J/100 STARK RAVING MAD, followed by Jim Dorsey’s J/105 J-AQUATIC in second place and Mike Hatch’s J/105 J-ALMIGHTY! Seventh went to Ed Sanford’s CREATIVE.

PHRF 2 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, Rudy Hasl’s J/145 PALAEMON took third place. Fellow J/145 owner- Steven Ernest- took fifth place with AIMANT de FILLE.

PHRF 3 DivisionWinning this large eighteen-boat fleet was Ed Sanford’s J/111 CREATIVE. Then, two J/122s finished together; Erostino Dagfish’s DOUBLE HELIX was 5th and Mark Stratton’s CHEEKY was 6th place.

PHRF 4 DivisionA family J/crew was atop this nineteen-boat fleet, Chuck Nichol’s & Kyle Clark’s J/120 CC RIDER. Taking fourth place was Jeff Shew’s J/121 RAVEN.
PHRF 5 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, Jim & Scott Barber’s J/109 FELEENA took fifth place.

PHRF 6 DivisionThis huge twenty-three boat fleet was dominated by top J/Teams. Winning was Jim Madden’s J/100 STARK RAVING MAD, followed by Dorsey’s J/105 J-AQUATIC in second, Hatch’s J/105 J-ALMIGHTY in third, and Bennet Greenwald & Dave Vieregg’s J/105 PERSEVERANCE iin fourth place.
PHRF 7 DivisionThis seventeen-boat fleet saw Chuck Bowers’s J/29 RHUMB RUNNER take fifth, while Scott Bennett’s J/92 FANDANGO took fifth position.

PHRF 8 DivisionFinally, the “litte boats” fleet of twenty-two teams saw Tom Reilly’s SDYC J/22 JEZEBEL take fourth place!
For more San Diego Yacht Club Hot Rum Series sailing informationhttps://sdyc.org/calendar/event/hot-rum-series-1-24

(Saint-Cast, France)- From November 8th to 10th, the Club Nautique de Saint-Cast hosted the three-day French J/80 National Championship. The entire team at the Saint-Cast Nautical Center was dedicated to making the event an unforgettable experience, both in terms of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Saint-Cast Le Guildo is a famous resort on the Emerald Coast, boasting a stunning body of water and excellent port facilities. Notably, this club was a pioneer of the J/80 class in France and has a fleet of J/80s that frequently participates in events. The CN Saint-Cast is recognized for its expertise in organizing J/80 competitions.
There were forty-four boats registered to go sailing off the beautiful “emerald coastline”. In the end, the regatta became a duel between two teams that ended up in a tiebreaker at 8 pts each! After five races, the winner on countback was Pierre Laouenan’s CV AILEE- ECOLE NAVALE with a 1-1-6-5-1 tally for 8 pts net. Taking the silver was past National Champion- Simon Moriceau’s PL YACHTING- ARMEN HABITAT with a 2-4-1-1-5 record for 8 pts net. Rounding out the podium on the bronze medal step was another top French team- Luc Nadal’s GAN’JA with 7-21-5-2-2 scorecard for 16 pts net.
Bot Wins 2024 France J/80 Cup SeriesWinning the summer-long France J/80 Cup was Patrick Bot’s SIRIUS with 277 pts. Just 3 pts back was Pierre Laouenan’s PHOENIX with 274 pts. Then, sitting in third was Luc Nadal’s GAN’JA with 261 pts. Sitting in fourth was Maxime Rousseaux’s J’RAFON with 253 pts, while Bruno Royer de Vericouort’s NAOS was in fifth place with 212 pts.
Follow the France J/80 Class on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069525725063
For more French J/80 Nationals sailing informationhttps://www.classej80france.com/

With thrilling updates from across the sailing world, this edition of J/Newsletter brings together the best of racing action, boat reviews, and community stories. 
The fall season is in full swing as events like the San Diego Hot Rum Series in California and the Hamble Winter Series in England keep sailors on their toes, while the inaugural J/70 US National Championship in Forth Worth, Texas crowned its first-ever champions.
We’ll also take a closer look at the new J/45, a game-changer in the performance cruising scene, and dive into the success of the Danish J/70 Sailing League program that’s inspiring sailors of all ages.

The J/45- A Very Fast Cruising Sailboat!
by Practical Sailor
Are you interested in a very fast and capable 45-foot cruising sailboat? Today, we bring you the new J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht. The J/45 is both a very comfortable cruiser for a  couple or family and a capable racing sailboat for the racer-cruiser market.  Read more here and watch video.

J/Crews Eclipse Fleet @ San Diego Hot Rum Series I

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fall bacchanalian festival in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series”  began this past weekend, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club. A fleet of 122 boats is participating in the series of three-weekend races that take place on Saturdays. The race is a simple “pursuit style” event, where the slowest boats start first and the fastest boats start last; whoever crosses the finish line first boat-for-boat is declared the winner.  As has been the case over time, the classic building seabreeze often benefits the bigger faster boats that start late.. Read more here. 

HESTIA Crowned Inaugural J/70 US National Champions!
(Ft. Worth, TX)– Eighteen teams ventured to Fort Worth Boat Club in Texas for the first-ever J/70 US National Championship from November 7-10. Gorgeous conditions on the opening day allowed three races, but Mother Nature had different plans for the weekend, as light air forced crews to stay ashore. Fortunately, southern hospitality kept racers smiling throughout the weekend at the recently remodeled club, culminating with Sunday afternoon’s prize-giving.  Read more here.

Laouenan Crowned French J/80 National Champion! 
(Saint-Cast, France)- From November 8th to 10th, the Club Nautique de Saint-Cast hosted the three-day French J/80 National Championship. The entire team at the Saint-Cast Nautical Center was dedicated to making the event an unforgettable experience, both in terms of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Saint-Cast Le Guildo is a famous resort on the Emerald Coast, boasting a stunning body of water and excellent port facilities. Notably, this club was a pioneer of the J/80 class in France and has a fleet of J/80s that frequently participates in events. The CN Saint-Cast is recognized for its expertise in organizing J/80 competitions.
Read more here.

Upcoming Events

J/Boats Adds “Performance Trophy” for the Marion-Bermuda Race

(Newport, RI)- J/Boats have been standout participants in the Marion-Bermuda Race for decades, demonstrating exceptional design for endurance and performance on the open ocean. This recognition not only honors J/Boats’ achievements, but also encourages more sailors to explore the Marion-Bermuda Race, showcasing the skill and endurance needed in offshore competitions. 
Read more here.

Hamble Winter Series Report- Week 5 Update

(Hamble, So’ton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continues for week 5 this coming weekend. So far, it has proved to be a somewhat drama-filled few weeks. Here’s what’s happening in each division. Read more here.

The J/70 Story in Denmark is Special & Successful!

(Copenhagen, Denmark)- The success of the Danish J/70 class and the Danish J/70 Sailing League has proven to be a great model for developing sailors of all ages and for the growth of participation at sailing clubs for women and youth, too!
We received a great class promo presentation from Peter Wolsing- he’s a Board Member of J/70 Class Denmark, Co-founder of the sailing league concept and WOW (Women on Water). And, he’s Manager of Sailing Innovation Lab (email- peter@sejlsportsligaen.dk). Here are some of the highlights below.  
The story starts back in 2013….. Read more here.

J/Gear Holiday Specials
(Newport, RI)- There are multiple awesome items available for the 2024 J/Gear Holiday Special! Here is the list for you to consider:- J/Extreme 1/2 Zip- J/Typhoon Jacket- J/Flexfit cap- J/Reach Polo- J/Puma Performance Ziptop- J/Embroidered T-shirt- J/Cotton Polo shirt
The J/Class logo is embroidered and you may customize it for the whole crew. Browse and order here:

About J/Boats
The story of J/Boats is a classic entrepreneurial tale. With a $20,000 investment and a speedy 24-foot sailboat that Rod Johnstone built in his garage, Rod and his brother Bob Johnstone went into business in 1977. The boat they built, the J/24, has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world. The Johnstone family has made an undeniable mark on the sailing world. In addition to the 5,500 J/24s cruising the waves, there are over 9,500 more J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65, that sailing enthusiasts have bought at prices ranging from $10,000 to $2,000,000.  Read more

by Practical Sailor
Are you interested in a very fast and capable 45-foot cruising sailboat? Today, we bring you the new J/45 offshore performance cruising yacht. The J/45 is both a very comfortable cruiser for a couple or family and a capable racing sailboat for the racer-cruiser market. When compared to competitive sailboats, this boat brings you all the comfort for sailing the Caribbean, but it also has a significantly greater speed. Plus, it excels with greater ease-of-handling due to multiple furling headsails and an in-boom furling system for the mainsail.
Watch this video tour of the J/45 here by Practical Sailorhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcxXZ902qCA

(Hamble, So’ton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series started with two completely contrasting days of weather. Saturday, day one of the Hamble One-Design Championships, had glorious sunshine and a steady breeze. But, when the PRO Peter Bateson announced “We have passed the wind test” on Sunday morning everything was grey and dank. So grey was it on Sunday, that a couple of J/70 competitors said they had trouble spotting the black tetrahedron marks at the top of the course!!
A healthy fleet of twenty J/70s had entered for what was one of their “Grand Slam” series events and nineteen made it to the start line. Alex Smallwood in RTYC2 had the best of day one taking two first places and a ninth to lead with 11 points. David McLeman in OFFBEAT was second on 12 points, with John Cooper’s JOOPED in third with 14 points.
Paul Griffiths in the J/111 JAGERBOMB had a perfect three bullets on Saturday, leaving them in what looked like an almost unassailable position. Louise Makin and Chris Jones’s JOURNEYMAKER II was lying in second with JOLENE (Jolene Racing Syndicate) in third.
On Sunday, the weather, referred to by Peter Bateson as “occasional drizzle”, wasn’t the only distraction on the Solent. It was “crowded territory,” said Peter with “Royal Southampton Winter Series, Warsash SC Lasers, R Srn YC Cruiser Race, RYS Performance 40s, and RTYC Arrow trophy” as well as the Hamble Winter Series event. Ian Bullock encouraged his race team to “go out and get our towel down early.” So, by 10:00 am Rupert Wolloshin, in Marks 2, announced the CV Artemis was at N 50 49.224 W 001 16.895 (between Cutter and Fumesy to the rest of us) and Gordon McLean on Marks 1 confirmed 6 kts from 135 degrees.
Now, whether it was the change in weather or the crowded Solent, some of the nailed-on winners from day one faired less well on day two of the Hamble One Design Champs.
In the J/70s, Patrick Liardet’s COSMIC, who was languishing on 31 points after day one, scored a 1-2-1 on Sunday to end with a winning 16 points. Patrick was the happiest face at the One Sails prize-giving. RTYC2 slipped to third and Doug Struth’s DSP discarded a last race 11th to secure second.
In the J/111s JAGERBOMB’s serene progress was halted when JOURNEYMAKER II scored three bullets on Sunday. They were also not helped by a DNC in the first race, though, they were able to discard this. In the end, though both boats had an identical score and an identical number of 1st and 2nds! But, JOURNEYMAKER II had the last three 1st places to sneak home. Don’t you just love countbacks!! JOLENE was third.
The IRC fleet managed to squeeze in their start line at Royal Southern buoy and proceeded to race off the Hill Head and Lee on the Solent shoreline. Race one was a windward/leeward course with two rounds in each. The final race was around the cans, 10 miles for IRC 2 and 8.5 miles for IRC 3 respectively. There was a good mix of beats, runs, and reaches with frequent wind shifts and the tide on the turn giving plenty of tactical options. The last leg went downwind to finish at Darling Buoy.
Weekend 2Race Week 2 of the Hamble Winter Series was comprised of two days of racing for the Hamble IRC Autumn Championship, sponsored by Key Yachting. Early weather forecasts showed that once again we may have a weekend of two halves. As it turned out it was a weekend of one half. Sunday’s weather had looked light from a couple of days out and series photographer, Paul Wyeth, got in touch on Friday to ask if we wanted pictures in the rain with wind on Saturday or pictures in sunshine with no wind on Sunday. Clearly, he would have preferred Sunday, but when Saturday was not too wet and the sun crept through the clouds, he went out and got some dramatic shots.
The Race Team gathered in HRSC at 0745 on Sunday morning and studied all of the available forecasts several times. There were little pockets of wind on the edges of the Solent but nothing in the middle. PRO Peter Bateson took the difficult decision to cancel racing for the day. His WhatsApp message read “The forecast has not improved and with a very light breeze matched with a 180-degree change in direction, there seems no point in going out in hope.” At 10.26 Paul Wyeth messaged from the island “Good call today, looks like a mirror glass-out!” Of course, not everyone was happy, especially those who had paid to go in the water at HYS.
On Saturday things went to plan with three races completed. The CV, WetWheels, set up near Royal Southern Buoy in 7-8 knots of breeze, with a course axis of 185, for Race 1 a windward /leeward with course lengths IRC 1, 5.0 miles: IRC 2, 4.6 miles, and IRC 3, 4.2 miles. The PRO Peter Bateson gave the fleet another 2-lap windward/leeward for Race 2 and around the cans special for Race 3.
J/70 One-design ChampionshipAfter 10 races, John Cooper’s JOOPED is leading with 22 pts net after two discard races. Second is Harry Edwards’s JOSKIN with 32 pts, and sitting on the bronze step of the podium is Isabelle Hung’s XV STRIPES.
J/111 One-design ChampionshipLeading the J/111 class was the Makin/ Jones duo on JOURNEYMAKER III with 9 pts net. Second is Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB with 13 pts net. And, rounding out the podium is JOENE with 22 pts.
HWS IRC 2 DivisionLeading this large fourteen-boat fleet are two J/109s. Mike & Susie Yates’s JAGO has 3 pts, followed by Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN with 4 pts. Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN is currently in fifth place with 12 pts.
Autumn Regatta IRC 2 DivisionThis sixteen-boat fleet has ten J/Teams participating. Currently in third is David Richards’s JUMPING JELLYFISH. Fourth is Kevin Taylor’s J/99 JUMP 2 IT.
Thanks for the contributions from Trevor Pountain
For more Hamble Winter Series sailing informationhttps://www.hamblewinterseries.com/