Month: November 2024

Welcome to this week’s edition of the J/Newsletter! The sailing world has been alive with action, camaraderie, and thrilling competition over the past few weeks, and we’re here to bring you the highlights.
From the dramatic battles on the chilly waters of the Hamble Winter Series in England to the sun-soaked very windy shores of Punta del Este of Uruguay for the J/70 South American Championship, this edition is filled with stories that celebrate the spirit of the sport.
In this issue, we’ll explore standout performances from J/Crew teams across the globe, including their successes at the San Diego Hot Rum Series in California and the SORC Sailors’ Choice Race in Florida. Additionally, the BIG Sail rivalry regatta brought its signature energy to San Francisco Bay. We’ll also share a heartfelt story from a new woman J/owner of a J/29 that she bought for $100 that she sailed at J/Fest Southwest, illustrating that triumph is about more than just crossing the finish line.
Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a newcomer to the sport, these stories capture the essence of what makes sailing so special. So, grab a cup of coffee (or a rum!) and enjoy the latest updates from the water.

Hamble Winter Series Report- Week 6 Report
(Hamble, Southhampton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continued this past weekend. So far, it has proved to be a somewhat drama-filled few weeks of sailing. Here’s what’s happening in each division- J/111 and IRC handicap- for the past two weekends of sailing. Read more here.

Brazilians Sweep J/70 South American Championship!

(Punta del Este, Uruguay)- There were great expectations for the 2024 URUFARMA South American J/70 Championship that was held at Yacht Club Punta del Este from November 18th to 24th, 2024.
Thirty J/70 teams from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay were looking forward to the four days of competition on the southeastern reaches of the Rio de la Plata in the gorgeous and world-famous international resort city of Punta del Este. For many, it was a “practice race” for the teams wishing to qualify for six spots in the 2025 J/70 World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina!  Read more here. 

J/Crews Loving San Diego Hot Rum Series II

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fun-loving fall regatta series in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series” saw the San Diego Yacht Club host the second race this past weekend. 
A fleet of 131 boats participated last Saturday. 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 were thirty-five J/Teams (29.0%) in the fleet  Read more here. 

J/Teams Crush SORC Sailor’s Choice Race

(Fort Lauderdale, FL)- The first of the SORC’s “Islands in the Stream Series” took place this past weekend- the Sailor’s Choice Race. J/Teams swept the top two spots of the podium in the ORC Overall Division. The SORC Islands in the Stream Series consists of four races. Read more here. 

Stanford Stomps J/22 BIG Sail Regatta

(San Francisco, CA)- The annual University California- Berkeley vs. Stand University rivalry regatta held each fall on San Francisco Bay took place last Wednesday. With hot and heavy racing taking place literally within a stone’s throw off St. Francis Yacht Club’s famous waterfront porches, the school’s alumni and students and huge football cheerleading teams will be screaming and yelling their heads off in support of their favorite teams!  Read more here. 

 

J/Community

 

Last Place at J/Fest Southwest: A Wild Ride and Victory Beyond the Finish Line – Racing on a Shoestring Budget!

(Houston, TX)- Here is a very entertaining and informative story about a woman’s first boat- a J/29! Thanks for this contribution from Elizabeth Quintanilla.
Lakewood Yacht Club’s J/Fest Southwest 2024 in Galveston Bay stands as a testament to grit, determination, and the strength of the community. It’s not just about the result but the incredible journey to get there. Coming in last place at J/Fest Southwest 2024 might sound disappointing to some. But for me, it was a triumph in proving the joy and accessibility of sailboat racing on a budget. 
I’ve spent countless hours on the water, fueled by passion and a strong competitive spirit. With my fantastic crewmates across various teams, we’ve formed a bond that only comes from facing the challenges of sailboat racing head-on. Each race is a story of resilience, from reading the wind shifts to executing flawless tacks and gybes. It’s not just about the thrill but the connection we feel with the sea, the boat, and each other. We are driven by the desire to win and the shared experiences that bring us closer, one sail at a time.  Our journey is one of constant learning. We embrace both triumphs and setbacks as we navigate the competitive sailing world, especially if we come from non-traditional backgrounds. We are grateful for every moment on the water, chasing new horizons and racing toward our next adventure. 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

(San Diego, CA)- The annual fun-loving fall regatta series in San Diego known as the “Hot Rum Series” saw the San Diego Yacht Club host the second race this past weekend.
A fleet of 131 boats participated last Saturday. 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 were thirty-five J/Teams (29.0%) in the fleet.

PHRF Overall DivisionRepeating the performance of the first race, Jim Madden’s beautiful and elegant J/100 STARK RAVING MAD again won the race and is leading their division, too. Then, sitting in second place with a 3-7 for 10 pts is Mike Hatch’s J/105 J-ALMIGHTY. They, too, are leading their division.
PHRF 2 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, the trio of J/145 teams are coming on strong! Rudy Hasl’s J/145 PALAEMON sits in second place with a 3-2 for 5 pts. Then, fellow J/145 owner- Steven Ernest’s AIMANT de FILLE is in 5th place with a 5-7 for 12 pts and Alec Oberschmidt’s ARRRGH sits in 6th just two points back with an 8-6 for 14 pts.
PHRF 3 DivisionIn this large eighteen-boat fleet, there are three J/crews in the top five. Sitting in third place is Mark Stratton’s J/122 CHEEKY with a 6-3 for 9 pts. One point back is another J/122, Erostino Dagfish’s DOUBLE HELIX with a 5-5 for 10 pts. Then, two points back is Ed Sanford’s J/111 CREATIVE in fifth place with a 1-11 for 12 pts.

PHRF 4 DivisionLike their colleagues in PHRF 3, there are three J/crews in the top five of the nineteen-boat fleet. Sitting in second place is Eric Axford’s J/120 CAPER with a 6-1 for 7 pts. Then in fourth position is Chuck Nichol’s & Kyle Clark’s J/120 CC RIDER with a 1-8 for 9 pts and Jeff Shew’s J/121 RAVEN is in fifth place with a 4-6 for 10 pts.
PHRF 5 DivisionIn this eleven-boat fleet, Jim & Scott Barber’s J/109 FELEENA is in fifth place with a 5-7 for 12 pts.

PHRF 6 DivisionThis huge twenty-three-boat fleet was dominated by top J/Teams on the first weekend. And, those teams are beginning to get a firmer grip on the top ten. Leading is Jim Madden’s J/100 STARK RAVING MAD with a 1-1 for 2 pts. Then, there’s a 3-way tie for second place with two J/105s and a M24. Bennet Greenwald & Dave Vieregg’s J/105 PERSEVERANCE have a 4-3, while Mike Hatch’s J-ALMIGHTY has a 3-4!
Places 6 to 9 are all J/105s, surprise, surprise!? Sixth is Steve Howell’s BLINK with an 8-7, CDM Sailing Williams’s SWORDFISH has a 7-8, Elena & John Bennett’s BOSS LADY has an 11-6, and Ed Chambers’s SUN PUFFIN has a 6-11.
PHRF 7 DivisionThis seventeen-boat fleet now has Scott Bennett’s J/92 FANDANGO in second position with a 6-1 for 7 pts. Then, Chuck Bowers’s J/29 RHUMB RUNNER is sitting in fourth place with a 5-4 for 9 pts.
For more San Diego Yacht Club Hot Rum Series sailing informationhttps://sdyc.org/calendar/event/hot-rum-series-1-24

(Hamble, Southhampton, England)- The 43rd running of the Hamble Winter Series continued this past weekend. So far, it has proved to be a somewhat drama-filled few weeks of sailing. Here’s what’s happening in each division- J/111 and IRC handicap- for the past two weekends of sailing.
HWS Week 5
“Dunkelflaute. The German word for the miserable, grey non-weather that’s been draining the life out of everyone in Britain,” wrote Quentin Letts in the Sunday Mail newspaper on Sunday, on 10th November 2024.
Well, it has certainly been draining the strength out of the Hamble Winter Series so far this year. Two Race days have been lost to this phenomenon in the 43rd Hamble Winter Series and sandwiched in between them was Storm Ashley. No one associated with the event can remember losing more than one weekend before, let alone three. So, it was a very nervous Race Team that gathered at HRSC on Sunday morning. Audrey Knight proclaimed “In this country, it’s called Anti Cyclonic Gloom” which made everybody even more depressed! With 5 knots showing at Calshot on Windycator 11, PRO, Peter Bateson, ordered his troops to head for the CV and onward to the Solent.
At 0827 hrs Peter announced to the WhatsApp group that the CV Sea Angel was heading for 4J- hamblewinterseries.com mark in the Solent. By 0908 hrs it was confirmed that the set up was indeed at 4J.
“Currently 6 knots from the S,” boasted Peter. The breeze was meandering between 090 and 120 degrees in the prestart period, so with the course axis set at 110 degrees, a simple 2-lap windward/leeward was designed for all boats, with windward marks at 0.6 and 0.8 NM. This gave race lengths 3.2 NM and 2.5 NM, with 4J used as the leeward mark.
In IRC 2, Mike and Susi Yates’s J/109 JAGO managed to “find a way around the crowded marks to wriggle away and win the race”. This was something of an improvement for Mike, who was fresh from cutting away a rig after six hours of the Middle Sea Race. Rob Cotteril’s J/109 MOJO RISIN was third.
Not satisfied with getting one race finished, the PRO sent everyone off again. For race 2, the breeze started at 4-5 knots from 120°. A (Very) short 3.7 mile round the cans course was set with a triangle, a beat, and a run. As the breeze dropped to 1-3 knots the course was shortened at 4L- William- using the pin end/mark laying boat Obsession, whose team, Steph Merry, Rupert Wolloshin, Peter Halliday, and Nick Irwin seemed glad to have more to do. As the boats were finishing, a light breeze of 5-6. kts returned, having veered another 120° and now coming from 240°.
In IRC 2, Rosie Berry’s J/109 JEANIE made sure there was a J/109 at the top of the podium again. JAGO managed to drift the wrong side of the weather mark, with a few others, which left them sixth. Then, Chris Burleigh’s J/109 JYBE TALKIN kept the 109-fest going with a third place.
Back in the HRSC Club House, Tom Underwood of Force 4 Chandlery, Port Hamble, presented the prizes. Tom brought enough goodies that the podiums in both races could receive an award. The Raymarine goody bag for first was especially well received as it contained a Lighthouse Chart for the UK & Ireland. There were also Force 4 vouchers and goodies from Kingfisher Ropes. These prizes were well worth struggling round in light airs for. Mike Yates expressed his thanks to Peter B and the Race Team “Glad we got two races in.” he said.

HWS Week 6
Robert Hillman’s Exuberant was the Committee Vessel for Race Week 6- sponsored by J/BOATs dealer Key Yachting. Indeed, exuberant was how everyone was feeling, with the prospect of two races for the second week running. You could feel the energy as the Race Team and competitors headed for 4S- Royal Southern buoy.
The Forecast was for 8-12 knots WNW-W and that is pretty much what happened. PRO Peter Bateson and his trusted sidekick, Kathryn Clark, decided on one very short windward/leeward race to get the crews warmed up – and to put another race score in the bag – followed by a “proper” round the cans race to finish off. The W/L was just over 3 miles for classes IRC1 & IRC 2.
IRC 2 saw the first general recall of the series, with around a third of the 20 boats over the line. With a Z-flag preparatory signal, they got away fairly cleanly on the second attempt.
Alain Waha’s J/99 FURTHER WEST led the finishers home in IRC 2. Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN was the second over the line.
In the second race, Mike and Susie Yates’s J/109 JAGO came in second and FURTHER WEST came in just six seconds corrected behind JAGO!!
Back in HRSC Clubhouse Key Yachting presented the prizes. Ian Handley summed up the day saying “Overall, it was a fantastic day’s racing in 11-17 knots and a bit of sun. Our second prize, a bottle of Salcombe Gin, felt like a win and will be much appreciated by Charles’s Mum when we get home.”
Winter Series J/111 ClassIt has turned into a runaway lead after ten races for Chris Jones & Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II, winning seven races with 9 pts net total! Second is Paul Griffiths’s counting three 1sts and five 2nds for 13 pts net. In third is the Jolene Syndicate’s JOLENE with 22 pts net.
Winter Series IRC 2 DivisionAfter eight races, five of the top 10 boats on the leaderboard are J/crews. Leading are two J/109s- Mike & Susie Yates’s JAGO is first with 11 pts, Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN is in second place with 16 pts, fifth is Chris Burleigh’s J/109 JYBE TALKIN with 24 pts, seventh is JB Brian’s J/99 JOLLY JUMPER with 44 pts, and tenth is Vernon Bradley’s J/99 BLACKJACK with 69 pts.
Thanks for the contributions from Trevor Pountain
For more Hamble Winter Series sailing informationhttps://www.hamblewinterseries.com/

(Lahaina, Hawaii)- We got an awesome message from one of our J/owners in Hawaii- Rich McCreedy, the owner of the J/100 LEA LEA. Here’s what he had to report.
“The Lahaina Return Labor Day race was 15-25 kt tradewinds and we had our hands full for 70 miles. It was all downwind with planing conditions all day. The finish of the race is the same patch of water as the finish of the Transpac Race! The waves. were epic and line up with no cross swell from Coco Head to Diamond Head for 5 miles! The wind was 25 kts from 135 degrees apparent and we were surfing down wave after wave!
The Kauai Channel Race was 12-16 kt Tradewinds. Beautiful sailing for 100 miles but we were hoping for 5 kts more!
Our group of J/Boats has done very well in the 2024 season of racing in Hawaii. We have some great inter-island warm-water ocean races in 10-25 kt tradewinds weather. Here are the results:
Lahaina Return Labor Day Race- 70.0 nmJ/111 BOOMERANG- 1st in Class X, 1st overallJ/105 ZEPHYR- 1st in class A, 2nd overallJ/100 LEA LEA- 2nd class A, 3rd overall
Kauai Channel Race- 100.0 nmJ/100 LEA LEA- 1st in class A, 2nd overall

(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/

(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