General

Overcast skies all day with a building SE breeze gave the nationals competitors a great day’s racing without the heat and burning sun of the past few days. Around 8-10 knots breeze and flat water for the first race and ending up with the whole fleet on jibs in around 20 knots.

The normal ‘bang the left’ rules applied today with boats getting big lifts along the beach to a top mark down towards Largs. Racing is very close with the top boats getting around in a very tight group and the bulk of the back following closely behind.

Results are not online yet due to a protest. Today’s race winners are Doug Watson in El Fideldo, Brendan Lee in By the Lee and two races to Dave Suda in Pacemaker. Overall leader is Doug Watson, followed by Simon Grain and Dave Suda.

Check back a bit later here or on http://www.cycsa.com.au/results.html   for updated full results.

Day one has got off to an interesting start with more protests that races held.

After a very stormy morning today following two 38 deg days previously that have had those preparing their boats spending unusually large amounts of time falling about with heat stress and consuming large amounts of water rather than beer, racing got going with a huge black wall of cloud to the north of the race track. The breeze was a light and variable 13knots, flat seas and warm muggy temp, champagne sailing really.

Dave Suda won the first race from Simon Grain sailing Code Violation but is on the receiving end of a multi-boat protest at the top mark for a port and starboard in the second race. At least 4 protests are in already and I believe there may be more to come – busy night in the committee room !

Code Violation was leading all the way round the track in the second race before falling into a hole 100m from the finish and having 3 boats sail around them as the breeze died. Brendan Lee took out the second race from Doug Watson, Dave Suda and Code.

For more details and full results go to the CYCSA site at http://www.cycsa.com.au/results.html   then click on the ‘Results for the 14-15 season link and then J24 Nationals link near the bottom.

Note that as of writing the results are provisional due to the protests.

The first placing boat that is kept in a boat bag is Kaotic, and the highest placing boat that’s antifouled is CJ Constructions.

This year the J24 Women on Water Trophy was presented to Kate Holmes for consistent efforts crewing for Janette Syme’s crew at regattas in NSW and interstate.

The J24 Association of NSW would like to extend thanks to the Lapstone Hotel for sponsoring the event.

Another gem from Tim to spur the folks at Cronulla along – Priceless !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OqrHJXAyK8

Just for the hell of it, I took my J to another yacht club and picked up a crew of locals from the Bar!
That’s right, there was no sailing for the J class that weekend, so with perfect weather forecast (I have to be very careful to pick my weather at the moment due to my recovery process) I entered Bruschetta VI in the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron saturday handicap club race. Motoring from Sandringham Yacht Club up the bay I arrived at the glorious new marina of RMYS. I had entered the night before, the RMYS office staff had found Gretchen to sail with me, I also had Cherry who had sailed with me in New York and after carefully looking at the weather, which was an easily manageable northerly with flat water, I asked at the bar if anyone else wanted a sail. Scott put his hand up, despite never being on a J or ever doing the bow, Scott seemed perfect.
Bruschetta VI was the smallest boat in the fleet which ranged up to a TP52, I must admit that the TP52 did lap us, however the laid windward leeward course was perfect J sailing, matched with 20 degree shifts all over the course, we matched it with the fleet, far from last over the line we retired to the bar. We were stunned to hear that we had won the day by a staggering 5 minutes to 2nd place. This effort has gone down really well at RMYS and we received praise from the office bearers and competitors alike.
J24’s are perfect for some of these clubs, cost effective and super competitive, I can’t stress enough how impressed the club members were with the 30+ year old J design, it was great fun to race against a new fleet, sail with people I had never met and surprisingly get around the course with near perfect crew work………. I’m going to push for the J’s to make the pilgrimage again this time with more numbers, it will only help grow the class which still has a major place on the club race course. Try it sometime  ……. Hugo.

Startling images have been leaked showing Australia’s next America’s Cup challenger practicing against the AC72s at the New York Yacht Club. Veteran yachting reporter Bert Stankler has been covering this explosive story. ‘When I first heard the story break that Australia would be competing for the Auld Mug in a J24 I was straight on the phone to Bob Oatley, he said the oversupply of wine worldwide has hit the bottom line of many wine producers, they needed to change their strategy as their budget for the Cup challenge was trimmed from $100 million to under $20k so J24 became the obvious choice.’

Read on … Breaking News

With just a few weeks to go, can I please encourage you to get your entry forms in to RPEYC for the State Championships on 1 & 2 November.

Sailing Instructions NSW State Championships 2014

Notice of Race NSW State Championship 2014

2014 NSW State Championship Entry Form

Any enquiries please call Paula on 0404 539176.

This year the Gosford J24 Classic Regatta at Gosford Sailing Club attracted a fleet of 8 – with beautiful champagne sailing conditions Saturday..and a 30 degree day on Sunday bringing very light winds.  The full 6 races were finally completed after some postponements and course changes, and with the drop, Steve Girdis managed to rack up just 5 points with 5 wins to take the winners spot!

Scratch Results

Handicap Results

Thank you once again to all entries and crew for making the trip to Gosford whether it be by sea or road, from Sydney and Lake Macquarie!  We appreciate the effort it takes to get your boat there and hope you will also join us at the next big event – the NSW J24 State Championships on 1 & 2 November at RPEYC in Sydney!

AKA  report from Hugo Ottaway at The Dennis Conner International Challenge held at The Manhattan Yacht Club in New York.

Well…..I really enjoyed it!  Though it was super, super tough. When the Norwegian says to the German during his presentation speech (both of whom finished behind us} that the last time he beat him was at the Olympic games, you’re not sailing against bunnies.

In addition, other competitors said how much of an honor it was to sail in the company of the German skipper (must look up who he is).  It was not a Nationals level regatta, it was a worlds standard regatta, so much so that the organisers called a special meeting of skippers to remind them that the concept was as a “friendly regatta, and that the Corinthian rules of sailing are expected to be honored…….  “.

Most yacht clubs sent their best teams, we matched it boat against boat no problem, only issue was loosing half the fleet half way up the second beat with huge wind shifts and massive 2 knot currents.  At times we went from 2nd to 14th in one shift! When it got choppy which happened a lot, we sailed straight through them, as so many of our competitors were not use to Port Phillip Bay type chop.  Admittedly we were out classed when it came to picking the current advantage, we tried but had little idea compared to the top Europeans who know this stuff like the back of their hands.  A perfect example of that was, when in a 100 meters in an off the wind finish, we went from a comfortable 6th to 8^th.  We thought it impossible to lose our position but just had the wind evaporate around us, we just sat there with nothing, meters from the line… frustrating to say the least.

The entertainment was first class, with the best rapport amongst the competitors. It was nice to have the winner come up to us and complement us (we came 9th for God’s sake…RMYS Team B) on how well we sailed against them. They came second in the J 22 worlds, were heading off to do a TP52 regatta in Europe with 2 of their crew who employees of North Sails.  Told you it was a serious regatta.  There were even several youth crews sent from their National training body i.e. Argentina and Ireland.

Sadly, the boats weren’t all they could have been. Half the fleet had weed growing around the rudder and hulls.  They must get that fixed if they are going to have another regatta.  And, they really need to as this event has morphed into a first class regatta, with huge prestige, which will only grow, and has caught the organizers, at their own admission, by surprise. It is no longer just a casual dash around the cans.

Unfortunately team A didn’t fare well, however they had a great time, see you when I get back H.

There are some good shots on the regatta facebook site.  Check ‘em out!  https://www.facebook.com/DennisConnerInternationalYachtClubChallenge

The results are in and it looks like it was a tough regatta with plenty of strong competition, look below for the results

Mr J24, a.k.a. Hugo Ottoway and friends are currently in the big Apple preparing to sail in the Sixth Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge.

This follows on from the team from Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron sailing in the same regatta last year. Competeing this year are two teams from RMYS again – the crews are : Peter Yoon, Allicia Rae, Kathleen Mackian, Jade McDonell, Craig Nobbs, Cherry Birch, Hugo Ottoway, James Torode and Sean Bly.

Ther are 20 teams from all round the world so it is a real micro world champs set in the famous river area around the Statue of Liberty with the buildings of Manhattan as a backdrop.

Of course we wish them well in their competition, I gather the trick is to sail the river current more so than the wind. Hugo told me before he went that the plan is to copy the locals in the first couple of races and then kick some butt, so we are expecting a decent result from the master, who incidentally fell off a ladder recently and still hasn’t got full use of his right arm back yet. Here are a few points from the NOR to give you the picture.

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

1200-1800 – Champagne rides to the Statue of Liberty when your team arrives.    1800 – Welcoming Reception on floating clubhouse in harbor (optional)

Thursday, August 14, 2014

1100 – Practice Sailing   1400 – Practice Race       1800 – Opening Ceremony

Friday, August 15, 2014

1100 – Race 1 followed by Races 2 & 3    1800 – Regatta dinner & party

Saturday, August 16, 2014

1100 – Race 4 followed by Races 5 & 6        1800 – Regatta dinner and party

Sunday, August 17, 2014

1100 – Race 7 followed by Race 8        1800 – Dinner & Awards Ceremony

Racing Area:

Races will be held in New York Harbor. The scenery is spectacular with the skyline of Manhattan on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other. The start and finish of all races will be from the Manhattan Sailing Club’s floating clubhouse which is permanently anchored north of Ellis Island.

Courses:

Courses will be windward-leeward. Inflatable marks will be set by Race Committee. Because the starting location is fixed, races may start in any direction, including upwind or downwind.

Local Representative:

In addition to your crew, one Local Representative will sail on each boat. The “Local Rep” will provide local knowledge and a VHF radio to communicate with the Race Committee. Local Reps will stay with the boat while racing teams rotate.

Spectators:

All races will be run from the harbor clubhouse and spectators are invited to watch. The clubhouse can hold up to 149 people and transportation is provided by club launch.

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So lets see how they go. You can go straight to their website here  http://www.myc.org/MoreInfo/Annual/DennisConner

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Our own Hugo Ottoway has come 9th and we are looking forward to a news exclusive just as soon as Hugo cane email it through. Results

Maybe next year you want to enter a team – I am told that it is a great time over there.

Also in the same style of overseas regattas is the Pacific Keelboat Challenge in Auckland NZ. Go here to read about that.   Pacific Keelboat Challenge