2015 Landsail Tyres J-Cup - Final day

by Louay Habib on 14 Jun 2015 The final day of the Landsail Tyres J-Cup in partnership with B&G was nothing short of spectacular. With 20 knots, gusting 25 out of the southwest, the race course was festooned with J-Boats surfing downwind in a full on foam up. There were thrills and spills right across the 67 J-Boat Fleet in the big conditions. Boat handling was at a premium and today's high performers harnessed the breeze, staying under control downwind and upwind hiking the boat flat and keeping good sail trim.

In IRC B Robin Stevenson from Brighton, racing J/92, Upstart had a perfect score for the regatta, winning all four races. Robin Stevenson's Upstart was the only team to score a perfect result and was awarded the J-Cup for their performance.

“I have been to quite a few J-Cups and Key Yachting put on a great event.” commented Robin Stevenson. “I have to hand it to the whole crew, they all sailed exceptionally well as a team and it was exceptionally breezy for the last day and we held it all together really well. I am delighted for everyone of the team, it was a great performance.”

Rachel Hunt, skipper of Jumblesail is the social secretary for the J/80 UK fleet. “It would have been great to have more J/80s participating and we hope to have at least 14 taking part in Cowes Week.” commented Rachel. “The J-Cup has been part of our honeymoon, which is a little unusual but I wouldn't have it any other way, the atmosphere ashore and the racing has been very memorable.”

Stuart Sawyer's Cornish team racing J/111 Black Dog was the winner of IRC A and the J/111 Class with Londoner Chris Body racing J/111 Icarus in second place with five podium finishes for the regatta. Cornell Riklin Lymington based J/111, Jitterbug was third.

“That was awesome, a fantastic event.” commented Stuart Sawyer. “Sunny, windy and a great competition that was well organised – champagne sailing.”

In the Lifedge J/109 National Championship, 17 J/109s had an intense battle with Ian Nagle's Royal Cork YC team, racing Jelly Baby, taking the crown as UK and Ireland National champion. Tony Dickin's Hamble based J/109, Jubilee scored a first and a second today and a dramatic tie with Joe Henry's Jolly Jack Tar to claim second for the championship. Alan Bennett's Dorset team racing J/109 Blue Jay of Poole was third for the regatta.

“To go up on the stage with all the team and win the championship was fantastic, a great moment.” commented Jelly Baby's Ian Nagle. I couldn't hope for a better crew and we are delighted we came over and I hope that we will get a lot of boats over for Cork Week next year. We came here because we had done most of the events in Ireland and we wanted a different challenge.”

In the J/70 class Geoff Carveth from Warsash, helming Gill Race Team, was fully launched in the fast conditions, producing text book starts, power upwind and scorching speed off the breeze, Gill Race Team scored six bullets for the regatta to win by a hansom margin. Jamie Holmes' J/70, Jika had a great last day on the water, blotting Gill Race Team's perfect score line, winning the penultimate race of the regatta. Patrick Liardet's J/70, Cosmic, based in Hamble, had a consistent series to claim third place and the corinthian prize for an all amateur crew. Ian Wilson, owner of Gill Race Team spoke about the experience.

“It was awesome, off the scale. Today was just fantastic, we were a little bit worried coming out today, as we could see standing waves, but once we got out there and started to send it, well I am speechless. I spoke to Geoff after racing and we agreed it was one of the best days we have ever had on the Solent and we have both sailed here for years. This is the last serious competition before we go to the worlds and to mix it up with 19 boats was perfect for putting the final bits of training into place before we go to La Rochelle.”

Paul Ward from Itchenor, racing J/88 Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat won two of today's races to win the inaugural J/88 National Championship. Stewart Hawthorn's J/88 Ji Fi scored six podium finishes for the series to place second, just a point ahead of David Apthorp's J/88 J-Dream.

“It is really great to be the first name on that trophy, racing with a great group of people in a fun boat.” smiled Paul Ward. “We are looking forward to more people joining the class, so we can have a bigger fleet next year. This regatta has helped us find out how to sail the J/88 faster and that is down to racing against some good opposition, we feel really excited and we are looking forward to the next regatta.”