Superb racing for J105 National Championship

by Class Association on 4 Jun 2008
Rob Dornton-Duff sailing Java, took five race wins on his way to victory at the J105 National Championship held at Hayling Island SC. Whilst much of the country struggled for breeze, the J/105s enjoyed three days of superb racing for their 2008 championships sponsored by Tacktick.

Raymarine Warsash Spring Series winners and potential favourites Fay-J suffered a disappointing start, with owner Paul Griffiths slipping a disk before the first day’s racing and forced to hand the wheel to son Mark. Spring Series second and third placed boats Voador and Java were also on the entry list and hoping for good results. New to the class this year were Geoff Payne and his East-Coast based crew aboard Jolene, and Vernon Bradley’s ex-dinghy sailing crew on Jackpot and Laurence Mead (of Etchells class) with a family team on Juneau.

A late Thursday / early Friday morning arrival for most meant clear heads for the first race, which got off in a light but building breeze in Hayling Bay. James Heald’s 2-handed entry Flawless J showed sparkling form in the light air and challenged for wins, but ultimately settled for three thirds and a second place overnight to Rob Dornton-Duff’s Java.

Saturday started with another unpromisingly light forecast, and slightly less clear heads, but a whisper of a sea breeze building to five to six knots was enough to start racing and it held and built to ten knots over the programmed four races. Having missed Day One, Juneau joined the fleet and claimed a first and two seconds under confident helmsmanship from the youngest driver in the class, Lauren Mead.

Remaining wins were shared by Fay-J, Java and Juneau, with the shortish windward/leeward courses and oscillating wind giving plenty of opportunity for thrills and spills throughout the fleet. Java held the lead at the end of the second day followed by Fay-J and Voador. Saturday night saw most crews gathered at HISC to enjoy the championship dinner and some questionable dancing skills in the best traditions of the class.

Sunday dawned overcast and windless, but the PRO headed out undeterred and true to form conjured a glimmer of sunshine and enough of a sea breeze to get the J/105s moving for the final two races. After some of the closest racing of the regatta Rob Dornton-Duff’s Java took their fifth win and an overall points victory, with Paul Griffiths on Fay-J second and Simon Curwen’s Voador third.

Overall the weekend provided fine one-design conditions with steady breeze and tide and great hospitality. Prizes were generously awarded by Hayling Island Sailing Club and National Championship sponsors Tacktick, with big thanks going to former Class Captain Kirsty Apthorp for organising the regatta.

J/105 - Final overall positions

1st Java Rob Dornton-Duff ASA/RORC 1 2 1 1 2 -3 1 2 1 11 pts
2nd Fay-J Paul Griffiths RAF YC 2 1 -7 2 4 1 3 4 2 19 pts
3rd Voador Simon Curwen RAF YC 4 4 2 3 3 4 6 -8 3 29 pts
4th Jolene Geoff Payne Dabchicks SC 5 5 6 5 6 -7 4 5 4 40 pts
5th Juneau Laurence Mead (DNC) DNC DNC 6 1 2 2 7 6 46 pts
6th Journeymaker Chris Jones RAF YC 6 6 4 -8 7 5 5 6 7 46 pts
7th Bojangles Derek Copeman Sussex YC (11 DNS) 7 5 4 5 11 OCS 7 1 9 49 pts
8th Flawless J James Heald KYC 3 3 3 9 9 6 9 -10 8 50 pts
9th Jackpot Vernon Bradley 7 -8 8 7 8 8 8 3 5 54 pts
10th Just Aquaholics Joanna Finn 8 9 9 -10 10 9 10 9 10 74 pts