First day of racing J/109 Irish National Champs

by J/109 media on 16 Jul 2008 Monday morning saw the first day of racing at ACC Bank Cork Week for the J/109 Irish National Championship. Powder Monkey (Chris Moore) were first to leave the marina, keen to have a practice before the start, as was Batfish II (Bill Blain) who had only arrived the night before after a rather eventful delivery trip.

The start of the first race in 11 knots saw the J/109 fleet too keen and the PRO Roger Palmer called a General Recall. I flag was flown for the second start which saw both Beth (Guy Knight) and J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) pushed out to start last and second last repectively. Meanwhile Ju Kyu (Peter Rowe) and Aquelina (Sheila & James Tyrrell) demonstrated the way to go, with Tigh Soluis II (Ken Grant) and Outrajeous (Richard & Valerie Griffith) hot on their heels.

From the windward mark it was a tight reach, gybe, run, tight reach, gybe and run and this was to be the course for a further two laps. By the 3rd rounding of the windward mark Aquelina had consolidated her lead and J-Dream had pulled through to second, followed closely by Tigh Soluis II and these positions were held to the finish.

Meanwhile High Tension (Andrew Given), Jumping Jellyfish (David Richards) and Outrajeous battled the whole downwind leg together with Jukebox (Brian Moreton) from Liverpool.

Race 1 - Leaders
1st – Aquelina (James & Sheila Tyrrell)
2nd – J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp)
3rd – Tigh Soluis II (Ken Grant)

The start of the second race was delayed as there was a 60 degree wind shift which required the course to be re-laid. The J/109 fleet started in NNW 6-7knots, led once again by Aquelina.

By the windward mark Jaguar of Burnham (Adrian Lower) had edged ahead from Aquelina, J-Dream and Jukebox. At the gybe mark Juke Box got the inside line on J-Dream before the wind died and the leaders were passed by most of the fleet at the leeward mark as they came in on the new breeze.

The most astounding manoeuvre was by Outrajeous who had captured the new breeze, sped to the front but missed the leeward mark. The race was sensibly shortened at the windward mark by which time the J/109 fleet were entangled amongst the Class 1 and 2 boats, which made finding clear air to fight the foul tide very difficult.

Race 2 - Leaders
1st – Juke Box (Brian Moreton)
2nd – Jaguar of Burnham (Adrian Lower)
3rd – Powder Monkey (Chris Moore)

The overnight leader of the J/109 Irish National Championship is J-Dream from Juke Box and Tigh Soluis II.