J/122 Flying Jenny VI Wins IRC Class II - Annapolis Newport Race

by Stuart Johnstone on 12 Jun 2009 The Annapolis to Newport race is one of the most historic and well-known of the US East Coast blue water races. Linking two seaports dating from our nation's birth, Annapolis and Newport, the race provides an enormous contrast between the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, and the stormy, brooding Atlantic Ocean.

The course heads south for 120 miles from Annapolis to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, then east to the Chesapeake Light and hence northeast to Newport. After navigating the shallows and currents of the Bay, navigators have to decide if they want to sail the rhumbline to Newport, go in towards the shore or head further into the Ocean.

The J's had a good showing in this year's event with David Askew leading the pack on-board his J/122 Flying Jenny VI, taking first over strong, experienced offshore competitors in IRC2 like the two J/44s- Leonard Sitar's Vamp and Jack Neades' Glory.

Not to be outdone by the perseverance of their stablemates, Tom Carroll and crew onboard their J/133 Siren Song sailed hard to get second in IRC1-- basically the Grand Prix Big Boat Class led by a little 90 foot sled called Rambler(ex-J/24 sailor George David) and bringing up the rear in third was Mike Brennan's custom 'mini-TP52' Sjambok.

In PHRF2, it was pretty clear the J/120 contingent led by Greg Leonard's Heron were going to be a tough bunch to deal with over the 72 hour sprint to Newport. Basically, J's dominated this class, with Heron first, Richard Born's J/120 Windborn in second and Jim Praley's J/120 Shinnecock in third.

Perhaps the 'Old Man of the Sea Superman Award' goes to Henry Morgan-- gosh, only a sprightly 85 years old and past winner of the race sailed his J/42 Dolphin to fifth in this highly competitive class. Oh well, Henry, in our book you won in life-- we can only follow you and hope the salt in our veins runs as thick and healthy as yours! With Henry leading by example for all of us sailors, fellow J/42 sailors on Schematic led by Bob Fox finished fourth in PHRF3.

The tough guys sailed in the Double-handed Division and in keeping with a long-standing tradition of offshore J/35 sailors, Jason Richter's Paladin finished second.

The Yacht Club Challenge was won by the Annapolis Yacht Club with an entire J/Team comprised of Flying Jenny VI (J/122), Dolphin (J/42) and Windborn (J/120).

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Photo credit- don dement
http://nonlinearart.smugmug.com/gallery/8457697_wa3cD#P-1-20