The Landsail Tyres J-Cup and J/70 UK Class Training Event - Preview
by Louay Habib 8 Jun 2019 21:52 AEST
18-20 July 2019
J/70 UK Class Training Event - Landsail Tyres J-Cup © Tim Wright
The Landsail Tyres J-Cup, organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club by invitation of Key Yachting is set to be a special event. The 2019 edition will run alongside the J/70 UK Class Training Event, incorporating the UK Grand Slam Series, part of the build up to the first J/70 World Championship to be held in the UK. Racing action is expected to be exciting and highly competitive, especially in the J/109 and J/88 Classes, which will decide their respective UK National Championships. Up to nine races are scheduled on tight Solent courses over three days of scintillating action and legendary parties.
A Welcome BBQ on the eve of the regatta will be followed by daily video debriefs from experts at North Sails, along with daily prize givings for boats of the day, and crew suppers. The grande finale will be the J-Cup Gala Dinner on Saturday 20th July held at the Royal Southern YC Clubhouse, on the banks of the Hamble River, with live music from the Soul Lounge Band!
Early entries for the J/111 Class include three teams all from the host club, the Royal Southern YC. Louise Makin and Chris Jones Journeymaker II is the J/111 UK National Champion, Tony Mack's McFly, and Simon Grier-Jones' Snow Leopard will also be representing the host club, joined by Jan van Berne's Red Herring from the Haarlemsche Yacht Club, Netherlands.
The J/109 UK National Championship has provided some of the closest racing in the J-Cup. Mike and Susie Yates Jago and Simon Perry's Jiraffe will be racing for the host club. Christopher Preston's Jubilee will be flying the burgee of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and Andi Radburn's Red Arrow will be representing the RAF Sailing Association.
"The J-Cup is the National Championships for the J/109 class and a fantastic opportunity to enjoy being part of the extended J-Boat family," commented Simon Perry. "We love the rapid fire windward/leeward racing and are expecting to follow that with dock parties and of course the class Annual General Meeting. It's the high point of the J/109 Calendar and we're hoping for strong participation. It is always a great event with a very special atmosphere."
In the J/92 Class Robin Stevenson's Upstart returns having won last year by a single point from Night Jar, which will also be racing this year, sailed by Penny Jeffcoate. Alan Macleod's Samurai J, representing the Cove Sailing Club, will travel over 500 miles to take part. Six teams are currently entered for the J/92 Class. 2018 J/97 National Champion, Bob and Jon Baker's Jaywalker, returns to action. J/88 early entries include Dirk and Dianne van Beek's Sabriel Jr and Gavin Howe's much travelled Tigris.
All J Boats are invited to attend the Landsail Tyres J-Cup to race in the one design fleets or under IRC.