The Landsail Tyres J-Cup and J/70 UK Class Training Event

The Landsail Tyres J-Cup and J/70 UK Class Training Event - Day 2

by Louay Habib 20 Jul 2019 08:13 AEST 18-20 July 2019

Feisty conditions materialised for Day Two of the 2019 Landsail Tyres J-Cup and J/70 UK Class Training Event. Gusty wind conditions, topping out at 30 knots, tested the mettle of the 60 teams racing in the Solent.

With misty drizzle sweeping across the race area, visibility was poor and after two races completed sailors returned to the Royal Southern Yacht Club to enjoy the pleasant facilities on offer from the Upper Bar. The daily prize giving was held to a packed crowd, enjoying a well earned drink after a tough day on the water.

In the Small IRC Class Frédéric Bouvier J/99 J Lance 14 continued their impressive form taking the win in Race 4, but tied in the second race with Jeff Johnstone's J/99 Jet. Bob Baker's J/97 Jaywalker is still in second place but a win for Jet in the last race, means that the J/99 team are now just half a point behind.

Jeff Johnstone, President of J/Boats is competing in Jet, Hull #1 of the new J/99. It has been 16 years since Jeff has been to the J-Cup. "I still have a poster on my wall at home from that J-Cup, but over the years it has been hard to get here because we are always running regattas back home." commented Jeff Johnstone. "Having this many J/Sailors together is when the magic happens, you can design boats in a vacuum, and you are never quite sure how people respond to it until you show up at a regatta like this. Today was windy and shifty, and you need confidence in your boat, it's the hardest of conditions, and everybody seemed to make it around the course. On our boat we were rewarded with a great ride."

Jeff Johnstone's J/99 Jet on day 2 of the Landsail Tyres J-Cup - photo © Tim Wright / www.photoaction.com

Isabelle Hung's "The Outsiders" racing J/122 Jolly Jellyfish are competing in their first J-Cup, and had a stellar day despite the conditions, posting a 1-3 in the IRC Big Boat Class. Isabelle chartered the boat and got a great squad together, with her on bow. After the discard kicked in Michael Wallis' J/122 Jahmali has held onto the lead by a single point. J/112 Davanti Tyres, skippered by Marie-Claude Heys, finished the day in third. These three teams are in the running for the class win after tomorrow's action.

Robin Stevenson's Upstart impressed in the J/92 Class, scoring two race wins to open up a lead of 3.5 points over David Greenhalgh's J'ronimo. Alan Macleod's Samurai J is lying third. The ten-strong class is extremely competitive, and for the second day running, there was a tie between two teams. This time between J'ronimo and Samurai J.

"With a new baby this year, the J-Cup is the first regatta of the season for Upstart," commented Robin Stevenson. "The J/92 is the only boat I know, and this is a regatta full of great competition in the class. On the first day, the tide was a big factor but today with a cross-tide and big breeze, boat handling was the key. The crew did a great job, but we did manage to rip our kite in one submarine, and the tough luff also. We should be okay to get the rigging repaired by tomorrow but we will have our older kite up for the last day."

In the J/111 Class, Tony Mack's McFly retained their lead, scoring a 1-2 today. Chris Jones & Louise Makin's Journeymaker II won the first race of the day to stay in contention with the leader. Paul van Driel's Sweeny scored a win in the last race, to finish the day in third place just a point behind Journeymaker II.

In the J/109 Class, John Smart's Jukebox won the first race of the day, but a 5-4 scoreline for the last two races, meant that five teams closed the gap on Jukebox's class lead. David Richards' Jumping Jellyfish won the last race of the day to move up to third, and was the J/109 of the day. Mike & Susie Yates Jago put in a top performance as well scoring a 4-3-2, in the 11-strong class.

Kirsty Apthorp's J-Dream revelled in the tough conditions to post straight bullets to lead the J/88 class by seven points. Gavin Howe's Tigris scored a consistent 2-2-3 to retain second place. Dirk & Dianne van Beek's Sabriel Jr move up one place to third.

North Sails Debrief on day 2 of the Landsail Tyres J-Cup - photo © Louay Habib

Competitors at the regatta attended a video debrief from North Sails, with a master class on heavy airs trimming and boat handling from: Dave Lenz, Ruairidh Scott, Jeremy Smart and Charlie Cumbley.

In the J/70 UK Class Training Event, Paul Ward's Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat was unstoppable today, dominating the 16-strong fleet with straight bullets. Charles Thompson's Brutus was the runner-up in both of today's races, to move ahead of Clive Bush's Darcey. Graham Clapp's Jeepster had their best day so far scoring a 3-4.

Racing at the Landsail Tyres J-Cup and J/70 UK Class Training Event concludes tomorrow, Saturday 20 July. The Prize Giving and Landsail Tyres J-Cup Gala Dinner will be held at the Royal Southern Yacht Club. Class winners, and overall winner of the J-Cup, will be announced. The final prize giving will have prizes up for grabs from B&G, Henri Lloyd, Wight Vodka, Dolphin Covers, Ocean Ropes, and Force 4.