Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

J/111 Playlist triumphs in Australia

by J/Boats 10 Jan 2020 23:42 PST
Playlist at the Australian Yachting Championships on Melbourne's Port Phillip © Alex McKinnon Photography

While Australian brush fires were burning north to south, east to west, due to the obscenely hot temperatures inland and the very hot, dry airs whistling across the barren landscape, a number of Australian sailors made it out to sea to enjoy some clean fun on the azure waters of the Tasman Sea.

On December 26th (Boxing day), Matt Powell's J/111 Playlist entered the 34.0 nm "Cock of the Bay" race from Melbourne (St. Kilda) to Blairgowrie. This is a pre-curser and a solid "training run" for the Melbourne to Hobart race that started at the bottom of the bay on December 27th.

It was a good sailing day with a SSW breeze from 10 to 20 knots. The line was set with a definite port-end bias and the Playlist team worked this perfectly, crossing the line first and closest to the pin.

For the first 30 minutes, they were leading boat-for-boat in the 72-boat fleet. Once they got settled, the race came down to consistent good boat speed and picking the shifts as they headed southwards down toward the Peninsula. Although they were racing their entire division, the J/111 Playlist often found themselves competing with a Hick 40 and two First 40's.

In the end, Playlist finished 11th over the line, 1st on PHS handicap, 2nd on AMS and 3rd on IRC in Division 1. The race was basically a 34.0nm windward beat from start to finish, crossing the line in an elapsed time of 5 hours and 46 minutes.

Commenting on their performance, Powell said, "all in all, we were very happy with how the J/111 performed against these bigger boats and we felt if there had been more downwind breeze, we would have really tested our competition. Once we got closer to the Peninsula towards the end of the race, the sea state really flattened out, and in those conditions, the J/111 really holds its own against the bigger boats."

Powell goes on to say, "although the race was a beat the entire way, and therefore minimal work for the bow crew, they all agreed that the race was a lot of fun. I think it is always fun when you get good results!" Plus, they got silverware in all three divisions- PHS, AMS, IRC- a trifecta!!

Their next regatta is the Australian J/111 Nationals in Geelong, Victoria at the "Festival of Sails" at the end of January. Thanks for this report from Matt Powell, owner of the J/111 Playlist.

Related Articles

Key Yachting Mid-Summer Regatta 2025
65 boats took part at the Royal Southern Yacht Club Last weekend, the Royal Southern Yacht Club hosted the second event in our flagship Summer Series for 2025 - the Key Yachting Mid-Summer Regatta. Posted on 28 Jun
DYSC Marine Supplies Winter Series Race 1
Pin end strategy leads Ginan to victory Under crisp winter skies and a solid northerly breeze, the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's (ORCV) DYSC Marine Supplies Winter Series Race 1 delivered spectacular racing this weekend. Posted on 22 Jun
The Ultimate Guide to Load Pins
Types, applications and uses for cruising and racing The use of load pins onboard yachts dates back to grand prix racing in the 1980s. And, while there are many different load sensing devices available today, for standing rigging on yachts 50ft+, the load pin remains king. Posted on 15 Jun
Sailors look ahead to 20th Ida Lewis Distance Race
PHRF will have its own share of excitement this year Set for its 20th running in 2025, the annual Ida Lewis Distance Race has solidified its reputation as a well-organized, competitively challenging overnight offshore event. Posted on 29 May
North Sails May Regatta 2025 at Royal Southern YC
Including Round 2 of the Cape 31 class UK series Last weekend saw the first event in the Royal Southern's flagship Summer Series for 2025 - the North Sails May Regatta. 67 boats competed across six classes on three race areas. Posted on 25 May
Stop Guessing, Start Winning
The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Fast Rig Settings You know the boats that kept finishing ahead of you last season? They're not faster. They're just better at repeating what works. Posted on 8 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC overall
Awarding 7 class winners along with the overall award to J/24 Wharf Rat Day 2 of SDYC's Yachting Cup started with a bit of rain and overcast coastal skies. The race management team was concerned about the forecast conditions - specifically the sea state, which built as a result of an overnight offshore front. Posted on 5 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC Day 1
Competitive racing with light conditions for the seven classes After all the concern about inclement weather and alternate plans... Day 1 of San Diego Yacht Club's Yachting Cup defied the forecasts. Posted on 4 May
SDYC hosts the 2025 Yachting Cup this weekend
Featuring one design and handicap classes racing Each year as the calendar flips to May, San Diego Yacht Club hosts the annual Yachting Cup regatta, featuring one design and handicap classes racing. Posted on 2 May
Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point overall
Darby Smith thought his chances of winning the J/22 class were derailed on Friday Darby Smith thought his chances of winning the J/22 class at Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point were derailed during the third race held Friday. That's because the main halyard aboard Tasmanian Devil snapped and the boat was unable to finish. Posted on 14 Apr
PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 BOTTOMArmstrong 728x90 - Wing FG Board Range - BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast