Kingfisher Bay Night Race: J/122's winning East and West in Australia
by Ray Entwistle 5 Feb 2021 22:31 PST
30-31 January 2021
The J/122 proves again how good hull design provides the opportunity and versatility for owners to enjoy the most from their boats, whether racing or cruising. Both Joss and Javelin has cruised in comfort extensively around Australia, including PNG, and as their extraordinary results prove, they have continued to race at the highest level from Perth and Brisbane.
In Queensland on the east coast of Australia, J/122 "Javelin' skippered by Sally Crowley wins Kingfisher Bay Night race, sailed on Moreton Bay off Brisbane.
There were 21 entries overall for the ~6 hour race, with Javelin 1st in IRC class and 1st in AMS class.
Sally commented: "Javelin enjoyed a magnificent afternoon and evening of sailing in Race 3 of the Kingfisher Bay night series. The forecast for 10-15 kt easterlies was mostly accurate and made for a comfortable race.
Following a bit if excitement at the start we set off on a work around the bottom of Mud Island and across to the Moreton Island Sandhills yellow bouy. We rounded in the leading group then settled in for the 14 mile run to North Reef, off Scarborough. Without the favoured kite for the conditions (blown during the last race) we couldn't run the angles we would have liked and gave away some time to the symmetrical boats, but cie la vie.
A lovely sunset accompanied us heading south to Brisbane Rd and a spectacular moonrise welcomed us around the Coffee Pots and back to the start/finish.
Thanks as always to the race control volunteers for allowing us to compete in this wonderful series. "
The series consists of four afternoon/evening passage races, designed to be reasonably challenging and are a lead up to the Brisbane to Gladstone race. They are held each month from October through to February and sponsored by Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island, Queensland (Qld). Organised by Wynnum Manly Sailing Club with support of Royal Qld YC, Qld Cruising YC and Moreton Bay Boat Club.
And on the West coast in Perth, J/122 'Joss' is continuing her impeccable race record.
Saturday was Ocean Racing WA's (ORWA) first race in the new year organised by Hillarys Yacht Clubs, the 41nm "Pot of Gold" from Fremantle around Rottnest Island and finish at Hillarys. After 5.5 hours of racing Joss was 1st Div 1 IRC against a great fleet of 40 footers - King 40 "Checkmate" was 2nd, Farr 395 "Giddy Up" 3rd and J/122 "Lithium" was 4th (Lithium also won on PHS Handicap).
The sail back to Fremantle on Sunday was a Hillarys Yacht Club event. Whilst a smaller fleet, Joss was 1st IRC combined fleet & took line honours after a great duel with "Alfresco" a Bakewell 39 pure racing boat & "Surfer Rosa" a Pogo 12.50.
Congratulations to both crews.