Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

J's sweep SORC's Storm Trysail Lauderdale to Key West Race ORC Divisions

by J/Boats 16 Jan 2022 02:45 HKT
2022 Lauderdale to Key West Race © SORC Sailing

The third race in the SORC Islands in the Stream Series- the Storm Trysail Club's Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race- started January 5th, 2022. The 160.0nm race was as challenging as it ever has been in recent memory, certainly not the fabled "sleigh ride" everyone dreams about down around the sunny Florida Keys.

For the five J/Teams sailing the race, the widely varying wind and weather conditions from start to finish proved to be far more challenging than anyone expected. Steady winds, calms, wind holes, squalls in the stream, moonlit nights, dolphin pods frolicking in the bow waves, and so forth. Seemingly, the fleet had everything imaginable thrown at them by the weather Godz, including the proverbial "kitchen sink".

Nevertheless, many of the J/Crews were up to the task at hand. Winning ORC 1 Division was Chris Saxton's J/125 VORTICES 2, their first major offshore win in recent memory! Needless to say, they were a very happy and excited team.

Winning ORC 2 Division was Chris & Karen Lewis' J/44 KENAI from Houston, Texas. They not only won division, but took third ORC Overall. Second was John Harvey & Rick Titsworth's J/120 SLEEPING TIGER- SOUTH, also taking fourth overall. The balance of the top five included Albrecht Goethe's J/46 HAMBURG II in fourth and Harvey Ford & Tom Mistele's J/112E SILVER SURFER in fifth position. A fantastic showing for these four J's.

Out of the top five ORC Overall, J/teams went 3rd- J/44 KENAI, 4th- J/120 SLEEPING TIGER- SOUTH, and 5th- J/125 VORTICES 2. Not bad in a twenty-boat fleet.

Enjoy this recap on how Key West was won by the J/44 KENAI. Chris & Karen Lewis commented:

"The race started off Fort Lauderdale as a power fetch and became a beat as we headed south down the Miami shoreline.

The fleet then ran into a couple of rain storms typical of the Gulf Stream conditions that killed the breeze. This is where a few yards became a mile as those with a bit of luck and who avoided windless 360's caught the new breeze first.

Our crew work was pushed to the limit as we made 10 sail changes between Fort Lauderdale and the Miami Sea Buoy, ranging between Heavy #1, Light #1, A3, A1.5, staysails, and the drifter.

After Fowey Rocks, the SE wind began a veer all the way round to the NE and filled in to 12 knots during the race down the Keys. That progression veering east made a beat to a fetch, to a power reach, and ultimately, a run to the Key West Sea Buoy. As the wind rotated; the course rotated!

So, every time you were ready to fly the Code Zero, the course went right, and we kept the genoa up. However, we caught and stayed with faster boats in ORC Class 1 with an early change to the A1.5. Then, finally, with a 6.0nm reach into Key West under Code Zero and Jib Staysail, we finished close to a modified Farr 40, and fully crewed Open 40 with no sign of boats in our ORC 2 Class behind.

The modified J/44 with a sprit and A-kites (which will be the 2022 J/44 Class One Design configuration) had managed to hang with newer lighter designs. Perhaps, it was the tasty hot meals Karen produced from our galley, and the extremely comfy bunks for the off-watch below that kept the crew fresh. Or, simply because the rum drinks broke out after the finish and not before!"

Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race scoring and results here. Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race sailing information here.

Related Articles

56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 day 3
Advantage to the Southerners On this second leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025, between the Bay of Morlaix and Vigo in Spain, two options have taken shape over the past hours. Posted today at 5:38 pm
Entry criteria announced for Sardinia Cup 2026
Iconic Yacht Club Costa Smeralda regatta to mirror Admiral's Cup rating bands The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is pleased to announce that the next edition of the Sardinia Cup, taking place from 31 May to 7 June 2026, will adopt the IRC Rating Bands applied by the Royal Ocean Racing Club for the Admiral's Cup. Posted today at 3:36 pm
2026 Fireball Worlds Torquay - website now online
Continuing the momentum after the superb event at Lake Garda this year The taste of the last limoncellos may still be lingering on the taste buds following the recent 135 boat Worlds on Lake Garda, but the Fireball Class is already turning its attention to next year's Worlds being hosted by Royal Torbay Yacht Club in the UK. Posted today at 1:21 pm
52 Super Series Porto Cervo preview
Spectacular Sardina will see teams looking to finish 2025 on a high note Teams on the 52 SUPER SERIES head to the renowned YC Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo for the final event of the season, 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta, all sharing the same, universal ambition, to finish on an absolute high note. Posted today at 11:39 am
Chicago welcomes Women's Match Racing Worlds
Four days of world-class competition on the waters of Lake Michigan The Windy City is set to welcome twelve elite women match racing teams this week as the 2025 World Sailing Women's Match Racing Worlds comes to Chicago, 17-20 September, promising four days of world-class competition on the waters of Lake Michigan. Posted today at 5:13 am
OK Dinghy Worlds at Lake Garda Day 2
Nick Craig holds narrowest of leads Britain's Nick Craig holds the narrowest of leads after the second day of racing at 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship on Lake Garda, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco. Both Craig and Andrew Mills added another race win each and are even on three points. Posted today at 5:03 am
Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge concludes
Jean-Pierre Barjon's Spirit of Lorina has won for the second time For a second occasion, Jean-Pierre Barjon's Spirit of Lorina has won the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge (MMOC). Having first claimed this title for the 2021-22 season, the French-flagged silver Botin 65 has again won it for 2024-25. Posted on 16 Sep
Globe40 2025 update
Fast gallop towards the Canaries, German team in the lead After this superb start from Cadiz on Sunday, the Class40s of the 2nd edition of the GLOBE40 didn't wait long to demonstrate their full potential and their desire to compete. Posted on 16 Sep
Growing Female Participation in Sailing
Success Stories in the Flying Fifteen fleet It's been an incredible summer of sailing in the UK, and one of the highlights for me has been talking with competitors at major events, learning how they started sailing, what they love most about the sport, and their visions for the future. Posted on 16 Sep
Zhik launches new season range
Advancing its Made For Water ethos with athlete-driven products and strengthened partnerships Zhik unveils its new season line-up, advancing the brand's expansion into paddle and rowing while reinforcing its long-standing leadership in dinghy and yachting. Posted on 16 Sep
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMRooster 2025Sydney International On-Water Boat Show 2025