J/44 repeats as SORC Islands in Stream Series champion!

J/44 repeats as SORC Islands in Stream Series champion! © J/Boats

Congratulations to team KENAI for being the repeat winner of the 2021-2022 SORC Islands in the Stream series. The 1991 J/44 owned by Chris and Karen Lewis finished first in fleet in the fifth and final race of the series, which earned them the overall series win for the second year in a row. KENAI led in the overall scoring by a slim two points over the TP52 HOOLIGAN going into the last race with the J/46 HAMBURG II close behind.

The final race was the SORC Sailor's Choice that sent racers back and forth to the Bahamas on a 152-mile course along the Florida peninsula and western Bahamas chain, with two Gulf Stream crossings, and a twist: boats could race around the course clockwise or counter-clockwise, as befits their preference and forecasting abilities.

In talking about the race, Chris Lewis said, "We didn't decide on whether to go clockwise or counterclockwise until just before the five-minute warning. Our pre-race forecasting narrowly predicted we would get around the course faster by going counterclockwise, but we also sought to go around the course the same way as HOOLIGAN. We wanted to win the race on the water, not by taking a flyer. We made a nice gain on HOOLIGAN on the beat from the Miami Sea Buoy to the virtual mark off of Gun Key, which is southwest of Bimini. Starting out on starboard tack, as did HOOLIGAN, but we were progressively knocked and tacked to port with just 2 knots of SOG against the stream and then got lifted to the mark as the wind continued to rotate and drug to windward by the current. HOOLIGAN spent more time on starboard to cheat the Stream and sailed more distance than us on that leg."

Many wonder how a 30-year-old, heavier boat can keep up with the new designs. Lewis pointed out was that the J/44 is much beamier for her length than the modern boats, which gives the J/44 much more stiffness once she starts to heel. That extra form stability lets her carry bigger reaching sails in higher winds. On the leg north from Gun Key to Great Isaac's Light, KENAI sailed most of the leg with her code zero. Also, the boat has been updated for distance racing. For ORC racing, KENAI has a deeper carbon rudder with better hydrodynamic shape. The deeper rudder keeps the boat from rolling out on tight reaches. They also switched from symmetrical spinnakers on a pole to asymmetrical; and then finally 175 sq/meter kites flown off a two-meter-long fixed sprit.

Even though the moderate conditions were good for KENAI, her crew work and boat preparation contributed greatly to their win.

"Our crew works together well, and we don't hesitate when it comes to sail changes". Chris wanted to make sure his Navigator Tim Snyder got the credit he deserved. "Tim is a muncher of data, which allows us to make good decisions on the water."

KENAI's results in the 2021-2022 Islands in the Stream series were:

• Nov. 11, Nassau Cup: first in class and fourth overall
• Dec. 3, Wirth Munroe Miami to Palm Beach Race: second in class and fourth in fleet
• Jan 5, Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race: first in class and third in fleet
• Feb. 17, Port Canaveral Race: third in class and third in fleet
• Mar. 18, Sailor's Choice Race: first in fleet

Over the years, KENAI won the J/44 One-Design North Americans twice, and fleet or class in the Vineyard Race, Around Block Island Race, the Marblehead-Halifax Race and also is the first boat to win the SORC Islands in the Stream series back-to-back. Lewis was awed to discover that the re-dedicated trophy has many sailing legends engraved on it- who include Ted Turner and Dennis Conner.