J/125 overall winner SORC Ft Lauderdale to Key West Race
by J-Boats 18 Jan 07:37 NZDT
This past week, the Storm Trysail Club hosted the renowned Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, covering a distance of 160.0 nautical miles around the Florida Keys.
The owner of the Maxi 72 BELLA MENTE- Hap Fauth- called the race an "exciting sleigh ride!" No wonder, as they reached a top speed of 27 knots on the way to Key West. J/24 World Champion tactician Terry Hutchinson added, "It was a great race to start 2025 out in a positive way. Moderate Nor'easterly winds greeted the fleet at the start of Ft. Lauderdale. Then, the 160-mile ride south/southwest around the Florida Keys was awesome! We had everything from 27 to 10 knots of true wind speed and managed the course in 11 hours and 16 minutes, with an average boat speed of 15.3 knots. You could not have asked for better conditions!"
Several J/Teams participated in the race and collected a roomful of silverware!
ORC 1 Division- J/125 Dominance!
Sailing in this eight-boat fleet was Chris Saxton's J/125 VORTICES 2. Even though they were up against the almighty, fearsome BELLA MENTE and a duo of two fast-reaching TP52s, Saxton's J/125 VORTICES 2 emerged triumphant. Loving the reaching conditions, the J/125 smoked around the island chain to not only win the ORC 1 Division but take the ORC Overall win as well by over 18 minutes corrected time!
ORC 2 Division- J/122 Sweep!
This nine-boat division was a real battle between a trio of well-sailed J/122s. Notably, this three-way gunfight saw them all sweep the podium and finish within 10 minutes of each other at the finish line off Key West's "Truman Annex"! Winning that slugfest was Andrew Clark's bright red ZIG ZAG, followed by Constantine Baris's DIRE WOLF in second, and Matt Schaedler's BLITZKRIEG garnering the bronze medal. Sixth place went to Ove Haxthausen's J/133 RUMBA.
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For more Ft Lauderdale to Key West Race sailing information here.