On-Line Entry Open for 2017 Worlds

The Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSrnYC) is delighted to announce that online entry for the J/80 World Championships in 2017 is now open!  The Championships are open to the Members of the J/80 Class as defined by the J/80 Class Rule (C3.3) and entries will only be accepted via the event website: https://www.royal-southern.co.uk/J80-Worlds-2017/Enter-J80. The closing time and date for entries is 23:59 on Friday 12th May 2017.

“It is very exciting for the UK fleet that the J/80 Class will have its first Solent-based World Championship next year and we are looking forward to great racing against some of the world’s best sailors,” said Kevin Sproul, a 5-times J/80 UK National Champion.

Claire Montécot, owner of French J/80 Startijenn, sits on the French Class Committee and is working with the UK J Boats agent Key Yachting to help promote the event in France.

J/80s sailing off England Claire said: “At the recent J/80 Nationals in France, Joe Lacey and I presented at the Class dinner to make sure everyone was aware of the Worlds in Hamble next year. We also shared a video about the Royal Southern YC and handed out flyers to all competitors. I was delighted to hear that a lot of French sailors are planning to come and I will be keeping them updated on both the Worlds and French J/80 class websites.”

The Royal Southern YC, based at Hamble, which is organizing the Championships in conjunction with the J/80 UK Class Association, has published the Notice of Race (NoR), which is available for download, along with information on accommodation, travel, etc, on the event website. Regular updates will be posted to the site, which has already had more than 300 visitors with more than 55 expressions of interest being received.

The organizers are always grateful for the support of sponsors and are particularly pleased to accept the early commitment from Grapefruit Graphics and Brittany Ferries.

Grapefruit Graphics is a sports branding company, offering a broad range of services from sail graphics to hull wraps. They are world leaders in vinyl application and will support the Championship event by providing race decals and some terrific prizes for competitors. In the run up to the regatta, teams who have submitted their entry will automatically be entered into a draw to win bespoke branding for their boat, in a bid to be the best looking J/80 at the Worlds!

Brittany Ferries are offering competitors a reduction of 20% from the public fare at the time booked for travel on their Cross Channel services on daytime crossings only for the period June 30-July 19 2017. Brittany Ferries has created a unique landing page for customers wishing to take advantage of this discount offer by clicking here.

The Championships take place from 8-14 July. Those wishing to charter or for more information on the J/80 Worlds, contact: Sailing@Royal-Southern.co.uk or please visit the J/80 World Championship website. 

2017 Worlds Coming to Hamble, UK

The Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSrnYC) is delighted to be hosting next year's J/80 Class World Championships, with racing from Monday 10th to Friday 14th July. The Hamble-based Club, which is organising the Championships in conjunction with the J/80 UK Class Association, published the Notice of Race (NoR) today. This is available for download, along with other related information, on the event website: www.j80worlds2017.com.

Around 50 entries are expected with more than 30 expressions of interest received so far. The formalities of measuring, crew weighing and inspections will begin on Friday 7th July and all boats will be moored in the Prince Philip Yacht Haven. There will be a briefing and a welcome party for all skippers and crews on Sunday 9th July.  A crew dinner is planned for Thursday 13th with Prize-giving scheduled for the early evening on Friday 14th and prizes being awarded to the top five.

Race Officer Stuart Childerley said: “We are looking forward to welcoming competitors and providing them with the opportunity to compete prior to the Worlds in the J/80 UK National Championships in June. At the Worlds, the intention is to run a 15 race series over the five days in the Central Solent area – it should be pretty spectacular.”

Commenting on behalf of the J/80 UK Class Association, Mike Lewis said: "The Royal Southern has fantastic facilities on the River Hamble and top-class race management. Having just completed a successful 2016 UK Nationals on the same waters, we are sure everyone in the Class will enjoy great racing in the Solent at our 2017 Nationals in June and the World Championships a month later."

The Championships are open to the Members of the J/80 Class as defined by the J/80 Class Rule (C3.3).  Entries will only be accepted via the event website: http://www.j80worlds2017.com and the closing time and date for entries is 23:59 on Friday 12th May 2017.

The Sailing Instructions will be published on the RSrnYC event website before Monday 3rd July 2017.

Those new to the Class, or wishing to purchase or charter a boat, please contact: Gemma Dunn, Key Yachting, Tel: +44 (0)2380 455669 or Email: gemma@keyyachting.com


For further information, please contact:

Royal Southern Yacht Club Sailing Office, Tel: +44 (0)23 8045 0302 or Email: sailing@royal-southern.co.uk

J/80 UK Nationals Preview!

(Lymington, England)- There are only 10 days to go until the J/80 Nationals at Royal Lymington YC that start on Saturday 27th August. With 23 boats entered so far and more expected, this is looking like it will be a spectacular event. Entries will be accepted until 9am on Saturday 27th August.

Amis Production drones are revving their blades, Seahorse Magazines are fattening the pig for the Hog Roast, Skyscanner are sound checking the Sunday night band, North Sails are trimming last minute sails, Berthon are sweeping the docks, Nick Cox are sizing up the gear from Helly Hansen and Royal  Lymington YC are readying the Ribs. The extensive number of sponsors and the great sailing waters of Christchurch Bay mean that this event will be a classic of the J/80 calendar; if you haven’t entered already, then don’t miss out!

A full shore-based program has been arranged for the Championships and subsidized tickets can now be purchased for the two main social events by visiting J/80 Nationals Social Events.  For more J/80 UK Nationals sailing information

White Crowned J/80 North American Champ

(Toronto, ONT, Canada)- The J/80 Class Association held the J/80 NA’s for the first time ever outside of the USA on Lake Ontario, hosted by the ever gracious National Yacht Club in Toronto.  The four–day event featured a North Sails clinic on day one along with a very well attended reception sponsored by the J/80 class organization. Fantastic on-land hospitality was enjoyed throughout the event thanks to NYC and the local fleet volunteer organizing committee.

“With a total sixteen boats competing (six USA - ten Canadian) we had three days of windward leewards racking up 12 close quarter races,” said Lawrence Alexander, J/80 Class Vice President. A well-informed fleet, courtesy of Commanders Weather, saw great sailing on Humber Bay. A variety conditions starting with a gusty easterly with 1 m chop on Friday to two days 10 - 15 kts from the NW with a fairly flat race course. Janet Geisberger – PRO wasn’t surprised with the 180 that presented itself between race two and three on Sunday thanks to a strong thermal sea breeze. Janet and her team ran a flawless regatta.

Only 11 pts separating first and third made for an exciting rally between the leaders. In the end, John White’s USA 1162 took the regatta along with crew Jonathan Bartlett, Debbie Gosselin and Shane Zwingelberg.  “NYC ran a great J/80 NA’s really doing an awesome job,” said John White.

Second place was handily secured by CAN 1007 Double Oh with local sailors Richard Reid, Rossi Milev, James Niblick and Gayle Gray. Gary Panariello on USA 1313 Courageous along with Jeff Jordan, Mike Coe and Ashley Love comfortably secured a third overall.

Rounding out the top five was top Canadian woman skipper, Trudy Murphy, on FEISTY and in fifth place was the American team of COOL J led by Alex Kraus.

Generous sponsorships from Helly Hansen, North Sails One Design, FOGH, Slam, Steam Whistle Brewing, Creemore Springs Brewery, Mount Gay Rum, The Source, Commanders Weather, Cell Trade, Ontario Yachts and the J/80 class org. helped make this years championship a great event.

The J/80 class continues to grow, as sailors of all skill levels want to join in this competitive and inclusive fleet as it refocuses as a North American success. It's a terrific all-around boat for one-design racing and a perfect fit for local fleet development says Alexander.     Watch a nice J/80 NA’s sailing video from Ashley Love at T2P.TV here on YouTube   For more J/80 North Americans sailing information

Tabares Three-Peats J/80 Worlds

French COURRIER JUNIOR Team takes Silver
(Sotogrande, Spain)- The Spanish skipper, Rayco Tabares and the HOTEL PRINCESS YAIZA TEAM won the J/80 Marina Sotogrande World Championship and became the only crew to win the triple crown of the J/80 class! The top French team that had been leading the regatta from the first day, Erik Brezellec’s COURRIER JUNIOR, finished second.  Then, another past two-time J/80 World Champion, Ignacio Camino’s Barcelona-based crew on BNFit took the third podium position.

For the finale, the Race Committee had to wait a couple of hours in order to have wind conditions stable enough to start a race that would decide the World Championship. There was a lot of tension and premature starts that did not affect the French crew on COURRIER JUNIOR, or the Spanish (Canary Island’s crew) on PRINCESS YAIZA, who both sailed flawlessly.

Right after the start of the last race, PRINCESS YAIZA was leading the front group off the starting line, sailing their own race. Meanwhile, the regatta leader, COURRIER JUNIOR, was fighting hard after a bad start to stay in front of the second big pack of boats off the starting line. In the end, it was Tabares’ team managed to secure a 3rd place in the final race and were watching with tremendous anxiety how the finishes would end up behind them.  In a large clump of boats coming into the finish line was Brezellec’s COURRIER JUNIOR.  However, it was not to be a triumphant finish for the embattled French crew.  With seemingly the World Championship waiting on a silver platter for them to take home to France, their chances slipped away in the waning few meters in the final race, taking 10th and losing victory by just two points!  Clearly, Brezellec’s crew was disappointed.  Conversely, it was pandemonium for Tabares’ crew.

Commented Tabares after arriving to shore, “Since yesterday, looking at the scores, we knew it was very difficult to win; the French crew on COURRIER JUNIOR were very fast and to get six boats between us was going to be complicated. The only way to win was to sail our own race. We were very nervous in the last downwind leg, because if they finished seventh, they would beat us, but it was a superb finish. We are very, very happy to have achieved our third world title!”

Tabares writes a new page in the history of the International J/80 class as the first skipper to win three world titles in this hotly contested class. “To take the “triple crown” is an honor; this class is very difficult and the fleet is very competitive. For now, we are the only team to achieve a triple crown, but for sure we won’t be the only ones, but I also hope to increase it!” said Tabares.

Behind Tabares and Brezellec were Ignacio Camino in third, Eivind Melleby’s Norwegian team HIGH SEAS in fourth and Marc De Antonio’s BRIBON—MOVISTAR (the 2015 J/80 World Champion) in fifth.  For more worlds info click here.

The 2016 J/80 Catalonia Circuit

Dear Sailors,
We are pleased to introduce the J/80 Catalonia Circuit.
This circuit has been designed to prepare the next J/80 World Championship to be held in Sotogrande next June.

Stage 1:
6th Medsailing  Race - Catalonia Championship from 7 to 8 May.
Club Nàutic El Balís - http://cnelbalis.com/

Stage 2:
Spanish Championship from 20 to 22 May
Real Club Náutico Barcelona - http://www.rcnb.com/

Stage 3:
43rd Trofeo Conde de Godo from 3 to 5 June
Real Club Náutico Barcelona - http://www.rcnb.com/

There will be free parking for boats and trailers between the races. It is a good opportunity to train and compare boats before the J/80 World Championship Sotogrande day June 27 to July 2. Please, share it with your contacts if you believe it may be interest to them.

See you in Catalonia!   

2016 J/80 North Americans Announcement

(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)- Toronto YC & National YC welcome the J/80 Community!  The Fleet 20 J/80 class flag is up and we’re looking forward to hosting the best North American Championship yet! For the first time ever, the NA’s will be hosted in Canada at National Yacht Club, right in the heart of downtown Toronto.  Mark your calendars now- August 4th to 7th, 2016!

Enjoy racing the world's best sportboat (yes, we're biased!) in Great Lake breezes on beautiful Lake Ontario followed by the friendliest après sailing parties.  The time is right to come on up to Toronto!  We guarantee you will have a fantastic experience.

The schedule will include a tune-up clinic on August 4th, followed by 3 days of course racing from August 5-7.  There will be prizes for everyone; including daily prizes and social events with the championship awards on August 7th.

While we’re at it, did we mention that you should spend all summer with us on Lake Ontario??  Why not come and sail the 2016 J/80 Hans Fogh Memorial Championship at LYRA on July 29-31, 2016 and hosted by Whitby YC!?  We’d love to host you and you are welcome to leave your boat at the club!

The 2016 NA’s follow one week after the LYRA regatta, just 35 minutes from Toronto. Consider entering both regattas for back-to-back weekend competition and time to enjoy Toronto (remember, the CN Spire is still the world’s tallest man-made structure).  Got ANY questions whatsoever?!  Contact Fleet Captain Larry Alexander (J/80 CAN 33 JIGGERS!)- cell# +1-416-464-5236.

2015 Hong Kong J/80 Class Championships

On November 29 and 30, 2015, the J/80 Fleet in Hong Kong hosted its Class Championship. 17 boats participated in the event, including 2 highly qualified overseas teams from China. The first day of the regatta saw the fleet compete in 17-20 knots of breeze and 1.5 to 2m seas. Barry Hayes, skippering UK Sailmakers made it pretty clear that he was coming for a win! After winning the first 2 races, he finished 2nd on the third race of the day.  Rory Godman, skippering Javelin, was coming back strong in the last 2 races of the day after struggling on the first 2 races. The rest of the fleet was battling hard to stay close to the leaders and at the end of the first day, a strong group of 10 boats were in a position to grab a spot on the podium.

The second day of the race saw the boats compete in a very different environment: 8-12 knots of breeze and a relatively flat sea. Barry and his very talented team comprising top Chinese sailors Horace Chen Jin Hao from the DongFeng VOR team,  Edmond Zhang Meng Yuan and Xing Wei Wei struggled at first to adapt to these moderate conditions and finished 9th on the first 2 races of Day 2. But they came in with two bullets on the final races of the day to win the Championship on countback, just ahead of Javelin (Rory Godman) who secured 2nd place on the podium.

After a very promising first day, an overseas team from China skippered by Samuel Shen and chartering Frank Pong's Jelik 6, had to retire on the second day due to a technical issue. Nonetheless, based on their strong performance on the first day, they promised to come back next year in the hunt for a podium spot.

The race for the owner/driver title was very open and the battle was hard fought by several contenders until the final race finished and the winner was determined.  Akira Sakai on Jailbreaker won the title, followed by Ben Bulmer on Jasmine and Andrew Moore on Tigrina. The presence of overseas teams was very welcome and the Hong Kong J80 fleet will continue to welcome international competitors to this annual event. The event is usually held in November which typically offers optimal sailing conditions with East-North Easterly breezes of between 12 and 18 knots, a light swell and clear blue skies.  Add in the local hospitality and the stunning location and facilities of the host yacht club (the event is organized by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, one of the oldest sailing clubs in Asia with a history dating back as far as 1890), it is no wonder this event is growing in popularity. The full results can be obtained here: http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/upload/Sailing/Classes/J80/J80ClassChamps.htm