J/70 Debuts with Largest Fleet Ever!(Annapolis, MD)- With 211 boats participating in this year's Sperry Topsider Annapolis NOOD Regatta, it promises to be quite the "class reunion" for many J sailors across eastern America. Why? For the simple fact that 156 boats are J/Teams (74% of the whole fleet) competing in eight J one-design classes (J/22, J/24, J/70, J/80, J/30, J/105, J/35, J/109)! In other words, for the few boats that comprise the six other classes (average of less than 10 boats per fleet) it may be a tad overwhelming to have nearly a thousand J Sailors criss-crossing the northern Chesapeake Bay and flooding the evening tent parties sponsored by Mt Gay Rum and other enthusiastic sponsors!
Leading
the charge again are the J/70s-- setting a record fourth regatta debut
as the largest one-design class. At forty-eight boats (Key West, St Pete
NOOD and Charleston already in the books), the J/70 has completely
eclipsed all attendance records for any sportboat worldwide in inaugural
regattas since sprit-boats first exploded onto the sailing scene with
the J/105 in 1991. The J/70 fleet is on a rapid learning curve and based
on performances at past events, it's clear as mud who will be regatta
leaders after the dust settles in the latest 70 battles. Perhaps most
importantly, it was self-evident, based on the huge "can't wipe the grin
off my face" smiles after the epic first day at Charleston in 15-30 kts
of breeze, all J/70 sailors were having a rip-roaring great time
sailing their boats!After four regattas, the betting will on a number of leading teams that will be seen somewhere at the top of the leader board for the 70s. Included in that group may be Tim Healey's HELLY HANSEN, Joel Ronning's CATAPULT, Brian Elliott's B-SQUARED, Bob Hughes on MUSE/ HEARTBREAKER, Bennet Greenwald's PERSEVERANCE, Henry Brauer/ Will Welles' RASCAL, Jud Smith's RELATIVE OBSCURITY, Peter Vessella's RUNNING WILD, Bruno Pasquinelli's STAMPEDE, Henry Filter's WILD CHILD and a cast of local characters each of whom are capable of good performances, like Peter McChesney's TROUBLE, Tate Russack's DIESEL, and Cole Allsopp's MOXIE. Sailing photo credits- Onne Vanderwal, Tim Wilkes and Meredith Block/ Charleston Race Week. For more Sperry Topsider Annapolis NOOD Sailing Regatta sailing information
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