(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- Hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron from
Friday 14th June to Sunday 16th June 2013, the rapidly growing J/70
class held the National Championship in
widely varying, challenging sailing conditions on the Solent. Winners in
the J/70s were Ruairidh Scott on NORTH SAILS.The J/70 UK Nationals were the first major UK one-design regatta for the new sportsboat that is storming the world. J/70 crews will then go on and sail one-design at Cowes Week and at the fabulous J-Cup Regatta at the end of August.
The first day of the regatta on Friday could not have been nicer. Both fleets were presided over by PRO Captain Simon Van Der Byl. Conditions on the race-track (in the area of Brambles Bank) were some of the Solent’s finest with a brisk but variable 10 to 18 knots from South to South West. Captain Van Der Byl explained, "We really did have the best of days. We had to use the Z flag on the first start for the J/80 fleet but after that the behavior of both the J/70s and the J/80s was immaculate."
The
first race for the J/70s saw newcomer to the Class, Russell Peters and
his team on BOB in first at the first windward mark! But, Race 1 and
Race 2 ultimately belonged to Ruairidh Scott and his boys on board North
Sails who scored bullets in both. Ben Field, tactician for North Sails
explained, "We got the boat going well, we took the shifts and tried to
play every little lift and header. Russell did a tremendous job keeping
the pressure on, as did the guys in Team RABF Spitfire." Ruairidh added,
"The first race was really close but at the start of the second we saw a
potential fight brewing at the pin and we came up to avoid it. We got a
clean start and then worked the shifts as they arrived to our
advantage." At the close of racing, North Sails led the J/70 UK
Nationals with Bob in second place with five points and Simon Ling’s
Team RABF Spitfire in third, also on five points.It was a challenging day on the water for all on Sunday. Having completed the first two races of the championship on Friday in sublime race conditions, competitors were sent ashore and racing was abandoned before the first start sequence on Saturday, as an easily sailable 21 knots quickly built to a steady 33 knots in the course area near Mother Bank on the Solent. Three races were scheduled for Sunday, of which two were completed by the J/70s and the J/80s in a fading breeze of between 6 and 12 knots which swung between 230 and 190 degrees.
Sunday was a ‘double bullet’ day for Ruairidh Scott and the boys on the J/70, North Sails. For Ruairidh, these two wins completed his perfect regatta score-line and stamped convincing authority on this first J/70 UK National Championship title.
Both
fleets were invited to a Pimms loaded prize-giving on The Platform at
the Royal Yacht Squadron on Sunday afternoon, which, unsurprisingly, was
extraordinarily well attended. PRO Captain Simon Van Der Byl thanked
competitors for their sportsmanship throughout the weekend and presented
prizes alongside the Rear Commodore for Finance, the Honourable Patrick
Seely.
In
third place at the 2013 J/70 UK National Championship was Simon Ling
and his crew from Team RAFBF Spitfire Powered by SLAM with 12 points on
their score-sheet. Second overall was class newcomer Russell Peters and
his team from Bob with 9 points. Ruairidh Scott, Hugh Fletcher, Ben
Field and Matt Curthoys sailing North Sails stepped up to accept the
J/70 UK National Championship title, never having lost a race. They were
presented with a stunning J/70 half-model, sponsored by Wilson Covers.
On behalf of the J/70 and the J/80 fleets, Ruairidh thanked all at the Royal Yacht Squadron for the Club’s unrivaled hospitality and for the excellent race management delivered by Captain Simon Van Der Byl and his team. He went on to congratulate and thank his crew for their skill and support throughout the season so far and all of those racing at the championship for their competition and sportsmanship. Sincere thanks were also proffered for the other supporting sponsors of the event, Grapefruit Graphics, Peters and May, Wight Vodka and SLAM.
The next key event on the 2013 calendar for J/80 and J/70 sailors is AAM Cowes Week and then both fleets will race at the J-Cup in Plymouth later in August. The 2014 J/70 and J/80 UK National Championships will take place at Poole Regatta from the 24th to 26th May 2014. Sailing photo credits- Rick Tomlinson For more J/70 & J/80 UK Nationals sailing information
In
third place at the 2013 J/70 UK National Championship was Simon Ling
and his crew from Team RAFBF Spitfire Powered by SLAM with 12 points on
their score-sheet. Second overall was class newcomer Russell Peters and
his team from Bob with 9 points. Ruairidh Scott, Hugh Fletcher, Ben
Field and Matt Curthoys sailing North Sails stepped up to accept the
J/70 UK National Championship title, never having lost a race. They were
presented with a stunning J/70 half-model, sponsored by Wilson Covers.On behalf of the J/70 and the J/80 fleets, Ruairidh thanked all at the Royal Yacht Squadron for the Club’s unrivaled hospitality and for the excellent race management delivered by Captain Simon Van Der Byl and his team. He went on to congratulate and thank his crew for their skill and support throughout the season so far and all of those racing at the championship for their competition and sportsmanship. Sincere thanks were also proffered for the other supporting sponsors of the event, Grapefruit Graphics, Peters and May, Wight Vodka and SLAM.
The next key event on the 2013 calendar for J/80 and J/70 sailors is AAM Cowes Week and then both fleets will race at the J-Cup in Plymouth later in August. The 2014 J/70 and J/80 UK National Championships will take place at Poole Regatta from the 24th to 26th May 2014. Sailing photo credits- Rick Tomlinson For more J/70 & J/80 UK Nationals sailing information
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