J/80 class will make its debut at the Annapolis Yacht Club Summer One-Design Regatta this year.
That popular sport boat, which boasts a strong local fleet, voted to change its schedule for this season and add the AYC One-Design Regatta, being held the weekend of July 23-24 on the Chesapeake Bay. Previously, the Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge had conflicted with the Summer One-Design Regatta, but that is no longer the case.
"A lot of owners, especially those of us who are Annapolis Yacht Club members, have always wanted to do the Summer One-Design Regatta. We are happy that things have worked out in such a way that we can add this event to the annual calendar," said John White, a member of the AYC Sailing Committee.
White, a champion skipper in multiple classes, will be among the pre-regatta favorites in the J/80 class. The Severna Park resident has amassed numerous wins in the J/80 class aboard USA 1162, including several at Screwpile. The Whitehall Yacht Yard owner, who has been racing a J/80 for six years, topped a 22-boat fleet of J/80s at the Annapolis NOOD.
Other successful programs expected to compete in the AYC Summer One-Design Regatta include VAYU (David Andril), White Lightnin' (Vince Kalish), Outlaws (Derick Lynch) and Eleven (Bert Carp).
"All the boats go through the water at the same speed so the competition is almost always very close," White said. "Looking at the scratch sheet, I would say that any of the boats could win the regatta."
Nine J/80s are entered in the AYC Summer One-Design Regatta, a strong turnout White attributes to good communication within the local fleet. "We usually rely on the one-design classes to market the regatta to their owners. Annapolis has a very active group of J/80 racers that is well-organized," he said.
J/22 class representative Jason Ipe expects that design to be properly represented as well with approximately 10 boats. Some of the top skippers in the area are already entered, including Jeff Todd (Hot Toddy), J.R. Maxwell (Scooby) and Chris Gaffney (Committed).
"Our J/22 fleet sailors have always enjoyed the Annapolis Yacht Club One-Design Regatta," Ipe said. "It's a great format for summer racing on the Bay when the breezing typically fills in the afternoon."
Ipe was referring to the fact Annapolis Yacht Club race committee officials decided a few years ago to conduct afternoon racing to take advantage of the sea breeze that is commonplace
Hall Spars & Rigging and Hall Composites was named Tom Rossi president and CEO of the company effective on June 27, 2016. Rossi will be responsible for all Hall operations in the United States, Holland and New Zealand.
Rossi succeeds Eric Hall, founder of the company, who will remain as company chairman. Hall Spars & Rigging has been the premiere builder of high-performance spars and rigging since its founding in 1980.
Team AkzoNobel has been announced as first official entry of the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 – over 15 months before the start of the next edition. The Dutch campaign will be led by veteran professional Simeon Tienpont of The Netherlands, who will be competing in his third Volvo Ocean Race and first as skipper.
Ida Lewis Trophy
Sarah Burn and Patricia Gerli tamed the fleet of 29 Club 420s to earn the U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy. This year's championship was decided on the waters of Mississippi's Gulf Coast and hosted by Bay-Waveland Yacht Club.
The regatta consisted of three racing days on July 8-10, preceded by two days of clinics. Burn and Gerli, representing Bay Head Yacht Club and Mantolooking Yacht Club, won three of eight races in totaling 22 points. Michelle Lahrkamp and Gabriella DelBello of American Yacht Club were second with 30 points.
Harwood professional Terry Hutchinson served as tactician and crew boss aboard Plenty, which captured the Farr 40 European Championship. Annapolis-based pro Skip Baxter trimmed the main for owner-driver Alex Roepers of New York City. Edgewater resident Jen Wulff was one of five amateurs in the crew.
Roepers has now captured two Rolex Farr 40 World Championships (2014, 2016) and a European crown since Hutchinson joined the program.
New Speed Record
The World Sailing Speed Record Council announced the establishment of a new mark for yachts with powered sailing system on the Newport to Bermuda course.
Comanche, a 100-foot super-maxi owned by Jim and Kristy Clark of Australia, set the record with an elapsed time of 1 day, 10 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds for the 635-nautical mile course. Comanche averaged 18.2 knots of speed during the race.
July 20 – Wednesday Night Racing Series 2, Annapolis Yacht Club
July 21 – J/World Thursday Night Racing Series 2
July 23 – 75th annual CRYC Race Over, Corsica River Yacht Club
July 23-24 – AYC Summer One-Design Regatta, Annapolis Yacht Club
July 23-24 – Severn Sailing Association Summer Series (505, Johnson 18, Lightning)