J-Cup + J/109 UK Nationals igång

Nu är man igång. Förra året (bilden) var man 17 J/109 och i dag var man hela 32 båtar på linjen utanför Hamble. Totalt är det 75 J/båtar i olika klasser (J/109, J/105, J/80 och IRC I + II).

Här är resultaten från dag ett. Jonas Grandér, som seglar för KSSS, har precis fått sin båt och är inte med i matchen ännu. Toppar gör “the usual suspects” i Zelda, JB2, Red Arrow och Shiva.

In 2007 the J-Cup was held in Plymouth with an entry of fifty boats and over 370 competitors. Returning to the Solent this year, the J-Cup 2008 is likely to attract an entry close to sixty boats, ensuring that the event retains its position as one of the largest ‘by invitation’ regattas in the UK.

The J/109 UK National Championship is scheduled to be held during the J-Cup 2008 and entries are expected from all over the UK and Ireland. This one-design class continues to grow in numbers and by reputation so a top class competition is expected once again with twenty-five to thirty teams competing for the title which is currently held by Johnny Blue II which is owned and raced by Bruce Jubb, Jeff Dakin and Mike Flood.

Elsewhere, there will be a J/80 One-Design Class and a J/105 One-Design Class, both racing on a level rating basis in strict accordance with their Class One-Design Rules. Provided that there are enough entries, for the first time ever, there will also be a J/100 Class.
The intention is to restrict crew numbers (these beautiful yachts are perfect for short-handed sailing) and to set specially designed courses to encourage fierce competition between the distinguished and gentile owners of these express day-sailers!

Two IRC Classes are also planned. In IRC Class 1 the J/133s and the J/120s will line up against the new J/122s in what always proves to be one of the most hotly contested classes at the J-Cup. IRC Class 2, the J/92s will be racing against the J/110s and lower rated boats. Interestingly, in 2007, IRC Class 2 was where several of UK sailing’s household names (including Kevin Sproul and Duncan MacDonald) starred.

The J-Cup has earned an unparalleled reputation over the years for offering superb race management, great competition and ‘energetic’ après sail. This is in no small part due to the continued support of the event sponsors, the dedication of the carefully selected host clubs and the boundless enthusiasm of the competing J Boat owners.

The race management team is in place, the sponsors are ready, the band has been booked and the race documents are online: All systems go for another fabulous J-Cup.