Royal Air Force Yacht Club

J/109 Western Solent Championship - 5 different race winners

 Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.  An uncomfortable delivery for the majority of the fleet on Friday evening resulted in tales of big waves and lots of red wine was consumed to steady the nerves!

  Saturday morning saw the Race Committee set a windward/leeward 2-lap course on Lymington Bank in S-SW 25 knots.  The first race saw Zelda (Michael Ewart-Smith/Ben Richards) demonstrate their excellence in heavy weather and they led at the windward mark from J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) for the entire race.  Meanwhile Jambahla (Richard Sainsbury/Gillian Ross) had acquired Team BlackMatch led by Adam Minoprio and were the only boat to hoist a spinnaker.  With gusts of 30 knots this did not particularly gain them places but was exhilarating to watch!  Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin/Bruce Jubb/Mike Flood) finished in 3^rd by 11 seconds and Jambahla finished 9 seconds ahead of Outrajeous (Richard & Valerie Griffith) to claim 5^th place.

 The second race saw Johnny Blue II have an issue with their headsail and miss the start by some 2 minutes.  They powered through the fleet and were hot on the heels of J-Dream and Jambahla having passed Jumping Jellyfish (David Richards) as they tacked for the finish line, to claim 3^rd place. 

 Johnny Blue II found her winning form in the third race leading the fleet from the start.  They showed the fleet both their transom and their keel, with a spectacular broach as a gust of 34knots went through the fleet.  Jouster (Adam & Helen Wright) who have two Melges 24 crews for the season gained the inside advantage at the leeward mark from J-Dream to finish 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

 Overnight J-Dream held a 1 point lead from Johnny Blue II and the partying began!  The Royal Solent Yacht Club arranged an excellent Class dinner for the fleet and there were also birthday celebrations for Sarah Wallis of Jahmali.  The band encouraged all of the fleet to hit the dancefloor, despite claims of being tired or too bruised!

 Sunday morning was wet (very!) and many crews were slow to appear on the pontoon.  The PRO initially made the decision to race in the Western Solent, before ultimately taking the fleet out into Christchurch Bay.  The rain cleared and the sun shone on the J/109 fleet, allowing the PRO to run a further two races.  The first race saw Jouster start well and lead the fleet for the 2-lap race.  J-Dream, Johnny Blue II, Jumping Jellyfish and Jambahla traded places before J-Dream held onto 2^nd with Johnny Blue II holding off Jumping Jellyfish, who in turn beat Jambahla by 14 seconds.  Meanwhile Designstar 2 (Roger Phillips) had a great run until the final gybe, when they experienced a spinnaker wrap which could only be resolved back in the harbour. 

 The second race on Sunday was started in 28knots and as it progressed gusts in excess of 35knots were seen.  Jambahla led at the windward mark, closely followed by Outrajeous and Jumping Jellyfish.  A quick spinnaker hoist saw J-Dream move to take the lead and with boat speeds of 17 knots, the crew were grinning from ear-to-ear.  A J/109 can plane - and it was awesome!!  A MOB at the leeward mark from J-Dream allowed Jambahla to regain the lead which she held for the short beat to the finish, whilst being chased by both Zelda and Jouster.  The top three boats finished within 22 seconds of each other.  Meanwhile J-Dream quickly recovered their embarrassed crew member and finished a respectable fifth. 

 A squall of 40+knots was predicted to hit and the PRO cancelled racing for the day.  Nigel Young of North Sails Ireland, who was sailing with Jouster said, "This is the first time I have raced with a reef in 4 years.  In Ireland the PRO wouldn't start a race in more than 25 knots.  It has been the best sailing I have done for ages." 

 With a discard only applicable if 6 races were sailed, consistency was rewarded and with no boat having won more than one race and each of the top five posting a 5^th or worse, J-Dream will be crowned Western Solent Champions at the prizegiving which will take place at the J/109 Class Annual Dinner in January 2010.

 Article with thanks to Kirsty Apthorp.