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| Class President Rick Lyall Looks Back at 2009 Fellow J109 Class Members, Time flies. As we enter the last month of 2009, it seems remarkable that another year, and more importantly, another sailing season, at least for those of us in the northern half of the US, is coming to an end. As we reflect on the year, I’m sure many of you have mixed feelings. Some are sorry to see another year pass. Others are happy to wish 2009 good riddance given the economic challenges and volatile markets that have affected all of our lives. I look back on 2009 with mixed feelings too. On the one hand, I am pleased with the high level of competition in the class, especially at high profile events in both the US and Europe. I am also pleased with the level of enthusiasm owners have for the class and their boats. During 2009 I have witnessed and heard many stories of J109 owners having terrific experiences competing in one-design events. There are just as many stories of owners finding success at the top of IRC or PHRF fleets. On top of that, there are colorful tales of owners undertaking adventures sailing to all corners of the planet or just kicking back with family and friends enjoying the comfort of their home waters. As owners, we are generally uniform in our appreciation of our J109s because they give us great tremendous flexibility in the variety of ways we can enjoy them. So how, you may ask, does this create mixed feelings? The mixed feelings arise solely from the fact that participation at J109 events across the US was generally lower than it was one and two years ago. I suspect this reflects the impact of a difficult economy and hope that this proves transitory as the US economy recovers. The J109 fleet got its first class start at the Annapolis NOOD and I’d like to commend Fleet Captain Bill Sweetser and Fleet 4 for sponsoring the first J109 Mid-Atlantic Championship. Bill and his fleet also and initiated the first annual East Coast Regatta Series, awarded to the yacht with the best-combined performance at the Annapolis and Larchmont NOOD regattas. I was very pleased to see that our UK classmates set a new bar by turning out 32 boats for Cowes Race Week. I had the pleasure of competing at a variety of events this year including the American Yacht Club Spring and Fall Series, New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, J109 East Coast Championships at Block Island Race Week, and the J109 North American Championships at the Verve Cup in Chicago. I would like again to thank Pete Priede and Fleet 10 for the superb job they did hosting the J109 North Americans. It was the first time this fleet had hosted a J109 Championship level event and it turned out to be terrific for all those that attended. So what lies ahead for the class? As I noted, I hope the level of participation at US class events improves with the economy. I also hope the UK and other fleets in Europe sustain their high level of commitment. Based on conversations with a number of fleet captains and owners, I suggest we also consider changing class rules to allow owners the flexibility to change jibs and spinnakers at will during races to adapt to changing conditions. With proper sail registration, I believe we can do this and preserve the one design nature of the class while providing owners a better opportunity to protect their investments in sail inventory. We are delinquent in having this discussion with fleet captains and the executive committee but I hope we can put this in place to take effect next year. Finally, while it is an honor to work on behalf of the class, I feel it is time for a new group of leaders to take the reins. The two-year term for the current slate of officers expired in October but we were unable to identify a group of successors willing to lead the class during its next chapter. I want to thank my fellow officers: Steve Tedeschi, Vice President, Ed Dailey, Secretary, Ric Campeau, Treasurer and Adrian Begley, Class Measurer, for their efforts and ask them to continue to lead the class for a while longer. I would also encourage you, my fellow classmates, to step up, volunteer your time and take a turn at the helm. I can promise a rewarding experience working with a great group of Fleet Captains and an opportunity to learn from and interact with a terrific group of owners. We look forward to hearing from you! Please accept my best wishes to you, your families and your crews for the holidays and for a health and Happy New Year! Sincerely, Rick Lyall J109 Class President | 08 December 2009 |  The five boat J/109 class saw a virtual three-way tie going into the last race of the American Yacht Club's two weekend fall series. After the dust settled, again it was Rick Lyall's STORM winning by one point over Adrian Begley's MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN. MAD DOGS themselves earned second on a tie-breaker based on most firsts over Al Minella's RELENTLESS. | 01 October 2009 | Rick Lyall's STORM, from Cedar Point YC (CT) has been a perennial participant at the Sperry Top-Sider Larchmont NOOD Regatta. This year Lyall's squad also earned the overall title, awarded to the winner of the regatta's most competitive fleet. The win, of course, earns Lyall and crew an invitation to the Sperry Top-Sider Caribbean NOOD championship in November where they'll race against winners from the other eight NOOD regattas. Congratulations, STORM! | 15 September 2009 | Full Story | (Torquay, England- August 22-23)- After two days and six races in big breeze, the final two races of the 2009 J-Cup, sponsored by Dubarry of Ireland, B&G and North Sails, were hotly fought on Saturday. Most of the 63 boats racing at the event, which was hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, seemed to enjoy the benign but shifty 8 to 12 knots from the South to South East. The nail-biting finale saw Kirsty and David Apthorp in J-DREAM crowned with the title on 28 points whilst Brian Moreton and his team on JUKE BOX were forced to settle for the runner-up slot. Ben Richards and Mike Ewart-Smith hung in there to grab the bronze podium finish with ZELDA. Silverware and prizes were presented to the podium finishers in each class racing at the event. Several special awards were also presented, such as The Dubarry Boot for Endurance which was won by Mike and Sarah Wallis and their team from JAHMALI. | 31 August 2009 | Full Story | We've posted a sampling of photos from the 2009 NA's in Chicago. Looks like everyone had a great time... except maybe the RC folks in the pin boat when it capsized. Relive your memories or find out what really happened by clicking the "Photo Albums" link above. | 29 August 2009 | Rick Lyall has posted some great photos of the 2009 NA's, including shots of the Chicago skyline and winning crews. Enjoy! | 23 August 2009 | View Photos | ...before the late fee kicks in. We already have a strong 7 boat turnout, and more are registered from Fleet 2 (New Jersey) than there are from local Fleet 10. Three competitors that participated in the Annapolis NOOD will be in contention for the combined East Coast Regatta Series championship (best overall result at the Annapolis and Larchmont NOOD). Join us! | 20 August 2009 | Regatta website | The 2009 North American Championship was won by STORM, skippered by Rick Lyall of Wilton CT. STORM won the championship, held as part of Chicago's Verve Cup, with a score of 24, 16 points ahead of second place finisher Surprise/Team Hamburg of Texas. Full report to follow. | 20 August 2009 | Full Results | The Larchmont 2009 NOOD Dates are approaching fast. Please sign up by August 24 to avoid the late fee. Classes must have a minimum of 6 boats registered by August 31 to get a start. | 11 August 2009 | More Info | The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club in Atlantic Highlands, NJ invites all J/109's to their Blue Water regatta August 8-9. Courses will be windward/leewards and five boats have already signed up. Contact Eric Gordon (ericgordondmd@mac.com) for more info. | 27 July 2009 | J/109's hope to have a one design start at the 2009 Buzzards Bay Regatta, hosted this year by New Bedford YC, in beautiful Padanarum, MA. The regatta is noted for consistently good seabreezes and top-notch race management. Come join us! Dan Grossman (ldg004@earthlink.net) and Ted Herlihy (tjher@comcast.net) | 14 July 2009 | Regatta website | Seattle, WA: Corithian YC member Stuart Burnell and the crew of TANTIVY took top honors in the annual J-Fest regatta, winning the Francis LeSourd Trophy. The regatta was held on Puget Sound off the Shilshole Bay Marina. Overall it was a well attended J/Fest NW with thirty-nine boats racing in seven fleets, two as PHRF handicap and five as one-designs- the J/24, J/30, J/35, J/105 and J/109s. TANTIVY sailed an almost perfect series, garnering four firsts in six races to win by seven points over Greene's IT'S ONLY ROCK'N'ROLL. Woodfield's SHADA finished third by one point. | 09 July 2009 | Full Results | Gerry Keeler has posted a video of SANIBEL sailing on Block Island Sound. | 08 July 2009 | Sanibel Sailing | Raritan Yacht Club will hold the Red Grant Regatta on July 18th and 19th. It is the largest regatta in New Jersey. We have had J109 starts each of the past two years and will do so again this year. Raritan YC is an easy 6 - 8 hour trip down the East River from the Sound. We have 5 local 109s, and would welcome as many of you as can make it. I look forward to seeing you there, or later this year on the Sound. Mike Brown Mischief | 02 July 2009 | More Info | President Rick Lyall explains the history behind the current sail inventory rules and asks for your feedback. Fellow J/109 owners: At last week's Block Island Race Week we included an “amendment” that allowed owners to change jibs and spinnakers at will during the day. We viewed this as an experiment and would like to hear your reactions now that the regatta has concluded. The issue of sail inventory and flexibility has been around since I began racing my boat in 2004. As I recall, we only had one regatta with “class sails” that year, the 2004 East Coast Championship. Most owners did not have a “class jib or spinnaker” and had to purchase them. At Block Island Race Week in 2005 we had a meeting of the 19 owners in attendance. I was very much in favor of a larger, more flexible inventory that allowed us to adapt to the conditions. I was voted down 18-1 on the subject as all the other owners wanted a very simple one design inventory that made the boat affordable and easy to sail. In retrospect, that was probably a very important factor in helping to build the class. Owners were attracted to the boat because it could be cruised or raced and it had a simple racing inventory that seemed to ensure good one design competition. We drafted the class rules in 2005-2006 with input from all of the US fleet captains and from Jeff and Rod Johnstone. The focus at the time was on keeping the J/109 class “one design.” We did not want owners to be able to use specialty sails because it would likely result in an “arms race” where owners with the biggest checkbooks would win. That was the rationale for limiting the sail inventories for a day and a regatta. Last year, after the “windy” J/109 NA’s we received feedback from owners who had kept their “new” inventories up during the two heavy air days (>30kts) as they wanted to remain competitive. In response we solicited input from several sailmakers on a heavy air class jib that owners could change down to if the wind built to over 20-25kts. We think we have a decent design but never completed the work in time for a vote by the fleet captains following the annual meeting last October. We also had a variety of input from owners and sail makers on the size of a “heavy air” spinnaker. Some owners thought a smaller kite might be more manageable while others thought the current class kite was fine. The class rules are flexible enough on the latter so owners could design a smaller or heavier kite if they chose or simply have their sail makers build a class kite out of heavier material. This is a topic I plan to revisit at this year's annual meeting. All of this is a summary of the conversations we have had on this subject over the past few years. The question is how to build in flexibility without creating an arms race and still maintain the one design nature of the class. If we allow owners to fly any sail in their inventory with a class royalty tag then we could be encouraging the use of specialty sails to suit the conditions. That undermines the one design nature of the class. If we adopt the “experimental provision” we used at BIRW 2009, owners have flexibility to change everything but their mainsail during the day. I believe the closest comparables to the J/109 class are the J/105s and J/80’s, and both of them are more restrictive than we are in sail limitations. Proposals to change class rules have to be submitted by August and then voted on by the Fleet Captains and Class Officers in October at the annual meeting. It is easy to adopt changes for lower level regattas as they can be governed by the local fleet captains. However, at the championship level, such as the NAs or East Coast Championships, we need to follow class rules. As a result we have to follow the procedure outlined in the Class Constitution to make any changes that are proposed and adopted. This is probably something we should open up on the J/109 Forum to create a broader discussion. Please think about this and give me your feedback. Best, Rick | 29 June 2009 | Congratulations to Sweetser's RUSH, Herlihy's GUT FEELING and Lyall's STORM for taking the top three class spots in Newport last weekend. | 16 June 2009 | Full Results | The latest issue of the digital magazine LI Sail includes some excellent coverage of the Sag Harbor Spring Series and Sprit Fest, all with a J/109 focus. Complimentary subscriptions available. | 09 June 2009 | LI Sail Site | The Notice of Race for the North Americans has been posted on Chicago Yacht Club's Verve Regatta website. Please note the fast approaching deadline. Because CYC's on line entry form doesn't accommodate varying entry fees, you need to change the payment amount manually to the correct fee. | 05 June 2009 | Amendment to NOR for J/109's | Additional requirements for the J/109 class at the 2009 Storm Trysail Block Island Race Week are now posted in the documents section. | 13 May 2009 | Documents | After the conclusion of the recent Raymarine Warsash Spring Series, J/109s were out in force over the Bank Holiday Weekend. Three J/109's were tempted by the forecast of a favourable North westerly light to moderate breeze and sunshine to join the JOG RS Divers St.Vaast race; four J/109s participated in the RORC Cervantes Trophy to Le Havre and Royal Southampton Yacht Club Weymouth Double saw three J/109s compete in Class 1. The JOG RS Divers Race started on Friday evening and instead of the forecast, the fleet were unfortunately greeted on the start line off Cowes by overcast Solent skies and wind gusting up to 27 knots. These conditions proved initially ideal for the sole J/105, Only Just (Andy Hill), who revelled in the spinnaker start and fast first leg to the Forts, showing a clean pair of heals to the rest of the fleet, which was led by J/109 J2Eau (Steve & Jody Maine) and closely followed by J/109s Jahmali (Mike & Sarah Wallis) and Just So (David & Mary McGough), together with Swans and Dehlers. Rounding Bembridge Ledge and heading into the Channel, the wind began to moderate, and yachts were able to settle onto a close fetch to the Normandy coast. Good average VMG's were maintained, and loss of concentration in the night was rejuvenated by sizeable pods of dolphins swimming alongside for some distances. As is often the case, the dawn arrival off the French coast was met with decreasing visibility and winds. The three J/109's had maintained a course slightly higher than the layline, taking them close to the Cherbourg peninsula and as the wind veered this allowed them to hoist their asymmetric spinnakers early. With flat water, boat speeds exactly matched wind speeds, and allowed the fleet to slowly ghost their way to the finish. The conditions favoured the J/109's and the overall fleet finishing order of Jahmali, Just So and J2eau was the same on corrected time, despite them opting for different sail plans and consequently IRC handicaps. As the lock gate opened in the early afternoon, the sun shone, and the RS Divers (who had joined Jahmali for this race) sponsored wine flowed. The Royal Southampton Yacht Club 2-handed race to Weymouth and back sponsored by McGuigan Wines also commenced on Friday evening. It was definitely a game of two halves – the leg out on Friday night was cold, damp, foggy, upwind and SLOW with a big park up at St Albans Head – the unspoken question was “why do we do it?” All was answered on Sunday on the return leg when in flat seas, a 15 knot north westerly and sunshine the fleet enjoyed a fantastic race back to the Solent. Over the two legs J/109 Zelda (Michael Ewart-Smith/Ben Richards) finished third and first, whilst J/109 Jambhala (Richard Sainsbury/Gillian Ross) was fourth on the way out and J/109 JoJo Gunne (Bill West/Mike Garvey) took fourth on the return leg. The RORC Cervantes Trophy to Le Havre started on Saturday morning by which time the sun was shining and 108 boats gathered for the start off Cowes. A light westerly breeze greeted the fleet although with the wind exceeding the forecast it was to be a quick race. Three of the J/109s Jibe (Robin Taunt), Aria (Luca Rubinelli) and Jeez Louise (James Arnell) finished 7th, 8th and 9th in IRC2 on corrected time whilst all four J/109s finished in less than 20 minutes despite their variances in sail plan. | 08 May 2009 | This year's New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta will be held June 12-14, 2009 in Newport. J/109's have been offered their own start if enough boats register, and the event will be an excellent tune up for boats headed to the East Coast Championship at Storm Trysail’s Block Island Race Week. Register before May 8th to qualify for $75 in free drink coupons! Email sailingoffice@nyyc.org for more info. | 07 May 2009 | More Info | Bill Sweetser's RUSH took top honors at the Annapolis NOOD, the first year the J/109's have been represented at the event. In a wide range of conditions and temperatures over three days, RUSH won four of the six races for a total of nine points. Finishing second with 16 points was Mike Brown's MISCHIEF. Steve McManus and SAYKADOO were third. | 28 April 2009 | Full Results | Nine 109s turned out for this year’s session at the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire. Regular visitors, Jukebox (Pwhelli Sailing Club) and Aquelina (Arklow Sailing Club) came from Wales and Arklow respectively, while new boat Storm travelled across the bay from Howth. Two new entrants to the fleet, Jalapeno and Jura (reportedly to be renamed Jekyll and Hyde) joined local boats Windmill, Joker II, Indecision and Powder Monkey. Maurice “Prof” O’Connell of North Sails pulled the whole programme together, imparting his extensive knowledge (combined with wit) to an attentive audience. Ably assisted by Nigel Young and James Knight of North Sails, he set the tone on Friday evening with a presentation on the fundamentals of 109 sailing. While Saturday morning was quite gloomy, the fleet got in a couple of practice races before taking part in the regular Dublin Bay SC race which was marked by sunshine and good breeze. The fine conditions provided challenging reaches and runs testing crew work to the full. Sunday morning was calm at first, providing a great opportunity for the North guys to demonstrate live trim control effects on Storm whilst alongside. By 1300, the breeze kicked in enough for a further four races where James and Nigel were able to move around the fleet coaching as they went, while “Prof” videoed the starts and mark roundings providing for a certain amount of mirth in the de-briefing that followed. As usual the National YC proved to be a most hospitable venue and will also be the harbour for the 109s during Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Once again, a valuable start to the new season, which is packed with events – Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Offshore race, ICRA Championships, Sovereigns Cup and Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta. The Irish/Irish Sea fleet now numbers some 21 boats, so some great racing and craic ahead of us. Thanks Prof, Nigel and James and all at NYC! | 28 April 2009 | For its third edition of the Mediterranean J-Cup, the gorgous island of Porquerolles has been choosen as the venue. The event will be held in june 6/7th 2009. Following the success of the two first editions in Port Grimaud and Porquerolles, which had hosted seventy and twenty five boats, no fewer than 30 yachts are expected this year. Among the pre-registered we already have about 10 J/109's. The event will be raced under IRC and although if for some of the owners the goal is to win, this event is foremost the opportunity for them to talk among themselves of those magnificent vessels that they love so much during the crew dinner organized in the island vineyard. | 02 April 2009 | You have only until this Sunday April 5 to register in the Annapolis NOOD without having to pay the $50 late fee. This will be the first J/109 start in the Annapolis NOOD. Annapolis is a fun town known for superb facilities and warm welcomes for sailors. April is an ideal time of year for sailing and this is the largest of NOOD regattas, hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club. To date eight boats have registered and we hope to see many more. J/109 Class President Rick Lyall has advised that to commemorate our inaugural start the event has been designated the J/109 2009 Mid-Atlantic Championships. The J/109 Class Association has just established a new annual multi-event award, the J/109 East Coast Regatta Circuit Trophy. For 2009 the results of the Annapolis and Larchmont, NY (09/12/09 - 09/13/09) NOOD Regattas will be combined to award the first J/109 Regatta Circuit Trophy. Please consider entering both the Annapolis NOOD and the Larchmont NOOD to compete for this prestigious new trophy. We will be following J/109 Class Rule 6.1 for crew makeup – no weigh-ins. See you in Annapolis! | 02 April 2009 | Easy Online Registraiton | Ted Herlihy pointed out that the link in the March newsletter for the East Coast Championship was incorrect. It should have pointed to the Block Island Race Week site, listed below. | 30 March 2009 | Block Island Race Week | The calendar has been updated for 2009 and lists several new events, distance races, and old favorites like Block Island Race Week. We will have our first one design start at the Annapolis NOOD in April. Bill Sweetser, Captain of the Chesapeake's Fleet 4, requested that this become a championship event so we have designated it the Mid-Atlantic Championship. He also suggested that we initiate a multi-event championship so the combined results of the 2009 Annapolis and Larchmont NOOD Regattas will be used to award the first East Coast Regatta Circuit Trophy. Fleet 4 has generously offered to fund a J/109 half-hull as a perpetual and the Class will pay for annual trophies. For those of you who can't make the Annapolis NOOD, the Fleet 10 season kicks off at American Yacht Club's Spring Series. This is typically a fun event with varying conditions and close racing. If you can get your boat in the water by the third week of April, please come join us. To post additional regatta notices, schedules, or results, send via email attachment to admin@j109.org. See you on the water, very soon! Rick Lyall | 16 March 2009 | Updated Schedule | J/109 Sailors Glad your class is active and off to a good start in 2009! Lands' End would love to be in a J/109 for the 101st running of the "Chicago to Mac" race. We really enjoyed our experience in your fleet in the 2007 Mac Race. If anyone is interested in chartering their boat to us please contact me at Lands" End; ph (608) 935-4505 or email randy.adolphs@landsend.com. Thanks & Smooth/Fast Sailing, D. Randy | 09 February 2009 | The J-UK website has updated calendar listings for 2009. Information is now available for the Red Funnel Easter Challenge, J-Cup (which again will be the J/109 UK National Championship), as well as links to the ongoing frostbiting at RSYC and the Warsash Spring Series. | 09 February 2009 | More info | Fellow J/109 Class Members: I hope all of you are well and looking forward to getting back out on the water. I thought I’d take the opportunity to share some thoughts with you as we prepare for the 2009 season. First, I’d like to thank my fellow class officers and fleet captains for their efforts over the last year. They are the responsible for making the class run smoothly and they deserve a heart felt “thank you.” I’d also like to thank Jeff Johnstone and Kendra Muenter at J Boats for their continued support and valuable contributions to our class. Finally, I’m sure you will all join me in thanking Carol Cronin for the fine job she has done editing and publishing our class newsletter. The newsletter is a great vehicle for sharing news and staying current on the latest developments. It is also a great way to communicate with the members so I hope you’ll spare a few minutes to peruse this issue. 2008 was a good year for the class. While growth has slowed we continue to enjoy... | 09 February 2009 | Read full letter | Last summer Ken Raby sailed SQUIBS over three thousand miles from the Solent to Malta, to compete in the Middle Sea Race. He has been kind enough to share both photos and a short summary of the adventure, both of which are now posted. View the article here. | 05 January 2009 | Photos | 21 J/109's sailed two races on day six of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series, which was held November 16th in light to moderate conditions. With racing within the Hillhead plateau area, courses were short windward leewards that put a premium on boat handling. Race 1 was won by J DREAM (David & Kirsty Apthorp). JOHNNY BLUE II (Jubb, Flood and Dakin) won the second race. J DREAM currently leads the series, which runs through November 30th. | 20 November 2008 | Full results | Hello J/109 sailors. As most of you probably know, Lands' End is again sponsoring the "Mac Race" in 2009. The Lands' End team thoroughly enjoyed racing in the J/109 fleet in the 99th Mac race and we are currently exploring opportunities for the 2009 race. We chartered a J/109 from Bill Zeiler in '99 for about 6 weeks - June 1st thru the "Mac". We generally use the boat for 8 to 10 employee/customer Chicago Harbor cruises and, of course, the "Mac Race". If anyone is interested in chartering their boat and would like more details, please contact me (Randy.Adolphs@landsend.com) and/or Jen Cooley ((jen.cooley@landsend.com) or John Maher (john.maher@landsend.com) at Lands' End Business Outfitters. Thank you. Smooth/Fast Sailing, D. Randy (Skipper - "Guaranteed. Period.") | 03 November 2008 | David and Kirsty Althorp's JDREAM currently leads the Hamble Winter Series, with Guy Knight /Fivestar Sailing's BETH in second overall. Held over several autumn Sundays, the best of late season weather this weekend brought together 21 J/109's for two superb days of racing. SHIVA (Matthew Boyle) recorded double bullets this week, which added to two DNC's from the first Sunday places him in 9th overall. | 21 October 2008 | Garmin Hamble Winter Series | With 29 different colleges and universities competing in this year’s Intercollegiate Regatta, long-time host Larchmont Yacht Club officially joined forces with the event’s organizer, the Storm Trysail Club (STC), to run what has become the largest college sailing regatta in the country. The overall winner (based on the best winning percentage) of the five-race regatta was Mass. Maritime, sailing Rick Lyall’s J/109 STORM. More info available online, and in the October issue of J/109 ENews. | 21 October 2008 | 2008 Intercollegiate Regatta | The J/109 fleet has been on the waiting list to participate as a one design class at the Annapolis NOOD Regatta. The class has just been informed that it will be included at the 2009 event, which takes place April 24-26, 2009. Hosts Annapolis Yacht Club and Sailing World are expecting a great turnout for the most popular and largest NOOD Regatta, so make your plans now. More info will be posted soon on the Sailing World site. | 13 October 2008 | Annapolis NOOD | Planning to attend the class midwinter championship? Then it's time to make plans. Rentals, dock space, and airplanes all fill up fast for Key West Race Week. If you are planning to attend, please contact Rick Lyall so he can coordinate a class start at the event. | 29 September 2008 | Entry info and NOR | Steve Kenny and Greg Ames on GOSSIP posted a string of bullets and dropped a second to win the six race American YC Fall Series, held over two September weekends. Rick Lyall's STORM finished five points back. | 29 September 2008 | Full Results | Despite the threat of Hurricane Hanna, the Larchmont NOOD went off as planned. Rick Lyall on STORM beat out nine other entrants to take the five race, no throwout series. Al Minella's RELENTLESS finished two points back. | 23 September 2008 | Full Results | Following up on their North American championship, Ted Herlihy and crew on GUT FEELING took the J/109 East Coast championship during the Buzzards Bay Regatta. Ed Dailey and Wiley Wakeman and their mates sailed RAPTOR to second place. And James and Michael Feeley sailed LADYLOVE in third place. | 04 August 2008 | July 27 - In a highly competitive 15 boat fleet, Ted Herlihy sailed GUT FEELING to the J/109 North American championship in Newport this weekend. Just four points separated the top three boats. Steve Kenny and Greg Ames took second in GOSSIP while Don and Nicolas Filippelli took third in CAMINOS. The NA's were sailed as part of the ROLEX New York Yacht Club race week. Conditions were typical of the Southcoast and Narragansett Bay in summer - light breezes to a 40kt squall. | 28 July 2008 | Read more | The J/109 North American Championships will be part of New York Yacht Club's Race Week in July. Check in is Wednesday, Jul 23d at SAIL NEWPORT. See the website, nyyc.org. The Buzzards Bay Regatta follows, hosting the J/109 New England Championship, beginning August 1st at Beverly Yacht Club, Marion. See the website, buzzardsbayregatta.com | 23 June 2008 | "It's only Rock n Roll" wins 1st annual PNW Championship Bob Arney & crew on "It's only Rock n Roll" won the J/109 Pacific Northwest Championship regatta, held in conjunction with J/Fest in Seattle. They overtook Jim Prentice's "Diva" in the standings in the last race, to win by 2 points. Stuart Burnell's "Tantivy" placed third. It was a tight regatta all around, with only 16 points separating 1st through 8th after 5 races. After dealing with fickle wind all weekend, the breeze filled in to a steady 10 knots Sunday afternoon, allowing the RC to get 4 races off. Those that were able to get to the favored side were generously rewarded, and flyers were punished severely. The racing was pretty exciting, as any boathandling mistakes meant losing places and the pack was always tight. And for a pleasant Seattle surprise, there was sunshine all weekend, so all the crews were looking pretty tanned and happy at the awards presentation. | 21 June 2008 | Greg Ames and Steve Kenny in GOSSIP held off perennial power Ted Herlihy in GUT FEELING by one point and Bill Sweetster in RUSH to win Block Island Race Week. See results at www.blockislandraceweek.org | 20 June 2008 | Hi all, I hope you are all looking forward to the 2008 season as much as I am. I have posted the 2008 schedule; go to racing and choose "documents" from the dropdown menu. Our series begins in a little over a month at AYC Spring Series. We have added a couple of distance races this year with the Edlu Race in May and the Vineyard Race at the end of August. We had a good turnout at the Distance Racing Seminar (8 J109 owners out of 50 total owners) in January so there appears to be interest in expanding our agenda from just doing buoy races to include distance races. Let's see how it goes and we will continue to refine the schedule based on the fleet's preferences. At this point I honestly don't know if we will be racing one design in these regattas or competing using our IRC ratings. If you have some thoughts you'd like to share, please pass them along. You will also note that we have scheduled a J109 Rendezvous on July 19-20th in Stoninington, CT. We are hoping to attract both racers and cruisers to the event so we can get together and learn something from each other. Plans are still being developed but we will likely have a BBQ and some festivities on Saturday after everyone arrives and then hold a fun race/cruise to Newport to position boats for the J109 North American Championship which begins the following week at New York Yacht Club Race Week (Wednesday registration, racing Thursday-Sunday). This event will be followed the next weekend (Friday-Sunday)with the J109 East Coast Championships at the Buzzards Bay Regatta. If you want to have a lot of fun and get some great racing in, put these events on your calendar now and start to make arrangements! When it is convenient, I'd appreciate hearing which events you plan to support this year. I look forward to seeing many of you next month at American Spring Series. Don't forget to pay your class dues before the regatta! All the best, Rick < _ | 17 March 2008 | Fellow J/109 Class Members, I thought I’d take this opportunity to write a “state of the class” letter to you as we approach the end of 2007. I’d like to thank my predecessor, Len Siegal, who ably served our class as its first president. Len provided leadership and direction as we drafted the constitution and class rules and worked diligently during our first official year as a class. He will continue as Great Lakes Fleet Captain and I look forward to his ongoing contribution as an active class member. I’d like to welcome Steve Tedeschi as Vice President. As many of you know, Steve has had an extraordinary run during 2007 with victories in the East Coast Championship, Block Island Race Week, Buzzards Bay Regatta, Larchmont NOOD and rounded out the year by winning the J/109 North American Championship aboard Tastes Like Chicken. Steve brings a great deal of energy to the class and I look forward to his input over the next year. I’d also like the express my gratitude to Ed Dailey who will thankfully continue as Secretary and to Barry Gold who has agreed to stay on as interim Treasurer. Both of these gentlemen have worked tirelessly over the last year on behalf of the class and I certainly appreciate their efforts. As some of you may know, Barry has recently purchased a J122 and has generously offered to stay on until we can find a replacement. While we are sorry to see Barry leave, we appreciate his significant contribution and look forward to working with him until we identify a successor. If any of you are interested in becoming Class Treasurer, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you! The J/109 Class exits 2007 with approximately 360 boats in the water or on order. In the US, we had some memorable regattas beginning with Key West Race Week where Gary Moser’s Current Obsession narrowly edged Steve Tedeschi’s Tastes Like Chicken in a tie-breaker and only two points separated the top 4 boats. It just doesn’t get any closer than that! The balance of the year saw some great on the water action in the U.S. with seventeen boats at the East Coast championships and nineteen at Block Island Race Week. The European fleet also had a great season; Cowes Week had an entry of 27 boats and Dun Laoghaire Week in Ireland had 16 boats for the first ever Irish Nationals. There were 18 J/109s at the J-Cup and Deauville International Regatta (the J/109 EuroCup) had an entry of 17 boats. The class continues to turn heads with strong representation at major regattas and close finishes among the top four or five boats at during most races. While we had tremendous success as a class, we also faced some challenges. J/Boats and Pearson Composites identified a weak area in the sump that lead to excessive flexing in the keel and resulted in stress fractures in some US manufactured boats. With the help of third party composite and engineering specialists, J/Boats and Pearson developed an upgrade kit to strengthen the affected area. To date, over 100 upgrade kits have been shipped and all US manufactured boats are scheduled to be retrofit at the owners’ option. This has no doubt caused some concern among owners and raised questions with potential buyers. The good news is that the class has met the challenge and is working its way through the solution. We thank J/Boats and Pearson for standing by us and protecting our investment. From my perspective, the future of the class remains bright. We have a great base of support from existing owners. We have an opportunity to expand the current fleets and to form new fleets. Last month we learned that Fleet 14 had formed in San Francisco. There are 8 J/109s in the Bay Area and six of them are interested in participating in local events. San Francisco is a phenomenal sailing venue and we look forward to seeing this new fleet develop and potentially hosting championships in the near future. My objective, as your new president, is to enhance the scope of opportunities enjoyed by class members and to unite the various groups of J/109 owners. The J/109 is an all purpose boat that can succeed as both a racer and cruiser. In this regard, I have three ideas I’d like to share with you: 1. Most of us have become accustomed to regattas consisting of a series of windward leeward courses. This requires skill at getting off the starting line, choosing the favored side of the course, and boathandling at crowded mark roundings. Distance racing rewards navigational skills and understanding tide and weather patterns. Based on what I have seen in the northeast, the vast majority of us have concentrated on racing around the buoys and haven’t had the inclination or the opportunity to experience distance racing. Our colleagues in the Great Lakes turned out twelve boats to race in the 333 mile Chigago to Mackinaw Island race better known as “the Mac”. I propose that we demonstrate the flexibility of the boats by adding some distance races to our current schedule of buoy races. We plan to add some distance races in the northeast in 2008. Some may be low key aimed more at fun and expanding participation with family and friends. I suspect others will be highly competitive. I suggest all J/109 fleets consider adding distance races to their schedules. We can judge the reaction to this “experiment” next year. 2. It is pretty clear that we have two primary groups of owners. Most active class members are racers. There is another group of owners that prefer to enjoy their time on the water by cruising their boats. I suspect neither group knows the other very well. We all own J/109s. Same boat, different priorities. Maybe we can get together by holding a J/109 Rendezvous and see how the “other side” lives. I suggest we try to schedule get togethers on all of the “coasts” in the US: east, west, Gulf and Great Lakes as well as in northern and southern Europe. If not in 2008, then hopefully in 2009. I’m sure there are cookouts to be held, stories to be told and fun to be had. Let’s get all the owners, crews and families together and have fun off the race course! 3. Let’s see. Buoys meet distance, racers meet cruisers. What else can we do? I find it remarkable that we have two large constituents of owners and very little interaction between them. Of the 360 J/109s, roughly half are located in North America and half in Europe. However, other than Ken Grant from Scotland who came to race in Key West in 2006, I’m not sure the North Americans and Europeans have met. I’d like to see the J/109 Class hold a Transatlantic Challenge where teams from Europe visit the US to compete one year and the Europeans host the North American team the following year. Ryder Cup, J/109 style! This obviously won’t be simple as we will need to identify a high level event on either side of the “pond” and arrange for charter boats to be available for visiting crews. This is a test concept designed to unify the class and make it truly global. I think it can work and I suspect there are enough owners on either side of the Atlantic that would be interested in this challenge. Let me know if you might be interested in doing this and we can get the ball rolling. The class has come a long way in the last 12-18 months. Yet we still have considerable opportunity to grow and continue to improve. Let’s continue to compete fairly and set a good example for other one design classes. Let’s expand our activities to introduce events that allow us to develop new skills and meet new friends. Above all, let’s have fun. Isn’t that what this is all about? I wish you all the best for the holidays and the New Year. Best Regards, Rick Lyall J/109 Class President | 11 December 2007 | This Class Association website and the local fleet websites with content now include RSS feeds. In addition, registered users of the J/109 Class Association Owners' Forum can sign up for notifications of new posts (for any or all categories of discussion threads) or response to their posts in the Edit Profile section. The Forum registration is different than the class membership username and password and must be subscribed separately. There are no additional dues for this registration. Please take advantage of these new features. | 20 November 2007 | The J/109 Class Owners' Forum is a discussion board for owners, crew, and other parties who are interested in sharing information about the J/109 one-design class. Please post using your full name and e-mail address. Anonymous or disrespectful posts will be removed. POSTING GUIDELINES DO a search of this board before posting any questions. DO find the appropriate topic and sub-topic if one exists before starting a new conversation. DO enter your real name with hull number, boat name or home port when posting messages here. DO check back in a day or so to see if your question has been answered. DO use the documentation to learn how to do searches, message formatting, and registration. DO NOT use intemperate language or personal attacks. DO NOT post your message or question to more than one discussion on this board. DO NOT post your message in a subtopic where your message does not belong. DO NOT post classifieds here. There's a separate classified section at j109.org. HOW TO USE THIS BOARD 1. SEARCH FOR SIMILAR ISSUES Before posting a question, see if anyone else has already asked and had the question answered. To do this, click on "Keyword Search" in the left frame. Type in a few words from your query into the following box. To get a more useful search, precede important words with a + to require that the word is there. 2. IF YOUR QUESTION OR OBSERVATION DOES NOT APPEAR If your question has not already been asked or observation made on the board, post a new message in an appropriate area. 3. IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP If a page has already been started on the problem you're having, but the advice there does not help, you are welcome to post a followup on that page. Do not start a new discussion on a separate page if there is already a discussion on the subject of interest. Follow the guidelines given under point 2 above. MODERATORS This board is moderated by Barry Gold. If you'd like to help by moderating one or more topics, please e-mail Barry (barrypgold@gmail.com.) USER ACCOUNTS If you are interested in being a regular user of the FORUM, we suggest that you establish a user account for yourself. Click "Register for Free" in the left menu. You sign up for e-mail notification in your new account and you can also search for all messages posted since your last visit using "Search by date". | 12 November 2007 | At the J/109 Class Association Annual Meeting on October 30, 2007, the following class officer election results were announced, for a term of two years: Rick Lyall (STORM), Class President Steve Tedeschi (TASTES LIKE CHICKEN), Class Vice President Ed Dailey (RAPTOR), Class Secretary Barry Gold (SUNDARI), Class Treasurer (pro tempore) | 01 November 2007 | Tedeschi’s are new J/109 champs LONG BEACH, Calif.---“We plan to keep sailing consistently. That is how we win regattas.” Those words as spoken by Stephen Tedeschi on Saturday now seem prophetic as he and co-skipper/father Brian did just that Sunday, sailing their boat Tastes Like Chicken, Newport, R.I., to win the second annual J/109 North American Championships in the waters off Long Beach. Going into the day, Tedeschi knew there were only two or three boats they had to watch: Gary Mozer’s Current Obsession, Long Beach, John Shulze’s Linstar, Newport Beach, and Tony Wetherbee’s Commotion, Dana Point. In heavy winds of 14-16 knots, some boats had miscues and Current Obsession tore its jib. But the Tedeschi crew of Tony Tedeschi, Mark Ploch, Mark “Gonzo” Gonzales, Alex Millet, Melody Schleusner, and Peter Hamm persevered with fifth- and second-place finishes Sunday to clinch the crown for the championship. “I noticed in the first race that Linstar and [Current] Obsession were match racing,” Tedeschi said, “so we dropped in behind and were very comfortable being there knowing that the big picture was to finish the regatta ahead of them on points. We knew we could do that by following them. “We have learned it’s more important to win the regatta than to win individual races.” Their consistency was quite apparent to their competitors, including Wetherbee, who finished second in the regatta, and Shulze, who came in third. “Chicken had a game plan and they stuck to it,” Wetherbee said. “They really deserve this. They came the farthest and sailed the fastest.” Shulze said, “Consistency is what won the regatta for them. We think we put in the best effort we could and are happy to be among the top finishers.” Coming into Sunday’s racing, Gary Mozer’s local team had third place and was looking to move up, but a torn jib at the start of the second race dashed their hopes as they retired for the day. Last year’s champion, Jon Halbert’s Vitesse, Dallas, Tex., had challenges throughout the event but looked back in the groove with first-place finish in the first race Sunday, but a miscue at a leeward gate rounding in the second race caused their spinnaker to get away and flap in the breeze while boats passed by, leaving them to finish seventh. Disappointed but philosophical, Halbert said, “Hey, that’s yacht racing.” Smiling on the dock after the day’s racing, Brian Tedeschi said, “This was a great regatta… but ya know any regatta is great!” Final Standings 1. Brian & Stephen Tedeschi, Tastes Like Chicken, Storm Trysail Club, 1-2-3-2-2-(5)-2, 12 points 2. Tony Wetherbee, Commotion, Balboa YC, 3-6-4-1-(7)-3-1, 18 3. John Shulze, Linstar, Balboa Yacht Club, 2-5-1-(6)-1-6-5, 20 4. Gary Mozer, Current Obsession, LBYC, 5-1-2-4-4-4-(9)DNF, 20 5. Tom Brott, Electra, Seal Beach YC, (6)-4-5-3-5-2-3, 22 6. Jon Halbert, Vitesse, Dallas, Tx., 4-3-7-(9)RAF-3-1-7, 25 7. Bryce Benjamin, Persistence, California YC, 7-7-6-5-6-(8)-6, 37 8. Chris Mewes, Shadowfax, Navy YC Long Beach, (8)-8-8-7-8-7-4, 42 Race information and official standings at: www.lbyc.org | 28 October 2007 | Local boats close in on East Coast leader LONG BEACH, Calif.---Still on top of the leader board after the second day of racing is Brian and Stephen Tedeschi’s Tastes Like Chicken, Newport, R.I., but after Saturday’s fluky winds and weird weather in the J/109 North American Championships, the local boats of John Shulze’s Linstar, Newport Beach, and Gary Mozer’s Current Obsession, Long Beach, are challenging for the lead. Three races were run Saturday with an hour and a half postponement for lack of wind before racing began, causing the last race of the day to almost finish in the dark. When racing did start in 4-5 knots of wind no one expected rain and wind of 15-17 knots by the end of the day. Linstar had first-, seventh- and first-place finishes for the day vaulting them into second place overall. “We expected to race in light conditions,” said Shulze, “but when the breeze came up in the second race, we weren’t ready for windy conditions. After the second race we adjusted and came back.” Stephen Tedeschi agreed on the challenging conditions. “It was a very fluky day,” he said. “We kept jibing on shifts downwind. Our last race we came back from a bad start leaving us in last place to come back and finish second. Not bad.” There was a protest involving Tony Wetherbee’s Commotion, Newport Beach, and Jon Halbert’s Vitesse, Dallas, Tex., regarding a starboard-port encounter. The jury ruled in favor of Commotion keeping them in fourth place overall. “Our goal is to get down to match racing tomorrow,” Shulze said, “because we do well at that.” “We plan to keep sailing consistently,” Tedeschi said. “That is how we win regattas.” Racing concludes Sunday with two races scheduled, conditions permitting. Racing starts at 12:55 p.m.. Current Standings 1. Brian & Stephen Tedeschi, Tastes Like Chicken, Storm Trysail Club, 1-2-3-3-3, 10 points 2. John Shulze, Linstar, Balboa Yacht Club, 2-5-1-6-1, 15 3. Gary Mozer, Current Obsession, LBYC, 5-1-2-4-4, 16 4. Tony Wetherbee, Commotion, Balboa YC, 3-6-4-1-7, 21 5. Tom Brott, Electra, Seal Beach YC, 6-4-5-3-5, 23 6. Jon Halbert, Vitesse, Dallas, Tx., 4-3-7-8-3, 25 7. Bryce Benjamin, Persistence, California YC, 7-7-6-5-6, 31 8. Chris Mewes, Shadowfax, Navy YC Long Beach, 8-8-8-7-8, 39 Race information and official standings at: www.lbyc.org | 28 October 2007 | East Coast boat holds its own against locals LONG BEACH, Calif.---Brian and Stephen Tedeschi’s J/109, Tastes Like Chicken, Newport, R.I., got off to a great start Friday to lead the first day of racing by posting first- and second-place finishes in the J/109 North American Championships, leading five local boats and two out-of-towners. The regatta, hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club, may have only eight boats entered (a disappointing number of entries for the J/109 Class Association) but represents the top boats in the class. “It was very competitive, tough racing today,” Stephen Tedeschi said. “The numbers may be low, but the competition is high. These are some of the top boats in California. We won major regattas on the East Coast, but some of these California boats like Current Obsession are going to be tough.” Tedeschi was referring to the current second-place boat of Gary Mozer, from Long Beach Yacht Club. Mozer finished fifth in the first race but came back to finish first in the second. “The first race, we didn’t work as a team,” said Mozer. “But the second race we came together and it really gelled. With this fleet, there is a lot of competition, but we’re also having a lot of fun. “Chicken is a great boat and they’re really nice guys. We just have a lot of local knowledge with three of our crew from either LBYC or Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and that will really help us.” Tedeschi agreed, “We learned quickly today that when the wind starts to fill it shifts to the right,” referring to Friday’s relatively light 5-7 knots. “We tried to sail conservatively today, not wanting to make any mistakes and played the shifts.” Mozer added, “We plan on being consistent tomorrow and keep working as a team.” Tastes Like Chicken should keep an eye out for the locals Saturday. In California, some are obsessed with eating chicken. Racing continues Saturday with three races scheduled followed by two on Sunday, conditions permitting. Racing starts at 12:55 p.m. each day. Current Standings 1. Brian & Stephen Tedeschi, Tastes Like Chicken, Storm Trysail Club, 1-2, 3 points 2. Gary Mozer, Current Obsession, LBYC, 5-1, 6 3. John Shulze, Linstar, Balboa Yacht Club, 2-5, 7 4. Jon Halbert, Vitesse, Dallas, Tx., 4-3, 7 5. Tony Wetherbee, Commotion, Balboa YC, 3-6, 9 6. Tom Brott, Electra, Seal Beach YC, 6-4, 10 7. Bryce Benjamin, Persistence, California YC, 7-7, 14 8. Chris Mewes, Shadowfax, Navy YC Long Beach, 8-8, 16 Race information and official standings at: www.lbyc.org | 27 October 2007 | Please go to http://www.j109.org/evoter/login.php to vote for new class officers. Voting is open to registered owners and is one boat, one vote. You will need to login using your memberID and password. Voting will close on October 27, 2007. If you have any questions, please contact Barry Gold (barry.gold@carlyle.com.) Thank you. | 16 October 2007 | Hello J/109 Owners! It’s time to sign up for the J/109 North American Championships – hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club. This promises to be three days of outstanding competition, great sailing & awesome camaraderie! Don’t put your boat away at the end of September this year – join us on the west coast for some year round racing! In addition to the on the water fun, there are some very fun social activities planned, including a great get together hosted by Gary Mozer of Current Obsession at his nearby waterfront home. Please go on line to www.lbyc.org to enter – and please note also that the early entry deadline has been extended to Monday, October 10th. If you need assistance with yard arrangements, hotel accommodations or other logistical support, please let us know – and we look forward to welcoming you to the best racing around! Karen Yingling, karen@jconcierge.com | 19 September 2007 | Regatta Registration | A new photo album has been posted, it was submitted by Mico Bolo who sails a J/Europe built J109, the photos are from the Transquadra 2005/2006, more pictures will be added shortly. The Transquadra is a single handed and double handed transatlantic race. For more information visit www.transquadra.com US Skippers are invited to compete in the next event. | 17 September 2007 | In a weather shortened regatta, over 176 offshore boats and 50 one design boats competed in the Verve Cup. The race dates back to 1893 and is the major August regatta on the great lakes. The one design section of J/109s raced three windward leeward races on Friday and a long distance race on Saturday. Other fleets raced under PHRF rules or individual one design class sections. Sunday's threat of lightning and variable winds forced cancellation of what normally would have been a 7-race series. At the end of the four races Rob Zerban's J/109 ZEITGEIST finished in first with 5 points, followed in second by Len Siegal's LUCKY DUBIE 2 with 7 points, and Irv Kerbel's KIII with 15 points in third place. Congratulations to everyone in the fleet. | 24 August 2007 | Seventeen J/109s have registered to compete in the J-CUP 2007, which is also serving as the J/109 UK National Championships. The event is being hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club of England (RWYC). According to a press release: The RWYC are delighted to be hosting the J Cup 2007 Regatta and J/109 Championship. The event starts on the evening of 22 Aug with live music and sailing suppers. There will be a B&G Drinks Reception and Commodore's Welcome on Thursday 23 August at 7pm - again followed by live music and supper. A full programme of races is scheduled for 23 to 25 August, which will take place on two courses outside Plymouth Breakwater, with Mike Pearson as Race Officer, backed up by willing volunteers from far and wide… ...One of the favourites to win must be the 2007 Cowes Week winner and winner of the 2007 J/109 EuroCup which takes place in Deauville each year. Matt Boyle who helms Shiva said ‘Like Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson, I’m going for the treble this year’. Boyle won’t have it easy in this Class and the game is certainly not over until the final whistle. Other hot contenders will be the current National Champions, Mike Ewart-Smith and Ben Richards racing Zelda and Jeff Dakin and Bruce Jubb in Johnny Blue II who gave Shiva a good run for her money at Deauville. A number of West country boats including Chris Burrell and Peter Rowe’s Plymouth based Ju Kyu could well be up at the top of the J/109 league. ….” | 23 August 2007 | This September 8th and 9th, Larchmont Yacht Club in Larchmont, New York, is hosting one of Sailing World's NOOD Regattas. Ten J/109's have already committed and several others are expected. Sailing World is known for having great tent parties, professional race management, and great prizes including a berth in their annual Carribean regatta. Hope to see you there. | 20 August 2007 | Key West Race Week is fast approaching. If you have not attended before, you should come and find out why so many people think that Key West is one of the best regattas in the world. It is a good time to start getting dock reservations. Premiere's website has a host of information. First order of business is to fax an application to Historic Seaport, and look for crew housing. http://www.premiere-racing.com/keywest08/pages/KW08_entry_information.htm | 19 August 2007 | Read more | It was TASTES LIKE CHICKEN’s father-son combination that won the 35th annual Buzzards Bay Reagatta with a string of six first place finishes over the first two days. After Friday’s performance of three straight bullets, Steve Tedeschi handed the helm do his father Brian on Saturday who repeated the previous day's impressive performance. “Don’t be fooled by the results.” says Tedeschi “The racing was very tight. We didn’t lead the pack around the first windward mark once on the first day. Every boat in the fleet was up in front at one point or another. We considered us ourselves lucky a few times to get around the competition. GUT FEELING and OFFBEAT are very strong competitors. Ted (Herlihy/GUT FEELING) won Block Island last year and was winning the NA’s going into the last day. We just felt like we were getting the right shifts and had great crew work.” Ted Herlihy hosted numerous J/109 sailors at his house and even offered up his neighbors house to help with the overload. On Saturday Night the Herlihy’s held a J/109 party which most of the class attended and enjoyed greatly. 1. Tastes Like Chicken, Stephen Tedeschi, 6 2. Gut Feeling, Ted Herlihy, 13 3. offbeat, Doug Hannah, 17 4. Superstition, Christopher Zibailo, 28 5. Ladylove, Michael Feeley. 31 6. Warrior 2, Tom Burrows, 33 7. August West, Jamey Shachov, 35 8. Spitfire, Dan Grossman, 46 | 15 August 2007 | BBR Regatta | Eleven J/109's competed in the Chicago to Mackinac race on July 14th. This was a record number of J/109's for this race and gave the fleet a one design section in the 99th Mac Race. Rob Zerban's ZEITGEIST won the section and finished second overall in the 130 boat Chicago to Mackinac Trophy division for big boats. Close behind was the Land's End charter GUARANTEED PERIOD; second in section and third overall. Jack and Jim Toliver's VANDA III finished third in the section. Conditions were mostly light despite a quick start to the race. Congratulations on a great regatta. | 02 August 2007 | Two weeks after winning the East Coast Championships, Stephen Tedeschi’s TASTES LIKE CHICKEN did it again with a consistent string of eight top-four finishes to win tghe J/109 division and also to be awarded a Rolex watch for the best overall performance amongst the one design classes. “I am very flattered that the race committee and Storm Trysail Club recognized the J/109 class in such a manner. It speaks a great deal to the current strength of competition in the class.” The principal race officer, Butch Ulmer, had his hands full with the two largest classes; the J/109s and J/105s. “The race committee was on their A game all week. Great courses, on top of all the wind shifts, and alert with calling starts. It really shows when you have someone like Ulmer’s experience on the Race Committee” said Tedeschi. The eighteen J/109’s descended on the small island off the coast of Rhode Island to compete in the Summer’s most prestigious regatta hosted bi-annually by the Storm Trysail Club. Just two weeks after 17 boats competed for the East Coast Championships the J/109 fleet was prepared for some very competitive racing. At least four previous Block Island champions were on hand to try and repeat a previous performance and the fleet was laced with National and World champions from other one design classes. Last years winner, Ted Herlihy with his veteran crew on board GUT FEELING, sorely missed their secret weapon, Andy Herlihy, who was not available for the entire regatta. Rick Lyall sailed a great regatta with his colorful STORM, posting three first place finishes, including a win in the Around Block Island Race. STORM had finished second in the last two big regattas of the season, (East Coast Championships and AYC Spring Series) and was looking to get over the hump and return to their winning ways but two finishes out of the top five led them to fighting for second place in the last day after TASTES LIKE CHICKEN had locked up the series with a 1,2 on Thursday and with a throw out. There were plenty of fireworks on the last day; the battle for second was tight. After eight races only ten points separated second through fifth places, STORM with 20, JIBBER JABBER 22, GOSSIP with 26, and both GUT FEELING and MISCHIEF with 30 points, and within striking distance was the IRC East Coast Champion RUSH from Annapolis with 35 points to make a bid to move up. At the end of the day it was STORM who stepped up to defend their two point lead over JIBBER JABBER and won the last race to maintain second place. GOSSIP who was neck and neck with STORM around the course in the last race, moved ahead of JIBBER JABBER in the standings with a second place to take third overall. JIBBER JABBER had a run of bad luck in Block Island, leading the regatta after race five, and then had some bad breaks out on the course in races 6, 7, and 8, the night before the last race their tactician had a bicycle accident while riding back to the house. With another eighth place in the last race, they lost their four point lead over GOSSIP to end up with a very respectable fourth. Elsewhere on the course the defending champion GUT FEELING was locked in a battle with MISCHIEF in a tie for fifth after eight races. GUT FEELING won in a closely matched last leg, leaving Mike Brown and his crew on MISCHIEF with a sixth overall after sailing a very impressive regatta with their first four race all in the top five. Next years event will be run by Ted and Skip Zuse as they have in the past in the STC off years. Most J/109s asked if they would return for next year said most definitely. 1. Tastes Like Chicken, Stephen Tedeschi, 18 2. Storm, Rick Lyall, 21 3. Gossip, Steve Kenny & Greg Ames, 28 4. Jibber Jabber, David Jannetti, 30 5. Gut Feeling, Ted Herlihy, 33 6. Mischief, Mike Brown, 34 7. Rush, Bill Sweetser, 45 8. Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Adrian Begley, 46 9. offBEAT, Doug Hannah, 48 10. Caminos, D. & N. Filippelli, 59 11. Rogue, Edward Dole, 80 12. Rocky Racer, Milt Gottschalk, 83 13. Warrior2, Tom Burrows, 93 14. Melody, Alan Tannous, 96 15. Shearwater, Hugh McLean, 96 16. Ceol na Mara, David Frizell, 99 17. Navicular, Douglas Wisch, 107 18. Sanibel, Gerry Keeler, 115 | 07 July 2007 | The 2007 East Coast Championships were hotly contested and produced some incredibly tight racing. It was the father- son team of Brian and Stephen Tedeschi and their crew on board of TASTES LIKE CHICKEN that prevailed after the five race series was concluded. Mark roundings and finishes alike were close along with the results. After the first day there was a three way tie for second and after five races Only four points separated Rick Lyall’s second place STORM from Doug Hannah’s seventh place OFFBEAT. “The weather couldn’t have been more ideal for racing. Saturday began with light southerly’s and gradually built throughout the day to 15 knots - providing racers myriad racing conditions to exert their skills. Three races were completed. Sunday picked up where Saturday left off and wind continued to build for the last two races. Shifty conditions throughout the entire regatta tested patience and abilities.” Said David Janetti, the local favorite and event organizer. Janetti and his crew on board JIBBER JABBER were in a three way tie for second with STORM and RUSH and had the advantage of a higher throw out going into the final day. Breakwater Yacht Club’s Saturday night barbecue, was heavily attended by 250 sailors, sponsors and families. The night featured Harry Manko’s live video of Saturday racing for all to enjoy. Rod Johnstone, J/Boat’s legendary designer, traveled over from Connecticut to observe the competition and was happy at what he saw. “The 2007 SpritFest was the largest non-dinghy one-design racing event ever held in local waters.” According to Janetti. The party gave an opportunity to watch videos of Saturday’s racing, which reinforced how tight the racing was and how many of the different boats were competing for individual race honors, evidenced by new comer and 10th place finisher SWEET CAROLINE earning themselves a gun for first place in race 4. The fleet consisted of some of the top competitors in the East coast including Sweetser’s Annapolis based J/109 program RUSH finished day one in a three way tie for second and held on for third overall. The Defending East Coast Champion, GOSSIP, ended up fourth just one point in front of the AYC Spring Series Champion and last year's Larchmont NOOD Champion MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN. SpritFest was a huge step forward in progressing Breakwater Yacht Club as a premiere racing destination on the East Coast. The regatta owes it’s success, in large part, to the numerous volunteers and supportive sponsors: Sag Harbor Yacht Yard, Sag Harbor Yacht Club, J/Boats, Johnstone Yacht Sales, UK Sailmakers, North Sails, Aksia and AT Conference. 1. Tastes Like Chicken, 11 2. Storm, 16 3. Rush, 16 4. Gossip, 17 5. Mad Dogs & Englishmen, 18 6. Jibber Jabber, 19 7. OffBEAT, 20 8. Blue Rider (Phling), 25 9. Rogue, 29 10. Sweet Caroline, 33 11. Freedom, 35 12. Skoot, 35 13. Caminos, 42 14. Joy Ride, 54 15. Mischief, 59 16. Ceol na Mara, 60 17. Sanibel, 64 | 23 June 2007 | MAD DOGS and ENGLISHMAN ends the winter season with a Victory over a competitive eleven boat fleet. The Jovial Adrian Begley was able to stay in front of Lyall’s STORM and Kamisher’s PHLING with good boat speed, great crew work, and consistent starts. The racing was really tight with crowded mark roundings and overlapped finishes. Sail Boat Skipper Total 1 260 MAD DOGS Begley,Adrian 19 2 146 STORM Lyall,Rick 23 3 71 PHLING Kamisher,Eric 25 4 1111 FREEDOM Fichera,Mario 40 5 52209 ROGUE Dole,Ed 47 6 200 MISCHIEF Brown,Mike 59 7 160 PATRIOT Furnary,Stephen 63 8 332 STRIDER Berden,Andrew 68 9 250 MELODY Tannous,Alan 74 10 239 SWEET CAROLINE Von der Ahe,Greg 80 11 162 RELENTLESS Minella,Al 108 | 05 June 2007 | Please be reminded that to participate in class-sanctioned one-design racing the following is required: Any driver must be a registered member of the class whose current dues have been paid, and all class sails used for racing that have been manufactured and delivered after September 1, 2006 must have be registered with the class and have a sail tag affixed to it. If a driver is not a member of the class or has not paid, please visit the Membership section of this website. If a class sail is required to be registered and has not, please contact your sailmaker. If you have any questions on these items, please contact Barry Gold, J/109 Class Treasurer, at barry.gold@carlyle.com. Thank you. | 28 May 2007 | The J/109 Class Rules (copy available at www.j109.org ) will apply to the East Coast Championships. Rule 6.1 will apply for driver and crew. This means that a competing J/109 may have six crew members plus the driver. An additional seventh crew member may be added, provided he or she weighs not more than 60 kilos (132 lbs.). The weight limit in Rule 6.2 will not apply. All competing J/109’s are subject to inspection and measurement and must carry all required equipment. All owners and drivers must be 2007 paid members of the class; you can pay your dues online by clicking on the membership button on the class homepage. Class dues will not be collected at the event. All crew members are required to have ISAF numbers. To acquire an ISAF status follow the below link and fill in the fields. Most people receive the status in a timely fashion, however it can take up to 30 days if you are not a clear Category 1 sailor, so please do not hesitate to get your status. http://www.sailing.org/isafsailor/register.asp Each boat will be required to check in sails that will be used during the regatta. As permitted by class rules, each boat will be allowed to carry one (1) mainsail, two (2) jibs and two (2) spinnakers. Skippers are required to “call” a jib and spinnaker each day and may not change sails between races unless one of the sails has suffered substantial damage. In the event a replacement sail is used it would be advisable for the competitor to notify the race committee before sailing with the substitute sail. | 11 May 2007 | Making the trip South from the Great Lakes Yonover and his crew onboard evonne.com put up an impressive performance in the challenging conditions off the coast of South Carolina to win Charleston Race Week. The racing was tight from the get go with Bill Sweetser’s Rush taking the early lead with two bullets in races 1 and 2, but then it was all Evonne which finished the next four races with a gun with Rush and Freedom nipping at their heels. The J109 class was blessed with Jeff Johnstone’s presence who raced with evonne.com. Jeff walked the dock and offered assistance to all the J109’s in his typical amicable manner. Mario Ficher’s sailed his Freedom to a podium finish shorthanded after bad weather delayed several of his crew. The bad weather wasn’t finished messing with the competitors, after two days light to moderate wind a fairly sizeable front came through on Sunday canceling all of the racing. There was no shortage of entertainment though as competitors with no place to go watched the storms havoc as the gusts exceeded seventy miles per hour. The dock master attempted to shut down the docks but that didn’t prevent crews form going back and forth to check on their boats and tighten up spring lines. 1 evonne.com/2 John Yonover 6 2 Rush Bill Sweetser 8 3 Freedom Mario Fichera 15 4 Tastes Like Chicken Brian & S Tedeschi 18 5 AfterThought Craig Wright 22 | 10 May 2007 | For the first time, the J/109s have been asked to compete in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta in Ireland. For more information or to follow the action check out the below link. | 10 May 2007 | Regatta Website | The new edition of the newsletter has been sent out. If you did not receive a copy please let the class know and we will send one out to you. | 03 May 2007 | With 6 J/109s signed up for Charleston Race Week, the J/109 will have their own class. They will be sailing on Circle 3 along with the J/105s and the J/120s. Good luck to all sailing!!! | 28 March 2007 | J/109 Shada, owned by Jerry Woodfield and a member of Fleet #1 (Pacific Northwest) has submitted a new photo album. Check it out! | 06 March 2007 | The J/109 Class Rules (copy available on this site) will apply for Charleston Race Week. Rule 6.1 will apply for driver and crew. This means that a competing J/109 may have six crew members plus the driver. An additional seventh crew member may be added, provided he or she weighs not more than 60 kilos (132 lbs.). The weight limit in Rule 6.2 will not apply. All competing J/109’s are subject to inspection and measurement and must carry all required equipment. | 05 March 2007 | With six J/109s registered to date, the J/109s will be getting their own class. With 5 of the 6 boats coming off Key West, this event should provide some great racing. | 31 January 2007 | If you are having trouble viewing the drop down menus try updating your browser to the latest edition. If that still does not correct the problem please let us know so we can fix it. | 29 January 2007 | Congratulations to Gary Mozer and crew on CURRENT OBSESSION. The winner of the hotly contested J/109 class went down to the final leg of the last (9th) race where the top four positions were decided. Gary Mozer’s CURRENT OBSESSION, by securing 3rd in the final race, won a tiebreaker with Stephen Tedeschi’s TASTES LIKE CHICKEN. Both boats narrowly beat Steve Rhyne (MOJO) of Seabrook, TX by one point and Jon Halbert (VITESSE) of Dallas, TX by two points. Anthony O’Leary of Ireland made his Key West J/109 debut finishing 6th, and vowed to return next year to push the Yanks. Congratulations to all J/109 owners and crews who made this years Key West Race Week such a fantastic sailing event. | 23 January 2007 | Results | Happy New Year to everyone! We finished up 2006 with great progess in promoting our class. Our new website is terrific, we elected class officers, held our annual meeting, and have approved class rules and constitution. Our class constitution reminds us that we committed to promoting our class with strict one design racing , while preserving the recreational and cruising capability of a truly terrific design. We are further reminded to promote our national and international events with predominantly amateur crews, and enforcement of our class rules. As we approach 2007, we ask that our rules are respected for the spirit for which they were written. Many questions have arisen regarding "pros" on board, sail tags, number of sail purchases in a given year, and so on. We will continue to promote ourselves according to our mission as a class and to follow our rules as written and adopted. Questions that arise may of course be directed to our officers and will be reviewed and considered. We are excited about continued growth of our class, our new rules corner on the website, and an enhanced owners' forum. I also want to say thanks to Rick Lyall, Ed Dailey, Barry Gold, Kendra Muenter, Jeff Johnstone, and all of the local fleet captains for their energy and direction this past year. Wishing you a successful 2007 both on and off the water. Len Siegal J109 Class President | 26 December 2006 | The minutes of the annual class association meeting are now available. You can find them posted under the class documents section of the website. | 22 November 2006 | The dates have been set, the 2007 North Americans will take place October 25th-28th in Long Beach California. The event will be hosted by Fleet 3, Southern California Fleet, Karen Yingling will be the regatta contact. You can contact Karen at karen@jconcierge.com | 15 November 2006 | YC website | GOSSIP wins the East Coast Championship held during the American Yacht Club Fall series. The event consisted of 8 races held over 2 weekends. Steve Kenny, co-owner of GOSSIP reported that as a group effort we traded in our J/105 in for the J/109 in May and made it in time to have it delivered to Block Island Race Week. We won the very first race of the week on the boat for our first time sailing her. We seem to be pretty competitive but without much time with her we fell apart at the end. However; I am extremely proud of our crew’s ability to excel over the past 3 months in this boat to take the East Coast Championships and feel that it is well worth noting. 13 boats were on the line the top three finishers were Gossip Greg Ames & Steve Kenney 20 pts Relentless Al Minella 21 pts Storm Rick Lyall 22 pts Congratulations to all the owners and crews on a fantastic event. For the complete results click on the below link. | 13 November 2006 | ECC Results | Proving that the J/109 is still the boat to beat in IRC, Team RUSH continued their winning ways by handily winning IRC Class 4 at the recent Storm Trysail Club’s IRC East Coast Championships held in Annapolis November 3-5th. Earlier in the year, Bill Sweetser and team won their IRC class at the New York YC Annual Regatta in Newport. Here are some notes from Bill: “It was cold! 37 degrees on Friday and 29 degrees on Saturday. We sailed with a 145% genoa and a 120 sq m chute. That gave us an IRC rating of 1.042. We had nine crew members including me. The breeze was exceptionally light for this regatta. Water was pretty flat. The PRO hoped to have 7 races (a 32 mile distance race on Friday and 3 windward-leewards on Saturday and again on Sunday) but it turned out that there was not enough wind to race on Saturday and we were only able to get two races in on Sunday because of light wind. RUSH was second in Race 1 and first in Races 2 and 3. We were initially worried about the Beneteau10Rs because we thought they would perform well in the light stuff. In Race 1, the distance race, RUSH was second to a 10R, HORSEWEED, by just two seconds on corrected time in a 5 ½ hour race. If I had not been shivering so much we probably would have won! A second 10R, MOON RACER, was third in that race, over 4 minutes behind RUSH on corrected time. The 10Rs were rated 1.025 and 1.026 respectively. The Grand Soleil 37 finished fifth. Her rating was 1.043 and we beat her by over seven minutes. Breeze was in the four to 8 knot range on Friday. In Race 2, a 3 ½ mile windward-leeward on Sunday, we beat HORSEWEED by four minutes in a one hour race in a three to six knot breeze. We finished about five minutes ahead of MOON RACER who was third and nine minutes ahead of the GS 37 who was fifth. Race 3 was near the end of the day on Sunday. Wind was around two to four knots. We won the one hour race and beat MOON RACER who was third, by three minutes and the GS 37, who was fourth, by five minutes. HORSEWEED ran out of breeze and did not finish. Our wins weren’t all just related to boat speed. Mike Hobson did an excellent job of keeping us in the little breeze that there was and we were able to keep the boat moving.” | 09 November 2006 | Complete Regatta Results | J/109 Fleet Captains: There will be a telephone conference call on November 14th @ 8:00 pm EST. The call will cover topics discussed at a recent meeting of the Class Officers and the fleet reports. In preparation of the call, please prepare a brief fleet report. Please include the following: Number of Members Fleet Activities Regatta turnout Open issues/problems Does your fleet have a local website? If so how far along is it? Etc… At the National level we are working on making the site more user-friendly and are planning new features and additions. We are currently forming our technical committee. Please survey your fleet, prior to the call and see if there is a volunteer who would like to serve on this committee? Many thanks for your help. Instructions for attending the call will soon follow. If you are unable to attend please ask a fleet member to represent your fleet on the call. Click on the below link to view the minutes of the Class Officers conference call. Many thanks, Len Siegal President | 08 November 2006 | Minutes | A new rigging tip has been posted, Rigging Ideas from the 2006 North Americans. Click on the below link to be taken directly to the tips page. | 06 November 2006 | Tips | Below is a report from our UK fleet: Three weeks in to the 2006 Garmin Hamble Winter Series and there are already some major battles at the top of the classes in which J Boat owners are competing. Racing on Sunday 22nd of October took place in a shifty southerly breeze of 12 to 28 knots. Having won the start, Nigel Brooke and his crew in Jalapeno led the J/109 fleet for the entire race and around the last windward mark but ended up engaged in a luffing match with Firestorm (owned and raced by Jonathan Perry and Philip Smith) on the final run. Jalapeno opted for a slightly smaller kite for this final downwind leg but the increase in pressure which was forecast failed to materialize. The advantage played to Firestorm who managed to work through into first place. With Firestorm now out in front of the fleet Jalapeno was still about 100 yards ahead of Zelda at the final leeward mark but she was forced tack off on to port just after the rounding in order to clear her air. Unfortunately, the left hand side of the track paid and at the finish line the order was Firestorm first, Zelda second and Jalapeno third. Just a single point now separates Zelda in pole position for the series and Jalapeno in second. Racing in the Garmin Hamble Winter Series continues on Sunday 29th of October | 25 October 2006 | The J/109 Class Rules (copy available on this site) will apply to Key West Race Week. Rule 6.1 will apply for driver and crew. This means that a competing J/109 may have six crew members plus the driver. An additional seventh crew member may be added, provided he or she weighs not more than 60 kilos (132 lbs.). The weight limit in Rule 6.2 will not apply. All competing J/109’s are subject to inspection and measurement and must carry all required equipment. Entry forms are online, please click on the below link. | 20 October 2006 | Premiere Racing | The votes are in and have been tabulated!!! Based on the replies it looks like we should have a great turnout for Key West, I know of 7 boats from the NY area alone who have expressed interest in Key West. Charleston also showed great interest. Again Brad Van Liew will be running Charleston race week and from what I heard he did a fantastic event last year. A few owners mentioned the St. Pete NOOD and would love to hear your thoughts about that event as well. I have started a post in the owners forum on the Southern Circuit, please share your thoughts there. | 11 October 2006 | Astral Plane has won the August Wednesday night series at Royal Vancouver Yacht Club with three wins in consecutive races. Sailing in the fleet were Mumm 36, Olson 30, J-36, Dash 34 (3), Evelyn 332, Hobie 33 Mod, M243(2), Mumm 30. Congratulations to Astral Plane! | 21 September 2006 | 2 new photo albums/websites have been added to the album section. 1 comes from a sister J/109 in Holland, there are some great photos under the section titled "foto en verslagen". The next album/website was submitted by Relentless a fleet 10 member. Enjoy!! | 01 September 2006 | Dear J/109 Owners; The winter events are fast approaching and we'd like to get an early gauge on J/109 owner interest for Key West Race Week (Jan 15-19), Miami Grand Prix (March 8-11) and Charleston Race Week (April 12-15). Key West and Charleston will be similarly structured as last year, with one-design starts planned for the J/109. As many of you have heard the format for Acura Miami Race Week will be changing for 2007. The new name is Acura Miami Grand Prix and the format has shifted to a "Grand Prix" single venue format, with only 4-5 total classes being considered. Premier Racing has already committed to a big boat IRC Class and the Farr 40s, plus we understand that the J/105 and Mumm 30 classes are strong possibilities. The Thursday to Sunday racing format will continue. If enough J/109s are interested, we may be able to get a start. Please fill out the below poll and return via email, kendra@jboats.com or fax 401-846-4723. You can copy and paste into email or a word file. Yes, I plan on doing Key West No, I can not attend Not sure Yes, I would like to do Miami No, I am not interested Not sure Yes, I plan on doing Charleston No, I can not attend Not sure Name __________________________________________ Hull # and Boat Name__________________________________________ | 01 September 2006 | The 2006 J109 East Coast Championship will take place at the American Yacht Club Fall Series on September 23rd/24th and September 30th-October 1st. Competitors will be expected to comply with all J109 Class rules on an honor system basis. The event will be conducted under Rule 6.1: "For J109 Class or fleet sanctioned events, the crew shall be limited to the driver plus six crew members. To encourage family participation, a seventh "lightweight person" may be added at no penalty, provided that person's weight does not exceed 60 kilos (132lbs.), i.e. this event will not require crew weigh in. | 23 August 2006 | The North American Photo Album is posted and now online. The photos are from Thursday and Friday. Click on the below link for the shortcut to the album. | 04 August 2006 | Short Cut to Album | Twenty-two J/109s raced in Class at Cork Week two weeks ago, with the Isle of Wight’s very own Malcolm Thorpe claiming a dramatic victory in King Louie. Malcolm seized this impressive win only on the very last gybe of the entire regatta. This was the first time the 35 foot J/109s had raced in their own Class at Cork; the largest one-design Class on the water this year. Malcolm has brought his trophy home to the island and is busy preparing for another fight, this time in his home waters. Skandia Cowes Week (which starts on Saturday 29th of July) is the battleground on which twenty-one J/109s, including the all-conquering King Louie, will race in a new One-Design class. This new Class will help to ensure the most exciting racing for all of the competitors and it will also guarantee superb viewing for Skandia Cowes shore-side spectators. The J/109s are all the like for like or ‘one-design’, and this means that the first boat to cross the finish line wins the race and that there is no complicated handicap system to be applied after the race has been sailed. Add to this the fact that the Class is wide open in terms of a favourite to win the regatta, and it’s easy to understand why the J/109 fleet will be the one to watch this year. J/109 Zelda, which is owned by Mike Ewart-Smith and Ben Richards (previously Sigma 33 owners), is probably where the smart money will go. Zelda won both the J/109 National Championship in 2005 and the Bridgestone Tyres Trophy for top J/109 at Skandia Cowes Week. Mike and Ben have also recently completed the grueling double-handed Round Britain race in Zelda. John Perry and Philip Smith will be sailing the J/109 Firestorm. The team racing this 2006 boat has already achieved podium finishes in the Yarmouth and Deauville J/109 One-Design regattas. John and Philip’s previous Firestorm was a Prima 38 and before that they owned another Sigma 33. All of the Firestorms, including the current J/109, have been easily recognizable by their stunning red graphics. David McLeman joins the J/109 Class this year with the brand new Offbeat. One of this season’s newest launchings, this will be Offbeat’s first major regatta. Since selling his Sigma 33 David has kept his hand in the sport firstly with a Mumm 30 and then a 30 foot trimaran. Showing fantastic form earlier this year with a convincing Class win in the Warsash Spring Series, were Mike and Sarah Wallis in their J/109 Jahmali. Mike and Sarah have masses of J Boats experience; Jahmali is their second J/109 and they previously owned and raced a J/105, the 34 foot smaller sister to the J/109. Mike, Sarah and their team could very easily win the week. Finally, Chaz Ivill will be looking to win the week again in 2006 thereby repeating his 2004 performance when he finished top of the Class. Chas is sailing Johnny Blue II (his second J/109) and he is showing blistering pace at the moment having secured a convincing J/109 EuroCup win at Deauville International Week in June. The J/109 is a modern 35 footer with a massive asymmetric spinnaker set on a retractable bowsprit. The boats are easily distinguishable and they all carry the J/109 logo on their mainsails. In 2002 J/109 Number 18 Waverider was the Skandia Cowes Week Black Group Overall Champion. The J/109 fleet has now grown to 300 boats worldwide and there are 65 boats sailing in the UK and Ireland. | 04 August 2006 | Regatta Website | Newport, RI– July 23, 2006: A record nineteen J/109’s showed up for the inaugural North American Championship, held during the New York Yacht Club’s One Design Race Week. With so many talented teams on the starting line (and a Rolex watch at stake for the winning skipper), the competition was fierce and mark roundings were tight. Racing was held in Rhode Island Sound for the first three days; the final race was sailed inside Narragansett Bay. Team VITESSE, skippered by Jon Halbert (with Bryan Cook, Farley Fontenot, Mark Foster, Keith Fowler, Grey Rackley, Martha St. Romain, Mark Sutphen, and Jay Vige) won the ten race series by six points. Breezes ranged in strength from 5 to 20 knots over the four days of racing, and a close brush with tropical storm Beryl left behind a mixed up swell that made steering a challenge. But even in the biggest breeze, the boat proved a platform that can be raced competitively by a variety of team and body sizes. Fifth place TASTES LIKE CHICKEN owner Steve Tedeschi sailed with a crew of nine and still weighed in as one of the lightest teams, with three of the crew under 115 pounds each. In contrast, second place finisher Al Minella (RELENTLESS) sailed with six for the first two days– and said crew work was the reason for their top finish. “I like the fact that you can compete short-handed,” Minella explained. “That is one of the primary reasons we moved to an asymmetrical/roller furler boat.” The first day provided many challenges, as three races were run in an easterly that built from ten to sixteen knots during the afternoon. MOJO, skippered by Steve Rhyne, got off to a strong start with a 6,2,5. Three other boats (VITESSE, RELENTLESS, and OFFBEAT) also posted all top ten finishes the first day, setting high standards right from the beginning. TASTES LIKE CHICKEN won the first race, but in the second they returned to start after being called OCS and could only dig back to sixteenth. “The line wasn’t very square early in the day, which made it hard to get a clean start,” Tedeschi said. “The race committee had their hands full.” Four races were sailed on Friday in a ten to fifteen knot southwesterly. Ted Herlihy’s GUT FEELING posted a very consistent 8,1,2,4 to move into the overall lead. Herlihy credited his son Andy’s tactical decisions for the team’s success. “It’s close racing with all boats finishing within one minute of each other.” On Saturday, GUT FEELING continued its consistent run at the front of the fleet by posting a 4,5 in the most difficult conditions of the week. A southwest breeze built to over twenty knots by mid-afternoon, and swells combined with boat chop for a washing machine effect. VITESSE and RELENTLESS each won a race, but VITESSE had trouble with her spinnaker on the first reach of the second race. “Basically, we shrimped the chute,” said Halbert, who only started racing sailboats five years ago. “Trying to fly a chute on a reach is really tough. We had a hard time getting it down, then we missed the mark and had to come back around it.” TASTES LIKE CHICKEN had a strong day with a pair of threes. “This was the first event for a lot of the crew, and we are all amateurs, so we improved through the week,” said Tedeschi. “Our boat speed was great. We vang sheeted a lot, and played the main as we steered around the waves to keep the boat on its feet.” One race was completed on Sunday inside Narragansett Bay. The flatter water meant boat speeds were more even, and as a result most of the fleet arrived at the weather mark in a big clump. GUT FEELING AND VITESSE went into the protest room after racing, and the event was, unfortunately, decided there. When the smoke cleared, GUT FEELING had been disqualified and VITESSE was awarded the brand-new half hull North American trophy donated by J Boats. “It’s a shame to have the regatta decided in the room after so much great racing,” said STORM’s skipper and class Vice President Rick Lyall. “But it’s also a sign of how competitive the class has become in such a short time.” Thanks to Carol Cronin for her coverage of the J/109 North Americans. | 27 July 2006 | Complete Results | I am currently working on the photo album for the North Americans, it should be up and running by next week. | 26 July 2006 | The first day of racing saw some rough surf, as Tropical Storm Beryl passed through the area. Still the RC was able to get 3 races off for the J/109 North Americans. The top three boats leading into todays racing are: 1. MOJO, Karl deHam, Seabrook, Tex., 6-2-5, 13 2. GUT FEELING, Ted Herlihy, S. Dartmouth, Mass., 2-13-2, 17 3. VITESSE, Jon Halbert, League City, Tex., 7-10-1, 18 For more results and complete regatta coverage click on the below link. | 21 July 2006 | Regatta Website | With 20 boats registered and the rain moving out of the area we are in the final stages of preparation for a fantastic North Americans. The final few items: Sail Measurement and Boat Inspection: See below link for the complete details. Crew Substitutions: I know several boats will need to do crew substitutions. Please submit to me a crew schedule by Monday. The schedule should simply include the crew names and the days they will be sailing. If you are not having any crew changes there is no need to submit a crew schedule. Remember that the weight limit is 1,213 pounds and that only one Category 3 may be on board. Weigh-In: Please let your crew know that identification will be checked; please bring a photo ID to weigh-in. Waiver: I have been reminded by the NYYC that everyone must sign a waiver, even if they are only sailing for 1 day. I have attached the waiver for your convenience, please fax it to the sailing office at the NYYC or bring with you to registration. Owner Gathering: There will be a very informal owners gathering on the lawn of the NYYC Friday after racing. Carol Cronin, who writes our newsletter, will be on hand to interview the owners for the fall edition. Look for me under the tent on Friday. See you all on Wednesday. Kendra Muenter J/Boats Inc. | 17 July 2006 | Sail Measurement & Boat Inspection Details | The 8 boat J/109 fleet entered into the 2006 Chicago to Mackinac Race will all be equipped with tracking devices so you can follow along with the action. | 10 July 2006 | Regatta Website | Today is the last day to register and not be penalized with the 250.00 late fee, don’t wait, register today!!!! www.nyyc.org Miscellaneous Notes: Weigh-In Weigh-in will be conducted during registration on Wednesday July 19th from 12-6 at the registration area. There will also be a weigh-in Thursday through Sunday from 8am-9am at the Sailing Office. Sail Measurement Sail Measurement will take place at the NYYC either on the lawn or in the Station 10 building, depending on the weather. The hours will be 10-4. Sail Measurement will only be conducted on Wednesday July 19th. Sail Tags are not needed. Boat Inspection Information to be announced next week, stay tuned!! Sail Declarations and Crew Weigh-In Rosters Don’t forget I need them NO LATER than July 13th. Please fax them to my attention at 401-846-4723. If you need copies you can find them posted on the J/109 site and also the NYYC Race Week Site. Class Membership All owners and drivers (cat 1 only) must be 2006 paid class members, if you have not paid your membership please do so now. Crew Available I received the following email Do you need any crew or know someone who does? I am a 27-year-old female, weighting about 130lbs. Most of the time I have been a fill-in, I have sailed on J105 Savasana and at BIRW did bow on J105 Ghost. I generally do whatever I am told and help out whenever I see something that needs to be done. Examples of things that I have done on a J105: helped with spinnaker take downs, pole, trimming, watching wind shifts, boat positions, possible trouble caused by lines crossed, etc. With my years of laser & V-15 sailing, dingy coaching, and CS 33 cruising & racing, I have overall boat knowledge that applies to all sailboats. If you need crew or know of anyone who is looking please let me know. I am looking for rides the following regattas NYYC Race Week July 20-23 or j109 North Americans, Marblehead NOOD July 27-30, and BBR August 5-7th. If interested contact Leslie at lyounger@mshanken.com As always if there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate to contact me. Kendra W. Muenter J Boats Inc. 401-846-8410 | 07 July 2006 | Tony Wetherbee owner of Commotion, lead the 7 boat J/109 fleet at the Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week scoring 6 bullets out of 7 races for a total of 11 points. From Friday's wind blasts above 20 knots through Saturday's light-air lull and back to big breeze topping out at 22 Sunday, the top prizes in the West Coast's largest keelboat regatta went to those who coped best with the full range of conditions. For complete results, photos and more information click on the below link. | 05 July 2006 | Regatta Website | There is an error in the Sail declaration; Under the mainsail section rule 5.4 the class insignia will not be required for this event. This was inadvertently left in the document. The corrected version has been posted with the other documents on this website. | 30 June 2006 | Regatta Documents | North sails has provided the class with an updated 2006 Tuning Guide. A quick guide pdf version has been posted under the tuning section of the website. For the complete tuning guide follow the below link. | 29 June 2006 | Complete North Tuning Guide | Dear J/109 Owners: The deadline to register for the NYYC race week is July 7th. After that date they will impose a $250.00 late fee. Avoid the late fee register today!!! All documents need to be returned to me NO LATER THAN July 13th. Please fax them to me at 401-846-4723. All owners and associates (non-Cat 3) who may drive must be paid class members for the 2006 calendar year. If you have any questions please contact Barry Gold, J/109 Class Treasurer at barry.gold@carlyle.com We are currently working on the logistics for boat inspection and sail measurement, I will keep you posted as more details become available. As of this morning the follow boats are registered (in no particular order): Sundari Vitesse Mischief Mad Dogs Rush Storm Mojo Saykadoo Relentless Gut Feeling We look forward to a fantastic event and a great North American. We have some great awards planned and since this is a North American if we can get a turn out of 20 boats, Rolex will donate a watch for the winner. So hop off the fence and sign up, you will be glad you did!!!! -Kendra | 29 June 2006 | NYYC Website | Ted Herily and his crew on Gut Feeling take 1st place at Block Island Race Week. With a total of 19 points in 9 races sailed over 5 days Gut Feeling was the boat to beat at the 2006 Block Island Race Week. Six boats in the 14 boat fleet were able to score a first place finish during the regatta, making for some great sailing all around. The top 5 boats were: Gut Feeling, 19 points Taste Like Chicken, 27 points Relentless, 31 points Off Beat and Gossip both with 36 points Eclipse with 38 points Congratulations to all the J/109 Owners and crew!! For compelte results click on the below link. | 27 June 2006 | BIRW Results | For Immediate Realease, from the J/109 Class Officers: J/109 North American Championship Notes The J/109 North American Championships will be held at NYYC Race Week from July 20-23, 2006. The championship will consist of racing to be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The North American Championships will be sailed under the J/109 Class Rules dated April 2006. Since the event has been designated a National Event by the Executive Committee Class Rule 6.2 will be in effect. 6.2 For J/109 Class or fleet events designated by the Executive Board as national or other championship events, Rule 6.1 will not apply. For such designated championship events, a maximum crew weight limit shall apply. Maximum crew weight, regardless of the number of crew members, shall not exceed 550 kilos (1213 pounds) in swimming apparel, excluding the driver. All participating crew members and non 100% owners/partners are required to register with ISAF Sailor and obtain an ISAF number. To register with ISAF Sailor please visit the following website http://www.sailing.org/isafsailor/ to obtain your ISAF number classification follow the steps outlines on the website, be sure to click yes on the registration page to receive your ISAF Classification. Sail Measurement and Boat Inspections will take place on Wednesday July 19th. Location and times to be announced. As a reminder all Owners and Drivers must be current (paid) members of the J/109 Class Association for the 2006 calendar year. Crew Weigh-In Rosters including ISAF Sailor Number and Sail Declarations are to be submitted to Kendra Muenter at the J/Boats office NO LATER than JULY 13th. Fax number 401-846-4723. A copy of the documents can be obtained through your fleet captain, the NYYC website or under the Class Rules section of this website. Click the below link for the shortcut to the documents. Sincerely, J/109 Class Officers Len Siegal, President Rick Lyall, VP Barry Gold, Treasurer Edward Dailey, Secretary | 23 June 2006 | Regatta Documents | The New York YC Race Week at Newport ENTRY FORM is now online. The One-Design classes will be racing July 20-23. To find the entry form and other Race Week information, follow the below link, then select Yacht Racing, then Race Week. Please be sure to check back to the NYYC website often as we will be posting documents pertaining to the J/109 North Americans on the NYYC website with the other race week documents. We hope to have a great turn out for what is sure to be a fantastic event. We look forward to seeing you all there!!!!! | 21 June 2006 | NYYC Website | Having raced a J-105 for about ten years with considerable success at the Fort Worth Boat Club located on Eagle Mountain Lake northwest of Fort Worth, Texas it seemed appropriate to try something different by trading the 105 for a new J-109 (hull 45). The 109 is about three feet longer on the water line and more completely finished out as a true racer-cruiser sloop. She is also considerably faster as a racing vessel. The PHRF time differential between the two type is 9 seconds a mile at the Fort Worth Boat Club. Starting with the 2006 year, the J-109 has won each six race series but one where she finished second. She also won the Clubs annual regatta last June. This difference is accounted for in the sail area-displacement ratios which clearly establish the J-109 as the faster boat. Both I and my crew are pleased with the trade we made and expect to keep sailing the J-109 for sometime to come. | 20 June 2006 | The following were printed incorrectly in the lastest Newsletter (Spring 2006). Class Vice President Rick Lyall does not live next door to Barry Gold in Larchmont NY, Rick resides in Wilton CT. The City of Larchmont does not have a strong hold on the class :) The results reported for the 2006 American YC Spring Series were for the first weekend of this 2 weekend event. The results should have read: Taste Like Chicken, Stephen Tedeschi Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Adrian Begley Freedom, Mario Fischera Storm, Rick Lyall Sundari, Gold/Carpenter Mischief, Mike Brown Patriot, Stephan Furnary Georgetown 2, George Marks Melody, Alan Tannous | 20 June 2006 | Dear J/109 Owners, At J BoatsÆ request, Sparcraft France has redesigned the vang bracket on the J/109 mast so as to reduce the point loading on the fasteners. Some boats in the field have had their bracket fasteners loosen up after heavy air jibing. The new bracket is larger and the fasteners attach to the sides of the spar (instead of just the aft face), making it a more bullet-proof installation. Boats currently in production and those built since February have the new style bracket. Sparcraft is making the bracket kit available direct to owners through their US subsidiary, Charleston Spars. The cost is $125 including a set of stainless rivots. Please contact David Lively, Charleston Spar, (704) 597-1502 ext.27 or email dlively@charlestonspar.com Please visit the technical section of the website to view the complete bulletin and photo of the new vang. | 04 May 2006 | After many months of conference calls the fleet captains have elected Class Officers and have approved NEW Class Rules and the Class Constitution. Your Class Officers are: Len Siegal, President Rick Lyall, Vice President Barry Gold, Treasurer Ed Dailey, Secretary You can view the Class Rules and Constitution by following the below link. The Executive Committees first order of business was to designate the 2006 North Americans a weigh-in event. Len Siegal announced: "The 2006 J/109 North Americans held during the NYYC Race Week July 19-23 is a designated weigh-in event by the Executive Committee. The weight limit is 550 kilos (1213 pounds) in swimming apparel excluding the driver. As stated in the Class Rules dated April 2006." The class will also be collecting class dues from Owners and Associates. The cost is 50.00 for Owners and Associates. Please contact your local Fleet Captain for information on paying dues. If you are not a member of a fleet please visit the log-in page under membership for information about paying your class dues. | 27 April 2006 | Rules and Constitution | The North Americans will be fast approaching, only 3 short months away. If you need any help in planning for the event or if you are interested in chartering your boat, please let me know. I can be reached at kendra@jboats.com Some local events that you may want to consider in preparation for the NAs are: The Jimmy Fund Regatta, Newport RI, June 3 Block Island Race Week, Block Island RI, June 19-23 | 19 April 2006 | The below update was sent to the class by the Australian Dealer, enjoy! J109 û æSweet ChariotÆ Sydney, Australia Late December 2005 to mid-February 2006 The J 109, hull number 264 left the USA in November 2005 and all was looking positive for her to be commissioned and hit the water to meet some well planned sail & crew trials. We planned to run a very intensive race programme to give the boat some high visibility and profile in and around Sydney. Alas, you know what they say about well laid plans. From Rhode Island, Port Everglades, Panama City, New Zealand, Brisbane, then finally Sydney the freighter was running three days late, and the J109 was finally unloaded during the early hours of Friday 25 of November. She sat on the dock all weekend waiting for the dockyard workers to complete the paperwork the following Monday. The low-loader was re-arranged; and the commissioning yard did all they could to accommodate the J109 which was now way behind schedule. Every marina, shipyard and shipwright was working overtime to prepare boats for the Australian blue water classic, the mighty Sydney to Hobart race which commences on Boxing Day. As the next week passed it became apparent we would miss the first few warm up races we had planned and crew training was indeed a luxury we would not have time for. The boat was finally completed, named æSweet ChariotÆ and launched on the 10th December 2005. We planned to test the North Sail wardrobe and wireless TackTick instruments, meeting at Greenwich Flying Squadron, a local sailing club west of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the base club for the owners û Ray & Sandra Entwistle. With much excitement the owners and JBA met at the club - it was blowing thirty knots at 8.30 am which was extremely unusual for the time of year, and it blew all day and for the rest of the week, only the #4 jib was tested. Finally the weather was calm; we trialled most of the sails and fitted the spreader protection patches on the main sail. After Christmas and some unplanned work commitments, the owners Ray & Sandra left Sydney to sail the boat to Pittwater, approx. 20n.miles north of Sydney ready for the J109Æs debut. û the high profile two day Pittwater û Coffs Harbour regatta. We had spent less than two hours behind the wheel with the sails up, but were looking forward to getting some feel for the boat on the journey to Pittwater. The forecast winds never kicked and the J109 was motored all the way. Arriving at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at ten pm we knew we were not prepared and had yet to meet three crew members we had never set eyes on before. The next day arrived, crew members were briefed on the course, the boat, and the fact we had not yet seen one of the jibs and a spinnaker. The pressure was on. The four races over the following two days were sailed from a drifter to fifteen knots and from the beginning the boat felt responsive and on-the-pace. The J109 was beating larger boats on the water and therefore scoring very well on handicap. Sweet Chariot scored a 5th, 1st, 2nd and 3rd to ultimately win the regatta. Our next success story was the Australia Day Regatta held on the 26th January. Despite being at the smaller end of the division (boats of up to sixty feet were in this division) we finished 5th over the line and took the handicap win. To date the J109 has been entered into 3 regattas and 10 races around various clubs in Sydney. Sweet Chariot has won 12 of these races either on scratch or handicap. Every where we sail, the J109 attracts interest through her speed and looks, especially as we have been fortunate enough to be at the pointy end of the fleets. We are very pleased with the racing performance and qualities of the J109 and are looking forward to experiencing her cruising attributes at the end of the Australian racing season. | 17 March 2006 | Between 20 and 25 J/109s are expected at the event and the racing will be one-design, boat-on-boat, in accordance with the strict J/109 Class Rules. There are now 57 J/109s sold in the UK and the Class start at Cowes bears witness to the astonishing assent of the Class since the model was launched four years ago. | 08 March 2006 | We have recently learned that several J109Æs in the field may have their hot water tank temperature dials set to 80 degrees Celsius, which is 20 degrees too high of the recommended setting for the fittings. Sustained use of the tank at this maximum setting may cause leaking of the fittings. Your hot water heater should be set at 60 degrees Celsius. There is a small radial dial on the hot water heater that will allow you to adjust the temperature to 60 degrees. Please feel free to call Pearson Composites Customer service with any questions that you may have. To view document and photo please click on the below link. | 13 February 2006 | Tech Bulletin | If there were any lingering thoughts that the Key West venue had somehow lost its windy ôedge,ö the 2006 running of Premiere Racing's Key West Race Week squashed them in resounding fashion. With the winds peaking at 33 knots and only dipping below 15 knots during 3 of the 9 races, the 280 boats across 19 divisions had their hands full throughout the week. Safety came first, then keeping the boat together, and finally the racing. Most crews went home with a locker full of harrowing tales, effectively cementing Key West Race Week's reputation for years to come as one of the pinnacle sailing events of the year. The J/109 class returned in force this year (doubling in numbers), prompting the organizers to start the fleet at the head of Division 4, a move that enhanced the one-design experience for the owners. With two points separating three boats with one race to go, Steve Rhyne and his Mojo team from Kemah, Texas took a Race 9 bullet to win the J/109 Midwinter Championship over Charlie Milligan (Newport, RI) on Phoebe's Phling and Rick Lyle (Wilton, CT) on Storm. It was a reunion of sorts since the three had mixed tacks at the Block Island 2005 (won by Phoebe's Phling), and a glimpse of what is to expect when the J/109 Class hosts its first North American Championship this July in Newport, RI. Special mention to Rick LyallÆs Storm which received Boat of the Day honors on Thursday. Also to Dr. Ken Grant of Glascow, Scotland who brought his boat Tight Solius II across the Atlantic for the event, and so much enjoyed the balmy, breezy conditions that he vowed to return next year. For complete results: | 30 January 2006 | Click here | With 11 points separating 1st and 4th place the J109 action is HOT at Key West. Be sure to check out the results. | 20 January 2006 | Results | The celebrated J Boats yard has today announced the launch of the first European J 109 Cup, the 'J/109 EuroCup', within the framework of the Deauville International Sailing Week from 7th to 11th June 2006. Launched in 2001, the J/109, a 10.85m racer-cruiser, has developed rapidly and around fifteen fleets have formed in the United States and Europe. In Great Britain, where over 50 boats race on a regular basis, and in France where it makes its presence felt in all the big events, the J/109 is one of the market's reference 35 footers. The invitation of the class to Deauville's 'One Design' Week', will be instrumental in the development of the J/109's one design calendar, alongside the guesting J/80 and J/105. Class rules are available on the site www.j109.co.uk The creation of this first ever EuroCup will boost the participation of international talent in both the series and the event and Jeff Johnstone, President of J Boats, is pleased to announce the participation of a crew coming all the way from the US with the express intention of racing in Deauville. After the Melges 24 Nationals and the European Mumm 30 Championship, Deauville International Week can now lay claim to a third top level label for its dΘbut edition. Launched on 3rd October 2005 by Philippe Augier, Mayor of Deauville, the Deauville Yacht Club and Sirius EvΘnements, and organised in partnership with the French Sailing Federation (FFV), Deauville International Week will showcase the top level international one design series. Those classes invited to the event are the Melges 24, J/80, Mumm 30, J/105, J/109 and 3 Open classes comprising the 40, 45 and 52 footers, which will be racing in elapsed time. | 04 January 2006 | Regatta Website | We are in the process of adding photo albums onto the website. If you have a website of your boat please send me your link or if you have a few photos of your boat please submit them to me and I can create an album. We are especially interested in your cruising photographs And do not forget to check out the latest addition to our album, Superstition hull #171. | 07 December 2005 | Short Cut to Albums | As of today we have 10 J/109s registered to participate at Key West Race Week. One of the ten boat will be making the journey across the pond from the UK to compete. Good luck to all participants and be sure to follow the action. | 06 December 2005 | Click Here for Key West | The J/109 Newsletters have been mailed. You should receive your copy in the next few days. If you do not recieve a newsletter or would like additional copies please feel free to contact me at kendra@jboats.com | 22 November 2005 | The 2006 Sailing calendar has been updated and is online. If you would like to add an event please email me at kendra@jboats.com and I will add it to the schedule. | 03 November 2005 | Shortcut to Schedule | Gary MozerÆs J/109 Current Obsession raced consistently well with 6 firsts and 1 second to win IRC D Class at St. Francis Yacht Club Big Boat Series. Current Obsession topped the nine-boat IRC fleet Mozer won the Keefe-Kilborn Memorial Trophy, which was established in 1976 to honor Harold Keefe and Ray Kilborn along with a nice watch from the regatta sponsor Rolex. Current Obsession was also the 2005 season high point winner on the west coast | 02 November 2005 | Click here for complete results | Racing in a division of mixed PHRF boats, Bill Smith's J/109, Harm's Way, has won both the Annual Fort Worth Boat Club and the spring's Old Man of the Sea Regattas. The FWBC is located on Eagle Mountain Lake north of Fort Worth, Texas. Harm's Way sails with a PHRF handicap of 69. | 25 October 2005 | We are in the process of adding new photo albums to the J/109 site. Select photos from Block Island Race Week 2005 are ready for viewing. We will be adding the 2005 Chicago NOODS and Key West Race Week in the upcoming week. Be sure to check out the photos!! | 21 October 2005 | Short Cut to Link | 11 J/109s turned out for the 2005 Larchmont NOODS, held September 10-11th in Larchmont NY. Congratulations to all J/109 owners and crew. For complete regatta results click on the link. | 21 September 2005 | NOOD Results | This yearÆs Verve Cup, sailed on 3 race courses and featuring 250 boats saw the continued growth of the J109. The Southern Lake Michigan J109 brought 8 boats to the starting line and gained a one design section in the three day event. Beautiful sailing conditions on Lake Michigan gave the J109Æs plenty of competitive racing over 8 races. This yearÆs well earned first place honors went to Bill ZeilerÆs Kiwi. Better yet, Kiwi was credited with winning the overall Verve Cup trophy for all boats. Close behind in the section were Len SiegalÆs Lucky Dubie 2 in second place and Mike ManilaÆs Anteaen. Even more impressive was that 5 different J109Æs won a race in the most tightly contested of all the one design fleets. Ron ZerbanÆs Zeitgeist, Dave GustmanÆs Northstar, Irv KerbelÆs KIII, Joe LondriganÆs Realt Na Mara, and Jerry LukenÆs Fandango rounded out the field. The fleet continues to get better and better. | 29 August 2005 | This yearÆs Chicago to Mackinac race featured 300 boats in the big boat and little boat fleets. The race began July 16, 2005. The large boat fleet of 138 boats race for the Chicago to Mackinac trophy. In this fleet, Realt Na Mara skippered by Joe Londrigan, Northstar skippered by Dave Gustman, and Lucky Dubie 2 skippered by Len Siegal all made it into the top 10. This yearÆs race featured a light air upwind start that gradually turned southerly, pushing the fleet northward. All 5 of the J109Æs in this yearÆs race carried transponders so that family and friends could track their progress up the race course. Full Tilt and Fandango filled out the J109 field. The latter part of the race featured ideal surfing conditions of 25 to 30 knot winds from the south. Lucky Dubie 2 recorded 19 knots on its knotmeter and had steady readings of 16 plus knots. Lucky Dubie 2 wrestled with Realt Na Mara and Northstar near the finish. All 3 of these boats were within hailing distance after 333 miles of competitive racing. A terrific time was had by all. The J109 showed its speed in all conditions. The Southern Lake Michigan J109 fleet is already planning for a larger fleet for next yearÆs race, which should give the 109 its own start in the prestigious Mac race. | 29 August 2005 | Regatta Website | Get the most out of the J/109 Class. The Owner's forum is up and running, share tips, check regatta information, connect with other owners. The forum is a private forum and only accessible to owners and class associates, so there is no need to worry about posting!!! This is your forum so please feel free to us it!! | 23 August 2005 | Block Island RI, Phoebe's Phling, owned by Charles Milligan, Newport RI won the J109 East Coast Championships, held during Block Island Race Week. With 16 J/109s on the line and 4 points seperating the top 3 boats, the week provided great racing in the J/109 Class! Congratulations to Pheobe's Phling and all the J/109s who competed. We look forward to another great event next year! For complete regatta information and photos please click on the link. | 03 August 2005 | BIRW 2005 | Dear J/109 Owners; If you are planning on attending Block Island Race Week and did not receive via email a J/109 Owner Regatta Declaration, please contact me at Kendra@jboats.com ASAP. This year's regatta will have a record J/109 tunrout!! Be sure to follow the action at www.blockislandraceweek.com We look forward to some great sailing!! | 09 June 2005 | The first J/109 newsletter is now available online. Feel free to share the link or print out copies for friends, family and crew. | 24 May 2005 | J109 Newsletter | Don't forget June 6th is the last day for enteries to be received before late fees will be applied. So if you are planning on attending Block and have yet to send in your entry, do it today!!! Click on the link for entry form and more details. | 24 May 2005 | Block Island Race Week | The first J/109 newsletter has been printed and sent out to the owners and associate members. If you did not receive a newsletter please let me know ASAP. I will be happy to mail one to you. Yours truly, Kendra Muenter Kendra@jboats.com 401-846-8410 | 12 April 2005 | To: Block Island J/109 Racers Fr: Kendra Muenter/Jeff Johnstone, J Boats, Inc From early indications, it appears that we may have a record size J/109 fleet in store for Block Island this year! We know of at least 4 boats coming in from outside of New England. In an effort to help with your planning, please find below the essential info regarding Block Island Race Week. The Storm Trysail Club has posted the NOR and Entry forms here (click on Regatta Documents): http://blockislandraceweek.com/ If you plan to have a car at Block Island, then one of your first calls should be for a ferry reservation: contact: FERRY to Old Harbor or HIGH SPEED FERRY to New Harbor Dockage is best at Block Island Boat Basin (401-466-2631) or Champlains (1 800-762-4541). You can also try Paynes Dock (401-466-5572) which is where the high-speed ferry comes in. Moorings are available on a first come basis when you arrive in Great Salt Pond, and anchoring in the outer anchorage (at no charge) is also an option. For house rentals contact Ballard Hall (401) 466-8883 or Sullivan Real Estate (401) 466-5521. Other hotel and housing can be found at Chamber of Commerce. General Info on Block Island: http://blockislandinfo.com/ J/109 CLASS PROVISIONS The J/109s will be sailing under Class Rules as posted at www.J/109.org with the following exceptions: 1) Crew Limit/Weight û in lieu of weighing crew, the crew limit will be skipper plus 6 persons. To encourage family sailing, any child aged 12 and under will only count as ╜ towards the total crew number. This would allow, for example, an owner to sail with skipper plus 5 crew plus two kids; or if very brave - skipper plus 4 crew plus 4 kids. 2) Equipment û the removable transom locker and the V-berth cushions are not required to be aboard. 3) The float line rule #6.3 and headstay length #6.4 will not be in effect for this event, but modification to the factory provided headstay (i.e. adding non-std toggles) is prohibited. 4) Each owner will be asked to sign a Class Declaration form at registration. Remember that the sail inventory under Class Rules is limited to one mainsail, one jib of max LP of 105%, and two spinnakers not to exceed 108sq meters, so no need to pack any of those extra PHRF sails! We will be on site during the event, and look forward to organizing a J/109 get-together. Please let us know if youÆd be interested in providing the ôhost siteö for an owner party. Thanks! | 18 March 2005 | Fleet 12 announces the following regatta schedule The following regattas were selected primarily because there are 4-5 J-109's committed to race at each regatta. It was agreed that this series of five regattas would constitute the Fleet-12 championship, five regattas with one throw-out regatta for the series. Lakewood Yacht Club Spring Regatta, March 19-20 GBCA/Houston Yacht Club Spring Regatta, April 2-3 Lakewood Yacht Club Shoe Regatta, May 14-15 Houston Yacht Club Leukemia Cup Regatta June 18-19 Houston Yacht Club NOOD Regatta September 23-25 | 24 February 2005 | Premiere Racing is pleased to invite our Key West J/109 owners and any other J/109 owners to the Acura Miami Race Week 2005. The Southern Ocean Racing Conference û known to racing sailors around the world as ôSORCö - has found new life with Premiere Racing. I donÆt have to tell you about the South Beach venue, warm water and big breeze. Nor do I have to sell you about Premiere RacingÆs crack race management team which takes care of business for you in Key West and will be running the racing in Miami. You should have received the Notice of Race in the mail. It is posted on our event web site along with just about everything you might want to know regarding the regatta. The æBig BoatÆ PHRF racing will take place just outside the Miami Cut over 4 days, March 10û13. The Miami Beach Marina is the host site for the ocean divisions. Perhaps we can get an early start and begin promoting a J/109 one design start for 2006. Excellent racing conditions and South Beach nightlife are a winning combination. Add improved logistics and top-notch race management and the inaugural Acura Miami Race Week is not to be missed. For those joining us I have 2 requests for youà 1) ENTER NOWà posted early entries attract more competitors! We wonÆt process your credit card until February. The entry form is located under TIPS. 2) RESERVE YOUR SLIP AT MIAMI BEACH MARINAà if you want be sure to have a slip at Miami Beach Marina, get your application in right away (also posted in the tips section of this site). For more regatta information and details, including facilities to store you boat between regattas, check out the below link. Enter now! Peter Craig, Premiere Racing | 04 January 2005 | MIAMI RACE WEEK LINK | WeÆre pleased to announce that the 2005 J/109 East Coast Championships will take place at Storm Trysail ClubÆs Block Island Race Week, from June 19-25, 2005. This is one of the premiere east coast sailing venues, and early indications from New England area fleet captains point towards a record J/109 fleet. The J/109 Class will sail under Class Rules as posted at www.J/109.org. Over the winter, we expect that there will be some (non-sail related) modifications to the rules following a survey of J/109 fleets and the convening of the first J/109 Executive Committee meeting. Any changes will be posted promptly on the class site. As the event nears, we will be coordinating J/109 activities during the week, including a pre-event seminar as well as a mid-week social. To stay current with the latest regatta information, please visit the event website http://blockislandraceweek.com/ The key things to jump on early are docking, housing and ferry reservations û the contacts for which will be posted on the event site. Please feel free to contact Class Secretary, Kendra Muenter at Kendra@jboats.com if you need any help in your planning. Should be a great time! Yours truly, Jeffrey Johnstone | 23 November 2004 | Block Island Race Week | Fleet #11 was recently formed, the fleet will be for the Southern Lake Michigan area. The fleet captain is Len Siegal owner of LUCKY DUBIE 2, hull #124. With 8 boats comprising the fleet, we are looking forward to some great one-design racing. Please remember it only takes 3 boats to start a fleet, if you wish to start a fleet in your area please feel free to contact me at kendra@jboats.com | 22 November 2004 | We are pleased to announce the following one-design format for Key West 2005: For J/109s registering to sail in the ôJ/109 Classö (as opposed to PHRF), we will be sailing under Class Rules as posted at www.J/109.org with the following exceptions: 1)Crew Limit/Weight û in lieu of weighing crew, the crew limit will be skipper plus 7 persons. 2)Equipment û a reminder that the removable transom locker is not required, but the swim ladder, emergency tiller, stove, v-berth platform (but no cushion), and main cabin bunk cushions are required. 3)Due to the fact that most owners will not be cruising their boats in the area before or after the event, the main cabin table can be removed for protection. 4)The float line rule #6.3 and headstay length #6.4 will not be in effect for this event, but modification of the factory provided headstay (i.e. adding non-standard toggles) is prohibited. 5)To encourage all J/109 owners to participate, a small rating credit will be given to shoal draft configured boats. The rating delta to be determined by Rod Johnstone, based on designerÆs VPP over windward/leeward course. 6)2005 Membership (Rule #2.1) is complimentary for all J/109 owners. 7)Each owner will be asked to provide a Class Declaration form at registration. This will be emailed in advance so to save you time while registering. With at least five boats competing in class configuration, Premiere Racing will provide J/109 class trophies. We had five J/109s in 2004, so are hoping for at least that many this year. The plan is to start the J/109 and J/120 classes on the same line (since neither class by itself will likely field 12 boats), but independently score them; rather than tangle us in with a PHRF class filled with symmetric kites. If you need any logistical help in planning your Key West trip, please feel free to contact Karen Yingling at karen@jconcierge.com or Kendra Muenter at Kendra@jboats.com . Karen will be onsite in Key West coordinating with owner activities. There are two J/109s already registered (go to www.premiere-racing.com ). Sign up as soon as possible to show class strength and help convince anyone on the fence! | 08 October 2004 | Premiere Racing | J/109, ONE MORE #145 owned by Llyod McKeen took second at the Toronto NOODS. With a PHRF rating of 69, ONE MORE should have been the slowest boat in the mixed fleet of 6 boats. But she finished second with a total of 18 points. ONE MORE finished ahead of a Beneteau 40.7, 2 C&Cs and a Nelson Marek, all of which were rated faster. Congratulations to Llyod McKeen and the crew of ONE MORE!!! | 27 September 2004 | Regatta Results | The J/109s dominated in the recently completed Verve Cup held at the Chicago Yacht Club. Lucky Dubie 2, hull #124 owned by Len Siegal took first in section with a total score of 7.25, followed closely by Realta Na Mara hull # 141 owned by Tom Londrigan with 9.5 points. Hull #173 sailed by Bob Sittel took fourth with 17 points. For a complete list of entries and more results click on the below link, the J/109s sailed on course B. | 30 August 2004 | Verve Cup | The following 2 updates are courtesy of J/109 owners. If you have any results you would like published please send them to me (kendra@jboats.com) and I will be sure to put them on the J/109 site. Christopher Zibailo, owner of Superstition, J/109 #171 sent the following report: We happy to report that we were able to score our first victory in our J109 Superstition at the Flip Flop Regatta in Boston Harbor last weekend. The Flip Flop Regatta is one of the few major PHRF Regattas originating on Boston Harbor. It was a distance pursuit race with each boat starting on her own time, and was open to all mono-hull cruising/racing boats holding a current PHRF NE certificate. The race course has been developed to offer a mix of government marks and buoys to maximize the race experience. Superstition raced in Class B, which was a spinnaker class, and featured nine boats such as a J105, a Beneteau First 36.7 a couple of C&C 40s, a Beneteau First 42.7 and a Swan 48. As this was a pursuit race, Superstition started last and managed to pass a total of 46 boats, including the other eight boats in her division, and was the sixth boat to finish the race. The closest boat in our division (the Swan 48) finished almost three minutes behind the J109. I had not planned on racing Superstition in the regatta, but when last minute changes made it impossible for Dan and Jon Grossman to bring their J109 Spitfire up to Boston to race, Dan suggested that he would supply the crew if I would supply the boat. The combination of the experienced crew from Spitfire and local knowledge (Superstition is based in Boston) made for a deadly combination. Fausto Pierobon, owner of Sagola hull #068 which sails out of Jesolo Venice Italy sent the following results for his J/109 which races IMS regatttas in the Adriatic Sea: 2nd Place World Championship IMS, held in Capri 2nd Place Italian IMS Championships, held in Trieste 4th Place IMS Championship held in Puna Ala 2nd Place Mediterranean IMS Championship | 30 August 2004 | The following report is courtesy of Dan Grossman, co-owner of J/109 Spitfire. Buzzards Bay Regatta on August 6-8, 2004 offered conditions from near-calm to boisterous. After Friday's atypical northerly breezes and overcast skies, Saturday and Sunday provided the kind of conditions the Bay is famous for, with sea breezes filling in by late morning and building through the afternoon under partly cloudy skies. The last race on Sunday challenged crews with gusts to 32 knots, and a vicious square chop. The world-class race committee, led by PRO Tom Farquhar, got off three windward-leeward races on each of Friday and Saturday and two on Sunday. The Beverly Yacht Club provided excellent facilities, with support and volunteers from co-sponsors New Bedford, Mattapoisett and Low Tide Yacht Clubs. For the first time, BBR offered one-design racing for a six-boat J/109 fleet. The BBR Committee, chaired by Ray Cullum, was exceptionally supportive of this new and growing class. The J/109 New England fleet adopted the format used at the J/109 East Coast Championship for level racing at BBR: class sails, driver plus six crew in lieu of weight limitations, and slightly relaxed class rules. Ted Herlihy's Gut Feeling dominated the series, with eight bullets. Mike Davis' Gambit took second place in seven races. Dan and Jon Grossman's Spitfire took third place in the series by a narrow 3-point margin. For complete results, see the below link. | 10 August 2004 | Buzzards Bay Regatta | The winner of the J109 East Coast Championships held this past weekend during the New York Yacht Club race week was Electra, owned by Craig Crossley of Barrington, R.I. Electra posted a total of 17 points, with the closest competitor, Storm owned by Rick Lyall of Wilton, Conn., with 23.75 points overall. "This was hard core racing," said Crossley, "We have never sailed four races in one day". After the first race on the first day (they finished fourth), we said 'we've got to keep racing and do better.' After that, everything started to click and we kept getting better." Crossley attributed the boat's success to the team's positive atmosphere. He recalled looking around the course and seeing one of sailing's great names, Rod Johnstone, on a boat next to him at the first start. "We knew we had to do well against Rod," said Crossley. "At the end of the last race, we were both crossing the finish line together. We thought they had us, but we wound up winning it by an inch. And we won the series." To read more about the regatta please click on the link below. | 28 July 2004 | Results | The J/109s will be sailing under Class Rules as posted at www.J/109.org with the following exceptions: 1)Crew Limit/Weight û in lieu of weighing crew, the crew limit will be skipper plus 6 persons. 2)Equipment û a reminder that the removable transom locker is not required, but the swim ladder, emergency tiller, stove, v-berth platform (but no cushion), main cabin bunk cushions and main cabin table are required. 3)The float line rule #6.3 and headstay length #6.4 will not be in effect for this event. 4)2004 Membership (Rule #2.1) is complimentary for all J/109 owners. 5)Each owner will be asked to sign a Class Declaration form at registration. This will be emailed in advance so save you time while registering. 6)As a reminder, please reread the following class rule regarding the extension of the bowsprit. This is intended to minimize the ôde-sprittingö that has plagued other sprit classes. As many people are learning this for the first time, IÆd encourage everyone to provide an infringing boat a warning first before filing any protests 6.2 Extending the sprit at the windward mark. When not in the process of setting, flying or taking down the spinnaker, the bowsprit shall be retracted so that the tip of the sprit is aft of the forwardmost point on the bow. Approaching a windward mark without the spinnaker set, the bowsprit shall not be extended until the bow of the boat has passed the mark. The bowsprit shall be retracted at the first reasonable opportunity after taking the spinnaker down. Penalty for noncompliance shall be a 360 degree turn prior to the finish of the race. WeÆll be on the water (on the J inflatable) on Friday taking photos of the J/109 action, so look forward to seeing you then. | 19 July 2004 | Check out the photos of the J109s in action from BIRW 2004. | 06 July 2004 | Click Here for Photos | 10 J/109s competed in this years Block Island Race Week allowing for a J109 class start. STORM, owned by Rick Lyall, Wilton CT took first in the fleet of 10 boats with a score of 16. 1 point seperated the second and third place boats. PATRIOT, owned by CJ Bocklet, Rye NY finsihed with 19 points, while BANDWAGON co-owned by Alan and Rodney Johnstone, Stonington CT, finished in third with 20 overall points. Racing was lost on cancelled on Tuesday and Friday due to weather. The series consisted of 7 races with a throw out. | 06 July 2004 | Results | The J/109s had a great run at the Chicago NOOD held June 11th-13th. Racing in PHRF fleet 3 with 12 entries the J/109s took the top 3 spots. Len Siegal, owner of Luckie Dubie 2 took first place scoring 16 points in this best of 7 series with one toss out. This was Lucky Dubie's 2 first regatta after just being delivered in the spring. Just 3 points seperated the J/109s for second and third place. Richard Stearns on Glider finished second with 26 points. Realta Na Mara owned by Tom Londrigan finshed out the top 3 with 29 points. Click on the link for complete results. Congratulations to all the J/109s!!! | 16 June 2004 | Regatta Results | New York Yacht Club Race Week, Newport RI û July 23-25 Racing actually runs all week from July 16-25, but the ôone-designö portion is just the final three days. Class racing is level with no handicaps in effect. Format: Class Rules apply except that in lieu of crew weight, the crew limit will be skipper plus 6. For more information about this event please click on the regatta link. | 07 June 2004 | Regatta | Good Jybrations, owned by Lee Pryor of Oceanside Ca, took class first,in the Butler Invitaional, sponsored by the Mission Bay Yacht Club. The race was a 26.8 mile offshore course from Mission Bay to Oceanside CA. Click on results for a complete regatta wrap up. | 02 June 2004 | Results | B&G has announced an electronics seminar to be held June 10th, 6pm at the Newport RI Marriott. Click on the B&G link for further information. | 25 May 2004 | B&G Seminar | May 8th, 2004 Yarmouth ME, J/109 hull # 166 ARIONÆS RIDE Christened. The boat owned by Mylan and Maya Cohen is the first J109 in Maine. The CohenÆs were joined dockside with their son Mitchell, friends and members of the East Coast Yacht Sales staff to help bless the boat. With a crack over the bow of the traditional bottle of champagne and a blast from the East Coast Yacht Sales cannon, the boat is now ready to enjoy a carefree summer of cruising in ME. | 17 May 2004 | The following regatta report is courtesy of David Johnson, Fleet #2 Captian. J 109s raced as a class at the American Yacht Club Spring Series. There were 5 boats racing over the 2 weekends. A total of 7 races were held in virtually every condition...from drifters to Northwest at 18 kts. with gusts to 28 kts. to southerlies of 15 kts. going to 23 kts. in rain squalls. Rick Lyall in Storm took first place overall beating Al Minella's Relentless by one point. Third was David Johnson's Lorelei followed by Steve Funary on Patriot and Doug Wisch on Navicular. Racing was close with many lead changes. All agreed the 109 was fast "out of the box" and those with more helm time had an advantage this early in the season...but wait till Block ! Up coming events.... Expect 7 or more 109s at Block Island in June and perhaps as many as 15 for the New York Yacht Club Race Week. The one design portion of the NYYC Race Week is Friday to Saturday ( July 23 to 25 ) | 05 May 2004 | The site is for the owners, crew and friends of the J/109 Class Association and the content will be driven by your needs. Let us know what you would like to see here. You can browse the public area using the menu at the left. If you would like to access the Member Area, we need to have your e-mail address on file. We may already have it, in which case you may get a password using the Log In menu. If we don't have your e-mail, just Register first. The Member Area has the Member List, the Owner's Forum and a growing base of technical information. Please look around the site and if you have any feedback, please email me at Kendra@jboats.com Enjoy the site! | 27 April 2004 | This is the early summer classic, featuring five days of racing in Block Island Sound, with one day dedicated to a 20 mile Round the Island race. Based on feedback from J/109 owners registered for the event, the following format will apply for the J/109 class at Block Island: Class sails plus one roller-furling PHRF (145-155%) genoa and one PHRF (larger than 108SM) spinnaker. Sail Declarations to be filed with J Boats in advance so that discrepancies in sail sizes can be properly handicapped. In lieu of weighing crew, the crew limit will be skipper plus 7. To date we have 7 J/109s registered at Block with a month left to register. | 26 April 2004 | J/109, #56 GAIA owned by Bob Riggle is scheduled to race in the VIC-Maui 2004. This race originates in Victoria British Columbia and ends some 2308 nautical miles away in Maui. The race begins June 23rd. Good luck Bob!!! | 26 April 2004 | See the VIC-Maui 2004 website | March 23, 2004àNewport, RIà.With nearly 180 boats built and and 8 fleets formed in three countries, class racing is now a reality for this recently introduced 35Æ racer-cruiser from J Boats. Sixteen owners from five different fleets attended the first J/109 class meeting held in conjunction with the annual J Boats Mid-Winter Rendezvous on March 13th in Warren, RI. Here are the highlights from the meeting: Getting the Class Started The owners agreed to launch a class website to facilitate owner-to-owner communication and to help promote class activities. The class site will include a list of fleet contacts, class rules and interpretations, tuning guides, newsworthy articles, and an interactive schedule. Owners will also have password access to a members-only site which will include an owner roster, discussion forum, technical manuals and bulletins. Kendra Muenter of J Boats will be serving as J/109 class and web contact. Target web launch date for www.j109.org is May 1st. Local Fleet Development It was noted that the key to class success is gathering owners together on a local basis, even if for only a few events per season. Fleet captains were charged with organizing a spring meeting with fellow owners in their areas to seek common ground on fleet goals for the year and to target a few events for season, either racing or cruising. Fleets were strongly urged to follow the J/109 Class Rules as currently posted at www.jboats.com except as needed locally to help build participation. | 26 April 2004 | Sponsored by Sail Northwest consisting of class starts at the following regattas: J/Fest, June 26-27; Volvo Leukemia Cup (tentative), June 5th; Puget Sound Sailing Championships (PSSC), October 16-17. The winner will be determined by the best overall score of the 3 regattas. | 25 April 2004 | |
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 AYC Spring 2004: Patriot Andrew Sims: www.wavelengthstudios.com/photo/ |