03.Feb.10 - 2011 North American Championship  J/105 Fleet 2 is proud to announce the dates for the 2011 North American Championship! The dates are August 10-14, hosted by Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Wednesday is reserved for measurement and a practice race, followed by racing from Thursday through Sunday. Ken Legler is confirmed at the PRO. Check back for more information throughout the year!  Eastern Yacht Club website

28.Jan.10 - CRW: Early Registration Discount Available for Only Four More Days  Today's times require boat owners to squeeze as much fun out of every racing dollar they spend, and Charleston Race Week's staff works hard to help, including an early registration discount that expires this Sunday, January 31. Racers can take advantage of early registration and save $50 by going to the official registration page. The event has maintained entry fees at 2007 levels for three years now, and provides block discounts for hotels. Book a hotel room at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina where all the festivities will be taking place and ensure a place to call home each night after the races and beach parties. Book now and use the CRW code, SCMARACE.   Event website

27.Jan.10 - Video from KWRW  Friday action taken by the brother of a Melges 24 sailor.

26.Jan.10 - Miami Grand Prix (March 47)  Miami Grand Prix has had a competitive IRC 2 class in recent years. So far, one J/105 owner has committed to compete this year if Premiere Racing adjusts the lower end of the handicap range. After looking at VPPs, Premiere Racing will indeed be posting an NOR Amendment making that adjustment because the J/105 is close in speed to some of the boats that competed in IRC 2 last year. Those of you who are interested in racing at this superb venue, please submit your entry this week. With the event not quite six weeks away, it would be good for the event and potential entrants to now list those who will be competing in Miami Beach.
  Event home page

23.Jan.10 - Minutes posted.  Minutes from the 1/12/10 Executive Committee meeting are posted.  Class Business page

22.Jan.10 - Key West Race Week - Final results  Congratulations to Brian Keane and his Savasana team for their second Key West Race Week victory in as many years! After dominating racing all week, the team scored two bullets in Friday's races to close out the event with just 20 points in 10 races. Ken Colburn on Ghost took the silver position with 42 points, and Scooter Simmons on Blackhawk came in third with 46 points.  Complete results and event website

22.Jan.10 - St. Petersburg NOOD deadlines  The class formation deadline is February 1, and each class needs a minimum of six boats for a class to remain eligible to race. The late fee starts January 25 at 5pm EST, which is a tagged-on $50 fee if you register or pay after this date and time. The last day to receive a refund or cancel your entry is February 8. Racing takes place February 12-14. Get signed up to race!  Website

21.Jan.10 - Key West Race Week - Day 4  Two more races are in the books, but the top 3 remain unchanged. Brian Keane on Savasana stretched his lead to 18 points as he looks to repeat as the Key West Race Week J/105 champion. Keane scored two second-place finishes on Thursday for a total score of 18 points heading into the final day. The battle for the second through fourth place positions heats up, as Ken Colburn on Ghost has 34 points, Scooter Simmons on Blackhawk has 35, and Damian Emery on Eclipse has 36. Teams have enjoyed beautiful Key West conditions and have completed each day's scheduled races. The regatta concludes Friday.  Complete results and event website

20.Jan.10 - Key West Race Week - Day 3  Brian Keane continues to thrive in the waters off Key West as he looks to repeat as J/105 champion. Steering Savasana to a first and a fourth on Wednesday, he has a 12-point lead over second-place Ken Colburn on Ghost (Keane with 14 points, and Colburn with 26). Scooter Simmons on Blackhawk holds the bronze position mid-way through the week (31 points). The other race winner of the day was Travis Weisleder on Lucky Dog. Six races are now complete, and racing contiunes through Friday.

20.Jan.10 - Bermuda International Invitational Race Week  The Notice of Race is now available for the 2010 Bermuda International Invitational Race Week  here.

19.Jan.10 - Key West Race Week - Day 2  Brian Keane on Savasana continued his dominance at Key West Race Week. As the 2009 winner, Keane remains on top this year after scoring a 4,2 on day 2 for 9 points total. Two races were again completed Tuesday with terrific conditions continuing--warm temperatures, sunshine, flat water and good breeze. Ken Colburn from Southport, ME leaped into second place with a solid day. Ghost scored a 2,3 which leaves them with 15 points. Patrick Eudy on Big Booty holds the third spot (17 points). The day's race winners were Bill Zartler on Solaris from TX and Damian Emery on Eclipse from NY, both with 24 points.  Complete results and event website

18.Jan.10 - Key West Race Week - Day 1  Brian Keane leading Savasana topped the first day of the annual championship. From Marion, MA, Savasana dominated the 14 teams with second- and first-place finishes to end the day with a mere 3 points. Following them are Patrick Eudy on Big Booty from Charleston, SC (6 points), and Scooter Simmons on Blackhawk from San Francisco, CA (8 points). Two races were completed in beautiful conditions--warm temperatures, winds in the 6-9 range and flat water. Competitors experienced unstable air and big wind shifts. The other race winner was Travis Weisleder on Lucky Dog from Fishing Bay, VA. He currently sits in fifth place with 11 points.  Compete results and event website

14.Jan.10 - Key West Race Week  Racing starts Monday the 18th in Key West! Check here for daily updates, and note the  event website.

07.Jan.10 - Congratulations  Mike Schiltz's Money Shot took one of the top two spots in 48 North Magazine and Harken's annual Pacific Northwest Top 25 Sailboats of 2009. Money Shot tied for first after dominating on the race course all year. During 2009, 10 major events were tracked, and the Top 25 list includes boats that sailed in at least four of those events. Money Shot won four events and had an equal number of class starts for an unbreakable tie!

07.Jan.10 - Charleston Race Week Discounts Extended  January 22 is the deadline for a 10% hotel discount added to the CRW group rate, and January 29 is the deadline for the early registration fee discount.  Event website

23.Dec.09 - New Year countdown  It's almost 2010! Have you ordered your J/105 calendar? If not, go to the Merchandise link at left.

18.Dec.09 - Don't Miss These Upcoming Deadlines for Charleston Race Week  December 31, 2009 is the eadline for a 10% Hotel Discount Added to CRW Group Rate. You'll be glad to call the hotel "home" after the nightly beach parties! And January 29, 2010 is the deadline for the Early Registration Fee Discount. If you know you're coming, why pay more than you have to?  Event website

08.Dec.09 - Making a list, checking it twice  Remember your fellow sailors this holiday season by purchasing a 2010 J/105 calendar. Makes a perfect gift for your skipper, crew, fleet members, family members, and yourself (of course!). Go to the Merchandise link at left to place your order.

03.Dec.09 - Online registration is up for the St. Petersburg NOOD  Go to the event website below, then click NOOD Regattas, then click St. Petersburg under the list of locations. Under the St. Petersburg Info Center, you will see Online Registration along with some other informative links. More information will be added over the next few weeks. The Notice of Race is located on the Regatta Info Center. Class formation deadline is February 1; each class needs a minimum of six boats for a class to remain eligible to race. The late fee starts January 25 at 5pm EST, which is a tagged on $50 fee if you register or pay after this date and time. Please keep this is mind when sending registrations by fax or mail. The last day to receive a refund or cancel your entry is February 8. Racing takes place February 12-14. Get signed up to race!  Event website

02.Dec.09 - Charleston Race Week  Getting a jump on the holiday season, the Organizers of 2010 Charleston Race Week are pleased to announce that online registration for this event is now open for all competitors, with the Notice of Race available online. "We know that sailors are anxious to plan their winter and spring schedule as soon as they can," said Event Director Randy Draftz. "And with an expected 200 boats in town for 2010 Charleston Race Week on two busy inshore courses and two action-packed offshore circles, the more time we have to prepare, the better!"  Event website

01.Dec.09 - Key West Race Week  The first entry deadline for Key West Race Week is December 18. As of December 1, 15 J/105s are registered for the January 18-22 event, so put your name on the list too!  Event website

30.Nov.09 - Garmin Hamble Winter Series - Weekend 8  Driving rain and vicious squalls marked the final day of the 2009 Garmin Hamble Winter Series on November 29, and with around 25% of retirees it was clearly a demanding day. A rapidly changing low pressure system had made for a tough early morning call, and with both Black and White Fleets cleared for racing in what initially seemed acceptable conditions, it soon became clear that the sportsboats could not race safely in the increasing gusts. For the Black Fleet, the committee laid a start line near Fastnet Insurance buoy and two separate courses were set for the seven IRC and one-design classes. With a wind direction of 200 degrees and a west-going tide the DAKS race buoy was chosen as the first windward mark for all classes. The J/105 class had a short course finishing at Air Canada. Visibility was changing constantly as each rain squall hit the fleet, and but for some spectacular broaches and spinnaker failures the day was a testament to the good seamanship displayed throughout this competitive series. Even if some were hating the conditions, there were others who called up the race committee with thanks for a great day out as they crossed the finish line. With seven races completed in the Black Fleet series, one race result could be discarded. Overall results in the J/105 fleet: Paul Griffiths on Fay-J is first with 11 points, followed by Simon Curwen on Voador (14) and Chris Jones on Journeymaker 5 (15). The end-of-series prize-giving is next weekend, where the overall class winners will receive their awards, and the Garmin Yacht of the Year and Sportsboat of the Year will be announced.  Complete article and results

24.Nov.09 - 2010 J/105 calendars  Introducing the fourth J/105 wall calendar (and the 2010 regatta schedule along with it). This high-gloss calendar measures 11" wide and hangs 17" tall. Each month includes a unique, dynamic, and full color photo from this sailing season. Photography has been contributed by professionals Charles Bergstedt, Allen Clark, David Mathias, Leighton O'Connor and Tim Wilkes. Treat yourself and your crew for the holidays by clicking on the J/105 Merchandise link at left.

23.Nov.09 - Fleet 17 Turkey Day Regatta, plus season standings  The Houston Yacht Club's annual Turkey Day Regatta concluded Fleet 17's (Galveston Bay) annual series of nine class regattas. The regatta was run in 55 degree temperatures, light rain, and 12-16 knot winds on Saturday. A lack of wind made racing on Sunday impossible. Bee Bednar on Stinger was first (6 points), Malcolm Bremer on Babe second (6) and Bill Zartler on Solaris third (8). The trophies for winning the Turkey Day Regatta are actual turkeys. The winner receives a big one, then a smaller one for second, a still smaller one for third and a game hen (if awarded) for fourth. Stinger took the overall 2009 Fleet 17 trophy (32), with Solaris in second (31), and Babe in third (24). With a high of 7 and a low of 3 boats, Fleet 17 managed to average 5 boats per regatta this year.   Regatta results

17.Nov.09 - National Keelboat Champions crowned at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club  25 keelboats from the J/105, Etchells and International One Design (IOD) classes hit the water Saturday morning with the intent of completing five races on the Great Sound to ultimately crown the Bacardi National Keelboat Champions in the three classes. Royal Bermuda Yacht Club race officer Jay Hooper and his team were constantly tested (along with the sailors) with winds shifting as much as 80 degrees between southeast and southwest throughout the day. Sailors experienced all types of wind conditions ranging from 10 knots to the mid-twenties. The highest wind conditions were seen during the fourth race in the middle of a 'whiteout' rain squall. A number of boats, slighlty worse for wear, elected to retire before the fifth and final race. The hottly contested J/105 Class saw five boats on the line with Jon Corless and his crew sailing Mayhem showing the most consistent form with four first place finishes and a second, posting a total of 6 points. Glenn Astwood sailing Ockham's Razor and James Macdonald's Passion battled it out for second place with Glenn prevailing with 13 points.  Complete article and results

16.Nov.09 - Garmin Hamble Winter Series - Weekend 6  After gale force winds on Saturday and rain squalls early on Sunday morning, the weather settled down to a picturesque day of sunshine and clouds for the sixth round of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series. With the 10am high water coinciding with the first starts of the day, courses for Black Group were set from the vicinity of Fastnet Insurance buoy across to West Ryde Middle. The moderate to fresh southwesterly breeze and strong west going tide required an offset reach leg to the east followed by cascaded windward leeward legs for the whole fleet. Chris Jones on Journeymaker 5 won the J/105 class. Next Sunday's racing (November 22) continues with the full Winter Series programme for White and Black Group racing.   Complete article and results

09.Nov.09 - Headstay templates  Looking for a holiday gift for your J/105? You can buy an inexpensive template to repeatably set your headstay to a given length. Click the J/105 Merchandise link at left and scroll down to the item.

09.Nov.09 - Garmin Hamble Winter Series - Weekend 5  The second half of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series 2009 kicked off with a cold northerly breeze gusting to 20 knots, marking a turn in the weather for this eight weekend long series. In the J/105 fleet, class leader Simon Curwen on Voador won again. Racing continues next Sunday.
  Complete article and results