Royal Air Force Yacht Club

J/109 Johnny Blue II boat of the day at Garmin Hamble Winter Series

Races 7 & 8 of the Garmin Hamble Winter Series took place on Sunday 16 November for the J/109 fleet.  A start out by RYA Yachtmaster saw a 2 lap windward/leeward course of laid marks, with a final beat to finish at Hillhead.

 On the first start in 10 knots of breeze, Audajious (David Jobson) and Beth (Guy Knight/Five Star Sailing) led from the line and took the fleet hard right onto Hillhead plateau.  Meanwhile J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) and Jumping Jellyfish (David Richards) chose the middle line to round the windward mark in first and second respectively.  A quick gybe by the leaders saw the majority of the fleet follow, with only Outrajeous (Richard & Valerie Griffiths) and Johnny Blue II heading out into the channel.  A wind shift saw Johnny Blue II round in first, closely followed by Outrajeous.  J-Dream and Jumping Jellyfish had lost out and were some distance behind.  A second beat saw J-Dream and Stalker (Steven Tapper) catch the leaders.  Meanwhile J2EAU (Steve & Jody Maine), Firestorm (Jon Perry) and Aria (Luca Rubinelli) traded gybes for the downwind leg, with J2EAU holding off Firestorm at the mark rounding.  Of the leading pack, J-Dream held the inside lane coming into the mark and rounded just in front of the Class 3 boats which held back Johnny Blue II and Outrajeous.  The final beat to the finish saw J-Dream hold onto the lead to cross the line 22 seconds ahead of Johnny Blue II who in turn was 17seconds ahead of Outrajeous.  Meanwhile J2EAU, Firestorm and Aria had been joined by Just So (David & Mary McGough) with all four boats crossing the line within 14 seconds of each other.

 1^st - J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp)

2^nd - Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin, Bruce Jubb, Mike Flood)

3^rd - Outrajeous (Richard & Valerie Griffith)

 The second race of the day was delayed as IRC 0/IRC 1 had a general recall as there was by now a strong windward going tide, taking the boats over the line.  IRC 2 also suffered from two general recalls.  The J/109 used the delay to their benefit as it gave time for the breeze to settle to 12 knots and many of the fleet made use of their heaters.  Finally the J/109 fleet had their opportunity to start, but the PRO was taking no chances and used the Z flag.  The majority of the fleet were well-behaved, although 3 boats were OCS, with one, J2EAU (Steve & Jody Maine) failing to return.

 Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin, Bruce Jubb, Mike Flood) port tacked the fleet and were never challenged during the two lap windward/leeward race.  Offbeat (David McLeman) and Jumping Jellyfish (David Richards) traded tacks on the first windward leg, together with Aria (Luca Rubinelli) and Juno (Tony Dawson).  On the first downwind leg, Audajious (David Jobson) and Aria moved up through the fleet, to be in a position to challenge Beth (Guy Knight/Five Star Sailing) at the leeward mark rounding.  The second beat saw Munckenbeck (Alfred Munckenbeck) pass Design Star 2 (Roger & Astrid Phillips) and hold them off for the remainder of the race, crossing the line only 7 seconds apart.  Munckenbeck were so delighted with their result, that they had a party on their new shiny J/109 which has been nicknamed by the Race Committee "the stealth boat" due to its silver hull and sails.

 1^st - Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin, Bruce Jubb, Mike Flood)

2^nd - Offbeat (David McLeman)

3^rd - Jumping Jellyfish (David Richards)

 The boat of the day was Johnny Blue II (Jeff Dakin, Bruce Jubb, Mike Flood) with a 1^st and 2^nd, with J-Dream (David & Kirsty Apthorp) in second place with a 1^st & 4^th and Beth (Guy Knight/Five Star Sailing) in third with two 6ths.

Kirsty Apthorp J/109 UK Class Association