Round 1 J/70 UK Sprint Series
8-9 May 2021
The Royal Southern Yacht Club May Regatta, supported by Doyle Sails, was the first big open event of the year for the prestigious yacht club located on the Hamble River. 72 teams enjoyed thrilling racing in The Solent with seven classes racing on two racecourses. Congratulations to all the class winners, it was a marvellous sight to see a huge fleet back out racing!
The first day was cancelled due to high winds but it was well worth the wait. On Sunday, a southerly wind, piping up to over 20 knots in the gusts, delivered excellent racing conditions. Course Race Officer Tom Rusbridge and Tanya Robinson set a windward leeward course of approximately 0.7 of a mile per leg.
Keys to a top performance were spotting the shifts in wind direction and staying in the best breeze. With five short, sharp races, starting well was top of the agenda, as were boat handling and crew fitness.
The 19-strong J/70 Class was racing in the inaugural J/70 UK Sprint Series. Five short races of about 30 minutes were designed for adrenalin pumping action. Simon Patterson’s Standfast was the event winner, scoring two bullets. Paul Ward’s Eat Sleep J Repeat was in the top three for every race but was second by a single point. Martin Dent’s Jelvis was third, similarly just a point behind Paul Ward’s team. Charles Thompson’s Brutus II was fourth, scoring a race win in his brand-new J/70.
Racing for the J/70 UK Class continues with the J/70 Southern Championships 22-23 May. Organised by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, the regatta will be Round 2 of the J/70 UK Grand Slam Series. Online entry is open at https://theclubspot.com/regatta/GQi1P3cdTo
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