The final round of the J/70 UK Sprint Series was held as part of the Land Union September Regatta hosted and organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club. 17 teams enjoyed two days of well organised racing and a highly enjoyable “Ocktoberfest” social on Saturday after racing. With the compliments of Land Union, sailors enjoyed free beer, frankfurters and pretzels, with a live set from the BierKeller Boys Oom-Pah Band.
After nine short sharp races, Timothy Dickinson was the winner, racing his J/70 Jelly Fish for the first time in the Sprint Series. Jelly Fish won the last two races to hold off a spirited challenge from Jonathan Calascione’s Calypso. Tony Dickin’s Jubilee was third, just a point ahead of Land Union’s Lutz Strangemann racing Geisha and two points ahead of Tim Collins EV Experts. The close racing was exemplified by the fact that just one point separated the pecking order from second to ninth.
Timothy Dickinson’s Jelly Fish is new to the J/70 class and races with his wife Stephenie. Their son Finley, who is just 18 and a real protégé in the Laser, drives Jelly Fish, and his friend from the Laser circuit Charlie South makes up the team of four.
“The J/70 Class is really competitive and that was the main reason we have bought the boat,” commented Timothy. “Next weekend it’s up to Sunderland for Finley and Charlie to compete in the Laser, and I doubt we will be getting free beer and frankfurters as we did at the Royal Southern! The J/70 Class and the ‘Southern have been so welcoming, and we have really enjoyed the regatta. We have been racing at Cowes Week in the class, so we have had a bit of time on the water. I have to say it is really exciting racing and we hope to compete in some of the big events, such as the Europeans in Cascais and the Worlds in Monaco.”
Racing for the J/70 UK Class continues with the Hamble One Design Championships 2-3 October, hosted by the Hamble River Sailing Club. The penultimate round of the J/70 UK Class Grand Slam Series will be the non-discardable J/70 UK National Championship, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, 8-10 October.
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