The 2011 Downeast Regatta is blowing up in a good way!

We have 30 boats currently registered with a promise of at least 5 more to come, but the way entries are rolling in today we could possibly have 40 boats sailing in this years Downeast Regatta!  That would be 10 more than Nationals and North Americans saw this year.

If you are a fleet member and have not registered yet, please do so!

If you or any one you know is able to house a J24 crew of 5 please let me know ASAP (mollyfrommaine@yahoo.com).  We have already housed 9 boats and have requests for more housing.  It would be great not to have to turn people away.

Thanks everyone for your help and support to make this event such a great attraction!

Shorthanded and Family Sailing Fun!

Fleet 43 is hosting the 2011 J24, PHRF, and Family Fun Double handed Regatta on Sunday August 7, 2011 at the Portland Yacht Club

OPEN TO ALL BOATS!!

Come take on the challenge of sailing “double handed” on the shores of Casco Bay.

This is a great opportunity to show off your J24 skills, prepare for the Double handed division of the Monhegan, and spend quality time with family and friends.

There will be three different classes:

• J24 Double Handed Championship – this event is a part of the Fleet 43 Tonini Series and will use main, jib and spinnaker. (Windward Leeward Racing)

• 2^nd Annual Family Fun Race - Double handed or with your family, using main and jib only, racers will sail a distance course around Chebeague Island. This is a “just for fun” race, with only three marks to round – perfect for Novice Sailors – No PHRF Certificate is required. (Approximate Race Length – 15 Miles)

• NEW! 1^st Annual Casco Bay Race – A PHRF Double Handed Distance Race – Using Main, Jib and Spinnaker, the sailors will sail a longer distance course around Casco Bay and will help prepare participants for the upcoming Monhegan Island Race Double Handed Division. (Approximate Race Length – 30 Miles)

Casco Bay Race Starts at 10:30 am, Family Fun and J24 racing starts at Noon. Registration begins at 8:30 am for the Casco Bay Race and 10:30 am for the Family Fun and J24 Races. Registration fee is $20 ($25 for crews of more than two) and a side dish or dessert for the pot luck BBQ.

After racing enjoy Fleet sponsored “Sailor Jerry Rum”, burgers, dogs and other potluck items at the Portland Yacht Club. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! For More information or to register your boat, contact Molly White at mollyfrommaine@yahoo.com.

Hey Fleet 43,

As part of this year’s Monhegan Race Week, PYC is hosting a one-design regatta for  Etchelles and J24s.

The Etchelles will be doing Windward/Leewards on Saturday the J24s have a choice of doing that as well or a long distance race out to Halfway Rock and finish at the actual Monhegan Finish Line.

If I could get a count of what you would prefer and if you plan to participate, that would be great!

Thanks Everyone!

Hello Everyone,

Hopefully a member from each boat (or more) is planning to attend our Race Management Night.

It will begin promptly at 6:00 pm at PYC so please be on time.

We plan to do a rotation of three groups, each rotation lasting about 20 minutes, having all three end by 7:00pm.  At which point we will have drinks, snacks and questions in the Captain’s room.

If there are any particular questions you may have that you wish to have addressed or things you want to make sure we review, please email me (mollyfrommaine@yahoo.com) before 3:00pm on Wednesday and I will pass them on to our presenters.

I have broken the fleet up into three groups, they are listed below as well as the station that they will be starting with at 6:00pm.

Group 1: At PYC Dock
Flying Circus, Draco, Steve, Pit Party, and Second Chance

Group 2: On PYC Porch
Mr. Hankey, Flying Chicken, Bouncing Betty, Impetuous, and Wabi Sabi

Group 3: In Captain’s Room
Denali, McGee, Al, Barkin Spidah, and Bad Apple

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Molly

Hey Everyone,

Don’t forget that we are getting together at Rich Ketchum’s house (just up from the Yacht Club on Old Powerhouse Road in Falmouth) to work on Downeast Planning.

As I have said before, Jess and I welcome any to attend this meeting and help us plan and generate ideas.  The more the merrier!

Hope to see you on Monday the 11th at 6:00 pm

Thanks!

Another event to throw on your J24 calendars is the J24 North Americans. This year they will be hosted in Halifax, NS. It looks to be a great event, awesome venue and is about the same distance as Lake George from Maine.

Remember that sailing in District 1 Championships, Northeast Regionals and North Americans confirm you a spot in the 2012 Worlds in Rochester, NY.

http://j24northamericans2011.wordpress.com/about/

Hey Everyone,

Jess and I are looking for some creative and ambitious people to help out with the planning of this year’s Downeast Regatta.

If you would like to help out with this, have suggestions, or ways to improve an already spectacular regatta, please join us!

We will be meeting on Monday April 11th at 6:00pm at Rich Ketchum’s house.  (email if you need directions)

We look forward to seeing you all there!  As always, please share this information with others I may have missed that would be interested.)
Thanks

Molly and Jess

Summary of Notes from Board of Gov Meeting December 2010

1. A proposal to lower the all-up sailing weight to 1130kg was approved. This will allow for items to be dropped off of the optional equipment list and will not require the issuance of new measurement certificates, merely a change to Part C of the measurement form.

2. A proposal to allow a wire strop attached to the mast support beam to the deck of the boat was approved in principle and the final wording of the rule will be circulated for approval by the NJCAs prior inclusion in the new rules.

3. A proposal from the Technical Committee was approved requiring all NJCAs to institute a system to scan all racing boats for illegal materials. The details of what tools will be used and the method for scanning boats will be distributed and it is expected that a large portion of boats will be scanned by the end of 2011.

4. 2014 Worlds will be held in Newport, RI

5. The World Council approved a proposal to make the entry for the 2012 World Championship (Rochester, NY) open to all members in good standing of the J/24 Class with the stipulation that all helmspersons were also members in 2011 and helmed in at least one District or higher level regatta in the calendar year 2011. (District, Regional, National or International level regatta during the calendar year 2011.)

2011 District 1 Championships will be Round the Rocks in Beverly June 18-19

2011 Northeast Regionals TBD (I think CT)

2011 North Americans Halifax, NS August 18-21

6. 2011 Worlds in Buenos Aires, Argentina

E Faust stated that there was significant interest from U.S. sailors wishing to sail in the 2011 Worlds. There are still berths available and anyone interested should contact the class office for further information. Berths available from all NJCAs once again include one women’s team and one youth team. Colin Leon, who represented the U.S. as the youth representative at the 2010 Worlds is interested in participating in the 2011 Worlds. E Faust said it would be good to also have a women’s team in attendance and all leads should be directed to the class office. A small cash grant from the US SAILING Foundation has been arranged and will be distributed to the youth team and the top amateur team from the U.S. An email vote will be arranged to determine the recipient for the top amateur grant.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is hosting the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week from May 1^st to May 6^th, 2011. Bermuda International Invitational Race Week has become an established international yachting fixture each spring – attracting top skippers from many countries. All classes with an active racing program in Bermuda are invited to participate – this includes Etchells, International One Designs, J105’s, Comets, Lasers, Snipes and J/24s.

If you have a team from your club that would be interested please have them contact me for more details! Its a great sailing regatta, warm waters no currents or tides! And excellent dock parties!!!

The regatta fee is $550usd! All you need to bring is your sails and the Bermuda J24 Class provides you with a free charter boat! We also do our best to house nearly everyone who wants accommodation!

Overall it’s a great week! We would love it if a representative of your fleet would be interested in putting for a proposal for an invitation (see attached)!

I look forward to hearing from you,

Jodi Valentine
Vice Captain, J24 Bermuda

www.j24.bm
race.week@j24bermuda.com