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!

New J/24 Class Rules Effective April 14, 2011

Please direct your members to the IJCA website for information:
www.j24class.org

The International J/24 Class Association has received approval of its
proposed rule changes from the ISAF. The new rules will be in effect as of
April 14, 2011.

The biggest change, which will affect all J/24s, is the 15 kg reduction in
the all-up weight for racing. This will not require your boat to be
re-weighed, but will only require changes to the Optional and Required
Inventory List that should be kept on each boat while racing.

If you have a valid IJCA measurement certificate, you will not be required
to obtain a new one.

The new all-up racing weight for the J/24 is 1330 kg, down from the previous
1345 kg. This means you can now remove some of the items that perhaps are
kept on your boat merely to make the all-up weight.

A copy of the new Optional and Required Inventory List is attached and also
available online here:

http://www.j24class.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/J24-Inventory-Form-4.14.2

011.pdf

Other changes to the IJCA Class Rules include:
- Class Rule 3.8 was modified to deal only with “Fixed Fittings” to be
carried when racing. This is a wording change and does not alter the way the
boat is provisioned or sailed.

- Class Rule 4 was modified to remove the word “safety” from the title. This
is a wording change and does not alter the way the boat is provisioned or
sailed.

- Class Rule 8.1.5 was deleted as it is redundant to the RRS.

- A proposal to allow a wire strap between the mast bearing beam and the
underside of the deck was not included in the new IJCA Class Rules. All rule
changes require the approval of J/Boats Inc. (the J/24 copyright holder) and
the company was unwilling to allow this rule change until the affect on the
hull structure could be studied more carefully. The ISAF therefore rejected
this rule change proposal.

A full list of the changes approved by the ISAF is attached or can be
downloaded by here:

http://www.j24class.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Summary-of-J24-Class-Rule

-Changes-4.14.2011.pdf

The latest complete version of the J/24 Class Rules is attached or can be
downloaded by here:

http://www.j24class.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/J24-Class-Rules-April-14-

2011-1.pdf

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/

The Road to the Rolex hosted by the Marion J24 Fleet is open to all women racers.

The price is $120.00 per person, which includes continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, and dinners on Friday and Saturday. If you have a team of 4, you can sign up together and the price is then $110.00 per person.

Clinic coach will be Amanda Callahan, head sailing coach at Roger Williams University.

There are 10 to 11 boats available, sailing 4 people on each boat to make it more like J22 racing.

Clinic Schedule:

Friday, June 24, 2011: afternoon registration at BYC then dinner at a private home.

Saturday, June 25, 2011:  Drills on shore, drills on the water, wrap up on shore and dinner at BYC.

Sunday, June 26, 2011:  Drills on shore, drills on the water, 2 or 3 short races then awards and wrap up at BYC.

Here is how to get to the registration site: http://www.regattanetwork.com/

Click on “Calendar”

Scroll down to “6/24/2011 BYC RTR”

Click to “Register”

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

Next week is the final Fall Series Race at PYC.  Tim Tolford is looking for one or two more people to help out on the Lindsay Lord for the final race.  It is just for the afternoon, so you wouldn’t have to be there until 11:30 am, the course is set with all government marks so it should be pretty straight forward.

I know that this is a busy time for everyone, but the club does let us use the Lindsay Lord all season for our series and it is always nice to give back.  If any one would be willing to help out, please reply to Tim Tolford (tolford1@maine.rr.com) or me and I will pass it on.

Also, Saturday the 9th there will be a Race Committee Forum open to any interested parties at PYC before Racing-10:30 am.  This is an opportunity for discussion, questions and ideas to be shared about how we can make racing at PYC better.  Please come down and through out some ideas!