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J-109 Class Saturday Series
Report by Eddie Mays |
| As part of the Royal Southern's monthly regattas the J-109 class opted to race as a one-design class for each Saturday of the June, July & September regattas, packing in three races on each day. The response by the class was good with a total of 18 boats entering the series. |
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| It was hard to believe that the June regatta was held within a couple of days of mid-summer. The day started overcast and with some drizzle. However there was always enough breeze for all three races to be completed. Steve & Jodie Maine, 'J2eau', took the first gun just ahead of Royal Southern's Matthew Boyle, Shiva', with class newcomers David & Kirsty Apthorp, 'J Dream', taking 3rd. National Champion Bruce Jubb, 'Johnny Blue II', having been 5th in the first race made no mistake in the middle race and won after a close tussle with 'Shiva' and another Royal Southern member Mike Wallis helming 'Jahmali'. By the start of the final race the wind had moved to the South and increased to 15 kts. Bruce Jubb was now in his stride and took his second gun with Matthew (Mr. Consistency) Boyle again 2nd and Mike Wallis 3rd. Adrian Lower helming 'Jaguar of Burnham' had been selected for the Commodore's Cup team. His boat was therefore optimised for IRC racing and although he raced his results were not counted. This gave Matthew a single point lead to carry over into the next regatta. |
| The July regatta was held a fortnight before the start of Skandia Cowes Week and on Saturday there was a very erratic Northwest - West breeze that gusted anywhere from 15 - 30 kts. Royal Southern's Mike Ewart-Smith & Ben Richards, 'Zelda', having missed the first weekend took command of the day and won the first two races and finished 3rd in the final one. Matthew Boyle, the leader from the first weekend, could not quite replicate his earlier performance and it was Bruce Jubb, Mike Wallis & David McLeman who provided the main opposition to 'Zelda'. These three took all the minor places in each race. Bruce & Mike finished on equal points but Bruce was awarded 2nd place overall by virtue of his victory in the final race. This left the series nicely balanced with just the September regatta to come. |
High Tension |
| The final Saturday was the most summer-like of the series. The J-109s were the largest fleet and they were slightly premature in their approach to the line for the first start with four boats being called OCS. Three returned and it was only Bill Blain helming 'Batfish II' that failed to hear his number called on the radio. Newcomer to the series Adam Knight sailing 'Jouster' made a flying start at the pin end and reached the windward mark just astern of Bruce Jubb's 'Johnny Blue II'. These positions were maintained for the rest of the race but behind them Mike Wallis emerged from the pack to take 3rd place. In the next race Adam recorded another 2nd place whilst Mike to the gun and Bruce was 3rd. This left the class beautifully poised for the final race with any one of the three able to win the day's overall prize. In fact it was David McLeman's 'Offbeat' that came home first but, as has often been the case before in the series, Bruce was 2nd and Mike 3rd. This gave the day's win to Bruce, with Mike 2nd and Adam 3rd. |
| With all the scheduled nine races having been completed each boat was allowed to discard it's worst three scores. When these calculations had been completed Bruce Jubb had a scoreline of 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2 to count and was eight points clear of Royal Southern members Mike Wallis (14 pts) & Matthew Boyle (19 pts). |
| The class now look forward to the Garmin Hamble Winter Series as the final fling of the season. |
Bruce Jubb Overall Winner |
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