…along with 20 or so other boats.

There is nothing better than leaving work early to get out on the water - unless there is no wind. For Wednesday night sailing we arrived at the start line just in time to drift. With all sails hoisted we were practically moving backwards, along with a J125, several J105s, some Etchells and IODs, half a dozen J24s, a Laser28, a Sigma and other assorted craft.

We waited a while and there was a puff of breeze - enough for a start, so we were off. 45 minutes later we had travelled just beyond Saltus Island (about a quarter of a mile). At that point the breeze dropped out and we were almost T-boned by another J24 in slow motion as we came in on port. Fortunately, we were able to fend them off. We had cracked open some beer at that point as the boat oscillated in the breeze (albeit slowly).

Then the RC made the right decision and cancelled. Maybe we should have just raced with engines - our 5hp four-stroke would have definitely put us at the front of the pack - but instead we headed back to the RHADC. Just as the breeze picked up…

After 2 days of racing erstwhile Bermuda skipper Mike Lewis is in a fantastic 10th position in the J24 Europeans being held in Neustadt, Germany. Sailing with him is our own Rikki Hornett.

More information can be found at http://www.j24europeans2007.com

The Bermuda J24 Class wishes Mike and Rikki all the best for the rest of the regatta.

The J24 class were represented by two skippers, Luis Chiapparro and Pete Ramsdale, for the Bermuda National Match Racing Championship on Saturday August 25th 2007. The other skippers were Blythe Walker, Paula Lewin, Glenn Astwood and A Frith. The racing was to be held in International One Designs (IODs), with the winner getting a spot in the Gold Cup.
It was an early start - skippers meet at 8am where the boat draw also took place. I was sailing with Pete Ramsdale along with Craig Scott and Sally Longmire. We happened to draw the boat furthest from the RBYC, and set off to find her in the lee of Saltus Island. This was only my second time on an IOD - the first having been two days earlier, but at least I was on the bow, which judging by the “rats nest” of lines in the cockpit seemed like the best place to be.

Our first race in the round robin was against Paula Lewin - an accomplished match racer. She managed to get ahead of us at the start, but at the windward mark we managed to sneak back in keep our lead to take the first match. It was a double victory for the J24 class as Luis beat Blythe Walker in his first flight pairing - so the J24 class had beaten the 2 fancied skippers - a good start.

The second flight saw us paired against A Frith, and after a good start we grabbed a convincing lead and never let go. So we were 2 for 2. Going into the third flight we were the leading boat.

We were sailing against Glennie Astwood, and he had a great start and managed to maintain it throughout - we never really got close enough to challenge. It was hot work and we were taking on liquids rapidly. Every so often Craig Scott would reel off a few blasphemies as something on board failed to work.

After the third flight we swapped boats in preparation for the next two flights. We then tuned and familiarised ourselves with the new boat, working out the intricacies and differences with the last one.

Flight four saw us paired against Luis. It was a tough start and Luis got ahead. We went through a set of 12 tacks and managed to get within a foot of their transom, but on a split tack they eked out a lead and maintained it.

Our final pairing in the round robin was against Blythe Walker. Blythe justified his spot as one of the top match racers in Bermuda by getting ahead and staying there.

Then it was onto the next round. Two skippers were eliminated - Paula Lewin and A Frith, leaving four skippers sailing for spots in the final and petit final. Luis, being the top skipper from the round robin phase, opted to sail against Glenn Astwood. That left us against Blythe Walker.

Glennie despatched Luis convincingly 2-0. We lost our first match against Blythe Walker, but managed to read the shifts and get it back to 1-1. It was down to the last race, where Blythe sailed well to take the spot in the finals.

That left Bythe vs. Glennie in the final, and an all J24 petit final of Pete Ramsdale vs. Luis  Chiapparro.

Luis took the first match after a great start, even though our set of 10 tacks in succession had us closing, but not enough. On the second match we were behind when our inner shroud went, and that was the end of our day.

In the final Glennie Astwood managed to outwit Bythe Walker to qualify for the Gold Cup. Blythe did not have to worry too much as he had already qualified.  Overall it was a great albeit long day on the water, especially given our unfamiliarity with the IODs. But we acquitted ourselves well, and were happy beating Paula Lewin and taking a match from Blythe. Luis had a great day, but possibly underestimated Glenn Astwood when selecting to sail against him after the round robin.

Thanks to the RBYC for organising a well-run event, and Jordy Walker for his sterling efforts on the RC keeping the racing going.

The forecast was 8-12 knots SSW moving SW and decreasing to 5-10. The weather was glorious as we attached a new port inner shroud before heading out to the Sound. There were 7 J24s out for the day, including Sadiiqi with only 3 crew and Gripper with a full 5. On Solaise we had guest helm Rob Salmon on board.

The SIs said there would be 5 races, and as there were no 105s out, the order of racing was Etchells, J24s, then IODs. Even whilst practising the breeze seemed to be oscillating a bit, so it was going to be an interesting day.There were also two marks out, so we were watching for the pennant to determine whether we would sail the long or the short course.

The first race was a two lap affair, and saw us in a tight start on a very long line. On Solaise we went left but had to bail early to avoid bad air. New Wave went down the middle, and Sadiiqi was going like a train down the left. They rounded first, with New Wave and Siren close behind. We were struggling at the back end of the fleet. By the end of the first downwind Sadiiqi were still leading, but the margin was reduced. They went left again with New Wave and Siren - it had paid off the first leg. But on the right Gripper got a great shift, and out of nowhere seemed to grab the lead and hold it to the finish. I think Sadiiqi got second and New Wave third.

What followed then was “faffage” of international calibre. The wind shifted, so the RC moved the course. The wind shifted back, so they moved the course again. By this stage we had done one race in two hours, so we were struggling to see how the RC would fit another four in.

Race two was another long course. This time Gripper was sailing flat and fast, and pretty much led the fleet from start to finish on the two lap course. From my spot I think Siren got second and New Wave third. We finished behind Sadiiqi in fifth, I think.

The course was then adjusted - the RC shortened the course considerably. Just before the J24 start Sadiiqi managed to snag the pin-end buoy and had to have the RC help set them free. It was 3pm and we still had 3 races to sail. The short two lapper was more like match-racing, and a frantic set of legs saw Siren grab the bullet - I think Gripper got second. We managed to redeem ourself after an issue and sneaked ahead of two boats at the last windward mark.

After this race New Wave headed home, along with the Etchells. The RC swiftly turned us around for race four - another short course two lapper. Sadiiqi picked the shifts well and were in the mix. Gripper managed (I think) to grab their third bullet of the day, with Siren close behind. We finished in a dead heat with Shogun at the pin end.

The fifth and final race was one lap on the long(er) course. Shogun got a flyer, along with Sadiiqi, and were leading the fleet. Sadiiqi got ahead of them on the downwind. We managed to sail from knock to knock and were at the back of the fleet. We rounded the mark in last spot but managed to get ahead of Erin. Siren, languishing close to the back, opted to gybe early which cost them dearly. That gave us a chance to overhaul them. At the front Sadiiqi took the gun.

We returned to the RHADC late in the day for some well deserved “loudmouthed soup”. So Gripper seemed to win the day with three bullets, and Sadiiqi had done extremely well with three on board.