Hot Racing on Day Two of the Landsail Tyres J-Cup, 04 September 2020

Lighter winds and sunshine made for a very different start to the second day at the Landsail Tyres J-Cup. Three races were held in The Solent with a ten-knot westerly breeze piping up and shifting to the southwest later in the day. Fair weather and fresh breeze provided champagne conditions for the J Boat family. Highly competitive racing was the order of the day with several classes hanging in the balance after the penultimate day of racing. Class winners on Day Two were Christopher Daniels’ J/122 Juno, Chaz Ivill’s J/112 Davanti Tyres, Nick Munday’s J/97 Induljence, David Greenhalgh’s J/92 J’ronimo, Tony & Sally Mack’s J/111 McFly, John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox, Paul Ward’s J/70 Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat and Charles Thompson’s J/70 Brutus.

North Sails Coaching is very much part of the Landsail Tyres J-Cup. North Sail experts on the water look at sail trim and set up for all of the teams, offering top class advice. North Sails’ Pete Redmond commented on the big picture for today’s racing.
 
“Today with the wind strength changing, it was important to set the boat up for the wind experienced before the start of each race. It is better to be powered up in the lighter patches, even if that means being a little over-powered in the puffs. Upwind adjusting to the changes through the backstay and outhaul were key areas. Downwind getting the angles right was also an important part of performance.”  Commented Pete Redmond.

IRC One has a new leader, Christopher Daniels’ J/122 Juno scored a 1-1-2 to take the lead by the narrowest of margins. Chaz Ivill’s J/112 Davanti Tyres won the last race of the day to come within half a point of the lead. The ‘half point’ was the result of a tie with James Owen’s J/99 Jet in Race 2. Mike & Sarah Wallis’ J/122 Jahmali scored three podium results to move up to third in class.

In IRC Two, Nick Munday’s J/97 Induljence had a stellar day with three wins and now leads the class. The close racing in the fleet was exemplified by a tie for first after IRC time correction in Race 3, between Induljence and J/92 J’ronimo, skippered by David Greenhalgh. J’ronimo is second in class after four races. Lawrence Barnett’s J/97 Jackeroo is racing in a J Boat and the Landsail Tyres J-Cup for the first time. Three podium finishes today, lift Jackeroo to third.

In the J/111 Class, Tony & Sally Mack’s McFly is having a tremendous regatta, winning all four races completed. McFly is hot favourite to retain the J/111 UK National Championship Chris Jones’ Journeymaker II is in second place, just a point ahead of Paul Griffiths’ Jagerbomb, which has two podium finishes today.
In the J/109 Class, John Smart’s Jukebox scored a hattrick of wins today to lead the class for the UK National Championship. Simon Perry’s Jiraffe is now second just a point ahead of David Richards’ Jumping Jellyfish. Mike & Susie Yates’ Jago is just one point off the podium in fourth.
 
After bouncing back from a sixth place on the first day, Jukebox’s John Smart commented: “We had to take our medicine after the first race and what a difference a day makes. Our overlapping sail made the difference today, but when the breeze built later on, we should have had our J2 up, the gaps were closing because of that.”

Paul Ward’s Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat leads the J/70 Class after four races, the J/70 World Champions have scored three bullets and are firm favourites to win the class tomorrow. Nick Phillips’ Chaotic is new to the class and showing great form to finish Day Two in second place. Simon Patterson’s Standfast is third. Charles Thompson’s Brutus was also in the chocolates winning Race 2.
 
Team Chaotic come Parkstone YC and are past J/24 UK National Champions. Nick Phillips chartered the J/70 from the Royal Thames Yacht Club and his team really enjoying racing in the J/70 Class.
 
“We are having a great time and a bit surprised by our success,” commented Nick. “We are keen to join the class sooner rather than later. The RTYC have provided a boat with excellent sails which is key to giving us the chance to do well. The J/70 is a very different boat to a J/24, so it is not easy to make the switch but racing a fast, open boat is very exciting. The race management at this regatta has been first class, and we are looking forward to a great last day tomorrow.”

The daily prize givings were once again held at the RORC Clubhouse. Dividing the fleet for social distancing, the J Boat family enjoyed complimentary pasta and a bottle beer and applauded today’s prize winners. Racing at the Landsail Tyres J-Cup will come to a conclusion tomorrow, Saturday 5th September.