Day 1: Key Yachting J Cup Regatta 2023 in association with B&G
Organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club
The Key Yachting J Cup Regatta kicked off with almost 300 sailors enjoying sunny conditions in the central Solent. With a slow start as racing began at lunchtime, the wind picked up towards the end of the afternoon. IRC 1 and 2, the J/109’s, J/111’s and J/99’s all managed to complete 2 races by the end of the day. The fleet of J/70’s completed one race.
Full Results: https://www.j-cup.co.uk/page/black-group-results
IRC 1
The fight to the top spot in IRC Class 1 was between Mike and Sarah Wallis’ J/122E Jahmali and John Treanor’s brand new J/112E ValenTina.
Jahmali managed to steal the top spot after winning the second race of the day. ValenTina won the first race and 2nd in the following race, placing 2nd at the end of the day. A fantastic result for the Irish ValenTina, her first ever race after her delivery from the J Boats shipyard just a week ago. Nick Edmonds’ J/45 Stickleback followed very closely behind, placing 3rd in both races.
IRC 2
An exciting first day of racing for IRC 2 which consisted of four experienced and long serving J/92’s fighting for the top spot. After multiple protests, the day ended with Jack Banks’ J/92 Nightjar in 1st place, followed by Simon Shillaker’s Jambo and Becky Walford’s Brendas J in 3rd. This is definitely the class to follow in the next two days of racing.
J/109’s
The strong fleet of J/109’s had a great first day out on the water. In the first race, Mike and Susie Yates’s Jago took the top spot, followed by David McGough’s Just So and David Richards Jumping Jellyfish in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
But by the end of the second race, Just So had taken the top spot from Jago. Jumping Jellyfish finished 2nd followed by Jago in 3rd overall on day one after a tough second race out on the water placing 7th.
The J/109 National Champion is still very much up for grabs moving into the second day of racing.
J/111’s
The J/111’s had very close results on both races of the day, with not much time in it between the top spots.
Reigning J/111 National Champion Tony Mack’s McFly has had a strong start to the J Cup regatta and nationals, placing 1st overall by the end of the day. Paul Griffiths Jagerbomb placed 2nd after a very successful second race. Dirk Van Beek’s Sabriel followed in 3rd by the end of the second race with Chris Jones and Louise Makin’s JourneyMaker II close behind.
More excitement for the J/11 class is expected to come over the next two days.
J/70’s
After just one race, Paul Ward’s Eat Sleep J Repeat took top of the leader board. William Edwards’ Sardonyx XI followed behind in 2nd and John Greenland’s Woof! in 3rd. Not the start the J/70 class had hoped for, but better conditions in the coming days should mean more races for the competitive fleet.
J/99’s
After the white group was postponed until early afternoon, the 99’s managed to complete 2 races once the wind picked up. Results are looking good for David Lean’s Jackpot which scored two bullets.
Mark Hepburn’s Janx Spirit followed in 2nd place scoring 5 points and Kevin Taylor’s Jump 2 It in 3rd place with 8 points. A slow start for the 99’s with little wind but the J Cup 2023 is the first UK National Championships for the J/99 class so it is all to race for in the coming days!
After a long day of racing, Key Yachting welcomed competitors back to the Royal Southern Yacht Club for hot dogs and IPA Nauti Buoy provided by J Cup 2023 sponsor MDL Marinas as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. This was followed by the North Sails daily prize giving.
Racing continues today 16th June for the 2023 J Cup.