J Sailors Raise Funds for Leukemia Cup

(Annapolis, MD)- This past weekend both Newport, RI and Annapolis, MD sailors had enjoyable times sailing with families and friends supporting the great cause to raise funds to help beat leukemia cancers, an event supported by leukemia survivor Gary Jobson himself!

Eastport YC and Annapolis YC co-hosted the 21st annual Leukemia Cup regatta in Maryland.  More than 100 boats were out there supporting this great cause including four one-design J/Boat classes.

The racing was held on a very sunny, 70-degree day with 10-15 knots of breeze.  Perfect conditions on the water for sailing...except for the 2 knots of current that plagued the fleet much of the afternoon.  A number of the boats found themselves in tacking duels with the windward mark as well-planned laylines fell apart under all that moving water.

Scott Gitchell bested 11-boats and took top honors in the J/105 class on Tenacious.  Aunt Jean, skippered by Jerry Christofel won the J/35 class which brought 9 boats out that day.  David Moss on "The White Boat" was able to stay ahead of four other J/30s and finally, Jen Wulff sailing "Joint Custody" with her husband Ray were able to top the 8-boat J/70 fleet.  Thanks for contribution from Dan Phelps at Annapolis and SPINSHEET.com.

For the Rhode Island chapter the New York YC and Sail Newport co-hosted their Leukemia Cup regatta on Narragansett Bay, raising a new record in excess of $250,000 in one evening of auctions.  Of note, the J/70 one-design class saw Heather Gregg-Earl of New York YC and Boston, MA win the class.  She was followed by Newport's Morgan Paxhia in second place.  For more Leukemia Cup sailing information, please support them.