Landsail Tyres J-Cup Preview

(Hamble, England)- Over 60 yachts are expected for The Landsail Tyres J-Cup in Partnership with B&G, exclusively for racing yachts of the J/Boats brand, and this year will incorporate a record four UK National Championships for the J/88, J/97, J/109 and J/111. Besides the four National Championships, an impressive fleet of J/70 Sportboats will be racing, as well as other J Boats racing under the IRC Rating system.

Three days of exciting and highly competitive racing will be complimented by lively shoreside entertainment at the newly constructed Royal Southern Yacht Club's Prince Philip Yacht Haven. The superb facility will be home to The Landsail Tyres J-Cup for the regatta, with well over 400 sailors enjoying the hospitality of the famous club on the River Hamble.

J/111 Class
Marco van Driel's Dutch team racing Sweeny will be racing with the top British J/111s including the current UK National Champion, Tony Mack's McFly. Last year's runner up, Martin Dent's JElvis is as strong as ever and Stuart Sawyer's Black Dog, the winner of a hotly contested Vice Admiral's Cup, is also in great form. Cornel Riklin's J/111 Jitterbug was second only on countback to Black Dog in this year's Vice Admiral's Cup and has been part of the J/111 fleet for several years.

"We are all very much looking forward to the J-Cup. As every year, we expect it to be a tough one-design test of how our crew and boat are shaping up against our J/111 competitors. This year it will be particularly important as we sail our National Championships during the J-Cup and the event is a key part of our preparation for the J/111 Worlds in August. We are looking forward to some great racing on the water and fun partying on shore during the J-Cup."

J/88 Class
The J/88 Class will be competing for their UK National Championship. Last year's winner of the inaugural event, Paul Ward's Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat is back to defend the title.

"We are expecting tough competition with at least four new boats in the fleet." commented Paul Ward. "The J/88 Class is growing and we have 10 boats in the Solent, all racing regularly. The boat is really fast downwind in a big breeze, we are lighting it up and breaking the speed limit with everyone at the back of the boat wearing big grins and loving the ride! The Key Yachting team do a great job looking after all of the J Boat owners and crew and the J-Cup is one of the biggest regattas in the Solent. We meet up with everyone, from the J/70s all the way through the fleets to the J/111s. With the new Yacht Haven at the Royal Southern, it will be a great venue and a great atmosphere on shore. I am looking forward to some sunshine and a few dark 'n stormies at the bar!"

J/109 Class
The J/109 fleet is also set to have a significant number of teams racing for their National Championship with eleven boats among the early entries, including Vice Admiral's Cup winner, Diamond Jem, skippered by Robert Stiles. Competing at The Landsail Tyres J-Cup in the J/109 Class, for the second time, will be Simon Perry's Jiraffe.

"We bought the J/109 for a combination of one design racing and family cruising in the Solent. It's been a perfect boat to introduce my teenaged children to yacht racing. We did the J-Cup last year, but it was literally our first sail on the boat, so we're hoping our subsequent experience at the winter and spring series will result in an improved result. But most of all, we're hoping for some good one design racing at the J-Cup."

J/97 Class
The J/97 National Championship provides the opportunity for J/97 owners to gather from all over the UK. Andy Howes' Blackjack II will be defending their championship win from last year.

"The J-Cup has always been the must-do event of the year for us." commented Andy. "It is also our J/97 Nationals and gives us a rare chance to do some one design racing. Often this will be the only event we race against some teams who are coming from further afield, so a nice chance to renew some old friendships, and of course rivalries. The social is always great and an important part of the event. We always aim to race hard and party hard. Obviously we know the race area well so that's a plus and while it's great to go on a road trip it gives us more time not having to deliver the boat. (particularly after the Saturday night party!"

J/70 Class
With a significant number of teams from the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Thames, a bumper fleet of over 20 J/70 Sportboats is expected for The Landsail Tyres J-Cup. It is an integral part of the UK J/70 calendar.

Team Spinnaker Wealth Management is a new J/70 team, skippered by Nigel Evans who is also the social secretary for the J/70 UK Fleet. "I'm driving the boat for the first time, so it's a steep learning curve, but one design racing is always the most fun in my opinion, and we enjoy very close racing where you have to be on top of your game, all the time. As social secretary, we will be making sure the class have as much fun off the water as on it, and continue to build the friendships that already exist, as well as introduce the new owners to the other competitors, and share racing tips on how to progress in the fleet as quickly as possible. It is always a well organized event and this year it returns to the Southern, the 'home club' of the event, but we usually follow the event to any destination."

J/70 Waterjet Precision Cutting is skippered by Steve Northmore with a team from Plymouth: "We really enjoy meeting up with lots of J/70 teams and it is also great to have other J Boats at the regatta, as we have raced a variety of J Boats and it is nice to meet up with old friends. Our crew is made up of two guys I have sailed a lot with over many years; Keith Davis and Nigel Gray and we get on very well, both on the boat and ashore. Our fourth member is new, he is our tactician James Ellis, a very good young dinghy sailor and respected RYA coach, also from Plymouth originally. The social side of the J-Cup is great, especially as there is something different each night."  Sailing Photo credit- Tim Wright/ Photoaction.com.  For more Landsail Tyres J/Cup sailing information


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