Home
This is the home of the largest Cruising One Design Fleet on the Chesapeake Bay. The J105 Fleet has the highest average number of starters, year after year, enjoying a camaraderie unmatched in any other one design fleet. Anyone looking for a great experience racing their boat should look at the J105. The rules and boat are family friendly and geared to make the sport of sail boat racing as friendly to the wallet as it is to the psyche. If you are considering a new boat or starting out with your first boat take a look at our boats for sale in the classified directory on this site.
Current News:
The AYC Annual did nothing to change the odd wind patterns that have persisted through the first part of the season. Strong high winds combined with a slow moving coastal low to make for what could only be called shifty conditions. AYC got it together for three races and resisted the temptation to wait for stable conditions. This was a good decision because they didn't happen. The first race saw all the boats head left for the ebb current except Java with Chris Groobey driving and Zephyr, with Walt Nuschke at the helm, as both had problems at the start. The wind shifted hard right so Java and Zephyr ended up in a match race with Java in the lead. There was a lull at the last windward mark that left Java dead in the water while the other boats were still sailing. When the wind filled back in, Zephyr had caught up, and after a close race down wind Zephyr eaked out the win. The second race saw a left shift right before the start that left all the boats at the boat end hanging out to dry. Varmint, with Mike O'Toole driving, did a great job taking the pin end and the left side to a convincing win. The third race saw more stable conditions as the clouds started to clear and the wind began to fill from the North West. The Mirage team of Cedric Lewis and Fredrick Salvesen were able to make the most advantage of these conditions and take first over Varmint. Varmint was able to win the day with a 4-1-2 to Mirage's 5-3-1 for second, and Java's 2-4-5 for third.
The Twilight Race turned into a tactician's dream or nightmare depending on which side you picked. The evening started out with a postponement as a southern high won out over one to the North and the wind did a switch from NW to SW after the RC had set the course. The reset of the government marks set a course to Thomas Pt., then to Mark E in the channel near Bloody Pt., and then into the traditional Severn finish for a 13.2nm course. Once the racing started, Chris Groobey on Java and Matt Marcy/Jay Corcoran on Hiawatha, got the good starts and headed for the left side and the tail end of the ebb current. This turned out to be a good early strategy as the wind filled at the current line and went soft for the boats that chose the right side. They were well in front at Thomas Pt. and Java rounded first at Mark E followed closely by Hiawatha, in what appeared t be a two boat race. The wind grew increasingly spotty as the sun began to set, with bands of pressure that might not be there when you were. After rounding E and putting the chutes up, the fleet split into boats that immediately jibed and another contingent that picked up fresh breeze on the Eastern Shore. The pressure continued to die and boats that went farther north (in line with the Severn) before crossing the bay fared the best. Mike O'Toole on Varmint and Richard Hinds On Breakaway made the best of this and caught up to the leaders when they converged at the mouth of the Severn. Varmint took first, barely edging out Java, and Breakaway edged out Hiawatha for third providing yet another example of why you should never give up.
The East Coast Championship, aka Annapolis NOOD, ended up being the icing on the cake for Key West winner Savasana. The team of owner Brian Keane, Mike Lague, Julie Hughes, Paul Murphy, Todd MacMaster (front) and Ben Powers is pictured below with all smiles after securing the win. Savasana sailed with great consistency in shifty conditions that were influenced (and confused) by a steady ebb tide. Their worst race was a 9th and they had two firsts to cement a 16 point win over 28 other presumably able bodied crews. Rob Marsh and Blow Boat gave some valiant competition and were 10 points off the lead going into the last race but an OCS put an end to what should have been a match race. The Cedric Lewis/Fredrik Salvesen team on Mirage filled the void left by Blow Boat to get second and the Arthur Libby, Tom Carter, John Bremer syndicate on Dog House had their biggest finish to date with third. Blow Boat ended up 4th on a tie breaker over Denis Seynhaeve on Mopelia. The full results and day by day breaks for CBYRA High Point are posted on the Results Page.
The 2009 High Point Season got started with the NASS Spring Regatta. Only 8 boats turned out as many were running behind schedule due the delayed spring. There was apparently a lot of rust on the foredecks as several scenes of pointy end chaos were evident. The results after two races were a sister kisser as Carl & Scott Gitchell's, Tenacious, was tied with Jim Konigsberg's, Inigo, as both boats had identical scores in both races. Adding to the statistical anomally, Chris Groobey's, Java, had identical scores with Richard Hinds', Breakaway, resulting in a dead heat for third. Although the results were less than conclusive the NASS Spring is a great opportunity for teams to get out and practice under race conditions.
The Andrew Kennedy and Ray Wolff team on BAT IV wrapped up the second half Frostbite with two firsts. This brought in an extra throwout so their score actually went down as they threw out a 3. They also won the first half series som BAT IV is the king of winter. The full results are posted on the Results page. Next up is the beginning of the 2009 High Point Season with the NASS Spring on April 19th followed by the NOOD/East Coast Championship on April 24-26. Get those entries in.
The final week of Frostbite is March 22nd. The last two weeks have been light air affairs limiting races to one each day. BAT IV has moved to a 4 point lead based on a 2nd place finish to A Train's 6 and Dog House's 5 on March 15th. Dog House appeared to have a horizon job going as they rounded the first mark well ahead on the basis of the best start, which enabled them to sail low and faster through the ultra smooth water. The current switched to full ebb which allowed some boats who went the full way into the Severn channel to make big gains. Dog House made the logical leader's choice of choosing to jibe out of the current but into a pressure void and went from first to fifth in a slow motion test of where-is-the-wind. The spread is 7 points among the top three heading into the last day. If two races are run on the 22nd there will be an additional throwout.
The 2009 Schedule is now available on the Schedule page.
The second half Frostbite is tight after six races with the top three boats only 3 points apart. BAT IV (15), Dog House (17), and A Train (18) are fighting it out for the lead. A Train has three straight 1's to get back in the hunt. February has been uncommonly kind with the good weather days hitting on Sunday. The first two weeks saw temperatures in the 60's and this week was sunny in the mid 40's. Good winds with lots of quirky Severn River shifts have made for some interesting races. The series has four more weeks of races scheduled so anything can happen. The full results are posted on the Results Page.
Second Half Frostbite kicked off on Super Bowl Sunday with 10 boats participating. The name Frostbite was hardly appropriate as everyone was stripping off layers as temperatures rose into the low 60's making for a perfectly exquisite day. Ray Wolff and Andrew Kennedy picked up where they left off in December going 2-1 for the day. The Dog House Team led by the Arthur Libby, John Bremer, Tom Carter syndicate also went 1-2 for the day so the competition is on. The full results are available on the Results Page. The series concludes at the end of March.
The First Half Frostbite Season had 18 boats participating. Ray Wolff, sailing on Andrew Kennedy's BAT IV, earned first place, followed by Bob Reeves on A Train and the Matt Marcy/Jay Corocoran team on Hiawatha. Frostbite continues to be very popular with the Class as it provides a laid back atmosphere, socializing between races, an opportunity to get people out who don't get to participate in high point, and relief from the winter doldrums. The full results are posted on the Results Page.
It is time to pay your Annual Dues. If you pay at the Annual Meeting on January 10th (or as soon as possible) it means the Treasurer doesn't have to spend a lot of time begging. Download the form here.
The High Point standings for 2008 have been audited and finalized. This year's big winner is Tenacious (Scott and Carl Gitchell) , followed by Mirage (Cedric Lewis and Fredrik Salvesen), Mopelia (Denis Seynhaeve) , Veloce (Marty Hublitz and Eddie Hornick) , and A Train (Bob Reeves) to fill out the top 5. 34 Fleet 3 boats participated with 26 eligible for High Point scoring. Tenacious is the 9th different winner in the thirteen years since the Fleet first qualified for High Point status in 1996. Bob Reeves has earned special distinction by finishing 5th in his 72nd year. Full details are available on the Results Page.
Link to Dan Phelps Spinsheet photos from The Chesapeake Championship and Fall Series.
Link to Photo Boat photos of The Chesapeake Championship.
The Chesapeake Championship was contested over three days and five races under Annapolis Yacht Club management. The racing was very tight with the typically challenging Chesapeake Bay Fall conditions ranging from 5 to 20 knots, in a multitude of directions, with wind driven tidal current. Peter McChesney and The Mystery Machine team came out on top with 13 points and two firsts. Fredrik Salvesen and Cedric Lewis on Mirage were second (17), Carl and Scott Gitchell on Tenacious were third (20), Denis Seynhaeve on Mopelia was fourth (26), and Jim Konigsberg on Inigo was fifth (32). The full results, including daily high point breakdown, are posted on the Results page.
Peter McChesney (far right) and some of his team from The Dream Machine feeling good after their hard fought win in the Chesapeake Bay Championship. Peter is well known in the Annapolis racing scene, having had much success in the J22 Class. He bought his first J105 (Kokopelli) a couple of years ago and made a good showing in the 2007 North American Championship. The Dream Machine is is second J105 and Peter is very enthusiastic about this victory and the level of competition in the class.
Information for visiting boats here.
The Annual Dues are past due. Download the form here.
CBYRA Entry Form - Download here
Downloads:
Anyone interested in crewing on one of our J105's should e-mail crew@j105fleet3.org
|
