The UK J109 class ran their UK Nationals at the Landsail Tyres J-Cup in Cowes last weekend.
Here in North Sails Ireland, we watched this event closely because NSI led the charge in the UK & Ireland J109 sail development programme. The Irish fleet were the first to move en masse to non-overlapping IRC jibs with Pat Kelly and his "Storm II" team purchasing their first 3Di Code 2 jib in late 2012. They have enjoyed massive success over the years since then and are now on their 3rd generation 3Di upwind sails. The 2012 jib, eight years later is still going strong though which is a testament to the remarkable longevity that our 3Di sail manufacturing process delivers.
Over the years our North Sails Ireland R & D programme has developed our J109 sails a lot since then...
Andrew Craig's "Chimaera" flying her 3Di RAW 780 Mainsail and Code 1 jib - Pic Maurice O'Connell / North Sails Ireland
The Landsail Tyres J-Cup was a three day event with very strong winds on the Friday, light airs on the Saturday and medium airs on the Sunday - perfect!
In recognition of the cv19 status in the UK, crew numbers were limited to to 6 crew vs. the usual 8 with socially distanced prizegiving etc. In spite of all this, in the J109 class winner Simon Perry's ("Jiraffe") words, "the regatta had the familiar festival feel of past J-Cups."
PRO supermo, former Etchell's and TP52 World champion and Finn Olympian Stuart Childerley ran an excellent event despite these challenging conditions.
North Sails provided event support also with my colleagues from NSUK on the water in the NS RIB every day.
My colleague and friend Jeremy Smart from North Sails UK raced as tactician about Tony Mack's "McFly" in the J111 class. Here he is about to karate chop Tony,,,,,,,,or maybe he is checking the layline..............
Jeremy Smart from North Sails UK and Tony Mack aboard the J111 "McFly" - Pic: Landsail Tyres J-Cup / Shaun Roster
The J109 class had a fantastic family feel to it with five of the seven crews racing with family members aboard - great stuff guys. It is wonderful to see the younger generation of sailors enjoying the action!
1st overall in the J109's, flying their 100% North Sails inventory was Simon Perry's "Jiraffe", with Simon's children Tom and Alice (and their godfathers) aboard........
Simon Perry's "Jiraffe"
Second overall, flying their 100% NS inventory was 2019 champion John Smart and his team on "Juke Box"
"Juke Box" flying her North Superkote A2 Spinnaker and 3Di 780 Mainsail: Pic: Landsail Tyres J-Cup / Shaun Roster
3rd overall was Dave Richard's "Jumping Jellyfish" racing with his daughter onboard.
"Jumping Jellyfish" flying downwind with her North Sails Superkote A2 and 3Di mainsail - pic: Landsail Tyres J Cup / pwpictures.com
Congratulations to all the J109 sailors, organisers and volunteers at the Landsail Tyres J-Cup. It looked like TREMENDOUS fun.
The final DBSC Thursday night race will be tonight - should be great J109 action.
See you on the water soon everyone and sail FAST.
