 Oh what a feeling! Its been a few weeks since LYRA and the after glow continues. We had our largest Fleet 20 turn out yet with 9 boats competing at Sodus Bay YC. For those that didn’t make it, you were missed! The J/80 fleet started showing up first by water after racing from Rochester YC to Sodus Bay YC in true championship fashion. We clearly were making a statement by posting a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place win in the Centennial Race Division 2, PHRF 1 Spinnaker start and PHRF 1st Overall Corrected. I had friends in other fleets that were blown away watching the J/80 fleet storm by them on the course. Everyone wants a J/80! Congratulations to Gene and the Escape crew along with the rest of the competitors. This has inspired a coastal race to be incorporated into next years race week. More to follow. 2015 CENTENNIAL RACE RESULTS: 1 ESCAPE 2 Stray J 3 EAGLES WINGS Wednesday was the day the road warriors arrived, one by one pulling in and taking over the SBYC launch area. Owners and crew across the fleet swarmed in to assist in what was a mostly uneventful process of stepping the masts and launching the boats. By mid afternoon many of the competitors were tuned and rafted off the prime location designated J/80 docks and enjoying the camaraderie. The Smith’s invited us all to a Irish Pub in Webster where we were toasted by the locals in true tradition, Sláinte J/80’s! At this point I want to thank our Chef de Mission Lisa Smith and her crew David and Ben. You guys truly made the entire regatta for us, from the moment we arrived until we pulled out on Sunday. Having the SBYC committee know what to expect before we arrived, assigning a sweet location for us and setting the extra buoys to support our raft was awesome. Dave, your assistance and cool head mast stepping kept us all calm and got the job done. Ben, I’m sure you had something to do with the ever flowing beer (and water) in Lisa and Dave’s cooler, thanks for all your help! I can’t forget to mention our mariners on Breakaway J that sailed in from Kingston YC, on short fuel rations and the circumnavigators on Feisty, sailing all the way from NYC in Toronto, wow… impressive! The LYRA course racing was awesome, with three great races Friday, three more on Saturday and two on Sunday. We had every condition from no wind, good wind to OMG STAY ON THE BOAT!!! Saturday being the highlight for me, with 6' waves and 20+knots of breeze! Those downwind sled rides were incredible! A true reminder of how fun this little yacht is. LYRA COURSE RACING RESULTS: Hans Fogh Memorial J/80 Lake Ontario Open 9 J/80s - seven races & close results with only 6 points spread between 2nd and 6th 1 Nautical Symphony 2 JIGGERS! 3 EAGLES WINGS LYRA ONE-DESIGN REGATTA CHAMPION: Nautical Symphony Not only was this a great LYRA regatta but an awesome opportunity to demonstrate what a great fleet we've created. I was taken aside by SBYC’s Commodore, Bob Carey, and given an incredible compliment directed at the entire fleet. He shared that it didn’t get overlooked by the club and the other regatta participants just how great you all are, coming together to help each other out, to party and to compete. The LYRA Championship Award that Nautical Symphony was presented goes to you all. Congratulations. Speaking about Nautical Symphony, WOW… a two peat! Second year in a row wining the Hans Fogh Memorial Open. A fantastic accomplishment amongst a fleet of 9 very competitive sailors, with seven races and only 6 points spread between 2nd and 6th. Congratulations to owners Bart Smit & Pascal Desrosiers, crew Gitte Frederiksen and driver/tactician David Holmes for showing us how its done. The Hans Fogh Memorial Lake Ontario J/80 Open is being held again next year in conjunction with LYRA on July 29-31 at Whitby Yacht Club. I look forward to seeing everyone there in the lead up to the North Americans. I'm sure we'll be taking the LYRA One-Design Fleet flag home again with more than 9 boats attending next year for sure! Sail Fast! Lawrence Alexander CAN 33 JIGGERS! J/80 Fleet 20 Captain | 20 January 2016 |
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