J-Cup 2003 at St Peter Port, Guernsey Overall

by Harriet Prest 28 Aug 2003 08:31 BST

'Charley J' wins the J-Cup in St Peter Port, Guernsey © Harriet Priest

'Jalfrezi' runs past Castle Cornet during the J-Cup in St Peter Port, Guernsey © Harriet Priest

J-tastic end to J-Cup…

J-Cup racers had themselves an extended Bank holiday today, in order to complete their championship series in St Peter Port. With everything to play for in the overall standings, a good breeze seemed to promise some serious competition. The first race set off on time allowing Class 1, consisting of J120s, to charge up the Little Russel Channel followed by the fleet of J109s and Class 3.

With the breeze beginning to die, the race became increasingly tricky; Chris Dunning’s Marionette cashed in on the situation, finding breeze on the right hand side of the course in both the second upwind and downwind legs. This provided them with a strong win; their results have risen steadily through the regatta with 4,3,2,1 showing a perfect curve of improving form.

Amongst the J109s, Isle of Wight boat King Louis, driven by owner Malcolm Thorpe, had a seriously good race; shooting north on the first beat, they caught two good shifts and found themselves popping out at the windward mark well ahead of the rest of the fleet. By the time Class 3 were beating back to the committee boat finish a combination of no wind and a strong tide saw Sling Shot, the J-UK boat driven by Jeremy Robinson, finish first leaving dangerously close J92s struggling to stay the right side of the line with spinnakers up.

The millpond like sea meant that the programmed second and final race had to be abandoned. However, the victims of the party the night before with a prize giving to get to and with many boats sailing back to the UK later that evening, no one seemed to mind!

In Class 3, J105 ‘Sling Shot’ discarded a second and won with a perfect three points. They did admit that the J92s had often represented a real threat behind them; especially in light airs when it is more difficult to power up a J105. Amongst the hugely competitive fleet of J109s, Robert Shaw’s Jazolo stole the show, retaining their Cowes Week 2003 Bowsprit Class winning form.

Chas Ivill made for a popular winner of Class One and the J-Cup itself, driving his J120 Charley J into a podium position in every race. Third place was their worst result; this was only as a result of the wrong spinnaker packed into the wrong bag by the J-UK PR girl. Almost without exception, all the crews attended the prize giving which was unique in awarding every single yacht with prizes. The atmosphere, on and off the water, seems significant proof that this was regatta which combined hardcore competition with hardcore partying.

Overall Results:

Pos	Boat Name	Boat Type	TCF	Sail No	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
Class 1 J 120
1	Charley J	J 120	1.089	8415R	2	1	1	3	4
2	Jamarama	J 120	1.083	1200L	1	9	2	2	5
3	Marionette	J 120	1.096	955R	4	3	2	1	6
4	Jalfrezi	J 120	1.080	8581	3	3	4	4	10
5	J'Ouvert	J 120	1.090	8720R	7	4	6	5	15
6	J Fever	J 120	1.088	1290R	5	5	5	6	15
7	Julia Dream	J 120	1.064	75R	6	9	9	9	24
8	Agenor	J 120	1.077	9790	9	9	9	9	27
Class 2 J 109
1	Jazolo	J 109	1.032	9319R	5	1	1	3	5
2	King louie	J 109	1.031	5109R	4	7	3	1	8
3	Wow	J 109	1.034	9779	2	3	8	5	10
4	Joyride	J 109	1.031	4709R	8	4	2	4	10
5	Jahmali	J 109	1.029	9091R	6	5	5	2	12
6	Jo Jo Gunne	J 109	1.012	709R	1	9	6	9	16
7	Judgement Day	J 109	1.027	1509R	7	2	9	7	16
8	Waverider	J 109	1.038	109L	3	6	7	8	16
9	Jacobs ladder	J 109	1.031	4809R	9	8	4	6	18
10	Jetstream	J 109	1.026	8709R	10	11	10	10	30
Class 3
1	Slingshot	J 105	1.104	9205	1	1	2	1	3
2	Duck and Jybe	J 92	0.985	9752	4	3	5	3	10
3	Jammin of Poole	J 92	0.993	9214R	5	5	7	2	12
4	Majic	J 110	1.001	9675R	3	2	8	12	13
5	Vegas	J 92	0.992	SWE 1	7	6	4	5	15
6	Jacksnipe	J 80	0.972	6666T	6	4	9	6	16
7	Just Enough	J 92	0.987	6912T	9	7	3	12	19
8	Moby J	J 92	0.991	9294	2	12	10	8	20
9	Jambalaya	J 92	0.982	9212R	8	8	11	4	20
10	Jour de Fete	J 92	0.999	28798	10	9	6	7	22
11	Voador	J 105	1.015	722R	12	12	1	12	25