GJW Direct J/70 UK National Championship at the Royal Southern Yacht Club - Preview
by Louay Habib 16 Jul 2018 15:08 BST
20-22 July 2018
33 J/70 teams will compete for the 2018 GJW Direct J/70 UK National Championship © J/70 UK Class / Louay Habib
33 J/70 teams will compete for the 2018 GJW Direct J/70 UK National Championship, including the reigning Open and Corinthian Champions, Wilson & Marshall's Soak Racing and Patrick Liardet's Cosmic, who will be representing the host club, The Royal Southern YC. The championship will also feature youth teams including Fiona Hampshire's Royal Thames Academy Team racing Elizabeth. The 2018 GJW Direct J/70 UK National Championship is a non-discardable event in the J/70 UK Grand Slam Series. Doug Struth's DSP, with Geoff Carveth on the tiller, leads the series. Soak Racing is second, Clive Bush's Darcey third, and Martin Dent's Jelvis and Phil Rees' Bryn are fourth and fifth respectively. All will be in action for the GJW Direct J/70 UK National Championship.
The 2018 J/70 UK National Championship is proudly sponsored by GJW Direct, as Jeremy Entwistle explains. "GJW Direct has provided marine insurance since 1826, this tradition now continues from our brand new office based in Swanwick Marina on the South Coast. GJW Direct insures all manner of dinghies, yachts, motor cruisers, speedboats/ribs and we even have a new small craft product that covers SUPS, canoes, kayaks and smaller motorboats GJW Direct is proud to be sponsoring the J/70 Nationals this year, and with our experience in insuring racing yachts and dinghies, we are able to offer the right cover at competitive rates for entrants, so why not come and visit us in our new office for a coffee and a quote."
Ian Wilson's Soak Racing has a full Corinthian lineup this year, and expect to make a highly competitive defence of their National title. "This year business commitments have meant that both myself and Marshall have not spent enough time racing and looking at the level of competition in the J/70 UK Class we will be aiming for top five this year, there are a lots of teams in top form." Commented Ian Wilson. "Having said that we will be giving it our all on the race course, and we are delighted to see how the class has developed, because it is producing outstanding racing."
Calascione & Ripard came desperately close to winning the title last year, having been crowned National Champions in 2016. "Having just lost out last year, we are definitely looking to get the title back." commented Seb Ripard. "The team has been racing a lot in the early season including Solent racing, the Euros in Vigo and the Italian Nationals, so we have been putting a lot of time on the water. During those regattas we have seen a number of teams really improve their performance, with the top guys using new techniques to get the most out of the boat and the sails. We expect a very tough competition but as always we will be trying to win every race."
Ten races are scheduled in the Central Solent with the first race due to start at 12:30 BST on Friday 20th July. Racing will conclude on Sunday 22nd July. The Royal Southern Yacht Club will provide dockside refreshments after racing each day, with North Sails providing daily weather forecasts via whatsapp. A full social programme will include the J/70 UK Class Dinner. The Doyle Sails Prize Giving for the GJW Direct J/70 UK National Championship will take place after racing on Sunday.
The full entry list for the GJW Direct J/70 UK National Championship can be found here.