Two Canadian champions crowned at Charlottetown Race Week

J 70's round the mark on Charlottetown's Hillsborough Bay © Kathy Large

A J70 team with the regal name of "Rex" has been crowned Canadian champion for the third year in a row and a new team based in Prince Edward Island has won the Farr 30 Canadian title. Both classes competed at Charlottetown Race Week July 12-14.

Skipper Peter Toombs and his Farr 30 crew on HeadFirst 3 won six of seven races. It is an auspicious beginning for the group, "We'll go at this hard for the next five years. I am ecstatic that an Atlantic Canadian team has won the Farr 30 championship for the first time. I hope it helps us grow the class." Toombs' goal is to bring the World Championship to the region in the years ahead. HeadFirst 3 will compete for the Farr 30 North American title at Chester Race Week in Nova Scotia next month.

Farr 30's race against the backdrop of PEI's famous red soil cliffs - photo © Lorne Kelly

Team Rex skippered by Scott Weakley from Port Credit, Ontario had five bullets in seven races. He claims not to have any secrets about making his J 70 go faster, since the one design class requires every team to have the same basic equipment. He credits his success to the amount of time he spends in the boat. "We do a lot of regattas and get humbled pretty quickly when sailing with professionals. But that makes you better. As for winning a third title, we are lucky. You always need a little luck to go with experience in racing."

Weakley took time when accepting his trophy to salute the local club for a great regatta and warm hospitality to all competitors. Charlottetown Race Week co-chair Helen Blake praises Principal Race Officers Brian Todd of Nova Scotia and Nathan Fredrickson of PEI for ensuring everything went smoothly. "They deserve a lot of credit for dealing so well with the huge range of sailing conditions and keeping the fleet racing all three days."

HeadFirst 3 Crew Canadian Farr 30 champions (Left to Right) Topher Kingley-Williams, John Whynacht, Jonathan Ross, Peter Toombs, Adam Roy, Graham Roy, Missing Darren Jones - photo © Emily Gaudet

Wind conditions varied from 10 to 12 kts with higher gusts on the first day, allowing for four races. Day two was extremely light air. Charlottetown J-70 sailor Graeme Carr says Todd and Fredrickson "made a silk purse out of a sow's ear" by getting in one race in fading winds. The third day started with steady breezes of 6 to 7 kts which dropped off as the second and final race was finishing.

Twenty seven boats and 175 sailors competed in the regatta, which also included J 29 and PHRF classes.

Rex crew Canadian J 70 champions Mark Goodyear, Rene Serin, Peter Wickwire and Scott Weakley - photo © Kathy Large

Charlottetown Race Week 2018 Results:

J 29 (One Design - five boats)

1. Satisfaction, J 29, Randy Johnston, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - 1 -1 -[4] -1 -1 -1 -1; 6
2. Georgia Girl, J 29, David McInnis, Charlottetown, PE, CAN - 2 -2 -2 -[3] -2 -2 -2; 12
3. One 4 Surprise, J 29, Jason Aspin, Charlottettown, PE, CAN - 3 -3 -1 -2 -[4] -3 -4; 16
4. Red Sled, J 29, Percy Simmonds, Stratford, PE, CAN - 4 -4 -3 -[5] -5 -4 -3; 23
5. Jubilation, J 29, Tim Cook, Charlottetown, PE, CAN - [5] -5 -5 -4 -3 -5 -5; 27

Farr 30 Canadian Nationals (One Design - six boats)

1. HeadFirst 3, Farr 30, Peter Toombs, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - [2] -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1; 6
2. Yardsail, Farr 30, Robert Apold / Roby Douglas, Halifax (owner), NS, CAN - 1 -[7] -4 -2 -3 -2 -2; 14
3. Matador, Farr 30, Gregory Blunden, Halifax, NS, CAN - 3 -3 -2 -3 -[5] -5 -4; 20
4. Tangley, Farr 30, Jonathan Ross, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - [6] -5 -3 -5 -2 -3 -3; 21
5. Goose, Farr 30, Ben Maloney, Bedford, NS, CAN - 4 -2 -[5] -4 -4 -4 -5; 23
6. Ataraxia, Farr 30, Michael Carlson / André Bégin-Drolet, Québec, QC, CAN - 5 -4 -[6] -6 -6 -6 -6; 33

J70 National Championship (One Design - 10 Boats)

1. REX, J 70, Scott Weakley, Port Credit, Ont, CAN - 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -[5] -3; 8
2. Joyridin', J 70, Graeme Carr, Charlottetown, PE, CAN - 2 -2 -[4] -2 -3 -1 -2; 12
3. CAN 550, J 70, Stu McCrea, Halifax, NS, CAN - [3] -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -1; 14
4. oodtogo, J 70, Peter Midgley, Charlottetown, PE, CAN - 4 -4 -[7] -5 -7 -3 -6; 29
5. Ardezen, J 70, Andrew Rankin, Charlottetown, PE, CAN - 6 -5 -2 -7 -5 -6 -[8]; 31
6. Maverick, J 70, Rich Jones, Jerseyville, Ont, CAN - [8] -6 -5 -8 -4 -4 -4; 31
7. Cry Havoc, J 70, Ralph Neate, Collingwood, Ont, CAN - 5 -[8] -8 -4 -6 -8 -5; 36
8. SeaYa, J 70, Kim Gibson, Fredericton, NB, CAN - 7 -7 -6 -6 -[8] -7 -7; 40
9. Point Eight, J 70, Peggy Bethune, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - [11] -11 -11 -11 -9 -9 -9; 60
10. CAN 314, J 70, Andrew Lennox, Etobicoke, Ont, CAN - [11] -11 -11 -11 -11 -11 -11; 66

PHRF (Spinnaker) (PHRF - eight boats)

1. Young Blood, J 100, Larry Creaser, Chester, NS, USA - 2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -[3] -1; 9
2. DogParty, J 100, Terry McKenna, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - 1 -1 -1 -[3] -3 -1 -3; 10
3. Ghost, Olson 30, peter Scott, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - 4 -3 -3 -4 -2 -[5] -4; 20
4. Pepper, J 35, John Rankin, charlottetown, PEI, CAN - 5 -4 -6 -[9] -4 -4 -2; 25
5. Endeavour, J 30, Brandon Forbes, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - [9] -9 -4 -2 -6 -2 -6; 29
6. Intuition, Beneteau 33.7, Stephen Cudmore, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - 3 -5 -5 -5 -[7] -6 -5; 29
7. Babe, J 100, Peter Bethune, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - [9] -9 -9 -9 -5 -7 -7; 46
8. Baboon, J 35, David Smith, Charlottetown, PEI, CAN - [9] -9 -9 -9 -9 -9 -9; 54