By Airwaves Writer Terra Berlinski
The 2013 Bacardi Miami Sailing Week brought the STAR, VIPER 640, Melges 24, Melges 20, J/80 and the J/70 class to the course on Biscayne Bay to race from March 3-9th in a wide range of breeze and with excellent competition.
All other classes, excluding the Star, started their first race on March 7 ‘13. The VIPER 640 and J/70 had nine races with one throw away on the same course four (windward w/ gate, leeward w/ gate) with separate starts. The new J/70 one design has gathered a lot of momentum from coast to coast. Twenty boats competed in the 2013 Bacardi Cup making it the fourth major regatta in the class’ history.
It was our boats first regatta together. I was the bowman on the J/70 with three other crew members including trimmer and tactician Eric Heim from the San Diego Quantum Sail Loft. There are lots of lessons to be learned from a new boat, and with every sail new tips and tricks evolve. During our post-regatta drive across Florida through Alligator Alley, Heim and I talked about the highs and lows of the regatta, the boat, what worked and what didn’t. This is what he took away from the regatta:
On Wednesday during practice it blew 16-20 knots providing steady planing conditions. Upwind, the bowman (person one) and the pitman (person two) hiked legs out while the tactician/trimmer (person three) hiked inboard next to winch, still able to make trim adjustments, allowing the helmsman (person four) to focus on steering. It was helpful to cross sheet the jib to the weathered winch and to foot rather than pinch through the waves. Downwind, the jib stayed open while planing to give more sail area forward of the keel to help pull the bow down.
Thursday the regatta kicked off in the southeast corner of the bay with 0-5 knots of breeze. The first race finished with boats still drifting on the course. In a dying breeze was crucial to keep the tiller centered in order to reduce drag. Sail trim and weight movement to steer the boat was more effective then a slow tiller.
Friday and Saturday offered typical Miami Sailing conditions, puffy and a moderate breeze with some inconsistent planing. The rig was tuned to base with the headstay at 48 & 3/8”, the uppers at 24 and lowers at 18. In the flat water to short chop we could inhaul the jib aggressively upwind. This helped shape the bottom half (power) of the sail, and the leeward sheet helped to shape the top half (twist).
The traveler was an essential tool to keep the boat powered up and on its feet (controlling the heel). The leech is most important part of the main sail. Leech tension controls how high (or low) you can point. When easing the main sheet you open the leech. By using the traveler instead of the main, you maintain leech tension while depowering the boat and holding a higher point. The traveler system in our J/70 left something to be desired. The skipper had to use his foot against the lines to push the traveler into the ease and it gave back equal resistance with the trim. Such a key tool in the boat should be more fluid in its functionality.
Downwind sailing was a struggle for the majority of the fleet. Many of boats were not comfortable sailing optimal angles in marginal planing conditions. It was important to protect against the people who went high, but stick with people who went low, even though it was not the fastest course. As comfort grows in the boat, the fleet will close the downwind gap, making them more competitive.
There were plenty of sketchy, close interactions on the course that came very close to violating fundamental rules. Part of this is chalked up to the learning curve of a new class and figuring out what the boat can handle, but safety should never be disregarded. Let’s avoid it turning into a cowboy class where people disregard the rules and think its ok.
Sailing upwind, the J/70 moves like a little big boat and could provide an easy transition for skippers scaling down verses going as small as a dingy style sport boat.
It’s not a muscle boat, nothing is overly loaded up. A good team will be able to work it around the course; not forcing it with power but finessing it with synchronicity in body weight movement for and aft, heel angels and smooth transitions.
No weight limit has been set yet, which is a perk. Weighing in has some major cons on who can make up a team. The J/70 does not box people into in a corner on who they can sail with. Friends and family are all welcome creating a warm atmosphere and a diverse class.
Read Sail1Design’s earlier piece on the J/70 as a potential rival to the J/24 & J/22:
https://www.sail1design.com/general-news/1029-j70analysis
Full Bacardi Miami Sailing Week Results here: http://www.miamisailingweek.com/
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