FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEGABYTE CLASS ASSOCIATION
7 JANUARY 2013
2013 MEGABYTE MIDWINTER CHAMPIONSHIP
The Megabyte class is holding its midwinter championship February 15-17th 2013 as part of the St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta. This will be the 10th anniversary of the megabyte midwinter event. Competitors from as far as the Northeast and Canada are expected to travel to Florida in search of warm waters and great racing. [Read more…] about 2013 MEGABYTE MIDWINTER CHAMPIONSHIP NOTICE
By Airwaves Writer Zach Brown
Days after Santa dropped by over the holiday, Biscayne Bay challenged the top youth sailors in Optis, 4.7s, Radials, Lasers, 420s, I420s, and 29ers with light and unstable winds at the 2012 Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta was quite the show with Coral Reef YC, Biscayne Bay YC, and the Miami US Sailing Center hosting 652 sailors. Coconut Grove Sailing Center hosted 29ers, I420s, and adult Lasers in the Open Orange Bowl. Consistency was difficult to achieve as the results show. The strong attendance of domestic and foreign sailors proved once again that the Orange Bowl reigns as the premier youth winter event.
Biscayne Bay was filled with boats in each and every corner of the body of water. Club 420s were tucked in the northeast end under Key Biscayne, Optis were northwest near the harbor entrance, Lasers were southeast off the tip of Key Biscayne, and the 29er/I420 course was in the southwest section of the bay. No course was the same with each race area having its own unique geographic and location specific wind velocities and sea states. The only thing in common was the light wind and patchy holes that were difficult to avoid. Only the final day saw breeze exceed 7 knots, when a cold northeast wind blew just above 10 knots for the last few races.
Looking at the scores of the top three finishers in each fleet, only a few sailors in a few classes were able to finish with consistent results from beginning to end. Boat speed and fleet management were the keys to victory this year. International sailors found their way into the top three of almost every fleet at this year’s Orange Bowl. One of the most obvious takeaways from the leader board is that sailors from “year-around” sailing venues dominated the regatta due to more time spent on the water. Most of the top three finishers from the US in each class were from California, Florida, or Texas.
For more results on the 2012 Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta, please visit: http://www.coralreefyachtclub.org/Waterfront/orange-Bowl-Regatta/Orange-Bowl-Results.aspx
For the Open Orange Bowl Results, check out: http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_regatta_results.php?regatta_id=5841&show_divisions=1&show_crew=1
J/70
Since being launched in March 2012, the new J/70 ‘Speedster’ has skyrocketed in popularity. Fleets have begun to pop up not only here in the US, but in Europe and Asia as well. This dynamic new racing platform is easy to control and maintain by sailors with varying skill sets. Whether you are looking for a one-design world championship or simply taking your kids out for an afternoon sail, the J/70 is safe, fast, and easy to handle.
The J/70, built by J/Boats and CCF Composites in Bristol, Rhode Island was designed to be the company’s first trailer-launchable keelboat and to fulfill the needs of the constantly evolving sailing community. This incredible boat provides a fast, yet stable platform that entices speed freaks and family sailors alike. Although the one-design market is currently flooded with similar twenty-something foot racers, the J/70 stands out from the rest in no small part due to the careful design and planning process by the J/Boat team.
The J/70 is the first small keel boat to be built by J/Boats since the launch of the J/22 nearly thirty years ago. The boat measures 22.75 feet and packs a sail area of 226 square feet. The sail plan is simple; main, jib and a masthead asymmetrical spinnaker attached to a retractable composite bowsprit. The J/Boats design team has incorporated some unique features into their new keelboat. The J/70 features an open transom and spacious cockpit that allows the crew to move about freely and safely.
In addition, the lifting bulb keel makes trailering a breeze. This somewhat unique feature is perhaps the boat’s greatest draw and broadens the range of events that racers can participate in.
With over 30 boats registered for the 2013 Quantum Key West Race Week, the success of the class appears to have come overnight. The quality of this boat is undeniable and it is likely that the class will grow to be one of the most popular in the coming years.
LOA: 22.75’
Beam: 7’ 5”
Draft: 4’ 9”
Displacement: 1,750 lbs
Sail Area: 226 ft2
Website: http://www.jboats.com/j70/
by Airwaves writer Elizabeth Dudley
Winter Sailing Opportunities
It’s December. Depending on where you are living, the air is getting cold and the water temperature will soon follow. It’s easy to pack your sailing gear into the closet and wait until May to pull it back out and realize you forgot to wash it. [Read more…] about I Miss Sailing: Winter Sailing Opportunities
Some sailing things to think about when choosing a college…
Bill Jorch, Airwaves Writer
Editors Note: Sail1Design would like to welcome Bill Jorch to the Airwaves team. Bill is a Georgetown grad, was a member of the sailing team there, and now lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife. We look forward to Bill’s contributions and enjoy his first piece:
As a high school sailor looking to continue sailing at the college level, the group of schools has already been narrowed. Each school’s sailing program is unique and there are many criteria to consider when making your decision. While this list is not exhaustive, I present a few items that I, and many other college sailors, scrutinized when analyzing collegiate sailing teams.
– Coaching: Many colleges have full or part time coaches to run practice and work at regattas. Knowing the coach’s commitment and the program and understanding the coach’s philosophy regarding the team will help you see where you fit in at that program.
– Team dynamic: While each team is trying to sail their best, their approaches differ. The size of the team can range from just a handful of sailors to upwards of forty. The makeup of a team can be important as well. Is the team loaded with seniors or will you be joining a large freshman class? Does the team compete at national events or regional regattas or both?
– Venue / facilities: College sailing venues vary in many ways from school to school. One factor is the proximity to campus. Many schools offer on campus water access, and those that don’t usually only require a short drive. In almost all instances where schools sail on campus they have their own facilities, while those that drive to practice usually share a marina or yacht club. Each school’s venue produces different conditions. Some offer open water while others are located on lakes and rivers. There are locations that have traditionally big breeze while others have lighter and shiftier wind.
– Climate: College sailing has two distinct seasons, fall (September – November) and spring (February – May). Schools in warmer climates can extend their seasons on both ends in more mild conditions, while the northern schools will have slightly shorter practice seasons and colder temperatures around winter. However, most schools will sail in cold weather, if not at practice then at events in the late fall or early spring.
These are just a few things to think about sailing-wise when looking at colleges. Each program has its own unique identity and it is up to you, the sailor, to choose what is best. There are some aspects of college sailing that I failed to mention that may be essential to your search. Each category has a broad spectrum of possibilities and I purposely did not endorse any one criterion over another because this is such a personal decision. I will, however, advocate for one piece of advice; visit the schools you are interested in. Take a tour of the campus, check out the sailing venue, talk with the coach, and maybe even watch a practice. This will be a great way to learn a lot about the program and determine what is important to you.
Questions? Please email Zach Brown: [email protected]
–too late for press, but Connecticut College will be there too!
For more information please email Zach Brown: [email protected]
