Becker's Blog: J/70 North American Championship Report and Results

Final Report

2013 J-70 North Americans Report – By Geoff Becker

Day 3 – Final Day Wrap-up

4 races (all races course 4, 4 legs and downwind finish) Wind 6-12 knots @ 10°-40°

The final day of the 2013 J-70 North Americans brought an early first start (10am), moderate shifty winds and 4 races! Because no races could be completed on Day 2, the RC needed as many races as possible on the final day. This meant that more than half of the regatta was to be decided on this final day of racing.

Team Helly Hansen was able to endure the fickle and streaky conditions to finish the event 3rd overall, with scores of 2nd, 6th, 22nd and an 8th on the final day of racing. Consistency was something all the teams wanted, but for this regatta it was difficult to achieve. 

Fortunately, we were able to stay out of major trouble and keep our boat going toward the better side of the course, most of the time.

Looking at the scores from this regatta, they show an effective illustration of one of the topics from my J-24 North American Blogs. 

Thinking of a regatta score in terms of an average, a score of ‘par’ 

can be found. A ‘par’ score in sailing is basically the average score per race versus the overall regatta score. By thinking of a ‘par’ 

score, it makes looking at the larger picture easier when you do finish 25th or even worse. For example, if a boat finishes 5th and 15th for a score of 20 points in two races, the average score would be 10th and thinking in terms of two 10th place finishes often offers a more positive outlook.

Looking closely at the scores for the J-70 North Americans, it is easy to see that every boat had big scores. Add to that that this regatta offered no drop races, and the average scores were much higher than would normally be expected. The winner of the event averaged over 13.5 points per race and even counted a 55th. Our team, finishing in 3rd overall, had an average score of almost 14.5 points per race and only one race in the top 5. Again, these averages are higher because of the lack of a drop race.

After some experience looking at race scores, a winning average score can often be estimated before the event begins. Some elements that effect the forecast of an average regatta score are, number of boats, depth of the fleet, consistency of the sailing conditions and number of races. During the J-70 event it became obvious early that the regatta would have a high average score for the overall. There were 89 boats, including a large number of high level crews, which combined with the fickle conditions made consistent top finishes more than challenging.

Ok, why does guessing an average score before the event matter? The answer is simple, peace of mind. Knowing that the regatta will likely have a high average score, when your boat finishes a race in 25th place, that score doesn’t sting as much making it somewhat easier to re-focus for the next race. Basically, having an average score in mind helps even out the highs and lows that will surely occur during a long and tough event allowing the bad races to be put into the big picture more easily.

Our takeaways from the final day are…

1. The large and deep fleet made all the average scores increase.

2. Knowing the regatta would have a high overall average score made it easier to maintain focus after bad races.

3. All things considered, our 3rd place was an excellent performance!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Results

Information is provisional and subject to modification
Regatta results saved: Sunday, September 29, 2013 9:01:11 PM EDT

 

J70 | Corinthian

 (89 boats) (top)

Pos	Bow/Sail	Boat	Skipper	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total Points	Pos
1	95/ 95	MUSE	Gregg Earl/Bardenheier, Heather/Joe	5	55	5	3	5	13	9	95.00	1
2	96/ 96	Savasana	Keane, Brian	22	14	6	1	11	1	42	97.00	2
3	C2/ 2	Helly Hansen	Healy, Tim	23	31	9	2	6	22	8	101.00	3
4	29/ 209	Trouble	McChesney, Peter	19	2	20	9	27	9	25	111.00	4
5	53/ 353	Heart Breaker	Hughes, Robert	21	15	30	20	2	25	2	115.00	5
6	47/ 187	Catapult	Ronning, Joel	15	6	1	14	44	33	32	145.00	6
7	51/ 51	Black River Racing Powered by	Strebel, Douglas	3	36	23	43/ZFP	1	32	14	152.00	7
8	63/ 369	Cool Story Bro	Brigden, John	7	28	18	46	24	7	23	153.00	8
9	46/ CAN 246	Touch 2 Play	Kullman, Martin	18	1	22	90/BFD	9	10	4	154.00	9
10	45/ 45	Wild Child	Filter, Henry	47	3	44	4	15	19	27	159.00	10
11	17/ 217	Joint Custody	Wulff, Jennifer	9	40	13	29	30	2	41	164.00	11
12	88/ 388	Flojito y Cooperando	Julian, Fernandez Neckelmann	11	29	17	13	45	16	35	166.00	12
13	34/ 34	Perseverance	Greenwald, Bennet	4	4	4	31	55	48	22	168.00	13
14	76/ 67		Killeen, John	49	33	29	19	3	28	11	172.00	14
15	39/ 185	turbo duck	von der Wense, Bodo	2	62	8	38	23	5	39	177.00	15
16	85/ 85	Dazzler Goat	Terhune, Allan	6	26	59	27	7	42	10	177.00	16
17	11/ 11	Menace	Klingler, Kerry	1	32	60	21	10	45	13	182.00	17
18	23/ 222	Junkanoo	Leech, Suzy	13	12	55	26	37	24	17	184.00	18
19	94/ 94	Lifted	Cunningham, Jim	35	20	10	27.5/RDG(1)	40	27	33	192.50	19
20	32/ 32	US 32	Ullman, David	10	5	78	24	4	51	30	202.00	20
21	35/ 35	Moxie	Allsopp, Cole	16	38	45	63	8	41	1	212.00	21
22	68/ 68		Thompson, Ron	36	7	14	35	33	37	51	213.00	22
23	81/ 181	GB	Lewis, Chris	14	39	34	23	60	17	26	213.00	23
24	99/ 99	Nostalgia	Kimbrough, Blake	31	35	48	37	50	8	5	214.00	24
25	C1/ 167	Risk	Tisdale, Gary	20	23	51	8	16	54	46	218.00	25
26	56/ 245		doyle, tyler	32	16	3	51	17	59	50	228.00	26
27	86/ 86	BRUNO PASQUINELLI	PASQUINELLI, BRUNO	34	56	54	30/ZFP	13	46	3	236.00	27
28	43/ 243	VitaminJ	Johnson, Ted	41	42	24	57	20	30	24	238.00	28
29	15/ 15	Junior	Finkle, Donald	28	48	42	16	29	38	38	239.00	29
30	93/ 309	CloudSourced	Copfer, Ronald	77	37	19	7	21	31	48	240.00	30
31	69/ 69	USA69	Colling, Joseph	51	8	63	22	58	3	37	242.00	31
32	C5/ 5	Instant Karma	Betts, David	26	27	12	90/BFD	25	47	20	247.00	32
33	36/ 364		aras, john	30	47	2	45	43	52	34	253.00	33
34	12/ 312	Soul	Koski, David	42	41	47	17	36	55	16	254.00	34
35	40/ 40	B Squared	Elliott, Brian	65	61	43	10	22	40	15	256.00	35
36	71/ 171	Running Wild	Vessella, Peter	12	10	64	6	65	81	28	266.00	36
37	42/ 342	Hurricane	Cook, Ian	53	34	11	70	12	56	31	267.00	37
38	41/ 340	Rimette	brim/Aras, john/Evan	48	45	25	28	28	57	36	267.00	38
39	74/ 174	Magic Bus	Mylett, Gregg	17	60	7	55	66	14	55	274.00	39
40	52/ 152	Sundog	Parks, Kathy	70	43	26	32	26	62	19	278.00	40
41	22/ 322	Sail22	Furry, Ed	40	58	65	5	39	20	52	279.00	41
42	49/ 49	Relative Obscurity	Duncan, Peter	62/ZFP	9	62	36/ZFP	47	49	18	283.00	42
43	59/ 159	Torqeedo	Flack, Brandon	68/ZFP	30	28	15	32	68	49	290.00	43
44	44/ 44	Gnixe	Vickers, William	25	68	15	65/ZFP	52	15	57	297.00	44
45	91/ 91	Carlos	Sudofsky, Mike	39	65	80	41	38	34	7	304.00	45
46	57/ 157	Spring	Franzel, Dave	59	17	75	36	51	26	44	308.00	46
47	48/ 48		Lotoff, Joe	61	19	74	11	59	53	45	322.00	47
48	13/ 151	Reach Around	Bowen, Thomas	63	46	40	39	46	60	29	323.00	48
49	18/ 218	Tsunami	Olds, Todd	64	50	16	53	42	67	40	332.00	49
50	26/ 26	Jungleland	Groobey, Chris and Carolyn	8	53	53	64	19	78	60	335.00	50
51	31/ 311	it	Sminchak, Jim	76	54	33	44	14	44	70	335.00	51
52	19/ 219	GetMyBoat	Rowland/O’Brien, Basil/Thomas	38	59	52	48	69	75	6	347.00	52
53	73/ 73	Occam’s Razor	Pletcher, Walter	57	78	81	50	49	35	12	362.00	53
54	66/ 66	Eagles Wings	Gottwald, John	46	72	36	30	54	65	65	368.00	54
55	55/ 155	Ragtime	Johnstone, Rodney	72	13	71	42	41	73	63	375.00	55
56	27/ 27	Derecho	Golden, Jim	56	51	61	69	67	6	67	377.00	56
57	25/ 25	PaPa Wheillie	Dodge, John	78	49	41	66	64	11	69	378.00	57
58	60/ 360	REX	weakley, scott	24	21	21	43	90/DNF	90/DNC	90/DNC	379.00	58
59	78/ 197	Nirvana 7	Donahue, Louis	43	24	31	68	77	72	64	379.00	59
60	87/ 87	Tick Tock Croc	Nesbett, Richard	67	57	50	67	18	80	43	382.00	60
61	20/ 220	Phoenix	Firey, Peter	73	64	66	34	62	29	58	386.00	61
62	61/ 6	HCMAX	Hillman, Mark	29	66	68	33	63	79	53	391.00	62
63	37/ 317	Late Life Crisis	Corbishley, Corbo	33	70	56	90/BFD	53	21	72	395.00	63
64	83/ BER 308	Elusive	Millican/Cucahiaro, Chuck/Steve	90/OCS	22	90/DNF	58/ZFP	31	61	47	399.00	64
65	72/ 199	Mojito	Evans, Catharine	27	82	38	76	56	43	77	399.00	65
66	89/ 189	Sotapanna	DiMatteo, John	37	52	67	60	68	58	62	404.00	66
67	16/ 216	Possum	DaMore, Justin	66	79	58	61	57	36	59	416.00	67
68	65/ 225	Shred	Skaane, Stein	69	44	70	77/ZFP	71	66	21	418.00	68
69	64/ 64	Exit Strategy II	Martin, Jack	75	88	85	54	35	4	90/DNC	431.00	69
70	28/ 28	Mission Impossible	Malkin, David	78/ZFP	25	39	52	82	90/DNF	75	441.00	70
71	14/ 168	USA168	McKenna, Marty	52	83	27	65	83	63	68	441.00	71
72	80/ 387		Guzman, Hector	85	18	86	73	61	39	81	443.00	72
73	58/ 357	USA 357	Berry, Kristen	58	67	37	75	81	71	56	445.00	73
74	54/ 54	Little Rascal	Pfarr, Rick	82	86	46	83	74	12	66	449.00	74
75	33/ 169	Empeiria	Heaton, John	79	69	32	78	73	64	54	449.00	75
76	24/ 324	Reggie Imamura	Imamura, Reggie	54	80	35	62	78	69	79	457.00	76
77	62/ 362	362	Wicker, David	71	87	87	72	48	23	71	459.00	77
78	38/ 385	Safe Haven	Donald, Keith	55	11	82	90/BFD	80	84	61	463.00	78
79	50/ 50	Rogue Warrior	McDonald, Bruce	45	63	57	76/ZFP	75	74	74	464.00	79
80	84/ 84	Bazinga!	Goldberg, Daniel P.	86	71	69	80	85	18	78	487.00	80
81	30/ 230	iZula	Smith, Kenneth	62	75	73	79	84	50	83	506.00	81
82	98/ 98	USA 98	Poindexter, Al	84	81	72	90/ZFP	34	70	76	507.00	82
83	21/ 200	Cat’s Pajamas	Johnstone, Drake	74	77	49	74	76	90/ZFP	73	513.00	83
84	97/ 97	Loki	Zupon, Michael	81	73	79	49	70	83	90/DNC	525.00	84
85	10/ 210	Vortex	Bomar/Powers, william/Austin	68	76	77	89/ZFP	72	76	80	538.00	85
86	70/ 320	Windsong	Jordan, Jeff	87	84	83	81	79	86	85	585.00	86
87	75/ 205	Tigress	Weibel, Timothy	88	89	76	84	86	82	84	589.00	87
88	82/ 208	Shamrock	Flaherty, James	83	85	88	82	87	85	82	592.00	88
89	C4/ 4	Sport	Wagner, Mark	80	74	84	90/BFD	90/DNC	90/DNC	90/DNC	598.00	89

Notes

(1)	Average Points (A10(a))
(2)	Scoring System is ISAF Low Point 2009-2012
(3)	Time limit expired (TLE) penalty is: Finishers plus 2

2013 J-70 North Americans Report – By Airwaves writer Geoff Becker

Team Helly Hansen

Skipper: Tim Healy

Tactician: Geoff Becker   Trimmer: Paul Abdullah    Bow: Gordon Borges

Day 1 Report

3 races (both races course 4, 4 legs and downwind finish) Wind 4-10 knots @ 0°-40°

Light and shifty winds and almost 90 boats in the fleet, then add a high level of talent and you are in store for some major mood swings. 

After Day 1 of the J-70 North Americans in Annapolis, MD, it is clear that there are going to be highs and lows for everyone. Team Helly Hansen saw ups and downs today, and finished the day with a 23rd, 31st and a 9th. Believe it or not, but that is good enough for 12th overall and only one point out of 10th.

The depth of talent in this regatta is outstanding. There are dozens of professionals and dozens more excellent amateur sailors all on the same course. Small mistakes, especially early in a race, will find you well back from the lead pack and struggling to find clear air, much less any passing lanes. Keeping your nose in clear air and being able to sail at full speed will surely help get you up to the front 1/3 of the fleet. If you are then able be on the favored side of the course, well that’s a bonus and might thrust you into the top 10.

On the way to the racecourse in the morning our team had a discussion about our overall strategy for thi
s regatta knowing that there were so many boats and this was a no throw-out regatta. To us, that meant we had to work hard to pass boats no matter our position or situation. It was likely that most teams, including ours, would have difficult races back in the fleet. Overall positions in the regatta could easily come down to how many boats could be passed from the first mark to the finish. Staying focused and patient would be our biggest asset on the day, and each point would matter to our overall position.

In race 1 we had a good start and were able to sail clean to the left side, which we thought was better, but found that the right side had a bit more wind and we got to the first mark in the 30s somewhere. After the first mark, we were able to scratch back to our 23rd and felt pretty good about it. For race 2, we were too aggressive on the line, started OCS and had to return and re-start. Our return was quick, we found a clear lane and survived to finish in 31st. The final race of the day, Race 3, we saw better pressure on the right, started near the right and had a clear lane to the right. At the first mark we rounded third! Yay! On the second upwind leg we again went to the right, but another pack of boats found more wind on the left and sailed around us. Fortunately we were able to stay inside the top 10 and save our best race of the day.

I can say that our patience was tested and at times it looked like we had no good options for gaining in a race. Something that has been said on our boat many times before became our mantra today…Day-by-day, race-by-race, leg-by-leg, puff-by-puff. Staying in the moment and keeping our focus on our best options each leg of each race was something we tried very hard to achieve today. Truthfully, there were several moments today when that ideal was challenging and it seemed like we had no best option, but for the most part we kept our heads and continued to look for gains on the course.

While our scores are not outstanding, we finished the day ready to work hard tomorrow. Light air, so many boats and mental highs and lows can be some of the hardest conditions to face on a racecourse. 

Tomorrow we plan to keep our pre-race focus positive and fight hard in every race, on every leg and for every point.

Our takeaways from Day 1 are…

1. This is a large, talented and tough fleet!

2. Work hard for every point in competitive fleets with no throw-outs.

3. Try to stay focused and take each race leg-by-leg, puff-by-puff.

 

Results so far:

 

Pos	Bow/Sail	Boat	Skipper	1	2	3	Total Points	Pos
1	34/ 34	Perseverance	Greenwald, Bennet	4	4	4	12.00	1
2	47/ 187	Catapult	Ronning, Joel	15	6	1	22.00	2
3	46/ CAN 246	Touch 2 Play	Kullman, Martin	18	1	22	41.00	3
4	29/ 209	Trouble	McChesney, Peter	19	2	20	41.00	4
5	96/ 96	Savasana	Keane, Brian	22	14	6	42.00	5
6	56/ 245		doyle, tyler	32	16	3	51.00	6
7	63/ 369	Cool Story Bro	Brigden, John	7	28	18	53.00	7
8	68/ 68		Thompson, Ron	36	7	14	57.00	8
9	88/ 388	Flojito y Cooperando	Julian, Fernandez Neckelmann	11	29	17	57.00	9
10	51/ 51	Black River Racing Powered by	Strebel, Douglas	3	36	23	62.00	10
11	17/ 217	Joint Custody	Wulff, Jennifer	9	40	13	62.00	11
12	C2/ 2	Helly Hansen	Healy, Tim	23	31	9	63.00	12
13	95/ 95	MUSE	Gregg Earl/Bardenheier, Heather/Joe	5	55	5	65.00	13
14	94/ 94	Lifted	Cunningham, Jim	35	20	10	65.00	14
15	C5/ 5	Instant Karma	Betts, David	26	27	12	65.00	15
16	53/ 353	Heart Breaker	Hughes, Robert	21	15	30	66.00	16
17	60/ 360	REX	weakley, scott	24	21	21	66.00	17
18	39/ 185	turbo duck	von der Wense, Bodo	2	62	8	72.00	18
19	36/ 364		aras, john	30	47	2	79.00	19
20	23/ 222	Junkanoo	Leech, Suzy	13	12	55	80.00	20
21	74/ 174	Magic Bus	Mylett, Gregg	17	60	7	84.00	21
22	71/ 171	Running Wild	Vessella, Peter	12	10	64	86.00	22
23	81/ 181	GB	Lewis, Chris	14	39	34	87.00	23
24	85/ 85	Dazzler Goat	Terhune, Allan	6	26	59	91.00	24
25	11/ 11	Menace	Klingler, Kerry	1	32	60	93.00	25
26	32/ 32	US 32	Ullman, David	10	5	78	93.00	26
27	45/ 45	Wild Child	Filter, Henry	47	3	44	94.00	27
28	C1/ 167	Risk	Tisdale, Gary	20	23	51	94.00	28
29	42/ 342	Hurricane	Cook, Ian	53	34	11	98.00	29
30	78/ 197	Nirvana 7	Donahue, Louis	43	24	31	98.00	30
31	35/ 35	Moxie	Allsopp, Cole	16	38	45	99.00	31
32	43/ 243	VitaminJ	Johnson, Ted	41	42	24	107.00	32
33	44/ 44	Gnixe	Vickers, William	25	68	15	108.00	33
34	76/ 67		Killeen, John	49	33	29	111.00	34
35	26/ 26	Jungleland	Groobey, Chris and Carolyn	8	53	53	114.00	35
36	99/ 99	Nostalgia	Kimbrough, Blake	31	35	48	114.00	36
37	41/ 340	Rimette	brim/Aras, john/Evan	48	45	25	118.00	37
38	15/ 15	Junior	Finkle, Donald	28	48	42	118.00	38
39	69/ 69	USA69	Colling, Joseph	51	8	63	122.00	39
40	59/ 159	Torqeedo	Flack, Brandon	68/ZFP	30	28	126.00	40
41	18/ 218	Tsunami	Olds, Todd	64	50	16	130.00	41
42	12/ 312	Soul	Koski, David	42	41	47	130.00	42
43	49/ 49	Relative Obscurity	Duncan, Peter	62/ZFP	9	62	133.00	43
44	93/ 309	CloudSourced	Copfer, Ronald	77	37	19	133.00	44
45	52/ 152	Sundog	Parks, Kathy	70	43	26	139.00	45
46	28/ 28	Mission Impossible	Malkin, David	78/ZFP	25	39	142.00	46
47	86/ 86	BRUNO PASQUINELLI	PASQUINELLI, BRUNO	34	56	54	144.00	47
48	72/ 199	Mojito	Evans, Catharine	27	82	38	147.00	48
49	38/ 385	Safe Haven	Donald, Keith	55	11	82	148.00	49
50	19/ 219	GetMyBoat	Rowland/O’Brien, Basil/Thomas	38	59	52	149.00	50
51	13/ 151	Reach Around	Bowen, Thomas	63	46	40	149.00	51
52	57/ 157	Spring	Franzel, Dave	59	17	75	151.00	52
53	48/ 48		Lotoff, Joe	61	19	74	154.00	53
54	66/ 66	Eagles Wings	Gottwald, John	46	72	36	154.00	54
55	55/ 155	Ragtime	Johnstone, Rodney	72	13	71	156.00	55
56	89/ 189	Sotapanna	DiMatteo, John	37	52	67	156.00	56
57	37/ 317	Late Life Crisis	Corbishley, Corbo	33	70	56	159.00	57
58	14/ 168	USA168	McKenna, Marty	52	83	27	162.00	58
59	58/ 357	USA 357	Berry, Kristen	58	67	37	162.00	59
60	61/ 6	HCMAX	Hillman, Mark	29	66	68	163.00	60
61	31/ 311	it	Sminchak, Jim	76	54	33	163.00	61
62	22/ 322	Sail22	Furry, Ed	40	58	65	163.00	62
63	50/ 50	Rogue Warrior	McDonald, Bruce	45	63	57	165.00	63
64	25/ 25	PaPa Wheillie	Dodge, John	78	49	41	168.00	64
65	27/ 27	Derecho	Golden, Jim	56	51	61	168.00	65
66	24/ 324	Reggie Imamura	Imamura, Reggie	54	80	35	169.00	66
67	40/ 40	B Squared	Elliott, Brian	65	61	43	169.00	67
68	87/ 87	Tick Tock Croc	Nesbett, Richard	67	57	50	174.00	68
69	33/ 169	Empeiria	Heaton, John	79	69	32	180.00	69
70	65/ 225	Shred	Skaane, Stein	69	44	70	183.00	70
71	91/ 91	Carlos	Sudofsky, Mike	39	65	80	184.00	71
72	80/ 387		Guzman, Hector	85	18	86	189.00	72
73	21/ 200	Cat’s Pajamas	Johnstone, Drake	74	77	49	200.00	73
74	83/ BER 308	Elusive	Millican/Cucahiaro, Chuck/Steve	90/OCS	22	90/DNF	202.00	74
75	16/ 216	Possum	DaMore, Justin	66	79	58	203.00	75
76	20/ 220	Phoenix	Firey, Peter	73	64	66	203.00	76
77	30/ 230	iZula	Smith, Kenneth	62	75	73	210.00	77
78	54/ 54	Little Rascal	Pfarr, Rick	82	86	46	214.00	78
79	73/ 73	Occam’s Razor	Pletcher, Walter	57	78	81	216.00	79
80	10/ 210	Vortex	Bomar/Powers, william/Austin	68	76	77	221.00	80
81	84/ 84	Bazinga!	Goldberg, Daniel P.	86	71	69	226.00	81
82	97/ 97	Loki	Zupon, Michael	81	73	79	233.00	82
83	98/ 98	USA 98	Poindexter, Al	84	81	72	237.00	83
84	C4/ 4	Sport	Wagner, Mark	80	74	84	238.00	84
85	62/ 362	362	Wicker, David	71	87	87	245.00	85
86	64/ 64	Exit Strategy II	Martin, Jack	75	88	85	248.00	86
87	75/ 205	Tigress	Weibel, Timothy	88	89	76	253.00	87
88	70/ 320	Windsong	Jordan, Jeff	87	84	83	254.00	88
89	82/ 208	Shamrock	Flaherty, James	83	85	88	256.00	89

Notes

(1)	Scoring System is ISAF Low Point 2009-2012
(2)	Time limit expired (TLE) penalty is: Finishers plus 2

Information is provisional and subject to modification

Principal Race Officer: Sandy Grosvenor
Jury Chair: Jim Capron