Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 TOP

2021 J/70 World Championship at California Yacht Club - Day 2

by Betsy Crowfoot 13 Aug 2021 15:54 NZST August 7-15, 2021

Who wouldn't want a day off in Southern California, with the warm sunshine glinting off the blue Pacific? The hundreds of racers competing in the 2021 J/70 World Championship Regatta at California Yacht Club, that's who!

Sixty-one teams from 11 nations scurried onto the racecourse today, hopeful to make their mark in the five-day competition here. But Mother Nature had other plans. Following an hour-long postponement due to lack of wind, racing commenced at 1:45PM, only to trigger a General Recall. Then a shift in course and start line; followed by another General Recall. And then another postponement.

It was a frustrating day for sailors and organizers alike, who have waited two years for this premier yachting event, as racing was finally abandoned mid-afternoon.

That was no relief for Brian Keane on Savasana and Bruce Golison on Midlife Crisis who finished the day where they started: in a tie for first, eager to shake up the leaderboard.

It's a battle they're all too familiar with. Midlife Crisis won the J/70 Pre-World Championship less than two weeks ago, besting Savasana by three points.

"We were third in Cal Cup and second in the Pre-Worlds, so we're looking at three-two-one!" Keane said, hopeful for a build-up to a win in the Worlds. "We want it this year!

"We've got a good team and just have to avoid the big mistakes with the light conditions we're having this week," Keane added. "Everybody's going to have some diggers, so we've got to be patient and avoid the big mistakes."

"The Pre-Worlds was just another regatta and part of the plan to get us where we are trying to go," noted Golison, laser-focused on the Worlds. "It was fun to win, but that is now in the past. Those conditions were very different," he conceded, "but every opportunity to be sailing our boat makes us better, both speed-wise and understanding the Marina Del Rey conditions."

"It's Marina del Rey, anything can happen," added Allie Blecher, tactician on Rich Festa's Groundhog Day. "It's a little light but nothing out of the ordinary. Here we spend quite a bit of time sitting and waiting, and that's what catches people off guard. You lose that focus, and we've spent a lot of time working on that."

Groundhog Day finished Wednesday in the top ten with a third-place finish in Race Two. "We're the only fully Cal Yacht Club boat in this regatta," Blecher announced. "We're so happy and proud to be hosting the Worlds here. It's fantastic, after an extra year of waiting, and we feel very lucky and love the vibe. All the teams from different places and countries show up and it's no longer sleepy California Yacht Club - it's an exciting whirlwind of an event."

Racing will continue through Sunday August 15, beginning each day at 12:30PM. With conditions expected to improve on Friday, officials hope to complete the 10-race series - as the series NOR allows up to three races a day.

Preliminary Results: (top ten of 61, 2 races)

1. Brian Keane/ Ron Weed/ Bill Hardesty/ Alec Anderson, USA - 6 -1; 7pts
2. Bruce Golison/ Steve Hunt/ Erik Shampain/ Jeff Reynolds, USA - 3 -4; 7pts
3. Andres Ducasse Soruco/ Ignacio Ducasse Soruco/ Francisco Ducasse Soruco/ Rodrigo Ducasse Soruco/ Andres Ducasse Jr, CHI - 4 -9; 13pts
4. Peter Duncan/ Willem van Waay/ Morgan Trubovich/ Victor Diaz de Leon, USA - 5 -11; 16pts
5. Laura Grondin/ Taylor Canfield/ Michael Buckley/ Scott Ewing, USA - 2 -15; 17pts
6. Travis Odenbach/ Ian Coleman/ Marty Kullman/ Geoff Becker, USA - 13 -5; 18pts
7. James Prendergast/ Christian Prendergast/ Hector Gusman/ Mac Agnese, USA - 8 -13; 21pts
8. Rich Festa/ Tony Festa/ Allie Blecher/ Mary Stuyvesant, USA - 19 -3; 22pts
9. Mallory & Andrew Loe/ Giancarlo Nucci/ Cardwell Potts, USA - 16 -7; 23pts
10. Scott Spurlin/ Evan Aras/ Reed Baldridge/ Austin Powers, USA - 9 -18; 27pts

For complete information and daily results, please visit 2021j70worlds.com.

Related Articles

UK teams ready for J/70 Corinthian Europeans
The inaugural event will bring together over 50 international teams Cascais is set to host the highly anticipated inaugural J/70 Corinthian European Championship from April 1st to April 6th, 2025. Posted today at 7:31 am
Poole Regatta to Host IRC Europeans in 2026
4 days of competitive racing in a spectacular environment The enviable track record Poole has built for hosting unmissable regattas continues in 2026 with the inclusion of the prestigious IRC European Championship as an integral element of racing, alongside multiple class starts. Posted on 1 Apr
IRC Welsh National Championship preview
Entry now open for event in May Please remember to add to your itinerary the dates for the IRC Welsh National Championships 2025, hosted by Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club, Royal Dee Yacht Club, and the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre, here at Plas Heli. Posted on 1 Apr
43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE surpasses 50 entries
14 nationalities on the entry list Four months ahead of its 43rd edition, which will also host the ORC European Championship, the Copa del Rey MAPFRE already boasts 55 boats from 14 nationalities on its entry list. Posted on 1 Apr
J/70 Midwinter Championship in Miami
Peter Duncan's Reunited Team takes the title in heavy air Seven races. Heavy air. Fifty boats. The 2025 J/70 Midwinter Championship wrapped up Sunday with all the gusts, grit, and glory sailors can expect from a Miami regatta. Posted on 31 Mar
Rooster Extends Partnership with J/70 UK Class
Plus two new events highlighting growing diversity and inclusivity Following a fantastic Grand Slam Series, we are thrilled to announce that Rooster is continuing its partnership with the J/70 UK Class. With a shared passion for competitive racing and a commitment to growing the sport, Rooster remains an ideal partner. Posted on 29 Mar
Double bill for British Keelboat League
Boysterous Cup at Royal Southern, and Scottish Student Keelboat Championship A double bill for the British Keelboat League at opposite ends of the UK saw 22 teams competing at sold out events in Scotland and on the south coast. Posted on 26 Mar
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy returns
With the introduction of the high-performance TP52 class The prestigious Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy is set to return for its sixth edition from July 4-6, 2025, promising a thrilling weekend of top-tier sailing in one of Europe's most scenic and challenging maritime locations, Cascais. Posted on 24 Mar
G-SPOT crowned J/70 Primo Cup Trophee UBS Champion
Sunshine and a brisk 10-15 knot easterly in Monaco Sunshine and a brisk 10-15 knot easterly throwing up a complex chop made for a demanding weekend of sailing, requiring finesse and total control at the helm. Posted on 17 Mar
Tenzor International Cup Stage 4 overall
Tenzor Team and Ada JR triumph in Türkiye With challenging sailing conditions, the fourth Stage of Tenzor International Cup - J/70 Open Winter Series 2024-2025 concluded this weekend in Anthaven Resort, Bodrum. Posted on 17 Mar
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst GT 1456x180px BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px-03 BOTTOMCollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOM