Archive for April, 2008

The 2008 Soling European Championship was held on Lake Balaton in Hungary from April 20th to 27th. Seven races were completed and George Wossala and crew Karoly Vezer and Nemeth Peter one the event using Doyle sails. 2nd place was captured by Roman Koch and crew and 3rd place by Johan Offermans and crew, both used Doyle sails. Doyle would also like to congratulate Thomas Maschkiwitz and crew who finished fifth overall.

The J/122 is a new type of sailboat that can be raced and cruised. Built in Europe, where the design is popular, it has started to become established in the U.S., and this last weekend saw the first regatta of these boats in the U.S. The regatta was won by Mike Bruno and Tom Boyle in their new J/122, Wings.

Rye, NY (PRWEB) — It was “spring” in name only at the American Yacht Club Spring Series of 2008. A strong Easterly breeze for 3 of the 4 racing days offered up gusts to 30 knots and substantial sea state. Turnout was strong, with over 100 boats competing in 12 one-design, IRC and PHRF classes in the annual event that kicks off the big boat racing season in the Northeast.

Just days before the regatta, Mike Bruno, the current commodore of American Yacht Club, and his co-owner, club member Tom Boyle, took delivery of their new J/122, Wings. The J/122 is a new versatile 40 foot performance sailboat that offers racing performance with comfortable live-aboard accommodations. The boats have proven popular in Europe, where they are made, and fleets are now building in the U.S. The boat is designed and marketed by J Boats.
Photos and information on this design and Wings specifically are available at Wings‘ Website.

The American Yacht Club Spring Series was the very first one design event in the U.S. for this design. Seven boats, all local, competed over 4 days of challenging racing. Some of the best sailors around were on the boats, crewing and calling tactics. Action was tight. The boat that has been active in these waters the longest, Andrew Weiss’s Christopher Dragon, and has won handicap events in the past (before the one design class was established), challenged for first place but ended up with a close second after Wings.

Commodore Bruno said, “Having never sailed a sprit boat in the past, or competed in one design racing, it was particularly rewarding to do well in our Spring Series. The 122 is a superb boat with excellent build quality, awesome performance in all the conditions we have experienced to date, and great looks. The boat was totally in control on the days we saw 30kt gusts with steep seas, and was also very fast on the two light days. We already have three 122s at American Yacht Club — and four other J/122s nearby — and I suspect our East Coast fleet will grow quickly.”

Tom Boyle added, “I am pleased to have joined with my friend Mike Bruno in co-owning and co-skippering this boat, whose design is exceeding all my expectations. Mike and I have planned a first rate program and are fortunate to have attracted some of the very best amateur sailors in our area.”

Sailmaker Mark Ploch of Doyle Ploch Sails added, “It was once again clear that our sails are fast and easy to trim over a wide range of conditions. This allows the crew to concentrate on boat handling and tactics, not having to tweak sails.” Visit the Doyle Ploch Sails Website. Full results of the regatta are at American Yacht Club Website.

Competition is expected to ratchet up further as more boats are slated to attend upcoming New England events including the East Coast Championship at New York Yacht Club Race Week in Newport in mid July; information on that regatta at New York Yacht Club Website.

The Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, Florida hosted the 2008 Star World Championship. Doyle One Design was happy to debut our CM-5, crosscut mainsail, and RM-5, Radial mainsail. Mark Mendelblatt and crew Mark Strube sailed the 2008 Star World’s with the Doyle CM-5 and finished 7th overall and was the top US boat.

Above: Jud Smith and Terry Yuill in USA 8177 (left) and Jali Makila and Erkki Heinonen in FIN 8292 (right) at the 2008 Star Worlds. Photo credit: Fried Elliot