San Francisco J/105 Fleet #1The J105 Fleet One Championship season opened this weekend with the St Francis Yacht Club’s Spring One Design regatta. A winter storm and atmospheric instability made for challenging conditions at both ends of the wind velocity spectrum. Race One started a little before 1pm on Saturday once enough pressure developed for boats to make progress in the 2.5kt ebb. The breeze ramped throughout the afternoon and by the second race, 25kt puffs and a narrow window of opportunity to gybe after the offset mark combined to winnow the fleet to just 11 finishers of 17 starters.
Day 2 kicked off with a postponement due to high wind and a forecast for increased strength later in the day. After a poll of the owners and discussion with the RC, the AP was dropped and racing started in the early afternoon with 25kts on the fun-meter. Wind strength was variable over the course with strong puffs in the center of the Bay and steep ebb-driven chop. Closer to shore the waves and wind were smaller and more manageable, at the penalty of less current. Most boats made it around the weather mark, launched kites and enjoyed a wild ride down to the leeward gates. With wind building to over 33kts in the central bay and a growing list of casualty-kites among the racers, the RC wisely declared a shorten course and the regatta finished with 3 of 5 scheduled races completed.
Top 5 were: 1 – Blackhawk, 2 – Donkey Jack, 3 – Mojo, 4 – Wonder, 5 – Risk. Full results available here and later, here.
