J/70 Grand Slam 2

Hosted by Royal Thames Yacht Club

The Solent sparkled in bright sunshine for the opening Grand Slam of the UK J/70 Class Association 2024 season. A crisp cold Spring weekend, with a brisk northerly breeze on Saturday and higher winds on Sunday.

After the disappointment of a cancelled event two weeks ago due to Storm Kathleen, 21, predominantly Corinthian, boats made it to the start line in a fleet that saw many familiar names plus a number of charter boats, and young teams, including six RTYC mixed teams and Ryde School.

Ella Brown, Josh Voller, Ben Swyer, Flynn Davies, Colette Bacon

Saturday’s Northerly breeze was tricky, regularly swinging through 50 or 60 degrees, creating a significant challenge for the tacticians and plenty of 'snakes and ladders' moments in the four races that day. It was clear from the outset that the fleet was a bit trigger-happy and full of adrenalin on the start line, perhaps impatient after missing Grand Slam 1. This was exacerbated by a strong cross tide, with the predictable result: three 'general recalls' in Race 1. RO Tim Hancock promptly unfurled the Black Flag which immediately calmed down the cortisol levels. There were no more general recalls for the rest of the weekend.

Henry Arnold, Shrimpie, Mike Pennock, Kathryn Hannah 

The front of the fleet soon had a familiar look, with Martin Dent's 'Jelvis' fresh back from an excellent result in the Bacardi Cup in Florida, Charles Thompson’s reigning 2023 world Champions 'Brutus', this time in Corinthian mode, and 2022 European Champs 'Calypso' with new helm Bella Fellows all showing good pace. Reigning youth champions 'Jeepster', Hector Simpson on 'Dads n' Lads' and Class Captain Ian Poynton's 'Powder Monkey' were always in the hunt. The four Royal Thames Yacht Club teams, new to the circuit, pushed the racing and were in the mix whilst bowing the cobwebs out and getting all of their broaches out of the way in the first two races.

Jemima Lawson, Jemima Lawson, Tommy  Darling, Tom Hebbert, Philippa Lawson, Hannah Bibby.

The shifts and gusts were often quite extreme. Race 2 saw 'Calypso' provided entertainment for John Greenland's team on 'Woof' by executing a full windward capsize, dunking the whole crew, right in front of them after being caught out just after the start with a massive shift and accompanying strong gust. By race 3, everyone was in full racing mode; one Royal Thames team briefly mounted the windward mark as Henry Arnold on RTYC 745 hadn’t yet fully switched off team racing mode with a handbrake turn down onto the mark to ensure there was no room.

Alex Smallwood, Callum Farnden, Carolina Cassedy, Kate MacAdorey, Krystal Law

The wind speed was just on the cusp for high vs. low mode downwind, and occasionally favoured the goose-wing. The boats that cracked the 'swift mode-change' algorithm and could execute well were rewarded with steady gains. At the end of day 1 the teams suitably practiced, jostled for positions in the tables with close racing in each half of the table. The new RTYC academy shared notes overnight with Miles Jones on Jeeptser and reset for the following day.

John Greenland, Nick Hornby, Maria, Richard Powell

Sunday was slightly windier, with an even stronger cross-tide for all 3 races to keep the tacticians on their toes. It was again really shifty, particularly in the final third of the beat, and offered some good practice at tight mark rounding’s with the shift changing the placing on the race course. The big breeze gave the teams an opportunity ‘send it’ towards the finish line. The RTYC boats held well against the more experienced UK boats. With two wins from three races, Jelvis won the day, so ended the event tied with Calypso on points overall and pipped her to the top of the podium on countback of first places, with Jeepster completing the Open podium. Calypso were Corinthian winners with Jeepster and Brutus completing that podium, in an entertaining season opener that showed off the best that the J/70 has to offer in ideal Solent Spring conditions.

Marshall King 

Overall Results:

RTYC Race Committee: Tim Hancock, Mark, Bill, Stephen, Gwynne, Phil, Julian and Barney.

By Jonathan Calascione and Christine Shrimpton