San Diego Yacht Club will host the 22nd annual J/Fest Regatta on September 22-24, 2017 with J/70, J/105, J/120, and a handful of other J/Boats racing on San Diego Bay and ocean courses. With 29 boats registered, 2017 will be one of the largest J/Fest events in recent years.
Seven boats are registered in the J/105 class, a valued class at SDYC. Many of the J/105 owners generously lend their boats for SDYC’s annual International Masters Regatta and the Challenge for the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Regatta, both held at the end of October. The J/105 class boats are well-maintained and rigged to a one design standard, and therefore the racing is kept fair among the teams. SDYC is very grateful to the local J/105 class for their contributions.
Back to compete in the J/120 class is CC Rider owned by Chuck Nichols. Nichols is consistently at the top of the leaderboard at J/Fest having won in 2015 and 2013 and placing second in 2016 and 2014. John Laun’s caper won in 2016 and John Snook’s JIM won in 2014.
After taking a hiatus from J/Fest for the past few years, the largest fleet registered is the J/70s with 13 boats. Previously, DFZ, owned by Eric Kownacki and Tom Jenkins, won the J/70 class at J/Fest in 2013. Another notable entry in the J/70 is Bennet Greenwald on Perseverance. After J/Fest, Greenwald will race the J/70 North American Championship in the beginning of October at American Yacht Club in Rye, NY.
In addition to the action on the water, this year’s J/Fest will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of J/Boats. Kicking off the event will be a celebration on Friday, September 22 in SDYC’s Frost Room with food and drinks. Attendees will hear from Jeff Johnstone, President of J/Boats, as he presents on the past, present, and future of the brand.
"The story of J/Boats is a classic entrepreneurial tale: with a small investment, and a speedy 24-foot sailboat that Rod Johnstone built in his garage, Rod & his brother Bob Johnstone went into business. That was 1977. Now, that boat (the J/24), has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world. Not only that, but the waters of SoCal have produced several J/24 Champions, including Vince Brun and Chris Snow. The Johnstone family has made an undeniable mark on the sailing world. In addition to the 5,400 J/24s cruising the waves, there are over 7,000 more J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65, that sailing enthusiasts have enjoyed over the last 40 years."
J/Fest skippers and crews are invited to participate in the J/Fest “Sending it Back to ‘77” Party at SDYC on Saturday night when racing concludes. The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday afternoon after racing completes with hosted hors d'oeuvres and beverages.
J/Fest thanks their 2017 event sponsors: Pantaenius Yacht Insurance, Shelter Island Boatyard, Novamar Yacht Insurance, Nielsen Beaumont, Rigworks, and Ullman Sails.