Welcome to Fleet 27

The Portland, Oregon J-24 Fleet is one of the most competitive one-design fleets in Portland, with some of the hottest racing on the Columbia River. With over 20 boats in town, up to 15 boats on the line in our Thursday night series, and the Columbia River Gorge in our backyard, it’s tough to beat. The J24 is one of the most popular keelboats in the world with more than 50,000 people sailing over 5200 boats in 150 fleets in 40 countries. Competitive used boats are available and affordable. Traveling with the J-24 is a realistic and fun option with some popular/recent destinations being the Columbia Gorge (one of the best sailing venues in the country), Seattle, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia.

With 30 boats on the line in Seattle, and strong fleets throughout District 19, as well as the US/World, the J24 offers the ability to compete and learn against some of the best sailors around, and/or just enjoy a competitive Thursday night on the river.

In addition to weeknight and weekend racing, the fleet also has social events throughout the year. New faces are always welcome as crew or new owners. If you are interested in getting involved in a great sailing group, contact John Weil for information about the fleet!

• John Weil & Robert Neild
• J24 Fleet 27 Co-Captains
• No Worries #2363

Update from CGOD

Hey gang,

Some pictures courtesy of Cloud 9 of the trip to the Gorge this last weekend (Clearly all take by Rob as he doesn’t appear in any of them…) Soup left the dock Thursday night after racing, and met up with Cloud 9, Snot Hog, and Strange Brew at the Government Island dock Friday morning. We motored for awhile and then start sailing right about the entrance to the Gorge all the way up to the Bonneville dam. Weather on Friday wasn’t too hot, luckily the J24 cabin is big enough to provide kids/crew escape from the weather, although Eric A. and Blain were single-handing it all the way up with no relief, some impressive sailing. Eric on the Soup had packed well for the trip with hot coffee and pancakes coming off the Soup to the gang. Arrived in plenty of time for the 3:00 locks opening, with Lola showing up a bit later to join us through the locks as well. 3 of the 4 boats from out of town managed to trailer launch, with the 4th dropping in via the hoist Saturday morning. Seattle boat Self Abuse was kind enough to deliver Soup’s new mast/boom, which made for a busy Friday night followed by us eventually joining most of the gang for a late dinner in Stevenson by J24 water taxis. Thanks again to Allan and Blain for the use of their old rigs, hopefully the Soup won’t have to change out again for awhile!

http://picasaweb.google.com


CGRA and the Gorge delivered as usual with a 11 races run over the 2 days. Results posted below. Was some great/tight racing, against some top-notch programs vying for the World’s berth from Seattle and San Francisco that as you can tell by the results managed to claw back when behind and finish well all weekend. Also a nice dinner in the marine park Saturday after racing.

http://www.cgra.org/Results/2008%20Results/CGOD_results.htm

Sean Trew was out on Sunday, and expect some pictures to eventually show up here:

http://www.pacificfog.net

Cloud 9 took off Sunday after taking in some of the action, arriving home by sundown. Snot Hog is coming down later this week. Soup, Strange Brew, and Lola left Cascade Locks about 5:30pm for the 6:30 locks opening, and were nicely squeezed in before a barge coming up. To the Beacon Rock dock by 7:30pm, some dinner and stargazing as a bunch of tired sailors (& kids) tried to stay awake. In the morning Lola had left to take advantage of the East wind (no kidding), and the gang on Strange Brew and Soup climbed to the top of Beacon Rock after a bacon and pancake breakfast on the dock. A short stop at Government Island for a swim, and we were driving home by 6pm.

J24s are invited back again next year, and all that went up are hoping we can keep this one a yearly J24 tradition, particularly the trip up/down the river for the Portland fleet. Was great to see Strange Brew, Cloud 9, and Snot Hog make it to the gorge for the first time, and the tired grins on everyone’s faces Saturday. The Snot Hog program came together the week prior with some folks from the Seattle fleet coming down to help out, very cool. We also learned that Hood River Yacht Club has a race planned each year after CGOD that would be a kick, if not a bit crazy. What are Snot Hog’s plans this weekend?!

http://www.hoodriveryachtclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=527653&module_id=40623

See you on the water tomorrow.

-Doug

Soup Road Trip Report

The Soup is out of town (currently sitting out in a tree farm East of Seattle), but this is a fleet championship counter as well, so hopefully some decent turnout, and in a format we wanted to support. (Bummer for us!) Quick road trip report. J-Fest had record turnout with 60+ J-boats, and a decent/competitive 11 boat J24 fleet. Light winds on Saturday had the long light race abandoned as we reached the last leeward mark, which was too bad as we were in 2nd at the time, although it was a bit of a crap shoot in dead breeze as boats drifted past/around each other. Sunday had light breeze in AM, building all day, but never more than ~10-12. Lots of flood current made for a tricky start line, and tight windward mark roundings against the current (opposite of what we practice!). Given the flood banging the shore for relief was the call, then down the middle on the run. Starts were key to get to the favored side, and having to bail out of the windward mark rounding given the current in the 2nd race was tough. Had a 2nd, 5th, and 6th, for a respectable 4th place overall, in a tough/tight fleet, although missing some of the usual Seattle suspects.

Results if curious:

http://www.sailingsource.com/cyc/2008_specific/jfest.html

Some pics if even more curious (J24s on page 14):

http://lbuchholz.smugmug.com/gallery/5182917_stsc8/

FYI, the targeted races current standings for overall, and Thursdays are up on the web, although I noticed I didn’t push out the version with the PYC results (will do that tonight).

In addition to Thursdays, next targeted one is Goldrush! J And start penciling the Columbia Gorge One Design (CGOD) for the first weekend in August for your summer plans. Heading up/down by river is defiantly an option (and the Soup’s plan), but will have a hoist there as well. Hoping to get the class scale to do some weighing. Hoping we can get some boats on the road (or river)!