J44

J/44 2nd Europe One/OSTAR Race
Yankee ingenuity gives Martin van Breems and his J/44 Mohegan a competitive advantage in the Europe 1/New Man Star singlehanded race. |
Fixing the hole in the hull I had a hull patching kit from Naverex, which I tried out. The kit consisted of a sponge with several chemicals, which, when mixed soaked into the sponge and when exposed to seawater, were supposed to harden and lock the whole sticky mess in place. It seemed to work. Next, I covered the bow with a very strong tape, which was difficult given the constant wave action. Then I ripped a section of the interior overhead out, which was quarter-inch plywood with a Formica overlay, and used this to make a new bow locker cover. This was screwed and glued with 5200. The final repair to the hole in the bow included plywood over the hole, with a canvas overlay, which prevented the canvas from chafing on the exposed fiberglass. This lasted the rest of the race. |

J/44 Quest Receives US SAILING Rescue Medal
Portsmouth (R.I.) December 13, 2002 -- Duane and Mary Minard, crew of J/44 Quest, were honored with a US SAILING Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal for rescuing a solo sailor on Long Island Sound, after his boat caught fire from a gas engine explosion. Peter "Rudi" Millard, a member of US SAILING's Safety at Sea Committee (SASC), made the presentation at the Cedar Point Yacht Club Annual Awards Banquet, held on November 9 at Cobb's Mill Inn (Weston, CT). The Rescue Medals recognize exemplary acts seamanship, but the award process is also a vital part of US SAILING's effort to gain more education about rescues at sea. The data and stories of award nominees are studied carefully by the SASC for the common practices that contribute to, or deter from, the success of a rescue operation. The incident on Quest took place on Long Island Sound, on Sunday, June 2, 2002, off Fairfield (CT). Duane and Mary Minard were on the return leg of a weekend cruise--sailing in 30 knots of wind and 3-foot seas--when they noticed smoke from a distant sailboat at 4 PM. Besides this lone sailboat, the Sound was empty of other boat traffic. A 41-year-old man was making a solo delivery in his newly purchased, gasoline powered Tanzer 28 when the engine exploded and his boat caught fire. The solo skipper first called 911 on his cell phone and then abandoned the boat onto its dinghy. But the sailor could not keep the dinghy upright, and it swamped. The sailor hung onto the dinghy while in the water, with his PFD on in chilly 60-degree water. The air temperature was 70 degrees. |
The Minards headed towards the smoking boat and found the victim about 300 feet away from the boat. Unable to reach the Coast Guard on their handheld radio--and not wanting to go below to use the ship's radio and lose visual contact--they called 911 on a cell phone. They doused their sails and approached under power. The Minards deployed their Lifesling but could not get it close enough to the dinghy, and the victim did not want to let go of the dinghy. The Minards held position upwind, and extended their own dinghy down to the victim. When he grabbed a hold, they pulled him in to their stern ladder and hauled him aboard. Westport Marine Police arrived about this time. Police boarded the burning vessel, extinguished the fire, and piloted the boat when a commercial salvor arrived. www.ussailing.org/safety/Rescues/ |
Subcategories
J44 Article Count: 3
Sailing for Life in Better Sailboats
Sailing is the ultimate freedom, the experience of being at one with nature and the sea, powered only by the wind and one's imagination. It's one of the few "life sports" that offers both a relaxing escape as well as an invigorating challenge. You pick your level of comfort and excitement. Sailing is never the same twice - each time on the water with your sailboat is a unique adventure that can enrich friendships, strengthen family ties, and refresh one's own sense of well-being. How many other outdoor activities can be shared with three or more family generations? It's been said there are two types of sailors in the world - the young and the young-at-heart.
What a Difference a J Makes
Fulfilling those sailing dreams starts with finding a sailboat that fits you - whether you aspire to sail close to home, cruise to distant shores, or take up the challenge of competitive sailing. Performance differences between sailboats are greater than differences between golf clubs, tennis rackets, skis or cars. A well-designed sailboat, like a good sports car, is an extension of its owner. It could take years of sailing other boats to learn the difference that good design and quality make to one's sailing enjoyment. Or, you can save time and take advantage of what we've designed into every "J."
J/121 Offshore Speedster for 5 or fewer Crew
The J/121 is a 40’ offshore speedster that can be day raced or distance sailed by just 5 or fewer crew…. the best short-handed J ever…. capable of winning on any race track while also excelling in daysailing and weekend mode. J/121 redefines offshore sailboat racing as a recreation and shared adventure with friends - fulfilling the growing need to simplify life and reconnect with those you really want to sail with on a boat that’s pure magic to sail. Learn more about J/121 here.
Elegance, Comfort & Style- J/112E
J/112E is the newest “E” Series of sport-cruising yachts. An Evolution of Elegant performance cruising design. This dual- purpose 36 footer has a spacious two-cabin layout and a roomy, comfortable, cockpit. Perfect for the annual club cruise, offshore racing or short-handed blue-water sailing. Learn about J/112E here.
A Family-friendly One-Design & Daysailer - J/88
The J/88 combines big boat feel with sportsboat- like acceleration. Add a weekend interior, inboard head, engine and huge cockpit and you have a versatile 29 footer. Blistering upwind speed of 6.5 kts and trailblazing speed offshore means smiles all around as you collect both the silverware and priceless sailing memories. Learn more about J/88 here.
J/99 - Offshore Shorthanded Speedster
J/99 is the newest offshore speedster. It combines headroom and comfortable interior accommodation with the tiller-driven response of a sport boat. The sail and deck plan are optimized for easy handling with fewer crew, and incorporate the latest developments from the award-winning J/121 and the new Offshore Sailing World champion J/112E. Learn more about J/99 here.
J/70 - The Sportboat Changing Sailing
The J/70 speedster is a fun, fast, stable, 22 footer that can be towed behind a small SUV and ramped launched and rigged by two people. J/70 sails upwind like her larger sibling (the J/80) and off the wind she simply flies - planing fast in moderate winds. With 1,400+ boats delivered worldwide, the choice is clear. Learn more about J/70 here.
J/Sailing Calendar 2020
The Perfect Gift For People Who Love Sailing!
For 2020 we've created another beautiful calendar for J sailors who love the joys of sailing a J in some of the most spectacular harbors and waters of the world. Whether you are a cruising, racing or armchair sailor, these stunning sailboat photographs will transport you to wonderful sailing experiences in far away places.
The 2020 sailing calendar features photos of J/24s, J/70s, J/80s, J/99, J/111s, J/121, and J/122 sailing in some of the worlds most popular waters; such as Newport, Palma Mallorca, St Barths, Chicago, Chile, Switzerland, Torquay, Valle de Bravo, and Lago di Garda. A great gift for loved ones, family, friends and crew (see gallery here). Order your 2020 J/Calendar today!
Upcoming Sailing Events
Oct 11-12- J/80 Copa de Espana- Coruna, Spain
Oct 17-20- J/88 North American Championship- Rye, New York
Oct 18-20- J/105 Masters Regatta- San Diego, CA
Oct 19-26- J/24 World Championship- Coconut Grove, FL
Oct 19- Rolex Middle Sea Race- Gzira, Malta
Oct 25-27- J/24 East Coast Championship- Annapolis, MD
Oct 25-27- J/Fest Southwest- Lakewood, TX
Oct 25-27- J/105 Lipton Cup Regatta- San Diego, CA
Nov 1-4- French J/80 Championship- La Rochelle, France