After 11 races held in predominantly full planing conditions, the J/70 UK Class Mini-Series at Cowes Week has concluded after four days of top competition with 32 teams racing.

Tim Ryan’s team on Vamos was the Open Division winner.   Fellow Australian Sam Haynes on Celestial was runner up with Charles Thompson’s Brutus (GBR) just three points behind in third.

“We qualified out of Australia for the Worlds in Monaco later this year, so we have plans to compete at a few events including the Europeans, “ commented Tim Ryan. “Rob Greenhalgh is on the Vamos crew, he is from here and he said we should do Cowes Week. I have never been to the regatta before, but it has been great, we have loved it. Cowes Week is such a massive challenge with the tide and also the wind has been super-strong. The competition at Cowes Week has been very good, some of the boats are so quick. Although we got one OCS in the first race, we got the win by being consistent for the rest of the regatta. We are not the quickest in this fleet by any stretch (of the imagination). Sam Haynes is a good friend from Sydney, and he has got Celestial up to speed. It has been good fun racing Celestial here and they will also be at the worlds.”

Sam Haynes commented: "The start of the first race, clustered short tacking along the beach was amazing and awesome. You don't sail like that anywhere else. The mark roundings with the tide running and lifting you up to the buoy were also new for us. As well as windward-leeward courses, we also had some opportunities to blast reach, which means you have to get all the manoeuvres working well."

Congratulations to both crews:

VAMOS: Tim Ryan, Robert Greenhalgh, Jess Grimes & Charlie Gundy
CELESTIAL: Sam Haynes, David Chapman, Lewis Brake & Lachlan Pryor

Both teams will be contesting the J/70 World Championships 14-22 October, 2022 hosted by Yacht Club de Monaco, Monaco.

Regatta Results

Photo credit http://www.pwpictures.com | Cowes Week

Article by J/70 Class Association