SoCal Championship

J Fest hosted by JK3 and San Diego Yacht Club sponsored by Ullman Sails saw four classes of J boats from the J/120s down to the new J/70s. The largest fleet this year was again the J/105s with 14 boats. The J/105s were double dipping the J Fest regatta by also hosting the SoCal Championships within the same regatta. Last year, the SoCal Champs were the weekend before the North American Championship also hosted by SDYC with 22 boats showing up to battle the kelp and winds off Pt. Loma. The first day of racing started with glassy conditions but soon saw winds to 16 knots and 85 degree sunny San Diego weather with a little twist. The usual steady San Diego breeze was shifty with velocity changes of 8 knots or more. The first race of the day saw several top boats getting high scores and several lead changes. Race two saw a 40-minute delay for the J/105s due to the shifty wind and the committee trying to get the course square. After the first day, the top 3 J/105s were Wings, Current Obsession 2, and Viggen, separated by one point. The second day brought on steady conditions but lighter overall wind under 12 knots. In the J/105s, Dennis Conner and Gary Mozer made significant comebacks from the slow start on Saturday with Mozer once again taking the top place on the podium followed by Wings and DC’s Pholly.