US SAILING’s Member Partner Program is a win-win for you, the J/30 Class and US SAILING.
We would like to encourage all of our J/30 Class members who have not already done so to become US Sailing members. To make it easy, we are participating in US Sailing’s Member Partner Program which offers discounted US Sailing membership rates (20% off) and contributes a portion of your dues back to the J/30 Class.
Why should you become a member of US SAILING?
Plain and simple. As a member of US Sailing, you make it possible for US Sailing to develop and maintain programs that we depend on. These programs include training for our certified instructors and race officials, curricula and resources for junior programs, support for our volunteers, insurance programs for our class, and more. This support impacts your sailing activities, directly or indirectly, whether it is through our sailing program, regattas, insurance and other services. And from the bigger picture, as a member of US Sailing, you are supporting efforts to maintain the health and integrity of sailing and ensure a bright future for all sailors.
What you receive as a member of US SAILING?
Great Benefits. In addition to supporting the programs and people that impact your time on the water, as a US Sailing member, you will receive a host of great benefits including:
A copy of the Racing Rules of Sailing
Discounted Regatta Fees
Lowest rates on Sailing World and Cruising World magazine
Special member pricing on all items in the US SAILING store
Great discounts from US SAILING sponsors and partners, including West Marine, Sperry Topsider, Atlantis, Hobie Sunglasses, North U, AlphaGraphics and many more.
Access to US SAILING’s custom weather portal from Sailing Weather Services
The J/30 Class Association has partnered with V-Sport,the exclusive J/Boat licensed apparel provider to offer you personalized J/30 Class merchandise. We have an arrangement where J/30 Class members can order J/30 merchandise at a savings over prices ordered through the V-Sport J/Gear page. The J/30 Apparel page has merchandise available for viewing and online purchase. The J/30 Apparel page is also accessible from the menu above under “Market”. J/30 Class Association members who are current with class dues can get information on registering for an account at this link on the J/30 Members Only section of the forum. Members may share this code with their crew members, but we ask that the information in the members only section not be shared elsewhere. All others, please consider joining the J/30 Class Association as a member for this benefit, and others!
We’ll be publishing some stories from past presidents and long time J/30 Class Association members to share with everyone. Below is a message from Tom Babbitt who owned Bravo – Hull #267. Tom hails from Maine and was the J/30 Class Association President 1982-1983.
The J/30 was our second cruiser racer and what a relief it was to get out of an IOR inspired death roller, to the J/30 which could actually beat a J/24. Jane and I have always treasured our memories of cruising that boat in Maine with the double quarter berths and otherwise huge interior. Our youngest daughter had her first week long cruise at age three weeks with the basinet gimballed below between the interior hand rails.
When not cruising, we raced seriously at the Regional, District, North American and Mid Winters – which is how Jane and I some how got involved with the class. We experienced terrific growth during our tenure and it was great fun getting to know the enthusiastic J/30 owners around the country. I know Jane put her heart and soul into the J/30 Journal applying her skills as a graphic artist. I think the single best memory was drafting and implementing the owner – driver rule for the class. I think that really set the class apart and I’m delighted that 30 years later the class still has great vitality.
Tom Babbitt,
J/30 Class Association Past President (1983-1984)
Story by Terry Rapp, Past J/30 Class President (1992-1995)
As many of you know Dorsey Owings passed away last November 2009. Dorsey, his wife Gail and crew were two times J/30 North American champions. Dorsey and Gail sold their J/30 and bought a Farr (Mumm) 30 about seven years ago. All of their boats were named Seabiscuit. Most of the J/30 crew came with them to the Farr 30.
Gail asked some of the current Seabiscuit crew and friends to put the Farr 30 back together again in order to keep the tradition and spirit of Dorsey’s legacy going. The boat was in the barn with a beautiful new deck, but not a fitting to be found on board. Spearheaded by Pat and Amy Teeling, plans were made to fit the boat out and get sailing again. The weather this past winter did not cooperate very well, but in March we were able to put a few weekends of work together. Then the boat got moved to Annapolis and at a frantic pace in the evenings, leading up the night before the NOOD Regatta in Annapolis, the boat was finished. A quick test sail on Thursday night resulted in a few last minute fixes and the boat was ready to go.
Chris Conway, Peter Colby, Tony Rankin, Mike Sipala, Terry Rapp and Gail Owings set out with the traditional beer at the first buoy encountered on the way to the course. Sailing went well as the boat and crew got used to each other. It would have been a great to finish first, but we did not. No one held their heads low as we sailed hard and did what has become the legend of Seabiscuit, we had fun! We did however remember Dorsey with another tradition, the Seabiscuit cocktail (Vodka, Tonic and a thin slice of cucumber cut with Dorsey’s Leatherman knife) on the way back to the dock.
While we all felt Dorsey’s spirit with us last weekend, he will be missed but hardly forgotten. It was great to see Gail and company enjoying the sailing. Thank you to Gail and of course Dorsey.
I have done the Southern Straits race before 3 times I recall. Twice on a Hunter Legend 35.5 and one on the J-30 Radiant Heat. I have also sailed Swiftsure and Patos Island races several times and one Vic Maui and a trip on a friend’s boat up the Inside passage to Skagway and Glacier Bay. I do not consider myself a very experienced sailor but one who has been around a little bit and who is generally comfortable on and around a small sail boat in various conditions.
I had been away for 5 months and just returned to North Saanich in time to prepare the boat for Patos Island 2010 and other races and was entered and registered for the Southern Straits.
It is always difficult to have a regular crew who is available the same time as the skipper so often these races are done with short crew or strangers on board.
As both races were requiring a PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL YACHTING ASSOCIATION (PIYA) Certificate signed and on board for Category II, I went online and got the most recent copy of the updated certificate and reviewed the required boat equipment.
Category II states it is for “Yachts capable of racing in semi-protected waters, day or night, where heavy weather may be encountered.” There is then a long list of requirements which must be met. This includes the specifications of the boat and the equipment to be aboard.
Category I states it is for ” Yachts capable of racing exposed waters where the vessel must be self sufficient and capable of enduring heavy storms.”
It would seem clear from this that Category II are not expected to race in off shore conditions or in heavy storms. Light Storms maybe??. Continue reading …
