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J/30 Class Association Presidents

Date Name Hailing From Boat
1981 – 1982 Jim Stuursma Grand Rapids, MI Jellybean Express
1983 – 1984 Tom Babbitt York, ME Bravo #267
1985 – 1986 Tom Harrington New York, NY Obstreperous
1987 – 1989 Ron Peterson Annapolis, MD Valkyrie #425
1990 – 1991 Bill Raney Wilmington, NC Double Jeopardy #405
1992 – 1995 Terry Rapp Riverton, NJ Wooly Bear #2
1996 – 1999 Bob Rutsch Chevy Chase, MD Bebop #481
2000 – 2002 Dennis Bartley Oak Park, IL Planxty #205
2002 – 2009 Carl Sherter Waterbury, CT Fat City #76
2002 – 2009 John McArthur Stratford, CT Smiles #115
2009 – 2019 Dave Erwin Destrehan, LA Zephyr V2.0 #87
2009 – 2014 Bill Kneller Portsmouth, RI Rhapsody #348
2015 – 2019 Dan Mather Oswego, NY Crusader #530
2020 Doug Stryker Annapolis, MD TOTALed MAYHEM #526
2021 – 2022 Bruce Irvin Annapolis, MD Shamrock #488
2023 – Heidi Frist Annapolis, MD Suzie Q #203

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)