I wanted to start this thread so people can post on where J/30 OD racing is active today (ok not really today since I look outside my window and there is "spring snow" on the ground), but you get my "drift".

I have first hand knowledge that J/30 OD racing is currently active in the following areas.

• Southern New England - Narragansett Bay (elsewhere like Buzzards Bay too?)
• Northern New England - Marblehead area (elsewhere too?)
• Long Island Sound - Western area near CPYC (elsewhere too?)
• Chesapeake Bay - Annapolis area for sure (elsewhere too?)
• Gulf Coast - Lake Ponchartrain (elsewhere too?)

Other people please post with first hand knowledge on other places that have active J/30 OD racing

We are kind of working hard for PNW. The Van Isle 360 kinda screwed up this year, but hopefully we can get something going tangibly for next year. We need our Governer to score some class legal sails instead of his PHRF hotrodders!

In Annapolis we have the good fortune to sail nothing but one-design. To expand on what Rhapsody indicates above there are 23 days of weekend racing scheduled for 2011 consisting of five three-day regattas including the J/30 NA's; two point-to-point distance races of between 17 and 44 NM; five multi-race one day club events and a twilight distance race around government buoys.

Last year 17 different boats sailed at least one event and 11 qualified for CBYRA High Point by racing five days or more. Seven J/30s also sailed one-design in Annapolis YC's Wednesday Night Series of twenty races scored in three sections between the end of April and the beginning of September.

In Florida there are not enough boats placed together for OD. Also, the last time OD grouping was found in the Caribbean was Rolex in 1998, when our class was 5 J30s a Tartan 10,and a Pearson Flyer.

Further input... as we have spent alot of time to travel to and "play" in the one design environment, by using loaner boats, comixing crews and BEGGING to borrow any kind of 163 genoa, since there would be no use for it under normal circumstance... there must be a way, as the J29s have successfully done, to accommodate "non one design ratings" in a grouping of J30s who want to compete together. These are not Farr 40s, and as such could relax the rules to allow a phrf preferred exotic main, maybe a 155 headsail, different size pole, moveable track, etc ---- all of the differences are well documented, and have been rated accordingly. The archaic rules from the 70s don't seem to be conducive to getting boats to the start line... and in a 30+ year old class, the arguments regarding high tech sails vs. Dacron are a bit moot. All they seem to do is move those racers who want the newest format of sailing to move into a more progressive class.... the Melges 20s are sweet here in Biscayne Bay, and do not have the baggage of an older class. And the class has a big support system, which is what the J30s should concentrate on.

Red is a rarity in our class--one who races an occasional one-design regatta in our fleet by traveling, conscious of the costs and time it takes, but still worth it.

I wouldn't call the J/29 a success, though in some places they've persevered despite the chaos of four different configurations that necessitate handicapping. Melges 20, like the Laser SB3 or Viper 640 before it, might become a popular one design and still be active in 30 years. In my home waters the archaic survivors in addition to the J/30 are Star, Lightning, Etchells, J/22, J/24, Cal 25, J/105 and J/35.

Well Said, Red! notice where all the OD action is ... wussy air water.

I think the 163 is what those ODers who are in marginal air need -- to get up past 4 kts.

But they could use the difference in sail price from their high tech 163 to the 155 to get a phrf competitive tech main to go with a 155 tech genny.

looked at the melges 20 for first time today ... I agree nice.

I've raced wildcat exclusively PHRF since 1995. Wind conditons range from very, very light to 30+, with average race conditions 8-12. We race the boat OD configured except for the Hi-tech main (163% head sail, standard OD pole and spinnaker). We carry our No. 2 on board and use it often.
We race other J/30's that have modified head sails, poles or kites and hold our own even when giving them time (in both windward leeward racing and long distance). We carry a small A-kite cut for heavy air reaching and have a .5oz spinnaker (which we rarely use). In our opinion, with the exception of the high tech main, we consider the J/30 OD configured boat to be a very competitive PHRF racer - I'm also pretty sure that most of my competiton would agree.

^You should update the asymetric thread with details on your a-kite!

Here I have to agree with Russ. In Chicago, we have raced mostly PHRF for several years. I keep my boat 1D compliant (polyester main, 3/4 oz nylon chute). The rating difference between us and a "PHRF" J/30 is 6 seconds. If we lose a race, it's not the rating that is hurting us, but poor decisions/execution. We've probably won more than our fair share of hardware. The last was quite satisfying, against Beneteau 40.7s, Mumm 36, and S2 9.1 (among others).