Postcard day to start J/70 Midwinters

Miami, FL (February 23, 2018) – Among the 61 teams at the J/70 Midwinter Championship are multiple J/70 World Champions and those from other classes. One of those Champions is Joel Ronning on Catapult, who leapt to the first day’s advantage at the Midwinters hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club.

It’s was a postcard day on Biscayne Bay with breeze in the mid- to upper-teens, sunshine and temperatures in the 80s. 2016 J/70 World Champion Ronning, sailing with John Kosteck, Christopher Stocke, and Patrick Wilson, opened with a bullet and added a pair of thirds for 7 points in three races. Bruce Golison’s Midlife Crisis started with a 4,5, then won today’s last contest to hold second overall with 10 points. Jack Franco’s 3 Ball JT is in third with 13.

Jim Cunningham’s Lifted team (above) of Dave Hochart, Tyler Sinks, and Jon Ziskind leads the 24-boat Corinthian division.

Ronning’s Catapult earned the initial victory of the event, with Franco and James Prendergast comprising the top trio. Bruno Pasquinelli’s Stampede got the race two win, shadowed by Prendergast and Ronning. Golison ended Friday on a positive note, along with Pasquinelli and Ronning, as 1,2,3.

This regatta is the final opportunity for teams to qualify for the 2018 J/70 World Championship in Marblehead, MA, with four Open and two Corinthian spots available. Racing continues through February 25.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Day One Results (Top 10 of 61; 3 races)
1. Catapult, Joel Ronning , USA – 1 -3 -3 ; 7
2. Midlife Crisis, Bruce Golison , USA – 4 -5 -1 ; 10
3. 3 Ball JT, Jack Franco , USA – 2 -4 -7 ; 13
4. USA 167, James Prendergast , USA – 3 -2 -11 ; 16
5. Stampede, Bruno Pasquinelli , USA – 22 -1 -2 ; 25
6. Cloud Nine, Phil Haegler , USA – 7 -13 -5 ; 25
7. Relative Obscurity, Peter Duncan , USA – 6 -12 -8 ; 26
8. Savasana, Brian Keane , USA – 8 -15 -6 ; 29
9. Bottle Rocket, David Schumann , USA – 12 -20 -4 ; 36
10. Rimette, John Brim , USA – 27 -8 -13 ; 48