Michael Marshall wins J/22 North American Championship

Annapolis, MD (May 18, 2014) – Michael Marshall of Jamestown, Rhode Island earned his first J/22 North American Championship at the Annapolis Yacht Club on May 16-18. With crew Mark Sertl and Matt Gowell, team Bad News Too took advantage of a discard in the fifth and final race to secure the championship with 12 points.

Local teams rounded out the top three, as Chris Gaffney’s Chasing Waterfalls took second with 16 points and J.R. Maxwell’s Scooby snared the bronze spot with 18 points. Four races were held on Sunday, after light and fluky breeze allowed just one race on Friday and no races on Saturday.

Thirty-eight teams from across the United States and Canada competed.

Marshall, also the winner of the Annapolis NOOD two weeks ago, credited Gowell in the middle and Sertl on the foredeck for getting him around the race course while he focused on steering. Despite light air and strong current, the team focused on the conditions where they were at any given moment.

“You made a decision that brought you to where you are, so you just have to concentrate on that,” Marshall stated. “The Race Committee did the best they could with the conditions they were given. It was challenging and tough.” Marshall is relatively new to the J/22, having just competed in last year’s Worlds and some local club racing.

Winds at 8-10 knots greeted competitors on Sunday morning under sunny skies, as local Jeff Todd’s Hot Toddy won the day’s first battle. Brad Julian’s ThreeDories.com team followed in second, and Jonathan Phillips’ Bruiser in third. 2013 J/22 World Champion Allan Terhune on Dazzler dominated the next contest, with Gaffney and Marshall behind him. Chris Doyle helmed The Jug 4 1 to victory in Sunday’s third race, trailed by Maxwell and Marshall, as winds decreased slightly. Terry Flynn’s Tejas closed the event with a victory. Next were Chris Wilson’s Lil’ Puffy and Jeffrey Love’s Stampede.

Final Results (Top 5 of 38; 5 races, 1 discard)
1) Michael Marshall, Bad News Too (12 points)
2) Chris Gaffney, Chasing Waterfalls (16)
3) J.R. Maxwell, Scooby (18)
4) Chris Wilson, Lil’ Puffy (21)
5) Chris Doyle, The Jug 4 1 (27)

Results: http://www.annapolisyc.com/files/2014J22NorthAmericans.html
Event website: www.j22na.com

Source: J/22 class media