Jack Franco wins J/70 Midwinters

Miami, FL (February 25, 2018) – The J/70 Midwinter Championship saw a different leader on each day, but Jack Franco’s 3 Ball JT was on top when it counted. Coming into today in fourth place, the Texas-based skipper with Bill Hardesty (main trimmer), Rob Lindley (bow) and Allan Terhune (headsail trimmer) secured a 5,2,4 to leap over a couple J/70 World Champions for the victory.

Although Joel Ronning’s Catapult won race 8 of 9, an 18 in the final contest left him in the silver position overall with 41 points. Peter Duncan’s Relative Obscurity also had a bullet today, but followed with a 29,7 to land in third overall with 42 points. Sixty-one boats completed nine races over three days at Coral Reef Yacht Club.

“We just tried to be consistent with solid starts and minimal mistakes,” summarized Franco. “We won the regatta without winning a race. At the last weather rounding of the last race, we were fourth and wanted to be defensive. We are not speedy off the wind since we’re a little heavy.” 3 Ball JT held their fourth position which was enough to secure the Championship. Franco credited Hardesty, who he has known since Hardesty was eight years old. “He is the king of tacticians!”

Jenn & Ray Wulff’s Joint Custody bested the 23-boat Corinthian division, with Jim Cunningham’s Lifted and Nancy Glover’s WinterWind rounding out the top three.

Joint Custody team (from left): Ray Wulff, Nikki Medley, Jennifer Wulff, Fletcher Sims, and Brady Stagg

Today’s race winners were Duncan, Ronning and Brian Keane’s Savasana in gorgeous conditions with a warm breeze around 10 knots.

This regatta was 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 was held February 23-25.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Final Results (Top 10 of 61; 9 races, 1 discard)
1. 3 Ball JT, USA3, Jack Franco – 2 -4 -7 -[62] -8 -3 -5 -2 -4 ; 35
2. Catapult, USA180, Joel Ronning – 1 -3 -3 -15 -9 -2 -7 -1 -[18] ; 41
3. Relative Obscurity, USA49, Peter Duncan – 6 -12 -8 -1 -3 -4 -1 -[29] -7 ; 42
4. Midlife Crisis, USA26, Bruce Golison – 4 -5 -1 -3 -1 -5 -13 -17 -[19] ; 49
5. Savasana, USA96, Brian Keane – 8 -[15] -6 -4 -2 -15 -2 -13 -1 ; 51
6. USA 167, USA167, James Prendergast – 3 -2 -11 -14 -4 -[29] -14 -3 -6 ; 57
7. Team Vineyard Vines, USA901, John & Molly Baxter – 9 -16 -[26] -2 -11 -23 -18 -10 -15 ; 104
8. Rimette, USA340, John Brim – [27] -8 -13 -5 -27 -8 -8 -21 -14 ; 104
9. Mascalzone Latino, MON1073, Vincenzo Onorato – 16 -[62] -9 -38 -14 -9 -3 -4 -13 ; 106
10. Scamp, USA246, Will Welles – 20 -18 -17 -12 -5 -10 -9 -16 -[22] ; 107

Source: J/70 class