Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Spurlin Takes J/70 Governor’s Cup!

J/70 setting spinnaker (Austin, Texas)- This year’s Austin YC annual Governors Cup Regatta, hosted on the beautiful Lake Travis, featured the first stop on the J/70 Southwest Circuit series.  It was a great event with three (3!) bands, and a championship level barbecue for dinner on Saturday! Not to mention the mandatory kegs of Texas's own Shiner Bock beer.

Ten J/70's showed up from out of town and with the four local boats there were 14 boats on the line!  Saturday was a windy day with gusts in the high 20’s, that made for some great downwind rides with boats hitting 17+ kts in full-on planing mode, spray flying everywhere, people hootin’n’hollerin’ as they waved their ten-gallon hats in the air- big Tejas style!  This crowd does not use baseball caps! :0

The J/Boats Southwest Racing team had a great Saturday, bringing home straight bullets. Holding on to their fast pace just a few points back was Forbes Durdin's MOJITO team in second place.

Saturday after racing, 40+ J/70 sailors gathered to discuss the days racing and share their "go fast" secrets.  There was no question, many tongues were loosened as a result of the top secret J/Boats Southwest rum punch!  Everyone in the crowd learned helpful pointers and go-fast ideas!

Sunday started off overcast with lighter winds that brought the famous "Lake Travis" shore effects into play. It was very easy to be suckered into going to the right shore when the left shore was the place to be!  Nevertheless, the fleet was able to fit in 3 races on Sunday for a total of 7 scored races.  In addition, there were at least 4 extra starts as most of the fleet was trying to get that starting line jump- but the RC did not let anyone get away with it.

It was a great weekend with a great fleet of sailors.  Circuit stop #2 is at Fort Worth Boat club on April 29th and 30th.  Finally, “thanks” to professional photographer Bill Records for his photos- he was a former US Presidential staff member in the White House! Add to Flipboard Magazine.