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| The AGM was ruthlessly ordered by Co-Prez’s Evan Petley-Jones (red sweater) and Andrew Childs (immediately to Evan’s left). The screen was up but I never saw the PowerPoint. I was looking forward to a nice map of the North American continent. | |
The North Atlantic J29 Class held its Fall AGM on Saturday, November 26. Representatives from six boats made it to the session and Matt Stokes joined from Alberta via 21st century technology. Co-President Andrew Childs presided as Chair and other Co-President Evan Petley-Jones took the minutes.
As is usual at these affairs, the group agreed on the regattas that will form the J29 series for the coming year. Essentially, it will be the same as 2011, although it was agreed that the date for the Squadron’s Fall One Design should be moved to later in September (i.e., to the Fall). Members in attendance agreed that something like the third weekend in the month made sense. As Co-President Petley-Jones is the incoming VC Sailing for the Squadron, it seems likely to work out.
The bigger issues were Don Matthews’ and Doug Williams’ careful study of our hulls and the results of a second effort to bring the North American Championship to Lunenburg , which appears to have gone a fair bit better than the first. On the first subject, Don and Doug have measured seven boats that they have been able to access in Halifax and Lunenburg. The most interesting thing was the large variations in many of the dimensions within what is a fairly modest number of boats. Some keel measurements vary by as much as 4 cm and the thickness of keels and rudders varies by as more than 10 per cent in most of the measured locations. The next most interesting thing, though, is that it is very difficult to see that any particular modification will guarantee a fast boat.
My boat, J-Zeus II9 showed up on one edge or the other of most of the measurements Don and Doug did (longer, thinner keel, slightly farther back, with the thinnest rudder). It tends to be fast in light airs. Scotch Mist IV is at the other side of nearly all keel measurements (no data on their rudder) and is definitely fast when it blows. I’m willing to bet, though, that my lighter crew and the fact much of my formative sailing was done in Ottawa where drifters are a fact of life has as much to do with that the sharp trailing edge on my rudder. I guessing SMIV is similar. Certainly, they have a bigger group than JZII9, although I know they are also plenty good when the wind is light.
Members in any case agreed that owners should be encouraged when getting their boats refinished to adhere to the dimensions represented by the average of the middle four boats. There will never by another JZII9.
The news concerning the North Americans is much more exciting. Word is that Andrew and Evan with considerable assistance from Matt Stokes have negotiated hard with our US counterparts to come up with a workable agreement. Nearly everyone now appears to be on board. The Lunenburg J29 Regatta will become a three-day event for this year only, crews will be limited to 1,600 lbs (up from the North American limit of 1,500 lbs), boats will have the right to remove their outboards, and boats have the right to exercise the time allowances for different types of J29s stipulated in the North American rules.
Having been around once on this issue myself during my time as President, I can only hand it to the guys. If John Esposito (many time past J29 North American Champ) had only told me that removing his engine meant that much to him! (Actually he did but I thought he could be made to appreciate the opportunity to not have to drag the damn thing over the transom). Apparently, three US boats have indicated a strong interest in coming up to compete and we can only hope they will have the sense to stick around for Chester race Week. Race Committee Chair Andreas Josenhans is totally on board and will host a party for crews at his house on the Saturday night of the event. If we can get all our local boats to come out, we could be looking at a 20-boat field that should go down as the best event in the history of the 29 class and great motivation for all of us in Atlantic Canada to get our boats and our crew in tip-top shape for 2012.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of the 2011 Season Championship trophy to Matt and Scott Christie. The Christies took the trophy for the second time, although this year’s boat is the new fractional Colmonell as opposed to the masthead Colmonell, which took it all in 2008. Joining the Christies this year was Geoff Dalzeill, who was a key member of the Satisfaction crew that won the championship in 2009 and 2010. I believe Geoff is on a four-season winning streak. I wonder what he’s doing next year? I was thinking of selling a half-share in JZII9 for a buck. For the history-minded, incidentally, I had the trophy next to me for long enough to copy down all the past winners and have added the list to this site on the J29 menu.
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| Evan Petley-Jones (still in the red sweater) makes a deal with Scott Christie while Scott’s brother Matt attempts to look away. That’s my bro’ Geoff Dalziell on the left (only a loonie Geoff). | |
