JOG Roscoff 65th celebrations and early season update

Jelenko and Raffles during the Universal Safety Nab Tower Race © JOG

Polly during the Universal Safety Nab Tower Race © JOG

Dogmatrix during the Universal Safety Nab Tower Race © JOG

Plans are being finalised for JOG's 65th anniversary year race to Roscoff supported by Clanfield Properties with an early start on Saturday 28th May. Entries are coming in from owners keen to complete an interesting and tactically challenging 180 miles to the North Brittany coast where the ferry port is ideal for crew changes.

Most JOGers are expected to take part in the Tuesday and Thursday fun races to Treguier and St Peter Port while some will use the outward race as the start of a summer cruise. Whatever the choice, a fun social programme is guaranteed and owners are encouraged to get their entries in!

Early season update

The Easter weekend proved challenging to the race team with a dreadful return forecast for the Northface Connections races to and from Cherbourg. Much relief and appreciation was heard when going cross-channel was abandoned by the race team and a Round the Island on Good Friday was substituted instead. It was of course the one decent day of the weekend and competitors in the four classes enjoyed a cracking sail in sunshine with plenty of tactical and tidal considerations.

Two weeks later JOG's traditional Nab Tower race supported by Universal Safety took place on Saturday 9th April and it had a bit of everything including a bumper entry of 88 yachts. A huge tide and a fitful wind from the north-west got the classes away from the line followed by flat calm before the Spithead forts. This year a port rounding of the tower and a leg to Winner were in the SIs – however they said nothing about a prolonged evil rain (or was it hail) squall resulting in some major out-of-control moments and high speeds for those that kept the boat under the rig. Normal service was resumed with a windward leg back to the forts and the finish in a building breeze that was distinctly firm at the tide-assisted finish.

Assassin during the Universal Safety Nab Tower Race - photo © JOG

Race winners:

Easter Round the Island

Class 3
NJOS, Corby 35, Nicky & Tim Octon

Class 4
Jangada, JPK 1010, Richard Palmer

Class 5
Xara, Swan 38 SR, Jonathan & Anne Rolls

Class 6
Two Frank, Impala 28, Olly Love & Sam Flint

Double-Handed
Jangada, JPK 1010, Richard Palmer

Nab Tower

Class 3
Assassin, Prima 38, Mark Brown & Justin Leese

Class 4
Just So, J 109, David & Will McGough

Class 5
Longue Pierre, Dehler 38, David Cooper & Paul England

Class 6
Concession, Contessa 26, Graham Walton

Double-Handed
Hot Cookie, Sunfast 3600, Neil Martin & Philip Barnes

The JOG formula of a varied programme and sociable destinations is proving very popular in this milestone year, new yachts and crew always welcome and you don't have to be a JOG member.

Next Offshore race: RS Divers St Vaast race Friday 29th April, first start 18:30. Next Inshore races: Hamble Estates Yarmouth weekend Saturday 14th May, first start 09:00. See the JOG website at www.jog.org.uk. Entry Forms, full race programme & crew available/boats looking for crew information all available online.

Please contact the secretary if you have any questions about the route into racing with JOG.