2022 Nantucket J/70 Summer Open at Great Harbor Yacht Club
by Julie & Christopher Howell 21 Jun 2022 11:20 BST
June 17-19, 2022
Ryan McKillen, Surge, topped 11 other boats to claim the top spot at the 2022 Nantucket J/70 Summer Open. This was the inaugural event hosted by Great Harbor Yacht Club.
The team from Miami Beach, including John Wallace, Sam Loughborough and Steve Hunt finished on Sunday with six net points, six points better than Brian Keane's Savasana.
Margaret McKillen's Magatron placed third with 13 net points. In the Corinthian Division, Richard Werdiger's TEN, (with Abigail Cook, Mike Gemperline and Bruce Turner) from Great Harbor Yacht Club topped the three-boat group, ahead of Alex Meleney's Truckin and Rob Diemar's GOGO. Reset with Peter Barrett, Fred Strammer, Andrew Bixby and Christopher Gould bested the two-boat One-Pro group, with Susan Wayne's Rolling Thunder.
Brian Keane summarized, "This event is serving as an excellent training venue with wave and sea state similar to Worlds coming up in Monaco in October. After a washout Friday, it was great to get in four races Saturday. It was clear that a new weather system was coming in and the wind would be shifting right all day. Besides the first race where we had a spinnaker pole breakdown, we tried to protect the right and find a way to keep the boat powered up in the steep chop coming out of the north. There are several strong teams from different parts of the country that are making this event enjoyable and very competitive. The team is really enjoying the Nantucket venue and the Great Harbor Yacht Club has been unbelievable hosts."
The Professional Race Officer Hank Stuart (IRO from Rochester NY) led the on the water team. The team rose to the challenge of difficult weather conditions to provide the fleet with two races Sunday after a brief on shore postponement. Races 5 and 6 provided the fleet with a throwout race and a close contest between the top three boats for podium finishes.
GHYC Commodore Cece Fowler added, "The Nantucket J/70 Summer Open represents the culmination of two years of preparation, effort and dedication on the part of Great Harbor's Sailing and Waterfront Committee, under the leadership of Racing Committee Chair, Susan Wayne and Waterfront Director, Emma Conway. As the date drew near, Club members received periodic updates and members jumped at the chance to get involved. Since this was GHYCs first major fleet event, everyone was determined to shine a light on Great Harbor hospitality and introduce off-island sailors to Nantucket Sound's famous racing conditions. Competitors launched their day with multiple breakfast options and at day's end, they kept the shuckers at the raw bar hopping. Hors d'oeuvres, specialty cocktails and craft beers were abundant thanks to generous sponsors. Unparalleled food and beverage along with the club's welcoming spirit ensured that a great time was had by all. Competitors and hosts are already looking forward to adding Nantucket to the annual J/70 regatta calendar."
GHYC has committed to hosting the Nantucket J/70 Summer Open again next year; save the date June 16-18, 2023.
Overall Results: (top five)
1. Surge, Ryan McKillen -1 -1 -3 -1 -2 -1 -[3]; 6pts
2. Savasana, Brian Keane -8 -2 -1 -2 -4 -3 -[8]; 12pts
3. Magatron, Margaret McKillen -3 -3 -4 -5 -1 -2 -[5]; 13pts
4. Cool Story, Bro, John Brigden -2 -7 -5 -3 -3 -4 -[7]; 17pts
5. Relentless, Scott Foxman -4 -12/OCS -2 -4 -5 -6 -[12]; 21pts
Find complete results here