Moving Day at Jet-14 Nationals

GALESVILLE MD - Brent Barbehenn and Kate Erklauer solidified their Day 1 lead at the 2016 Jet-14 Nationals by winning all 3 races on Day 2. Despite the somewhat promising forecast, the winds failed to materialize as the fleet raced in generally light and fluky air all day. Race 5 saw a fresh breeze fill in from the right that buried boats that went to the other side in the short, 3 lap affair. After some course adjustment and with new found confidence, the race committee sent out the Jets on a 5-lapper that took about 5 hours to complete. The final race of the day was perhaps the most challenging, with the lead boats finishing well ahead of the main pack. There were no changes to the top 6 places overall, although the top boats separated from the boats immediately behind. However, there are now four new teams in the top 10, including Barb and Tom Joudrey (Mohican Sailing Club, OH) who found the light conditions much more to their liking. The final day of racing kicks off tomorrow at 9:30 am with two races expected. Winds are forecast to be out of the north at 6-12 kt, gradually subsiding into the afternoon.

Chevron Fleet 
Pos Sail Skipper/Crew                     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   Total Pos
1   558 Barbehenn, Brent/Erklauer, Kate  [2]  1   1   1   1   1   1    6.00  1 
2  1135 Parker, Bryan/Parker, Tiffany     1   2   2   2  [7]  2   3   12.00  2 
3  1132 Zaugg, Marion/Joudrey, Anne       5   3  [7]  3   2   3   2   18.00  3 
4   747 Brown, Doug/Mallows, Susan        3   9   3   5   4   8 [10]  32.00  4 
5  1143 McKenna, Koralina/McKenna, James  9   5   6   4 [14] 10   4   38.00  5 
6   483 Hennon, Chris/Hennon, Paula       7   7   4   6   8 [17] 11   43.00  6
7   217 Michos, Dave/Michos, Sue         10   4 [OCS] 7   3  12   8   44.00  7
8   717 Grace, Tom/Pacheco, Paula        14   8   8 [17] 11   6   7   54.00  8
9    94 Joudrey, Barb/Joudrey, Tom       13  10  14  12 [16]  5   5   59.00  9
10 1146 Johnson, Eric/Cotell, Cathy      16 OCS  11  10   6  11   6   60.00 10

Jet-14 Nationals Preview

GALESVILLE MD - The Jet-14 Class Association will conduct its 65th National Championship August 5-7 at West River Sailing Club in Galesville, MD.  The regatta will be preceded by the Junior and Women Nationals on August 4, also out of West River.  The sailing venue was home to one of the oldest Jet-14 fleets until it disbanded several years ago.  West River last hosted the Jet-14 Nationals in 2003, which was won by Brent Barbehenn.

More than 20 boats are expected to compete for the championship, led by Barbehenn who has won the Nationals a record 19 times, including 13 out of the last 14.  Other competitors hail from Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina.  Weather conditions are expected to be ideal, with winds generally in the 7-12 kt range with temperatures in the low-mid 80s.  

The Jet-14 is a 14 ft. two person racing sloop that was designed with the hull of the International 14 and the rig of a Snipe.  It quickly gained in popularity soon after its introduction in the early 1950s as a boat that was ideal for both adults and juniors.  The class association sponsors about 15 regattas each year spread out across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states.  More information about the Jet-14 can be found on the class website, jet14.com.  Daily updates from the National Championships will also be posted there.

Berchem/Fosmire Conquer Light Air Women Nationals

GALESVILLE MD - Connie Berchem and crew Teri Fosmire (Asheville, NC) overcame light and shifty conditions today on the Chesapeake to take the 1-race Jet-14 Women National Championships.  Sailing in their recently acquired #1128, Berchem and Fosmire kept just enough momentum in the final leg to edge out Madison Porter/Nicky Einthoven (Lake Norman Yacht Club / Hunterdon Sailing Club).  It's Berchem and Fosmire's first National Championship.

The five boat fleet struggled to get to the race course on time as the promising morning breeze quickly laid down.  With a few seconds to go to the starting gun, Paula Hennon and crew Paula Pacheco (Asheville Sailing Club, Lake Norman Yacht Club) found themselves too close to the pin and had to circle back in 2 kt of wind.  Porter/Einthoven found a nice left shift and started on port tack, finding some decent breeze and taking the early lead.  But as most boats discovered at one time or another, there were many holes to be found and the lead changed several times up the first beat.

Local sailors Laury Parramore and Johanna, sailing the "Yankee Maid" (#1145), found enough wind on the downwind leg to pull within 40 yards of victory when a large hole developed, stopping them in their tracks and even sending them backwards.  Hennon and Pacecho were looking for the wind to fill from the right to take them to the boat end of the line but it was not to be.  That left Berchem/Fosmire and Porter/Einthoven to finish for the championship.

Unfortunately, any further racing was cancelled because of the light air and the boats were towed back in to West River Sailing Club.  The Jet-14 Open Nationals begins Friday with 22 boats registered so far.   

2016 Nationals Competitors

Updated July 25, 2016:

Brent Barbehenn / Crew, New Jersey

Charlie Bark / Megan Bark, Edgewater YC

Connie Berchem / Teri Fosmire, Asheville SC

PJ Blonski / Crew, Edgewater YC

Doug Brown / Susan Mallows, Hunterdon SC

Tom Grace / Paula Pacheco, Lake Norman YC

Chris Hennon / Paula Hennon, Asheville SC

Eric Johnson / Catherine Cotell, Severn Sailing Association

Barb Joudrey / Tom Joudrey, Mohican SC

Koralina McKenna / James McKenna, Severn Sailing Association

Gary Mentesana / Katie Mentesana, Severn Sailing Association

Ernie Michaud / Anna Pentronzio, Edgewater YC

Dave Michos / Sue Michos, Edgewater YC

Madison Porter / Crew, Lake Norman YC

Tim Porter / Jennifer Porter, Lake Norman YC

Barry Saunders / Stirling Cummings, Carolina SC

Lenny Wells / Caswell Kern, Asheville SC

Bradford Wright / Jamie Wasco

Marion Zaugg / Anne Joudrey, Mohican SC