Tuesday, July 17, 2007

J/109 ‘Sweet Chariot’ Wins Series

Report from Owner’s Ray & Sandra Entwistle, Hull 264, Sweet Chariot:

“After racing for the past 11 Sundays in Australia’s premier winter racing series (CYCA Audi Winter Series) we are delighted to inform you we have won the event.

We competed in one of the largest divisions giving between 5 and 25 minutes head start to the fleet. Our division comprised of 19 yachts in the 34 to 42 foot range. Although racing under PHS we were giving time to boats we know are rated similar and in many cases quicker than the J109 under IRC. In pursuit style racing we started last in every race and posted 7 fastest elapsed times over a wide range of conditions ranging from drifters to 35 knots.

The J109 continues to impress us, our colleagues, crew and competition. The elapsed times prove we have chosen the right boat as yet again this 35 footer shows she can mix it with many larger yachts on the race course continuing to show the competition her racing pedigree. The real secret of this boat however is the fact all we have to do to go cruising is top up the water tanks and fridge then decide north or south at Sydney Heads. Last Christmas in our two week leave we clocked over 460 nautical miles two up and no autopilot. Sailing from Sydney to Jervis Bay, Pittwater, Newcastle, Port Stephens, returned to Newcastle for the first twilight of the New Year and finally back to Sydney and reluctantly prized ourselves off our comfortable Chariot. We believe the J109 has the best interior in its class. Many who have viewed the boat during the winter series have been surprised how comfortable she is below decks which certainly belie her race winning performance. She is a delight to race and very easy to sail two handed. Her powerful asymmetric rig making her a flyer downwind even when short handed cruising.”