The J/109 class set an attendance record last weekend as 32 boats raced for the UK National Championship, all part of J-Cup 2008 hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble, UK and organized by J-UK.The J/109 ZELDA, owned and raced by Ben Richards and Michael Ewart-Smith, had a monumental battle throughout the entire regatta with old adversaries Bruce Jubb, Jeff Dakin and Mike Flood on JOHNNY BLUE II. At the end of the first day these two boats were tied on equal points, but Simon ‘Sling’ Ling and his team on board the RED ARROW were just one point behind. ZELDA went on to have a blinding day on Saturday, revelling in the heavier conditions (20 to 27 knots from the northeast) and clocking up a 2,1,1 scoreline, which extended their lead to four points over JOHNNY BLUE II.
On Sunday the conditions changed yet again: now down to light and shifty. A total glass-out at the end of Race 7 meant that some unfortunates were swept past the line, unable to get back, and a number of boats (including ZELDA) scored a DNF. JOHNNY BLUE II won the race to go up by two points with one race to sail. As it transpired, a risky decision on ZELDA’s part on the final upwind leg left them down the pack, while JOHNNY BLUE II finished third, enough to win the 2008 J/109 UK National Championship. ZELDA finished second overall followed by Matt Boyle’s SHIVA, RED ARROW and then J-DREAM. Results
