Saturday, March 19, 2016

J/22 Midwinters Preview

J/22 loving sailing (Fort Walton Beach, FL)- This coming weekend, the Fort Walton YC is hosting the 2016 J/22 Midwinters from March 18th to 20th in the pristine blue-green waters off Fort Walton Beach, Florida (halfway between Pensacola and Panama City in the northeastern shores of the Gulf of Mexico).  Twenty-six teams are eagerly anticipating pretty spring weather off the miles of dazzling white-sand beaches.

Many leading J/22 teams are looking forward to their annual spring migration south to enjoy the weather.  Don’t be surprised to see the likes of Kevin Doyle’s MO’MONEY from Youngstown YC near the top of the pack.  Nevertheless, giving them a real “run-for-the-money” will be Chip Carpenter’s WIZARD from Southern YC, Chris & Jennifer Princing’s EVIL DR. PORK CHOP from Tawas Bay YC, Chris Doyle’s THE JUG 4 1 from Youngstown YC, Terry Flynn’s TEJAS from Fort Worth Boat Club (a past J/22 World Champion), and Jeff Todd’s HOT TODDY from Annapolis YC.

There is an exciting international team looking forward to test the Gulf of Mexico waters from the Cayman Islands- Mike Farrington’s JUST LEAVING crew from the Cayman Islands SC in the middle of the Caribbean.  Mike and crew posted a 3rd in the J/22 Worlds in South Africa, are the current Cayman Islands National J/22 Champions and also recently won the J/22 Jammin’ Jamaica Regatta.  Forewarned is forearmed against this rambunctiously fun team- be careful if they start offering “island rum concoctions”!   For more J/22 Midwinters sailing information