8th Annual J/Fest Southwest Regatta in the Record Books

October 23rd, 2017

 

unnamed1 225x300 8th Annual J/Fest Southwest Regatta in the Record Books

A J/Boats Legends Celebrity Racing Event was held on Clear Lake on Friday, October 20th in celebration of 40 years of J/Boats. Photo by LYC member Andrea Todaro.

Lakewood Yacht Club hosted the 8th Annual J/Fest Southwest Regatta October 21-22, 2017.

Although the competitors were held onshore Sunday due to storms, the race committee ran a full day of racing on Saturday for 72 boats in a building breeze. The Judges had work to do on the water and onshore; after all was done, this year’s top finishers in each class were:

J/22 Hayes Rigging, Kevin Hayes, of LYC

J/24 Miss Conduct, James Freedman of DCYC

J/70 Hoss, Glenn Darden of FWBC

J/105 Sanity, Rick Goebel of SDYC/CRA

J/109 Hamburg, Al Goethe of LYC

J/PHRF Spin (Sym) Press to Meco, Glen Stromme

J/PHRF Spin (Asym) Second Star, JD Hill of LYC/GBCA

Full results are available at www.lakewoodyachtclub.com.

This year’s festivities also included a celebrity racing event on Clear Lake that spectators enjoyed watching and listening to humorous live commentary on from the newly opened BARge 295 in the location of the old Turtle Club. On Friday, Oct. 20, at 1600, J/Boat legend racers Jeff Johnstone, Scott Young, Farley Fontenot and Jay Lutz set off to measure their racing prowess on loaned-out J/24s in honor of J/Boats celebrating 40 years in the making.

Sailors, volunteers and guests enjoyed the annual Saturday night party, which included live music poolside by Jerry Angeley and by the LC Roots Band in the LYC lounge as well as a Frogmore Stew traditional shrimp dinner in the grand ballroom.

The LYC bar and lounge were at full capacity for the awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.

For regatta information or questions about next year’s event, visit www.jfestsouthwest.com.
Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine