ON TOP OF THE J/70 WORLDS
ON TOP OF THE J/70 WORLDS
North Sails Power Past The Competition
Not one but two North-powered teams were named World Champions at the J/70 Darwin Escapes World Championship in Torquay, UK. Paul Ward’s Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat, sailing with Mario Trindade and North Sails experts Charlie Cumbley and Ruairidh Scott, collected the overall win, while Marshall King and the Soak Racing team found success in the Corinthian Division. All top 10 finishers had North Sails onboard.
The core team on Eat, Sleep, J, Repeat has been together all season, and this Worlds win caps a 2019 victory list that includes Cowes Week, J-Cup, and the J/70 UK Nationals. “Our mindset heading into this event was really good,” says tactician Charlie Cumbley. “We were saying if we finished top 10 we’d be really pleased. It’s obviously gone way better than expected!”
Winning Strategy
Though they could be considered a “local” team because they were able to drive to the event, Charlie credits their level-headed approach to each race for the victory rather than any home field advantage. “Torquay is a different set of conditions to what UK J/70 fleets usually sail: less tidal, with offshore winds that drive the shifts.
“We began the regatta conservatively,” he continues, “knowing the venue was shifty and playing it a bit safe on the first day. But after that we decided there were big gains to be made by committing to a side. We hung in the top 10, gradually picking people off rather than trying to go for a big gain. Without going too extreme, we upped the risk level each day.”
People & Product
Eat, Sleep, J Repeat used the flatter F-1 Mainsail to match their Selden mast, a J-6 High Clew Jib, and the AP-1 spinnaker. “The sails excelled through the wind range,” Charlie says. “They are truly all-purpose, and we were comfortable with whatever conditions came our way.” For more info, visit the J/70 Inventory page.
Rather than any special boat setup, Charlie says the team “literally followed the North Tuning Guide. It shows you exactly how to set up the boat, and with that you’ve got a real chance.”
Congratulations Paul, Charlie, Ruairidh and Mario!
Full results
