| San Francisco J/120 Fleet |  | |  | | Valkyrie
Hull #5
Sail #46145
Mark Varnes
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Mark cut his teeth in 1992 sailing in the J/29 fleet, working his way from the pointy end to the back of the boat.
After being thoughly hooked, he tried to get as much one-design expereince as he could... Olson 25, 30's, Express 37, Santana 35, Benateau 36.8, 42.7, J/24, J/80, J/35, J/105, IOR, Farr 40, Bear's, Knarrs... if there was a one design fleet then Mark wanted to play.
Eventually, Mark was invited to sail with a friend on an 11 Metre, where he got to improve his driving and tactical skills against the likes of Silvestry, Madro, Sweeney, Perkins, and Wells.
As the 11 Metre slowly disintegrated, Mark searched for a new one-design fleet to become active in. Having sailed with and against many of the owners and crew from the J/120 fleet (as well as searching for a boat that his wife and kids would enjoy), Mark knew the J/120 was right for him.
| | | | | | | J/World
Hull #9
J/World
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J/World is owned by J/World San Francisco and is being used for racing & cruising classes, and will be participating in some Fleet #5 one-design events. J/World is race-ready and available for charter as well.
| | | | |  | | Hot Tamale
Hull #68
Sail #46556
Joel Truher
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After a decade sailing I-14's, Joel wanted a way to share Bay sailing with
his wife, Tammy, his young family, and friends, that didn't involve
duct-taping the children to the mast. The search for the right boat led
quickly to the J/120, not least because of the friendly and active local
fleet. Tammy's not much of a racer (a cruise around Angel island suits her
very well), but Joel plans to do some of the 2005 races, aiming at
September's NA's and BBS as the "main events" of the season.
| | | | |  | | Mr. Magoo
Hull #80
Sail #28289
Steve & Pamela Madeira
2002 Season Champion
2004 Season Champion
2005 Season Champion
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When I bought my boat in 1998, I was actually the 5th J/120 on the Bay. Within 6
months, I was the only one - whoops! Luckily, enough people eventually saw the
benefit both of the boats, and of one-design racing. And given the choices available,
there really wasn't anything but us between the bumper boats of the J/105 and the BIG
ticket Farr 40s. With 10 on the line and an 11th on the way, I think time has
validated my thinking.
Many people ask me why I named the boat Mr. Magoo, and there really is no one answer.
But what it really boils down to is that, like Mr. Magoo, we have a tendency to
stumble through life running headlong into precarious situations and somehow, with
the intervention of Providence, coming out all right. In fact, some of our best races
have been those where we faced some bizarre obstacle just getting to the line. And
some of our worst have occurred when we were totally organized and on time. Maybe I
should have called it Mr. Goodwrench so things would have worked out differently, but
then what fun is that?
I have been fortunate enough to sail with, and against, some really great folks. We
have had some very high highs and some very low lows, but on balance - and with the
intervention of Providence - it has all worked all right. I guess I named it right
after all.
| | | | |  | | Jolly Mon
Hull #104
Sail #46732
Mark, Tim, & Beth Bowman
Chris Chamberlin
| | | | | | |  | | Desdemona
Hull #108
Sail #28486
John Wimer
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The Desdemona crew have come together over a couple of seasons to their current cast of rookies. The core crew sailed with John on Fast Lane, a J/35. After winning the J/35 NA's and the SF Bay highpoint series, John got a offer from a Southern Californian to buy the boat, coincidently when a local J/120 was up for sale at a reasonable price. So the whole gang moved over to a bigger boat and have never looked back.
The Desdemona crew has had a terrific time getting to know her and have sailed the entire west coast of the US in 2003. Of all the boats the gang has sailed (J/35, 1D35, Farr 40 and Santa Cruz 52), they love the J/120 the most, not just because of the boat but because the fleet is so much fun.
| | | | |  | | Dayenu
Hull #122
Sail #28904
Dennis Jermaine
Don Payan
| | | | | | | | | Django
Hull #137
John & Nancy Callahan
Seth & Lauren Neiman
| | | | | | | | | Grace Dances
Hull #139
Dick Swanson
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After 18 years campaigning an Express 27, Dick finally decided that comfort
was not such a bad word after all. Six months of searching for the right
boat and fleet culminated in a clear choice--the J/120. The decision was
cinched by the great reputation that the fleet has for fun and
enthusiastic participation. Dick's going to start racing Grace
Dances in the 2004/05 GGYC midwinters as a prelude to the 2005 season
championship.
| | | | |  | | OuiB5
Hull #147
Sail #147
John Sylvia
| | | | | | |  | | Twist
Hull #149
Sail #28442
Timo Bruck
Hilari Hardin
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Timo bought Twist in December 2000 and had grand visions of using his boat as a weekend bachelor pad in the city as well as an "off site" office, anchored behind Angel Island. Six months later, Timo quit his job (so much for "off site" working idea) and called his sailmaker to discuss putting together a racing program.
Since then, Timo & Hilari got married (so much for the "bachelor pad" idea), and Twist has been active in the local racing scene, completed the Coastal Cup, went to Long Beach for North Sails Race Week, and has done a few double-handed races as well. Hilari races on the full-crewed events, but thinks that off-shore and short-handed racing is a little nutty.
When Twist isn’t busy racing, Timo & Hilari enjoy taking their friends out for day sails, often ending up in the lee of sunny Angel Island (no laptops, please).
| | | | | | | Pride's Crossing
Hull #151
Eric & Christy Chin
| | | | | | | | | Kookaburra
Hull #153
Ken Raley
| | | | | | | | | Felicita
Hull #159
David Shames
| | | | | | |  | | Chance
Hull #162
Sail #28484
Barry Lewis
2003 Season Champion
2006 Season Champion
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When Barry got tired of being wet all the time sailing his Laser II (not to mention the physical abuse of full-on hiking) he thought he would upgrade to a fast racer-cruiser keelboat to parade around the bay and out into the ocean on weekends. Racing?.... well maybe eventually but not right away.
Then Steve M. puts together a J/120 Clinic in early summer 2001 and Barry has a ball going around the buoys and only rounds up.... maybe one or two times. So.... two weeks after taking delivery, Chance does her first race, The Second Half Opener, everybody has a complete blast going out to Bonita and back down the estuary (not to mention the party after) and Barry and Blake (his son) are completely hooked.
So with a lot of help from lots of people in the Fleet, as well as local sailmakers, the Chance racing crew came together and two years later are still sailing together having a ball out on the racecourse. Not a lot of cruising happening yet; there are too many great regattas to compete in for right now!
| | | | |  | | El Ocaso
Hull #164
Sail #28920
Rick Wesslund
| | | | | | | | | Alchera
Hull #176
Sail #28870
Mark Deppe
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