While Fleet 12 boats  were four of the five entries in this year's Newport Regatta J/22 Division, the one invader from afar, Dave Nickerson of Noank, Ct., came with credentials, having won in J/35's at the New York Yacht Club Regatta held in Newport a couple of years back.  Nickerson's presence would raise the bar for the locals.

ATI

A light northerly breeze led the race committee to set course X-Ray (starting to the north) which in these conditions invariably results in an event filled with surprises, and this year wouldn't disappoint in that regard.  Five J/22's, including last year's winner Dudley Docker, sailed by Westy Barlow, took the gun as class Delta (fourth group to start), one of only two one-design classes.  

 NEWPORT REGATTA- JULY 16 & 17 2005

This year's Newport Regatta turned out to be an exclusively Fleet 12 event, with seven boats racing a seven race series. The shaky weather forecast and thick fog had thankfully yielded to bright sunny skies and a light but steady southerly by late Saturday morning. 

You may read the results for the 2007 Around the Island Race here, or download the PDF. Results as of 7:30 PM September 2, subject to protests...

After a summer of perfect Sunday's, Fleet 12 sailors faced a hazy light-air day for what proved to be a single, final race for the season championship. The Marshall brothers' Bad News led FJ Ritt's Paladin by only three points, so the series title was still very much up for grabs. Race Committee, Commodore Bert and Linda Brodin set a course of Rp, 13p with the tide turning to flood and the breeze a fickle six to eight knots from the south.