The 2008 Fleet 12 series for J/22's got off with a bang Sunday afternoon. Well, make that two bangs, as Race Committee Betty and Jack Hubbard were forced to signal the first Fleet 12 general recall in years. A strong current out the bay, nine anxious starters, a very light southerly, and a short line all combined to create an incorrigible mess at the pin. The recall was welcomed by most of the fleet, but especially by the late-arriving newcomer, the aptly named bob'syergrandaddy, skippered by Nick Johnstone.

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.