In the summer of 1991, Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, LA hosted sixty J/22s for a North American Championship. This event was unofficially dubbed “The First J/22 Worlds” as there was participation of two teams from South Africa, home to the first J/22 fleet outside of North America.
Over the last two decades, fleets have sprouted around the globe and the
J/22 class received ISAF-sanction as an “International Class”. And now this October 9-15, twenty years after hosting the “first” J/22 worlds,- the class comes full circle as SYC will be host to the 2011 J/22 Class World Championship!
To help ensure a good time, Allstate Sugar Bowl has signed on as title sponsor of the championship. “Allstate Sugar Bowl has traditionally been a strong supporter of sailing in the New Orleans area, sponsoring the annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Regatta,” said regatta chair Chris Clement. “Their support of J/22 Worlds is very significant, as the Allstate Sugar Bowl will also be the host of the BCS college football championship in January, 2012.”
On the water, October on Lake Pontchartrain generally offers excellent sailing conditions, with warm temperatures and breezes that can range from
5 to 25 knots. Because Lake Pontchartrain is very shallow, averaging 14 feet deep, north winds with a 25-mile fetch can kick up a short, steep chop that challenges the best sailors. Off the water, the regatta promises an experience that only New Orleans can deliver. — Forum thread:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11913