Local Knowledge

Lucky Dog

My good friends the Shanners here in Dago haven't had much luck with their new to them J/125 Lucky Dog, but this Memorial weekend, they hit one out of the park. Nice job fellas and here is their story.

Scotty - My Dad and I picked up our 1st bullet on the J125 LUCKY DOG in this year's Oceanside to San Diego Race. We were pitched in with the tough PHRF A fleet against the fast 50's Staghound, Blue Blazes and Falcon. The course was 38.25 NM and Blue Blazes was 2nd, Staghound 3rd and Falcon 4th. Blue Blazes owed us 22 min. and finished 19 min. ahead of us. The Hound owed us 32 min. and finished 22 min. ahead. Falcon owed us 21 min and finished 7 min. ahead of us. My Dad got us off to a nice start as the Hound and Blue Blazes were both over early, I believe. He then handed the helm over to me and I brought us down the coast the rest of the way in 4 hours 19 minutes. We worked out to sea for the first 15 miles or so with the AP #1 up on a very tight reach.

For the 4th race in a row we had no instruments, as they always seem to go out just as we make our way to the starting line. I estimate it was blowing 12 to 15 at this time. As we neared La Jolla, the wind built and we cracked off a tad and set the sweet A3 reacher. With the freshening breeze and quartering swell, the DOG just jumped forward and started surfing and planing down the coast at what I estimate to be 12's to 15's, as we would hear her unmistakable speed hum at the bottom of the waves! She only starts to sing like that at 14 knots of boat speed! We shot through the rest of the fleet and were hot on the trail of the three big 50's as we planed our way down to buoy #1. I estimate we were hitting solid 11's as we dodged island after island of kelp, not unlike a skier running slalom gates!(San Diego, you know). A member of Staghound's crew told us they were hitting solid 15's with their Jibtop up from #1 to the finish.

It was a great ride and the conditions were tailor made for the J125, as she just screams along on those tight angles, in that kind of breeze. My Dad was just tickled pink, as this is our 1st trophy after our long hiatus from the sport. It was great competition we were up against and everyone was really proud to be able to beat the Big 50's that are always very well sailed!

Respectfully Submitted,
Colin Shanner

06/01/06