Bob Wardwell, Class President:

Up until early 1998 most of my sailing had been in Lightnings and other small boats. In the 80’s I served as Chief Measurer and then President of the International Lightning Class Association. I continue to sail the Lightning and will take delivery on hull # 15205 this spring. 

Moving to Richmond, VA in 1988 and joining Fishing Bay Yacht Club in 1989 I became involved in the Yacht Club and crewing on some larger boats. As J-29’s became more active in the area my interest grew and "Killshot" was acquired in January of ’98. For a 30 footer the J-29 is a fast and relatively comfortable boat to race, what I find unique is the teamwork that develops when you race a boat with 7-8 crew members.

We currently reside in Watertown, New York and sail on Lake Ontario when not traveling to Lightning and J-29 regattas. Given the reality that J-29’s are no longer manufactured it is up to the current class leadership and members to keep the class going, I will do everything I can to support this effort.

I am from Groton or as most people recognize “Mystic” Connecticut where I have lived all of my life. I have been involved in racing for the past 16 years, sailing on other boats and learning all aspects of sailing. I started racing my own sailboat when I purchased modified a Cal 22 to be the fastest Cal 22 on the east coast, boasting a tall masthead rig, a 5’ keel and a carbon spinnaker pole. Beating J24’s scratch on most days and with a 224 PHRF rating and all women crew (except me) life was great.  We pushed the limits of this little boat we earned the name “Edge of Disaster”. Moving on to bigger and better things I purchased a J29 in 1998. In keeping with the sprit of the Cal 22 I named the J29 “Edge² of Disaster” hoping to square our disaster potential.

I have owned and raced my J29 “Edge² of Disaster” hull # 83 since 1998. Racing mostly in local PHRF events and then taking the boat on the road. Also, I co-owned, for a period, “Showdown” hull # 13 now owned by Bijan Rasadi. This boat was extensively raced and really introduced me to the traveling show.

I have a great deal of experience racing one design boats and understand the commitment it is to take these boats on the road. My personal preferences for the class would be to reduce the monetary commitments necessary for competitive racing by promoting sail inventory limitations and finding racing venues that would be cost effective. Due to work and family commitments I have not been involved with the class in the past few year but with retirement around the corner I am looking forward in promoting active Class participation.

Feel free to contact me using the address below ...

Jay Weaver, Class Treasurer/Secretary;

Feel free to contact me using the address below ...

John Esposito, Class Measurer

Feel free to contact me using the address below ...

I have raced my J-29 MHOB on the Chesapeake since 1989. My two children, Regan and Patrick were practically raised on Rhumb Punch. Now they both make sailing a vocation and a way of life. We started as one-design in Annapolis but that soon faded and we switched to MORC then PHRF. Paul Andersen coerced us to try one-design again in 1995 by inviting the Punch family to Fishing Bay to race against the J-29 fleet that emerged in the southern bay. There Paul introduced me another charismatic J-29 sailor from Chicago named Jay McArdle whose stories of traveling with J-29’s convinced me to buy a new Triad Trailer and take the show on the road. Since 2000 the trailer has twice paid for itself and the now dry and slick Rhumb Punch has won a couple of regattas including the Fall 2002 One-Design Regatta and Key West 2003.