(Seabrook, TX)- Bill Zartler and his SOLARIS team will be keeping the title of J/105 Midwinter Champion. Despite placing seventh in Sunday’s only race, SOLARIS hung on for the two-point victory and back-to-back Midwinter Championship trophies. With crew Chris Lewis, Karen Lewis, Gustavo Eacobar, Michael Byrne and Cynthia Powell, Zartler completed the nine-race series with 28 points and a line of 8-1-5-1-3-1-1-1-7. Host Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, TX claimed the top two boats of the event, as Bill Lakenmacher’s RADIANCE placed second with 30 points. New York’s Paul Beaudin on AVICI came in third at 40 points.
Zartler praised the Race Committee for fulfilling their goal of nine races and also commended the stellar competition. “It was great to have competitors coming from all over the country, and see the fleet continue to have great racing amongst some really fun people,” he said.

On the last day of racing on Sunday, the J/105 teams were postponed on shore in the morning when a line of thunderstorms came through– pretty normal weather activity for these parts of Texas in the spring-time (all part of America’s “tornado belt”).  When the AP flag came down and the thirteen boats were sent to the race course the winds had settled down to a steady 10-12 kts. Greg Turman’s HORNY TOAD won Sunday’s only race, trailed by Beaudin and Lakenmacher.

The top five were the following: 1st Bill Zartler- SOLARIS (28 points), 2nd Bill Lakenmacher- RADIANCE (30), 3rd Paul Beaudin- AVICI (40), 4th Greg Turman- HORNY TOAD (52) and 5th James MacDonald- DISTANT PASSION (52).

The J/105 Class extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Lakewood Yacht Club and all of its volunteers for a job “well done”.  Sailing and awards photos taken by J/105 Class Director Chris Howell are on the J/105 Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/J105CA     For more J/105 Midwinters sailing information