AVRA is a 40 foot racer/cruiser sailboat hailing from New York.  We race AVRA in windward/leeward regattas in Western Long Island Sound, we distance-race her in events ranging from 200 to 700 miles, and now and then go on a family cruise.  The boat’s name is a Greek word meaning a pleasant breeze from the sea.

AVRA was built in 2001 as a J/120 and was raced in One Design through the end of 2008.  As class racing One Design waned in Long Island Sound and IRC racing became more popular, we undertook two phases of modifications.  The first phase occurred over the 2008-9 winter: the sail area was increased particularly up high by extending the mast and adding a crane to allow for a larger roach main; also, headsail luff length was increased by converting headsails to full hoist.  The second phase occurred over 2009-2010 winter

and

:   her sailplan was modified to increase sail area particularly up high

; the second phase occurred over the 2009-2010 winter when the keel was replaced with a new one designed by Rod Johnstone, the J/120’s original designer.

2) new keel was designed by Rod Johnstone for the boat to be lighter than original but with maximum righting moment and better lift than the stock keel.  Article on sailplan changes in Sailing World May 2009:        SW Article near final draft.pdf

AVRA has earned many first place trophies in J/120 One Design Key West Race Week 2005, American Spring Series 2005, American Fall Series 2006 and 2007.  As One Design racing waned in Long Island Sound, AVRA started competing in IRC and earned first place trophies in Larchmont Race Week 2009, Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta 2009 with US Naval Academy Team and Jamie Boeckel Memorial 2006.

In June 2008, AVRA competed in her first Newport-Bermuda Race, with an all-amateur team, only one of whom had ever done the race before.  AVRA finished third in Class 4 and 20th in the Saint David’s Lighthouse “amateur driver” fleet of 122 boats.  AVRA finished first among J/120s in 2008 and ranked higher in the Saint David’s Fleet than any other J/120 in the last decade.

AVRA is hitting the water in April 2010 with her new keel, ready to race in IRC events in Western Long Island Sound and compete in her second Newport-Bermuda Race!