Blue J is the only Beneteau First 260 sailboat in North America. This site was originally dedicated to her story, but has since been widened to include topics of interest to any First 260, 25.7, or 25S owner.
Post-race analysis - 2025 Frostbite Cup
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I try at least once a year to present a detailed BlueJ race analysis, backed up with either pure analytics data and/or video. For 2025, I going to review of performance in the WYC Frostbite Cup with 360 video.
Wind pre-start looked even up the course, with no real line bias, We planned to go for a solid mid-line start, focusing on having room below. Competition wise, we have a J80 that can present problems, and a Santana 23 and US-21 that are like rated and well sailed. And Impulse 26 that is much faster then us on the water, but we beat when we sail well. Also several First 235s that we generally do not worry about.
On time and on speed at the gun, and we got away pretty OK. And with decent gaps rolled the boat under us and pulled away from the boat over us, allowing us to tack when we wanted to. So ok, a B+ start.
Lap 1:
We get the boat settled in, and we are holding our own against the important boats. We generally make our move on the first down-wind, so we just work to not lose on the first beat. Rating B
Rounding and downwind 1:
We round right behind the Santana, but get our kite up faster and establish a windward position that they don't feel like attacking. After our gybe outside them, my goal is to get and stay over the top of them, and show them our transom; then they have zero options to pass. We nail it. Rating A
LAP 2:
After a much better rounding then the Santana, we have a great upwind and are now clear over every boat, with the exception of the Impulse who is ahead but in reach handicap wise. With no boats around we settle in to NAIL the set, angle+trim, gybe, and douse. Rating A+
Final Upwind and finish:
Feeling good about our time-gap with the Impulse, we loose-cover the Santana and US21 on the upwind to stay clear of them. Solid stuff, and we finish on the favored boat side. Rating A
RESULTS
We discussed this on the ride back to the club, and we were pretty sure we took it. Happy that we were right!
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