Within a four week period of time, Lakewood Yacht Club racer Jay Lutz captured the North American J-80 Championship and the J-80 World Championship. Each time, beating Houston Yacht Club rival John Kolius who claimed second place in both the World and American J-80 competition.

Lutz was so far ahead of his competition in the J-80 World Champion-ship held out of Dallas from Oct. 14-17, that he did not have to compete in the 10th and final race.

“It is very unusual to win by such a big margin, but everything came together for us this time,” Lutz said. “Our new sail design was super fast, the crew jelled beautifully, and we were always able to come back from our mistakes to make a respectable finish.”

Lutz also said that he thinks one never wins a regatta, it’s the other racers who lose the race as they are not able to bounce back from their misjudgments. “That makes all the difference in the world,” Lutz said.

He feels that winning the North American Championship over the weekend of Sept. 20, paved the way and set the pace for their winning the World Championship. “We had good boat speed and a fantastic crew for that that one as well,” he said.

Crewing his J-80 “Synergy” were friends Joe Taylor of HYC, Derek Gauger from Michigan, and Alex Kroll of Seabrook but formerly with Ft. Worth Boat Club which hosted the World Championship this year.

This is Lutz’s third try for first place in the Worlds. In 2001 he placed second in Newport, Rhode Island and last year placed 3rd at the Championship held in Larochelle, France.

Fifty boats from six countries competed in the ten races composing this year’s J-80 World Champion-ship. Racers were pleased with the good winds on Eagle Mountain Lake which ranged from 10 to 25 knots.