About

The sailing and racing stories of Toccata, a J/27 racing sailboat.

I acquired J/27 hull number #28 in November 2012, renamed her Toccata, and started racing in May of 2013 after a serious refit.

I have been sailing for 30 years but have only started racing in the last six years, first on a Rhodes 19,  then a J/22, and now a J/27. Before I raced I was a cruising sailor, first with a Columbia 26 and then with a Westerly 32.

I had been searching for a J/27 for several years as it seemed the ideal boat for my needs:

  • Wednesday night racing on Clear Lake (southeast of Houston)  sponsored by Clear Lake Racing Association. Very short courses in 5′-6′ depth with eight different classes racing on various courses, success depends often on superior boat handling.
  • Galveston Bay racing with GBCA, HYC, and LYC. Longer courses in Galveston Bay with deeper water and often higher winds.
  • Family day sailing; boat picnics, anchoring, swimming, towing kids in the dinghy.
  • Occasional overnight or weekend cruising. More of the above but for longer periods of time.

What’s a Toccata?

A toccata is a virtuoso piece of music featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages or sections emphasizing the dexterity of the performer. Seems a lot like a great racing sailboat to me!

One of the most famous toccatas is Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, visualized here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o

Our dinghy is named Fugue…

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