Year: 2025

(Hamburg, Germany)- The eighth edition of the J/70 Helga Cup was hosted by the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein in Hamburg, Germany for an international field of sixty-one all-women’s teams on the gorgeous, tree-lined Alster Lake in downtown Hamburg. After 111 races, the ultimate winners turned out to be a mix of women sailors from sailing clubs all over Germany, known as “Die Fiven”. Here’s how it all unfolded over the three-day regatta.

Day 1- FridaySailing on Hamburg’s Outer Alster remained firmly in the hands of women all weekend. Nearly 380 female sailors from eleven nations competed in the eighth edition of the Helga Cup. Sixty-one teams competed in the J/70 class. The patron of the world’s largest women’s regatta, organized by the North German Regatta Association, was Kristina Vogel, a former German track cyclist and two-time Olympic champion.
The starting gun was fired in almost perfect sailing conditions for the first race of the Helga Cup. The sailors completed a total of 33 races on the first day of the regatta in sunshine and moderate winds. The participants described the conditions as good, but also quite challenging. As in the previous year, Chief Inspector Julia Homburg, Head of Hamburg Police Station 31, started the opening race. “Being responsible for the starting gun at a women’s regatta is a special honor. It was fun again,” said Homburg after returning from the regatta field.
Two Australian teams had the longest journey to the Helga Cup, one of which was making its second trip to the women’s regatta in Hamburg. “It’s great to be back at the Helga Cup. The atmosphere is always great,” said the four sailors from the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Perth, Western Australia. First and foremost, we want to have fun sailing at the Helga Cup. In 2024, we finished in the top half of the field. This time it would be great to be in the top third. However, we don’t have that much experience in the J/70 class, because it’s mostly in Sydney and Melbourne,” says helmswoman Sandy Anderson.
After a long, successful day of racing, an informal pre-opening at the Hamburg Sailing Club the day before, with a social gathering of the sailing crews, was followed yesterday evening by the official opening at the Helga Cup’s organizer, the North German Regatta Association. Christoph Holstein, State Councilor of the Hamburg Ministry of the Interior and Sport, highlighted women’s sports and inclusion during the opening ceremony, stressing the importance of raising the profile of both topics.
Susann Beucke, who is participating in the event not only as a sailor but also as an ambassador for Hamburg Active City, where the Helga Cup is one of the top ten events, also spoke. Beucke shared her experiences in the still heavily male-dominated professional sailing scene. In this context, she emphasized the importance of the Helga Cup as an event where women can demonstrate that they, too, can compete for trophies and achieve sporting success.
Helga Cup patron Kristina Vogel also encouraged the women not to allow themselves to be limited by external factors, but to pursue their own goals and lead by example. She thanked all the female sailors for their commitment to the Helga Club.
Among the guests of honor at the opening were the newly crowned European Champions in the 49erFX class, Hannah Wille and Marla Bergmann from the Mühlenberger Sailing Club, as well as Anna Barth, tactician of the German SailGP team.

Day 2- SaturdayThe Helga Cup sailors have completed two long days of racing. Both days provided exciting racing with good, at times quite challenging, sailing conditions. The sailors in the J/70 class have already completed a total of 72 races, and those in the inclusive RS Venture Connect class have completed 24. On Sunday morning, the teams will compete for a place in the final.
The J/70 field is currently dominated by the sailors from Hamburg’s Team Mammazentrum, followed by the Die Fiven team from the Berlin area. Third place is held by the newly crowned European champions in the 49erFX class, Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille from the Mühlenberger Segel-Club, with their team Nordkomplott, who are competing in the Helga Cup for the first time. The two Olympic athletes have brought two other experienced sailors on board: Olympic bronze medalist Alicia Stuhlemmer (Nacra 17/Tokyo 2021) and league sailor Laura Bo Voß.
The weather continued to play into the sailors’ hands on the second day of racing, once again providing them with moderate, occasionally freshening winds and midsummer temperatures. Only the oppressive heat and occasionally shifty, gusty winds posed a bit of a challenge.

Anna Barth, 49erFX sailor and tactician on the German SailGP team, described the sailing conditions as perfect Helga Cup weather. “It was a fantastic day on the water with some good gusts at midday and a great atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back,” said the Hamburg native. She took over the helm from professional sailor Susann Beucke for a few races on the second day of racing with Team Mammaseatas. “We’re thrilled with how smoothly the handover from one helmswoman to the next went. We felt very safe with such experienced sailors at the helm,” the crew members enthused.
In the evening, the participants and volunteers gathered for a meal and celebration. A raffle gave away five copies of Susann Beucke’s book “Against the Wind.” The following teams took home one: Pura Vida Chicas, Diversity, Ad Hoc, Good Vibes, and LilleHei. Sailing training sessions were won by the Sailing Sisters, Skyline Sisters, and the Flensburger Deerns.
A special prize went to the Hamburg Academic Sailing Club (ASV): the Spirit of Helga Cup Award. This challenge cup, awarded to teams that particularly embody the spirit of the Helga Cup and serve as role models for women’s sailing, was presented for the fourth time. The ASV initially competed in the Helga Cup with just one team and, over time, has expanded women’s sailing so much and successfully campaigned for a club-owned J/70 for training that four teams are already registered this year.

Day 3- SundayThe J/70 class kept things exciting right up until the very end of the final race in extremely light conditions. The victory went to Die Fiven, a crew of women who met two years ago at the Helga Cup.
The 2025 Helga Cup qualifying races were characterized by good yet challenging sailing conditions, plenty of female power on the water, a great atmosphere on land, and exciting races.
The teams engaged in thrilling races for a place in the final until Sunday afternoon. During the qualifying races, the sailors enjoyed optimal conditions with midsummer temperatures. Gusts and wind shifts typical of the Outer Alster Lake provided a sporting challenge.
The sailors in the J/70 class finished their final heat and delivered a thrilling race in light wind conditions. Victory went to Die Fiven, a team with sailors from Brandenburg, Berlin, and Hamburg. The crew met two years ago during evening celebrations at the Helga Cup, when all of the sailors were still competing in other teams. Of the “original five,” only helmswoman Helen Fischer remains. She brought Ulrike Heck and Martina Braune from the Märkischer Adler eV sailing club and Ulrike Ellmer from Hamburg into the boat. “It was our second regatta together. Three weeks ago we came second on Lake Starnberg and thought we had a chance at the Helga Cup. But we didn’t expect to win. This is completely unreal; it just went amazingly well,” said an enthusiastic Ulrike Ellmer. A little caution so as not to lose the good preliminary ranking and composure on board – that was the Fiven’s secret recipe on the way to victory.

Team Nordkomplott, with the newly crowned European champions in the 49erFX class, Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille from the Mühlenberger Sailing Club, Olympic bronze medalist Alicia Stuhlemmer (Nacra 17/Tokyo 2021), and league sailor Laura Bo Voß, sailed to second place. The top sailors were competing in the Helga Cup for the first time and were immediately impressed. Bronze went to Team Stiftung Mammazentrum from the Hamburg Sailing Club, with helmswoman Juliane Zepp, Marion Rommel, Maren Halbrock, and Lea Beele.
The response from the sailors was once again very positive this year. Many of them have participated several times before and described the Helga Cup as a “family reunion among sailors” and a “coming home.” The sailors praised the competitive spirit on the water, but especially the camaraderie and exchange on land, as well as the positive atmosphere.
A project close to her heart was participating in the Helga Cup for professional sailor Susann Beucke, who competed as helmswoman for Team Mamaseatas, a team of women with cancer. Beucke took four days off from offshore training in Brittany for the regatta. “The effort was totally worth it. It was a fantastic event with incredibly friendly women and a fantastic atmosphere. It was more about participating than winning. It’s great that women with very different sailing skills can participate. I’m leaving the event inspired,” said Olympian Susann Beucke.

The Helga Cup was also a very special weekend for Anna Barth, 49erFX sailor and tactician on the German SailGP team. She took over the helm from Susann Beucke for a few races and enjoyed sailing with the Mamaseatas. “The women’s story touched me. Sailing with them was a lot of fun and felt as if we’d known each other forever,” said Barth. She is pleased that the German SailGP team will be collaborating with “Wir sind Wir – Inclusion in Sailing eV” in the future to jointly promote inclusion in sailing. “It’s a wonderful thought to make sailing possible for everyone and to share the feeling of what it’s like on the water,” says the sailor.
“We had good sailing conditions and were able to hold 111 races, some in Lake Garda-like conditions,” said NRV Club Manager Klaus Lahme. “I would like to sincerely thank the more than 60 volunteers, our race committee, Tina Buch and Jens Hahlbrock with their teams, and the chief umpire Svenja Hünsch and her crew. They all did a fantastic job!”
Christoph Holstein, State Councillor of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport thanked the sailors for their commitment at the awards ceremony and emphasized that inclusion and women’s sailing must become even more visible in society.
The eighth edition of the Helga Cup will take place from 11 to 14 June 2026 on the Outer Alster in Hamburg and at the facilities of the North German Regatta Association.
The Helga Cup 2025 was supported by: the Heinz Kettler Foundation, Eberhardt Wienholt Foundation, Active City, Von der Linden, Torqeedo, ONE, Akquinet, Meat Wholesale Market Hamburg, Salzbrenner, Pantaenius, Zhik, Peter Frisch GmbH, REWE, EWS, E Boot Hamburg.
Follow Helga Cup on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/HelgaCupOriginal
For more Helga Cup J/70 regatta sailing informationhttps://www.helgacup.de/

(Newport, RI)- The New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta was sailed over a two-day weekend and featured a large contingent of J/Teams amongst the six divisions in both ORC and PHRF handicap racing. J/Teams won four of those divisions and placed in all six, a remarkable feat! Racing took place on Narragansett Bay and offshore on Rhode Island Sound, Here is how it all went down by division,
PHRF C Division1. Robin Team’s J/122 TEAMWORK with a 1-2-1-1-1-2 tally for 8 pts2. Jack McGuire’s J/88 MI2 with a 2-1-3-2-2-1 for 11 pts4. Abhijeet Lee’s J/111 VARUNA with 27 pts5. Jack Gregg’s J/122 TARAHUMARA with 30 pts.
PHRF D Division3. Albrecht Goethe’s J/46 HAMBURG II with 15 pts.
ORC C Division1. Jack McGuire’s J/88 MI2 with a 4-1-3-3-2-1 for 14 pts.2. Andrew Ward’s J/111 BRAVO with a 2-2-4-1-1-5 for 5 pts.4. Robin Team’s J/122 TEAMWORK with 17 pts.5. Tom Sutton’s J/122 LEADING EDGE with 37 pts.
ORC D Division1. Al Minella’s J/112E THE ROCC with a 1-2-2-2-4-3 for 14 pts.
PHRF Navigator A Division1. Ken Comerford’s J/121 DARK STORM with a 3-1-1 for 5 pts.3. Jeff Johnstone’s J/40 DOV with a 5-5-3 for 13 pts.4. Chris Brito’s J/121 INCOGNITO with 13 pts. 5. Bob Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE with 14 pts.
PHRF Navigator C Division2. Chris Tate’s J/105 BLITZ
For more New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta sailing informationhttp://www.nyyc.org

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The 2025 Myth of Malham marked the sixth event in the RORC Season’s Points Championship, the world’s largest offshore racing series. It also played a pivotal role in the season, acting as a key qualifier for the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, as well as a crucial leg in the new RORC Cowes Offshore Series.
Starting from the iconic Royal Yacht Squadron Line, the fleet raced down the English Channel to round the Eddystone Lighthouse, before turning back to finish at North Head.
The RORC fleet faced a fierce test of endurance and seamanship as strong south-westerlies built to 15–20 knots, with gusts touching 30 and waves exceeding two meters. The long beat to Eddystone was a punishing uphill grind, testing every maneuver and tactical decision. But the reward was worth it—once around the lighthouse, crews cracked sheets and hoisted downwind sails for a thrilling high-speed ride back to the Solent, surfing home on a full-throttle ride to the finish.
A Grueling Test, Standout PerformancesIRC 1 DivisionIn this large thirty-three-boat fleet, Mike O’Donnell’s Irish team aboard the J/121 DARKWOOD pulled off a fifth place.
IRC 2 DivisionThe big twenty-three boat fleet saw Robin & Lawrence Herbert’s J/133 CORAZON garnering the silver medal, missing the gold medal by a mere six minutes corrected time! Then, Nick Southward’s J/122 WHISKEY JACK took fifth place in the hotly contested class.
For more RORC Myth of Malham Race sailing informationhttp://www.rorc.org

(Hamble, England)- The Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble, England was yet again the host for the very popular J/Cup UK Regatta. The two-day event was held on the capricious waters of The Solent with a total of up to six races for most fleets. The regatta included five one-design fleets (J/70, J/99, J/109, J/111, & J/112E) and two IRC Divisions.
J/70 ClassThe fleet was treated to a complete “whitewash” after nine races. Winning with eight bullets was Morgan Reynolds’s crew on POWDER MONKEY LIGHTFOOT with 8 pts net. The balance of the podium was a fight to the end. Winning that duel to take the silver was Howard Davies’s BOYSTEROUS team with 20 pts net. Just two points back to take the bronze was the Royal Norwegian YC team on EXCESS.
J/99 ClassThis eight-boat fleet saw some awesome racing for the newly formed J/99 UK Class. It was a tale of two battles for the podium. The top two spots were decided on a tiebreaker at 7 pts each. Winning that countback was Jean-Baptiste Brian’s JOLLY JUMPER, while David Lean’s JACKPOT settled for the silver medal. The final step on the podium was an all-out battle between four teams. In the end, it was Alain Waha’s FURTHER WEST that garnered the bronze medal with 20 pts net.
J/109 ClassWith ten boats, the J/109s were sure to be a competitive fleet amongst the numerous veterans participating. In the end, it was Ben Shelley’s MOCKING J that took class honors with an enviable 2-3-1-1-1-1 tally for 6 pts net. Taking the silver was David Richard’s JUMPING JELLYFISH with an equally strong record of 1-1-2-3-2-2 for 8 pts net. Then, the final bronze medal step was taken by Samantha Love’s FRANK 4 with a 4-2-3-2-5-4 scoreline for 15 pts net.
J/111 ClassAs usual, the highly competitive J/111 fleet saw tight racing for podium honors all weekend. The class veterans are tough, fast, and tactically smart. In the end, it was Louise Makin & Chris Jones’s JOURNEYMAKER II that posted solid scores of 2-1-1-3-2-1 for 7 pts net to take the gold medal. Driving them hard was Paul Wollmann’s FREQUENT FLYER with a 1-2-2-1-3-4 tally for 9 pts net to take the silver. Then, Paul Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB also sailed well to post 3-3-4-2-1-2 scores for 11 pts net to take the bronze.
J/112E ClassSailing as a one-design class for the first time in the J/Cup, the J/112Es were witness to why the LEON gang has been so successful in numerous offshore regattas. After posting straight bullets in six races, David Franks’s team on LEON cleaned house with just 5 pts net to take the gold medal. However, the balance of the podium was a battle for the final two steps. Taking the silver by one point was Martin Priest’s FANDANGLE with a 3-2-4-3-3-2 scores for 13 pts net. Completing the podium with the bronze medal was the Key Yachting Crew on THINKING SPACE with a 2-3-2-4-6-3 tally for 14 pts.
IRC 1/2 DivisionWinning this division was Neil Angel’s J/105 FLAWLESS J counting just bullets in their scoreline for 5 pts net. Taking the silver was Derek Copeman’s J/105 BOJANGLES with a 1-3-2-3-4-7 tally for 13 pts net. Then rounding out the podium for the bronze medal was John Owen’s J/120 JET with a 7-7-4-2-2-2 scoreline for 17 pts net.
IRC 3 DivisionWinning this eight-boat fleet was Jack Banks’s J/92 NIGHTJAR with a 1-1-4-4-1-2 record for 9 pts net. They led a large contingent of six J/92s in this fleet. Taking second was Robin Stevenson’s J/92 UPSTART with a 2-2-2-3-4-1 tally for 10 pts. Then, garnering the bronze was Becky Walford & Stew Hawthorn’s J/92 BRENDAS J ON JES with a 4-4-1-1-3-3 record for 12 pts net.
For more Key Yachting J/Cup Regatta sailing informationhttps://www.keyyachting.com/events/j-cup-regatta/

J/99 SAVE THE SOUND Wins Best Overall Performance Award!(Stamford, CT) — The 78th edition of the Block Island Race, hosted by the Storm Trysail Club, delivered classic Northeast spring conditions and a course that tested every sailor’s resilience, tactics, and teamwork. Sixty-two boats departed Stamford on Friday afternoon for the 186-nautical-mile lap around Block Island, facing a mix of light air starts and heavy upwind slogs in the race’s signature “around-the-island-and-back” format.
On the heels of a powerful nor’easter, the weather left its mark. Friday’s start began in light, variable air, but as the starting window progressed over 90 minutes, the breeze steadily filled from the southwest.
From there, it was a game of staying in phase and out of trouble. Most of the fleet hugged the Long Island shore to avoid adverse currents, gybing down the coastline in the westerly breeze before rounding 1BI at the northern tip of Block Island. As night fell, the boats circled the island in a quick reach, before turning into a beat straight into the wind—lasting up to 20 hours for some teams.
ORC DIVISIONIn the crewed ORC division, the racing was especially tight. Taking the win in ORC 6, David Rosow’s J/122 LOKI credited the win to preparation, execution, and a great crew. He had Devin Santa and Ed Cesare onboard, navigators who went 1-2 in the Bermuda Race last year, along with Hound, skipper, Dan Litchfield.
“We had a lot of talent onboard and did a lot of prep. We paid close attention to the tides and hooked into the northerly. The most exciting moment? When our sistership J/122 ZIG ZAG passed us near the finish— we fought hard to stay with them, and it was thrilling racing.”
PHRF DIVISIONThe first PHRF boat to finish was the J/160 COUGAR, skippered by Past Commodore Lenny Sitar, racing in his 36th Block Island Race.
“That was one of the most exciting races I’ve done. We were going 9–10 knots and just plowed through the water like the current was standing still,” he said.
The overall PHRF Trophy went to Bill Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL, nearly 30 minutes ahead of the Storck family’s J/130 BLITZEN, sailed by three generations of Storcks. John Storck Jr. and his wife Collette, were joined by their two sons, John III and Erik, son-in-law, Baker Potts, and 9-year-old grandson Hudson on his first race. “Despite a little seasickness, Hudson had a great time,” said dad Erik.
Stories of camaraderie and fresh connections were everywhere. Ian Milward, racing his J/109 in his first overnight race, recruited young Canadian sailors from the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta. “Beating into 20 hours of upwind chop isn’t fun,” he said, “but I had a great crew that made it all worth it—and we finished third in class!”
ORC DOUBLEHANDED DIVISIONIn the ORC Doublehanded class, victory went to Doug McKeige aboard his brand new J/99 SAVE THE SOUND, co-skippered with offshore legend Rich du Moulin. The pair also claimed the Harvey Conover Memorial Trophy awarded to the boat that won her class and, in the judgment of the Flag Officers and Race Committee, had the best overall performance.
“You couldn’t do anything except sail the boat,” said McKeige. “15 to 30 knots, short steep waves—it was punishing. But the boat was fast, we were faster than the competition, and sailing with Rich was a fantastic collaboration.”
ORC 8 DivisionThis seven-boat fleet featured several well-sailed, veteran offshore teams. In the end, Macrae Sykes’s J/125 GOOD NEWS took the bronze medal.
PHRF 7 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet saw a clean sweep of the top four by J/Crews. Leading the charge was Bill & Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL, also winning PHRF Overall! Second, went to the John Storck family on the J/130 BLITZEN, third was Len Sitar’s magnificent J/160 COUGAR, and fourth position went to Pico Chickering’s J/111 THE ROOST.
PHRF 5 DivisionThe eight boats sailing this fleet had seven J/Teams! Not surprisingly, they swept the top four spots in the fleet. Winning was Richard West’s J/120 CHARLOTTE, second was John Sartorius’s J/120 ALIBI, third was Ian Milward’s J/109 QUICKSILVER, and fourth place was Adam Hayden’s J/109 SMILE.
PHRF 4 DivisionThis eight-boat division saw Steven Landy & Derek Soohoo’s J/100 SANGUINE blitz the fleet, finishing with several top J/120s! They won the division by over a half-hour corrected time.
The fun didn’t end at the finish line— racers enjoyed the always-popular Stamford Yacht Club post-race party. Thanks to all the race sponsors, the party offerings have been upgraded so it’s one you’ll not want to miss.
For more Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race sailing informationhttps://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50032

(Annapolis, MD)- Enjoy this series of five videos produced by the regatta for your enjoyment and happy memories of sailing this de-factor “J/Fest” on the Chesapeake Bay.

1. Why do J/Sailors love sailing the Helly Hansen Sailing World Annapolis Regatta? Watch this fun sailing interview video on YouTube herehttps://youtu.be/hGRtpDvjmt0

2. How the J/88 Team EXILE won the class and the Overall Title- interview with owner/skipper Andy Graff and tactician Kris Werner. Watch the video on YouTube herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eaN55jVEp0
3. Racing highlights on Chesapeake Bay- about 40 minutes each – Friday- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vc6WJOi7aU – Saturday- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n4NW-LWHQU – Sunday- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goY3zZntddQ

(Larchmont, NY)- Last weekend, Larchmont Yacht Club held its EDLU Distance Race, the first of the major offshore races that take place on Long Island Sound all summer long. The Edlu Race first sailed in 1954, has long been a classic tune-up race for the around Block Island Race held on Memorial Day Weekend and Block Island Race Week. Followed by a classic party, “the Edlu” is one of the “must-do” events on western Long Island Sound.
The spinnaker course is 32.0 nm from the Larchmont Breakwater to Gong 11B off Eaton’s Neck and back. The non-spinnaker course is approximately 20.0 nm. The race has always been popular with offshore racing J/Teams as it’s a good “shakedown cruise” for any offshore racing team.
PHRF 3 Division- Big BoatsThis small division of four boats saw Lennie Sitar’s gorgeous flag blue J/160 COUGAR take the silver medal, while the J/125 GOOD NEWS, skippered by Macrae Sykes, took home the bronze medal.
PHRF 2 DivisionOf the fourteen boats sailing in this hotly contested division, TEN (71.0%) were J/Teams. In the end, it was a near sweep of the podium. Winning was Bill & Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL, followed by Bill Ingraham’s J/124 TENEBRAE in third place. Fourth went to Ron Richman’s J/133 ANTIDOTE.
PHRF 1 DivisionThe J/teams in this fleet led a podium sweep! The top two steps were occupied by J/105; winning was David Owen’s TEMPEST II followed by Randy Bourne’s STRANGE BREW. Taking the bronze medal on the podium was Adam Zakka & Jonathan Krumeich’s J/99 WIZARD.
PHRF DoublehandedThis popular division saw three J/99s finish in the top five. Todd Aven & Gerard Girstl’s THIN MAN garnered the bronze medal, while Mike Kohler’s EVENTYR and Doug McKeige’s SAVE THE SOUND took fourth and fifth places, respectively. Notably, it was very tight racing amongst the three J/99s, with just 56 seconds separating them after 32.0 miles of tough racing!
J/88 ClassThe J/88 class had a nice turnout of five boats. Winning was Nicolas Delcourt’s OH JEE by a 3-minute margin. Taking second was Justin Scagnelli’s ALBONDIGAS, and third place went to Ken & Drew Hall’s NEVERMORE.
For complete EDLU Race sailing resultshttps://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_detail/50014/1
For more EDLU Distance Race sailing informationhttp://www.larchmontyc.org

(Chennai, India)- The fourth edition of the Unifi Capital Offshore Regatta was held between 12th and 16th May 2025 in the Bay of Bengal, India. The event was held under the aegis of the Yachting Association of India (YAI), the national sailing body. It was organized by the Royal Madras Yacht Club, the India J/80 Class Association, the Royal Madras Yacht Club, and the Royal Mysore Sailing Club. The title sponsor was UNIFI CAPITAL- a specialized portfolio management company.
The teams were divided into the Main fleet (five teams) and the Green Fleet (four teams). The Main fleet races were from Chennai (India) to Mahabalipuram (Sri Lanka) and back covering a total distance of 100 kms. The Green fleet races were from Chennai to Ennore and back covering a total distance of 40 kms.
The first three days were the J/80 ranking event with nine races with a discard. The Main fleet ranking event was won by a comfortable margin by Team RMYC Ennore Centre. The Main fleet Offshore races were held on 15th May. All the teams hoisted their spinnakers at the start. The first three boats had a neck-and-neck competition. Later the CRPF team took a lead of about 100 meters over the RMYC EC team which they maintained until the finish in Sri Lanka.
The second race was on a single starboard tack. This time the RMYC EC team opened up a slender lead over the CRPF team. The competition was intense and the distance between the boats varied between 10 meters and 20 meters over the next four hours! RMYC EC won the race and the event.
Capt. Vivek Shanbhag, Honorary Secretary, RMYC said, “Tamil Nadu, with a coastline of over 1,000 km and many ports and harbors, has a huge potential for promoting offshore sailing. It is heartening to see the increased interest in offshore sailing over the years with people of all ages wanting to take up the sport. The youngest helm was Master Ragav R, 14 years and Master Samarpit, 14 years as crew. Col. Gautam Das (retired) at 77 years old was the oldest crew.
The results were as follows: 1st Place: Team RMYC EC with Abhimanyu Panwar (Helm), Vivek Shanbhag, Dheer Singhi, Arvind S, Renu J 2nd Place: Team CRPF with Chinna Reddy (Helm) 3rd Place: Team Indian Coast Guard with Pravyn Prabhakar (Helm)

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The RORC Myth of Malham Race is set to be a thrilling chapter in offshore sailing, marking the sixth event in the RORC Season’s Points Championship— the world’s largest offshore racing series. This race also serves as the decisive finale for the IRC Two-Handed National Championship and the third installment in the new RORC Cowes Offshore Racing Series.
Spanning approximately 235.0nm, the course mirrors the initial leg of the Rolex Fastnet Race, challenging sailors with complex tidal gates and headlands such as Anvil Point, St. Alban’s Head, Portland Bill, and Start Point.
Anticipation is high, with a huge variety of boats aiming to win the Myth of Malham Cup for the best corrected time under IRC. 150 boats are expected to compete—making it the largest RORC fleet since the record-breaking 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race. Notably, about 30 teams will contest the IRC Two-Handed division, vying for the national title.
With its blend of tactical complexity, competitive spirit, and historical significance, the 2025 Myth of Malham Race promises to be a standout event in the offshore racing calendar. Over a dozen J/Teams are taking up the challenge as part of their preparations for this year’s ROLEX Fastnet Race.
IRC 1 DivisionIn this large thirty-three boat fleet will be Mike O’Donnell’s Irish team aboard the J/121 DARKWOOD and Nick & Jacquetta Edmond’s new J/45 STICKLEBACK.
IRC 2 DivisionThe big twenty-three boat fleet includes a pair of champion J/122s (Derek Shakespeare’s BULLDOG and Nick Southward’s WHISKEY JACK), Robin & Lawrence Herbert’s J/133 CORAZON, and Murt Abrakhmanov’s J/112E JENIS.
IRC 3 DivisionThis massive forty-three-boat fleet will surely have difficulties getting off in clear air off the crowded Royal Yacht Squadron starting line! Breaking free for clear air will be crucial to success in the first 10-15 miles of the race headed out west from the Solent and past the infamous red candy-striped The Needles Lighthouse. Several competitive J/teams include twin J/112Es (Simon Harris’s J’OUVERT & Wayne Palmer’s THINKING SPACE) and a trio of J/99s (Jean-Baptiste Brian’s JOLLY JUMPER, Jean-Lin Flipo’s YALLA, & Alain Waha & Matt Waite’s FURTHER WEST).
IRC 4 DivisionThis big thirty-six boat fleet has a half-dozen J/109s participating, including Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN, Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN, Gillian Burgess’s RED ARROW/ Royal Air Force, and Jamie Parker’s WHITE KNIGHT 7/ Royal Army). Joining them will be Richard Breese’s J/105 MOJO and Mark Kendall’s J/99 JIRO.
IRC Doublehanded DivisionIn this twenty-seven boat fleet will be three J/Teams; Breese’s J/105 MOJO, Harris’s J/112E J’OUVERT, and Palmer’s J/112E THINKING SPACE.
For more RORC Myth of Malham Race sailing informationhttp://www.rorc.org

This past week saw a spring surge of sailing action across the globe. From the shifty inland breezes of Lake Minnetonka, MN to the open-water challenges of the Aegean Sea and the North Atlantic’s notorious tidal gates in the English Channel, J/Teams and offshore adventurers were racing into the heart of the 2025 sailing season.
This past week delivered a flurry of regattas and championships that showcased the depth, passion, and versatility of J/Sailors within the global sailing community. Whether it was hometown heroes like CATAPULT conquering the J/70 U.S. Nationals, or international contenders braving offshore gauntlets from Oregon to Victoria, BC, and from Cowes, England to France, every race had its flavor, drama, and dose of adrenaline. Here’s a look at the highlights, triumphs, and previews from another busy week on the sailing calendar.
CATAPULT Crowned J/70 US National Champions!(Wayzata, MN)— This year’s J/70 US National Championship was hosted by Wayzata Yacht Club, with sailing for the thirty-three teams taking place on the infamously shifty, streaky, challenging Lake Minnetonka. Ultimately, it was not surprising to see several “home boys” who are masters of their local lake take home most of the silverware in the various divisions. The fleet raced four heavy air races on Saturday and one final race on Sunday before the breeze shut off.
After five races in a full range of breeze, Joel Ronning’s CATAPULT team won the 2025 J/70 U.S. National Championship on his home waters in Wayzata, Minnesota.
Ronning, sailing in a One-Pro configuration with longtime teammate Victor Diaz de Leon, David Onan, and Jessica Haverstock, secured the title with a race win on the final day, capping off a weekend that showcased the best of inland lake sailing.
“I love this lake on days like today,” said Ronning. “It was shifty, challenging, and a lot of fun. It’s really special to have this championship here on our home waters with so many local friends and fleet members.”
The regatta drew teams from all over the USA and Bermuda to Lake Minnetonka, including a strong mix of local and visiting crews, with a focus on Corinthian and Mixed+ participation.
Behind Ronning’s CATAPULT team that compiled a 4-2-4-1-1 tally for 8 pts net, the balance of the podium included another top local- Dick Kalow’s SUPPER CLUB team (Jonny Goldsberry, Sam Loughborough, & Carlos Robles)- taking the silver medal with a 3-5-1-7-2 record for 11 pts net. Then, James Golden’s DERECHO team from Annapolis, MD (Keenan Hillsinger, Brooks Daley, & Austin Powers) snagged the bronze medal with a 1-3-6-4-5 scoreline for 13 pts net.
Winning the Corinthians Division was Alec Cutler’s HEDGEHOG crew from Bermuda (Brad Rodi, Ryan Cox, & Charles Pucciarello) with a record of 8-6-2-3-3 for 14 pts net. 
Winning the Mixed-Plus Division was Cate Muller-Terhune’s CASTING COUCH team from Annapolis, MD (Allan Terhune, Jeff Hayden, & Katja Sertl) with a 2-1-5-9-10 tally for 17 pts net.
J/70 US Nationals sailing results herehttps://wyc.org/regatta/TAbtxZc5UX/results
Sailing photo credits- Hannah Lee Nollhttps://gallery.hannahleenoll.com/j70-nats-2025/
For more J/70 U.S. Nationals sailing informationhttps://wyc.org/regatta/TAbtxZc5UX
Royal Madras YC Wins UNIFI CAPITAL J/80 Offshore Regatta(Chennai, India)- The fourth edition of the Unifi Capital Offshore Regatta was held between 12th and 16th May 2025 in the Bay of Bengal, India. The event was held under the aegis of the Yachting Association of India (YAI), the national sailing body. It was organized by the Royal Madras Yacht Club, the India J/80 Class Association, the Royal Madras Yacht Club, and the Royal Mysore Sailing Club. The title sponsor was UNIFI CAPITAL- a specialized portfolio management company.
The teams were divided into the Main fleet (five teams) and the Green Fleet (four teams). The Main fleet races were from Chennai (India) to Mahabalipuram (Sri Lanka) and back covering a total distance of 100 kms. The Green fleet races were from Chennai to Ennore and back covering a total distance of 40 kms.
The first three days were the J/80 ranking event with nine races with a discard. The Main fleet ranking event was won by a comfortable margin by Team RMYC Ennore Centre. The Main fleet Offshore races were held on 15th May. All the teams hoisted their spinnakers at the start. The first three boats had a neck-and-neck competition. Later the CRPF team took a lead of about 100 meters over the RMYC EC team which they maintained until the finish in Sri Lanka.
The second race was on a single starboard tack. This time the RMYC EC team opened up a slender lead over the CRPF team. The competition was intense and the distance between the boats varied between 10 meters and 20 meters over the next four hours! RMYC EC won the race and the event.
Capt. Vivek Shanbhag, Honorary Secretary, RMYC said, “Tamil Nadu, with a coastline of over 1,000 km and many ports and harbors, has a huge potential for promoting offshore sailing. It is heartening to see the increased interest in offshore sailing over the years with people of all ages wanting to take up the sport. The youngest helm was Master Ragav R, 14 years and Master Samarpit, 14 years as crew. Col. Gautam Das (retired) at 77 years old was the oldest crew.
The results were as follows: 1st Place: Team RMYC EC with Abhimanyu Panwar (Helm), Vivek Shanbhag, Dheer Singhi, Arvind S, Renu J 2nd Place: Team CRPF with Chinna Reddy (Helm) 3rd Place: Team Indian Coast Guard with Pravyn Prabhakar (Helm)
J/Teams Crush Edlu Distance Race(Larchmont, NY)- Last weekend, Larchmont Yacht Club held its EDLU Distance Race, the first of the major offshore races that take place on Long Island Sound all summer long.
The Edlu Race first sailed in 1954, has long been a classic tune-up race for the around Block Island Race held on Memorial Day Weekend and Block Island Race Week. Followed by a classic party, “the Edlu” is one of the “must-do” events on western Long Island Sound.
The spinnaker course is 32.0 nm from the Larchmont Breakwater to Gong 11B off Eaton’s Neck and back. The non-spinnaker course is approximately 20.0 nm. The race has always been popular with offshore racing J/Teams as it’s a good “shakedown cruise” for any offshore racing team.
PHRF 3 Division- Big BoatsThis small division of four boats saw Lennie Sitar’s gorgeous flag blue J/160 COUGAR take the silver medal, while the J/125 GOOD NEWS, skippered by Macrae Sykes, took home the bronze medal.
PHRF 2 DivisionOf the fourteen boats sailing in this hotly contested division, TEN (71.0%) were J/Teams. In the end, it was a near sweep of the podium. Winning was Bill & Jackie Baxter’s FIREBALL, followed by Bill Ingraham’s J/124 TENEBRAE in third place. Fourth went to Ron Richman’s J/133 ANTIDOTE.
PHRF 1 DivisionThe J/teams in this fleet led a podium sweep! The top two steps were occupied by J/105; winning was David Owen’s TEMPEST II followed by Randy Bourne’s STRANGE BREW. Taking the bronze medal on the podium was Adam Zakka & Jonathan Krumeich’s J/99 WIZARD.
PHRF DoublehandedThis popular division saw three J/99s finish in the top five. Todd Aven & Gerard Girstl’s THIN MAN garnered the bronze medal, while Mike Kohler’s EVENTYR and Doug McKeige’s SAVE THE SOUND took fourth and fifth places, respectively. Notably, it was very tight racing amongst the three J/99s, with just 56 seconds separating them after 32.0 miles of tough racing!
J/88 ClassThe J/88 class had a nice turnout of five boats. Winning was Nicolas Delcourt’s OH JEE by a 3-minute margin. Taking second was Justin Scagnelli’s ALBONDIGAS, and third place went to Ken & Drew Hall’s NEVERMORE.
For complete EDLU Race sailing resultshttps://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_detail/50014/1
For more EDLU Distance Race sailing informationhttp://www.larchmontyc.org
J/Crews Dominate Top 10 @ Pacific NW Offshore Race(Portland, OR)- Corinthian Yacht Club of Portland, along with the race’s long-time title sponsor, Schooner Creek Boat Works, and Portland Yacht Club, completed their 49th edition of the Pacific NW Offshore International Yacht Race last weekend.
The race is always a challenge to sailor’s skills, navigation ability, tactical skills, and offshore endurance. The 193.0nm race from the mouth of the Columbia River up the Washington coast and down the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, BC, proved yet again to be a test of the competitiveness of the sailors.
Heeding the “call to action” was a cadre of hard-core offshore J/sailors, several of whom have won their divisions and overall over time. In the end, they all faired well, taking four of the top 10 spots in the ORC Overall Division. Taking the silver medal was Jim Calnon’s J/120 PATHFINDER, followed by Robert Hodson’s J/120 JUGO in fourth, Kent Picknell’s J/109 APEX in seventh, and Scott Campbell’s J/121 RIVA in tenth place.
For more CYC of Portland Pacific NW Offshore Race sailing information and trackinghttps://www.cycportland.org/pnwo-home
Royal Southern YC May Regatta Celebrates FUN!(Hamble, England)- Last weekend, the Royal Southern Yacht Club hosted its popular springtime event- the May Regatta. Traditionally, the regatta has marked the beginning of the summer season of sailing on the Solent. On cue, the RSYC host team rolled out the proverbial red carpet on their expansive decks, served up great food, and, of course, copious amounts of assorted beer and drinks for the hungry and thirsty sailors. The regatta has become a “de facto J/Fest” and has huge appeal for J/sailors who love sailing on the capricious Solent.
IRC 1 DivisionThe eleven-boat fleet featured an armada of J/Crews. In the end, those teams occupied six of the top seven slots. The silver and bronze steps on the podium were determined by a tiebreaker at six points each. On countback, Tony Mack’s J/111 McFLY with a 1-5-1-4 tally took the silver, while Jim Chalmers’s J/112E HAPPY DAIZE took the bronze with a 4-2-3-1 scoreline.
The balance of the top seven was filled with J/111s. Fourth was Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II, fifth was Paul Wollmann’s FREQUENT FLYER, sixth was Cornel Riklin’s JITTERBUG, and seventh went to Paul Griffiths’s JAGERBOMB.
IRC 2 DivisionThis dozen-boat fleet saw J/Teams sweep the top two spots. Winning was Kevin Taylor’s JUMP 2 IT with a 1-1-4-2 for 4 pts net, while Rosie Barry’s J/109 JENIE took the silver medal with a 5-6-1-1 record for 7 pts net.
J/70 ClassWith nineteen boats participating, the racing was bound to be a bruising, bare-knuckled brawl. However, that was not to be the case for the runaway class winner. Taking all the marbles was Alastair Hall’s CALYPSO with a remarkably consistent record of 2-6-1-1-1-2-2 for 9 pts net. A distant second place 13 pts back was Graham Clapp’s JEEPSTER with a 5-2-5-6-5-1-4 scoreline for 22 pts net. Then, rounding out the podium on the bronze medal step was Martin Dent’s JELVIS team with a 7-1-4-9-8-6-1 tally for 27 pts net.
The balance of the top five included Alex Hughes’s SARDONYX and Doug Struth’s DSP in fourth and fifth, respectively.
For more Royal Southern YC May Regatta sailing informationhttps://scm.royal-southern.co.uk/event/summer-series-2025-may-regatta
J/105 NE*NE Blitzes Elite Keel Regatta(Belvedere, CA)- The San Francisco YC hosted its annual springtime favorite event- the Elite Keel Regatta- for a huge fleet of twenty-six J/105s.
After five smoking-hot races over the two-day weekend of sailing on the always windy San Francisco Bay, it was Tim Russell’s super hot and quick NE*NE team that rolled to a fairly easy win with a consistent 3-2-4-1-1 tally for 11 pts. Not too far off NE*NE’s hot pace was Ryan Simmons’s BLACKHAWK team with a 6-1-1-5-3 record for 16 pts. Then, it was quite a leap of points to the bronze medal winner- Rolf Kaiser & Justin Oberbauer’s DONKEY JACK- with an 11-6-11-4-4 for 36 pts total.
The balance of the top five was William Woodruff’s ROULETTE in fourth with 42 points, followed by Eric Raff’s J-TRIPPER just one point back with 43 pts in fifth place.
For more San Francisco YC Elite Keel Regatta sailing informationhttp://www.sfyc.org
J/Teams Silver @ RORC De Guingand Bowl Race(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s De Guingand Bowl Race marks the fifth race in the 2025 RORC Season’s Points Championship— the world’s largest offshore racing series. It also serves as Round One of the IRC Two-Handed National Championship and the second race in the exciting new RORC Cowes Offshore Racing Series. Over seventy-five boats are expected to be racing in the approximate 110.0 nm race.
The De Guingand Bowl Race starts and finishes in the Solent off the co-host’s famous Royal Yacht Squadron starting line in front of the Cowes waterfront. As a result, this gives the RORC race team full flexibility to design a course that is both tactically challenging and strategically demanding for the given weather forecast for the weekend. With no fixed route, the course is set the day before the start, allowing it to respond directly to the forecast and deliver the most dynamic racing possible.
IRC 2 DivisionThis eight-boat fleet saw a titanic battle for the top of the podium. In the end, it was Frans van Cappelle’s J/122E MOANA from the Netherlands that ended up with the silver medal, just 57 seconds corrected time from taking the gold medal!
IRC 3 DivisionSailing was a real challenge in this diverse, huge, 28-boat fleet. After the iconic start off the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes and for the first 10 hours of the race, both Simon Harris & Charles Linard’s J/112E J’OUVERT and Alain Waha’s J/99 FURTHER WEST were easily amongst the leaders of the division in the lightish 4 to 8 kts of breeze. However, a huge frontal system from a North Sea depression rolled through, swinging the breeze around to the southwest into the 20+ kts range. Suddenly, many of the ugly “wedges of cheese” took off in a cloud of spray planing towards the finish line in France. Despite the dramatic change in weather, Alain Waha and Matt Waite’s J/99 FURTHER WEST took fifth place in this hotly-contested division, just 8 minutes corrected time off the lead!
IRC 4 DivisionThis 23-boat fleet featured seven J/Teams. In a similar fashion to the outcome of their colleagues in the IRC 3 division, several J/Teams were amongst the leaders for a significant portion of the race. In the end, Mark Kendall’s J/99 JIRO and Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN finished fifth and sixth place, respectively.
For more RORC De Guingand Bowl Race sailing informationhttps://www.rorc.org/2024-race-programme
J/11s AEOLIA Gathers More Silver in Greece!(Athens, Greece)- Our friend Spyros Papantoniou, owner of the J/11S AEOLIA in Greece, provided us with another quick report on their adventures sailing the historical waters of the Aegean Sea. Here is his commentary:
“We participated in the Greek Offshore Series. We ended up 1st in class again!! We were thrilled by the outcome and my crew was overjoyed by our amazing performance… it was not an easy win for us. We all had to work hard for the class to win,” commented Spyros.
Helly Hansen Detroit Regatta Preview(Bayview, MI)- The Bayview Yacht Club will be hosting its annual Bayview One-Design Regatta on the shallow waters of Lake Huron. Featured is a fleet of J/111s and the J/35s sailing their Great Lakes Championship.
J/35 Great Lakes ChampionshipWith a fleet of eleven boats, the J/35s will be certain to have spirited competition over the three days of the regatta. Several veteran teams will be present, including Tim & Amie Ross’s BLACKHAWK, Steve Brigg’s DEANS LIST, Mike Welch’s FALCON, Clarke Perry’s HONOR ROLL, Bill Wildner’s MR BILL’S WILD RIDE, and Bob Gordenker’s TIME MACHINE.
J/111 ClassThe seven-boat fleet has several top J/111 teams from around the Midwest, including Kevin & Seth Young’s BLACK SWEAL, Brad Kimmel & Steve Young’s DIABLO, Mark Symonds’s PTERODACTYL, and George Kriese’s WILDCAT.
For the regatta scores and announcements, please click herehttps://yachtscoring.com/event_scratch_sheet/16897
For more Bayview YC Helly Hansen Detroit Regatta sailing informationhttps://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series-detroit/
Block Island Race Preview(Larchmont, New York)- The 78th edition of the Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race is set to begin this Friday, May 23, at 1200 EDT off Stamford, Connecticut. This year’s start time has been moved up two hours from prior editions to take advantage of increased daylight and potentially fairer conditions in Long Island Sound.
Most of the fleet will tackle the traditional 186-nautical-mile course from Stamford, down the Sound, around Block Island, and back. The big challenge and big decision will always be which way to go in and out of Long Island Sound; via either the narrow Plum Gut or the wide-open maelstrom known as “The Race”. With rainy weather in the forecast, competitors are preparing for sporty conditions—foul-weather gear is anticipated to get its fair share of usage.
For a “non-Bermuda Race” year, Storm Trysail is very pleased with the strong fleet size. Over the past ten years, the number of entries for both Bermuda- and non-Bermuda Race years has grown, and this year will see a banner fleet of ORC and PHRF boats racing. The race is widely considered by northeastern offshore racers as one of the pre-eminent events to kick off their summer of offshore sailing with a bang on Memorial Day Holiday weekend. It has always been very popular with veteran offshore J/Teams.
ORC Doublehanded DivisionThis year also features a strong double-handed division, with 11 entries, including four J/99s. As the double-handed aspect of the sport has grown in popularity, so have the races. Watch for Todd Aven & Todd Duffee’s J/99 THIN MAN versus Doug McKeige’s right-out-of-the-box J/99 SAVE THE SOUND sailing with veteran doublehanded champion Rich du Moulin aboard.
ORC 6 DivisionThis ten-boat fleet features twin J/122s that are both offshore veterans with lots of silverware crowding their trophy shelves. Watch for this match race between David Rosow’s LOKI and Andrew Clark’s ZIG ZAG. Joining them is Kurt Locher’s J/42 ATALANTA and Kurt Locher’s modified J/105 SLEEPER.
PHRF 5 DivisionThe eight boats sailing this fleet include seven J/Teams! Some of the notable teams include three top J/120s (Brian Spears’s MADISON, John Sartorius’s ALIBI, and Richard West’s CHARLOTTE), Eric & Magie Deichmann’s J/112E MISCHIEF, and Bill Ingraham’s J/124 TENEBRAE.
PHRF 4 DivisionThis eight-boat division includes Steven Landy & Derek Soohoo’s J/100 SANGUINE and Matt Roleke & Trace Dittenhofer’s J/33 CO-CONSPIRATOR.
The fun doesn’t end at the finish line— racers can look forward to the return of the always-popular Stamford Yacht Club post-race party. Thanks to all the race sponsors, the party offerings have been upgraded so it’s one you’ll not want to miss.
For more Storm Trysail Club’s Block Island Race sailing informationhttps://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50032
RORC Myth of Malham Race Preview(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The RORC Myth of Malham Race is set to be a thrilling chapter in offshore sailing, marking the sixth event in the RORC Season’s Points Championship— the world’s largest offshore racing series. This race also serves as the decisive finale for the IRC Two-Handed National Championship and the third installment in the new RORC Cowes Offshore Racing Series.
Spanning approximately 235.0nm, the course mirrors the initial leg of the Rolex Fastnet Race, challenging sailors with complex tidal gates and headlands such as Anvil Point, St. Alban’s Head, Portland Bill, and Start Point.
Anticipation is high, with a huge variety of boats aiming to win the Myth of Malham Cup for the best corrected time under IRC. 150 boats are expected to compete—making it the largest RORC fleet since the record-breaking 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race. Notably, about 30 teams will contest the IRC Two-Handed division, vying for the national title.
With its blend of tactical complexity, competitive spirit, and historical significance, the 2025 Myth of Malham Race promises to be a standout event in the offshore racing calendar. Over a dozen J/Teams are taking up the challenge as part of their preparations for this year’s ROLEX Fastnet Race.
IRC 1 DivisionIn this large thirty-three boat fleet will be Mike O’Donnell’s Irish team aboard the J/121 DARKWOOD and Nick & Jacquetta Edmond’s new J/45 STICKLEBACK.
IRC 2 DivisionThe big twenty-three boat fleet includes a pair of champion J/122s (Derek Shakespeare’s BULLDOG and Nick Southward’s WHISKEY JACK), Robin & Lawrence Herbert’s J/133 CORAZON, and Murt Abrakhmanov’s J/112E JENIS.
IRC 3 DivisionThis massive forty-three-boat fleet will surely have difficulties getting off in clear air off the crowded Royal Yacht Squadron starting line! Breaking free for clear air will be crucial to success in the first 10-15 miles of the race headed out west from the Solent and past the infamous red candy-striped The Needles Lighthouse. Several competitive J/teams include twin J/112Es (Simon Harris’s J’OUVERT & Wayne Palmer’s THINKING SPACE) and a trio of J/99s (Jean-Baptiste Brian’s JOLLY JUMPER, Jean-Lin Flipo’s YALLA, & Alain Waha & Matt Waite’s FURTHER WEST).
IRC 4 DivisionThis big thirty-six boat fleet has a half-dozen J/109s participating, including Chris Burleigh’s JYBE TALKIN, Rob Cotterill’s MOJO RISIN, Gillian Burgess’s RED ARROW/ Royal Air Force, and Jamie Parker’s WHITE KNIGHT 7/ Royal Army). Joining them will be Richard Breese’s J/105 MOJO and Mark Kendall’s J/99 JIRO.
IRC Doublehanded DivisionIn this twenty-seven boat fleet will be three J/Teams; Breese’s J/105 MOJO, Harris’s J/112E J’OUVERT, and Palmer’s J/112E THINKING SPACE.
For more RORC Myth of Malham Race sailing informationhttp://www.rorc.org
Helly Hansen Sailing World Annapolis Regatta Video Highlights(Annapolis, MD)- Enjoy this series of five videos produced by the regatta for your enjoyment and happy memories of sailing this de-factor “J/Fest” on the Chesapeake Bay.
1. Why do J/Sailors love sailing the Helly Hansen Sailing World Annapolis Regatta? Watch this fun sailing interview video on YouTube herehttps://youtu.be/hGRtpDvjmt0
2. How the J/88 Team EXILE won the class and the Overall Title- interview with owner/skipper Andy Graff and tactician Kris Werner. Watch the video on YouTube herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eaN55jVEp0
3. Racing highlights on Chesapeake Bay- about 40 minutes each – Friday- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vc6WJOi7aU – Saturday- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n4NW-LWHQU – Sunday- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goY3zZntddQ
J/Puma Zip-Top: May 20% off J/Gear Special(Newport, RI)- Puma has long been synonymous with outdoor performance gear. The J/Puma Performance Zip Top is a contrasting moisture-managing top and is built to handle robust conditions. Distinctive 2-tone design with your J/Class logo embroidered on the front. Choose from a selection of colors.
Material:86% polyester, 14% elastaneDryCELL moisture-wicking performanceUV-resistant UPF
Feature:4-way stretch for ease of movementSolid base with color-blocking under the armsThe Puma Cat logo on the left sleeve
Customize option with yacht name and sail number for a competitive crew team.
Comes in a broad selection of colors for every crew and is offered at a 20% discount for May.
https://jgear.vsport.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_13&products_id=372&zenid=3tnh6th0b37836lcaudnk4ncr6