Year: 2025

(Rye, NY)- The 35th annual American Yacht Club Fall Regatta, virtually a J/Fest regatta for passionate J/Sailors, is taking place for two weekends in succession- September 27-28 and October 4-5. Of the 76 offshore keelboat teams sailing the regatta, 42 J/teams are representing 55.0% of the fleet. Racing is taking place in Western Long Island Sound just south of Rye, New York. After the first weekend, here is how it all went down in the various divisions.
ORC DivisionIn this dozen-boat fleet, Trevor Roach’s J/121 TOUCH OF GREY took a third place, just 45 seconds from 2nd place and a mere 46 seconds from first place!
PHRF 2 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet was contending with the brace of J/111s that usually predominate on the podium. True to form, Bill & Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL took third place, while Abhijeet Lee’s J/111 VARUNA took 4th place.
PHRF 3 DivisionFour J/44s and a J/46 comprised over half of this eight-boat fleet. June & Amanda Kendrick’s J/44 PALANTIR 5 took 2nd, Bill Ketcham’s J/44 MAXINE was 3rd, and Albrecht Goethe’s J/46 HAMBURG II took fourth place.
PHRF 4 DivisionLeading a near sweep of the eight-boat fleet was Doug McKiege’s J/99 SAVE THE SOUND. Second was Bob Schwartz’s J/109 NORDLYS. Fourth was Ian Milward’s J/109 QUICKSILVER, and fifth was the Norton Junior Big Boat team on their J/109 3 CHEERS.
PHRF 5 Division- Non-spin DoublehandedWinning this non-spinnaker doublehanded division was Erik Asgeirsson’s J/45 ACADIA.
PHRF 6 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet experienced a J/Team sweep of the podium. Winning was Matt Roleke & Trace Dittenhoffer’s J/33 CO-CONSPIRATOR, second was Damian Emery’s J/105 WARLOCK, and third was Don Dowd’s J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN.
PHRF 7 Division- J/100 classSailing as a non-spinnaker one-design class was a seven-boat fleet of J/100s. Winning was William Hennes’s LIBERTY, followed by Scott MacVicar & Brad Parish’s RESOLUTE in second and John & Corinne Forster’s SALTIRE in third position.
PHRF 8 DivisionA classic J/30 (design #2 after the J/24) was still going strong on Long Island Sound! Getting a second place was Denis Lagarde’s MIDNIGHT RIDER- PMP STRATEGY.
AYC Fall Regatta results- October 4-5https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50455
AYC Coastal Races- September 27-28https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50486

As the calendar edges deeper into autumn, the J/Community continues to prove that the sailing season never closes. In the northern hemisphere, the late fall/ midwinter events kick in, and “down under,” their seven-month-long summer is just getting going! From Marblehead to Mattsee, Glücksburg to Montego Bay, Austria to Argentina, fleets large and small have filled the past weeks with the kind of racing, camaraderie, and celebration that define J/sailing worldwide.In Germany, the Hanseatische Yachtschule marked both history and renewal, christening two new J/40s as part of its 100th anniversary— proof that the next century of offshore instruction is already taking shape. Across the Atlantic, Corinthian sailors took center stage in Marblehead, where Bermuda’s HEDGEHOG team captured the J/70 Corinthian World Championship in a thrilling finale, while in Annapolis and Toronto, North American titles in the J/88 and J/105 classes were hard-fought in the full range of fall conditions— flat calms one day, washing-machine chop the next.Elsewhere in Europe, the pulse of competition and community remained strong. Women’s and national league champions were crowned in Switzerland and Austria; light-air tacticians battled it out in France’s J/80 Atlantic Telegramme; and Italy’s RABBIT hopped to the top of the J/24 Coppa Italia standings. Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, preparations are already underway for the J/70 South American Championship, a reminder that while the Northern Hemisphere is winding down, sailors south of the equator are just warming up.Looking beyond the race course, this season has also been one of reflection and recognition. The National Sailing Hall of Fame honored Newport’s Kenny Read for a lifetime of achievement that began in the J/24 fleet, while the sailing world bid farewell to Don Trask— visionary builder, champion, and tireless advocate for the J/24 and Laser classes. His influence continues to shape the sport for generations to come.Whether it’s new boats being christened, champions crowned, or legends celebrated, the J/spirit remains unmistakable: competitive yet inclusive, grounded in tradition yet always looking ahead. So settle in and explore this week’s stories — a testament to how the J/ fleet continues to thrive across oceans, generations, and seasons.

J/Boats Boat Show Schedule
(Newport, RI)- It’s fall/ winter boat show time, with major events in Europe and the USA. Dreaming about a new boat for next summer? Now’s the time to plan and browse the latest J/models at the sailboat shows. Here’s the schedule of the major shows:October 9-12- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland On display- J/7, J/9, J/36, J/40, and J/45 Annapolis Sailboat Show information (https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/sailboat-show/)January 17-25, 2026- BOOT Düsseldorf- Düsseldorf, Germany On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 BOOT Düsseldorf 2026 boat show information (https://www.boot.com/)Here are links for each J/Boat model that will be on display: J/7- https://jboats.com/boats/j7 J/9- https://jboats.com/j9 J/99- https://jboats.com/j-99-new J/36- https://jboats.com/boats/j36-2025 J/40- https://jboats.com/j40

Hanseatische Yachtschule Christens Two New J/40s(Blacksburg, Germany)- The christening of two brand new J/40s recently took place at Hanseatische Yachtschule in Glücksburg, Germany. The weekend ceremony celebrated the 100th anniversary of Deutscher Hochseeportverband Hansa (DHH). The new J/40s will be part of the offshore cruising and daysailing programs starting in the summer of 2026. They’re joining a large fleet of J/80s that are also used for sailing instruction.  READ MORE HERE.

HEDGEHOG Crowned J/70 Corinthian World Champions!(Marblehead, MA)- Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA, welcomed twenty-nine all-amateur teams to the third annual J/70 Corinthian World Championship. While the previous two editions took place in Europe (Italy & Denmark), this Corinthian regatta moved to the United States for the first time in this celebrated format. The battle for the podium between several talented teams from the USA, Bermuda, and Mexico went down to the wire on the final day. In the end, it was the Bermudian team led by Alec Cutler and his HEDGEHOG team of ex-US Naval Academy All-American dinghy sailors that were crowned the 2025 J/70 Corinthian World Champions. Here is how it all went down each day.  READ MORE HERE.

J/88 North Americans Witness HIWASSEE Eclipse!(Annapolis, MD)- The 2025 J/88 North American Championship, hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club, enjoyed very competitive racing for the dozen teams that sailed on the northern reaches of Chesapeake Bay. In the end, one team came ready to “play ball” and nearly ran the table with all bullets, an amazing achievement in the tough J/88 class. As a result, it was John Bell and Ray Wulff’s HIWASSEE that were crowned the 2025 J/88 North American Champions. Here is the summary from four days of racing by Annapolis YC PRO Dick Neville.  READ MORE HERE.

NIUHI Dominates J/105 North American Championship(Toronto, ONT, Canada)- Eighteen teams from the USA and Canada participated in the J/105 North American Championship hosted by Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, Ontario. Sailing was taking place on the infamous Lake Ontario; a mill pond one day, to violent 5-foot breaking waves the next day. Pick your poison when prepping for this regatta in late September, when virtually any weather can hit the fleet- billiard table flat waters to getting tossed around in violent washing machine chop. In the end, the battle of the “super J/105s” (e.g., Non-SCRIMP boats) was won by a San Francisco team- Randy Hecht’s NIUHI. After winning their first four races, they backed off on the throttle and used unleaded corn-fed gas instead of nitrous! Hahaha. Here is how it all went down for the rest of the fleet (e.g., the SCRIMP boats) left spinning in their wake.  READ MORE HERE.

MOJITO Wins J/80 Atlantic Telegramme(Lorient, France)- The Centre Nautique de Lorient in Lorient, France, hosted the classic early fall regatta in the summer-long series of the J/80 French Cup- the Atlantic Telegramme Regatta. Eighteen teams participated in this year’s weekend event, which was punctuated by predominantly light airs. Here is Ludovic Gilet’s report on the regatta.The races were beautiful and hard-fought, driven by an ever-friendly atmosphere on land, within the Sailing Valley. Sailing conditions ranged from medium to strong winds, with a very nice end to the day on Saturday and an equally pleasant Sunday.It was a regular in the series, a local on the stage, who won in the light-weather races: Éric Brezellec on MOJITO. Sailing with him was a historic crew of friends- Alicia Vincent, Alexis Aveline, Marie Liger, and Matthieu Legard.  READ MORE HERE.

American YC Fall Regatta Update(Rye, NY)- The 35th annual American Yacht Club Fall Regatta, virtually a J/Fest regatta for passionate J/Sailors, is taking place for two weekends in succession- September 27-28 and October 4-5. Of the 76 offshore keelboat teams sailing the regatta, 42 J/teams are representing 55.0% of the fleet. Racing is taking place in Western Long Island Sound just south of Rye, New York. After the first weekend, here is how it all went down in the various divisions.  READ MORE HERE.

Regattaclub Bodensee Crowned Swiss J/70 Women’s Sailing League Champions(Zurich, Switzerland)- The Zürcher Segel Club on Lake Zurich played host to eleven women’s teams from across the Alpine nation of Switzerland for the Swiss J/70 Women’s Sailing League Championship. The ZSC’s RC/ PRO team managed to run seven races in the challenging light air sailing conditions the fleet experienced all weekend.  READ MORE HERE.

Burgenland YC Crowned 2025 Austrian J/70 Sailing League Champions (Mattsee, Austria)- The dramatic finale of the eleventh Bundesliga season on Lake Mattsee was marked by unusually high temperatures, little wind, and thus few races. Nevertheless, the championship remained exciting until the very end. Hosting the exciting event was the Mattsee Sailing Club.Two rounds were completed on Friday, enough for the hosts from the Mattsee Sailing Club (SCM) to close the four-point deficit to the defending champions from the Burgenland Yacht Club (BYC). This set the stage for a long and dramatic sailing weekend. The midsummer temperatures and the accompanying light winds added to the excitement. As on the opening day, sailing on Saturday and Sunday was only possible in the afternoon. An easterly wind with a generally southerly weather pattern created extremely difficult tactical conditions on all three days.   READ MORE HERE.

RABBIT Wins J/24 Coppa Italia- Anzio Act VI(Anzio, Italy)- With a brace of victories in the five races sailed, Francesco Nucara’s RABBIT and crew of  Fabio Ascoli, Paolo Boero, Simone Fojanini, and Nicolò Gaddi won the sixth stage of the Italian J/24 National Circuit, held this past weekend in the waters of Anzio. On the podium in second place was the winner of the penultimate race, Massimo Mariotti’s AVOLTORE with crew of Francesco Cruciani, Fulvio Cruciani on sheets, Goffredo Russo, and Maria Sole De Blasi on the bow.Michele Potenza’s ARPIONE and crew of Panfilo Del Beato Corvi, Italo Paulini, Giuseppe Speziale, and Elisabetta Centeone bowman rounded out the podium with the bronze medal.”It was my first time in Anzio, both as a competitor and as an owner. I must say the race course did not disappoint, giving us a first day of light winds with a few shifts that created quite a few difficulties for us,” commented Francesco Nucara. “The second day featured stronger winds, conditions that were more favorable to us, as we were fresh from recent experiences in Wemeldinge (European J24 Championship) and Plymouth (World Championship). The level of the boats present was good, and the warmth and friendliness of their crews was great. READ MORE HERE.

J/70 South American Championship Preview(Buenos Aires, Argentina)- From October 2nd to 5th, 2025, the eponymous Yacht Club Argentino in Buenos Aires will be hosting the 2025 J/70 South American Championship for a hot, competitive fleet of fifty-two boats. Amongst that fleet are well-known skippers that have competed on the world stage in midwinter series in Miami/ Tampa Bay, off Cowes, England, Monaco, Sardinia, and other places for J/70 North American, J/70 European, and J/70 World Championships.  READ MORE HERE.

Jamin’ J/22 Montego Bay Regatta Announcement(Montego Bay, Jamaica)- The Montego Bay Yacht Club is proud to present the 36th running of their iconic event- the Jamin’ J/22 Montego Bay Regatta in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The regatta will be held from December 4th to 7th, 2025, in the gorgeous aquamarine blue waters of Montego Bay.The regatta has to be a serious consideration for anyone’s “bucket list” experiences for sailing around the world. It’s an open invitational regatta, so anyone can go. But it’s first-come, first-served. Bring your own crew, bring your racing sails, and the MBYC J/22 fleet supplies you a boat for the nominal entry fee of $900.00. The venue is simply one of the best in the world. Situated on the north shore of Jamaica, Montego Bay is a large natural harbor. The Caribbean trade winds of 10 to 18 kts typically blow from the east, paralleling the shoreline. With plenty of sun, good breeze, and shirts & shades weather in the high 70s/ low 80s, it’s truly a sailor’s paradise.  READ MORE HERE.

Kenny Read Inducted into USA’s National Sailing Hall of Fame(Newport, RI)- The National Sailing Hall of Fame plays a pivotal role in celebrating the rich legacy of sailing and its impact on American culture. The sport of sailing has been shaped by generations of individuals who have demonstrated the courage and conviction to plot their own courses, defy convention, and redefine excellence. Newport’s Kenny Read happens to be one of them, having cut his teeth in the world of J/24 sailing for decades to launch his sailing career.“College Sailing Gave Me a Career Path”Early in life, Kenny thought he would attend law school after college or work in his family’s business. He had enviable success growing up as a junior sailor on Narragansett Bay and says he was “an unheralded freshman” when he went to college. His sailing team coach at Boston University, Skip Whyte, recognized young Ken’s talent and named him the starter for the freshman championship being held at the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club. Ken describes himself at the time as being “too brash and took too many chances.” The New England Freshmen Championship was the first time Ken Read realized he could successfully compete against his peers from across the nation. In 1982, he was awarded the Everett B. Morris Trophy as the College Sailor of the Year.  READ MORE HERE.

Eight Bells: Don TraskWe’re very saddened to share the news that Don Trask, long-time colleague, friend and sailing icon, passed away September 29, 2025, in Mooresville, North Carolina, surrounded by family and online well-wishers.  Don started sailing as crew for his father, graduated to Snipes, and then Stars, where he won the 1966 North American Championship, two District Championships, and placed 3rd in the 1967 World Championship.Don’s connection to J/Boats started in 1973, when Bob Johnstone founded the 1st US Youth Sailing Championship in Wilmette, IL.  READ MORE HERE.

J/Gear HOLIDAY Special- 20% off!(Newport, RI)- We’re offering the J/Holiday Special from October through November 15th, 2025! 20% off on ALL orders!But the 1/2 hull models are exempt from this offer.Order early to ensure a Happy Holidays delivery!Holiday discount coupon:  JB2025HSFor any clothing, hats, blankets, and so forth, choose your J/Class logo and customize with boat name and sail number as an option. Browse all products here on the J/GEAR website:https://jgear.vsport.biz

Sailors around the globe have been busy making headlines this September, with everything from world championships to national league finales delivering drama, skill, and plenty of spray. From Plymouth Sound, where Ireland’s HEADCASE stormed to J/24 World Championship victory, to San Francisco Bay, where J/Teams swept the Rolex Big Boat Series, the racing has been fierce and unforgettable.Across Europe, the J/70 leagues in Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, and the UK all crowned champions in blustery, high-stakes finales, while in San Diego and Dun Laoghaire, the J/24 and J/Cup Ireland fleets kept the competition just as intense. Offshore sailors weren’t left out either — Cowes debuted its new offshore series with tactical overnight duels and classic Solent tests.And perhaps most exciting, the surge of women’s sailing in Norway shows how new formats and fresh energy are growing the sport for the next generation.Wherever you sail, the season is proving that J/Teams continue to thrive on every front — from youth and women’s sailing to world titles. Dive in below for all the highlights.

J/Boats Boat Show Schedule
(Newport, RI)- It’s fall/ winter boat show time, with major events in Europe and the USA. Dreaming about a new boat for next summer? Now’s the time to plan and browse the latest J/models at the sailboat shows. Here’s the schedule of the major shows:September 23-28- Grand Pavois Boat Show- La Rochelle, France On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 Grand Pavois La Rochelle Boat Show information (https://grand-pavois.com)October 9-12- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland On display- J/7, J/9, J/36, J/40 Annapolis Sailboat Show information (https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/sailboat-show/)January 17-25, 2026- BOOT Düsseldorf- Düsseldorf, Germany On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 BOOT Düsseldorf 2026 boat show information (https://www.boot.com/)Here are links for each J/Boat model that will be on display: J/7- https://jboats.com/boats/j7 J/9- https://jboats.com/j9 J/99- https://jboats.com/j-99-new J/36- https://jboats.com/boats/j36-2025 J/40- https://jboats.com/j40

Irish HEADCASE Crowned J/24 World Champions!(Plymouth, England)- Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, hosted the 45th J/24 World Championship last week. Plymouth Yacht Club, Saltash Sailing Club, and the UK J/24 Class Association ran the event on Plymouth Sound. Fifty boats from 12 countries—Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the USA, and the United Kingdom—competed in challenging conditions over five days. Winds were mostly in the mid-teens to low 20s, with one day of gusts to 30 kts. In the end, the current 2025 J/24 European Champion prevailed. Cillian Dickson and his Irish crew on HEADCASE claimed the 2025 J/24 World Champion title. Here is how the action unfolded over the five days.  READ MORE HERE.

J/Teams Sweep Rolex Big Boat Series!(San Francisco, CA)- With a three-hour-long Bay Tour race as the final test for competitors, the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club came to a stunning close on Sunday afternoon. The skippers at the top of the podium in the J/105 and ORC B classes were awarded coveted Rolex Submariner Dates. Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault’s ARBITRAGE came away victorious in the J/105 class (the regatta’s largest fleet), and Peter Wagner’s J/111 SKELETON KEY won the ORC B division. Then, Zach Berkowitz’s J/100 FEATHER won ORC C division (a sweep by J/Teams), and Brice Dunwoodie’s RAVENETTE eclipsed the J/88 class.Going into the final day of racing, leaders in both Rolex contending classes were ahead by five points over the nearest competitor. However, that differential did not guarantee a win for either team before the last race. The heightened stakes made for striking competition on the water, with all fleets crossing the finish line in style in front of the StFYC Clubhouse.  READ MORE HERE.

EVIL OCTOPUS Dominates J/24 Corinthian USA Nationals!(San Diego, CA)- The recent J/24 Corinthian USA Nationals were held on South Bay in San Diego, CA, for a fleet of twenty J/24s from across the country. The very gracious and generous host club- Southwestern Yacht Club- and their crack Race Committee/ PRO team managed to run nine races over the three-day regatta.The final day of racing started at noon with winds blowing 12-14 kts at 255 degrees and a distance to the weather mark of 1.2 miles to make it a “double W/L” course of 4.7 miles. Race 8 had a clean start with the field splitting six to the left and six to the right. When boats eventually crossed, the right had the advantage approaching the first mark. But then shifted for the second leg windward with the left gaining. READ MORE HERE.

Esbo Segelförening Crushes Finnish J/70 League Finale!(Mariehamn, Finland)- The Finnish Sailing League’s tenth anniversary season came to a fitting conclusion when the Finnish Championship finals were held off Mariehamn from September 5th to 7th. The competition was hosted by the Åland Islands Sailing Association for the top dozen sailing clubs in Finland.The semi-finals were held in Helsinki, organized by Nyländska Jaktklubben (NJK). The Åland teams were in excellent form: Färjsundets Seglarförening won the first semi-final and Åländska Segelsällskapet 2 the second. In Åland, these teams went into the final as early favorites – but there were plenty of challengers from other clubs and even from within ÅSS itself.There were twelve teams from different parts of Finland participating in the final. In addition to the Åland Islands, the challengers include three Nyländska Jaktklubben teams and the four strong and successful Esbo Segelförening teams.  READ MORE HERE.

GKSS Win Swedish J/70 Sailing League Finale!(Örnsköldsvik, Sweden)- The fourth and final round of this year’s Allsvenskan Sailing season was held on September 5-7 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Ahead of the final round of the Allsvenskan, GKSS (Goteborg Kungl Segel Sallskap/ Royal Gothenburg YC) was in the lead, but they were closely followed by Stenungsund, KSSS (Royal Swedish YC), Halmstad, and Strängnäs. As a result, everyone knew that anything might happen and the drama could be intense all weekend. GKSS is one of Sweden’s largest and most successful sailing clubs and has been in the Allsvenskan for all 11 seasons, but has never won. This year, however, it was finally time. GKSS won the Allsvenskan Sailing 2025 after impressive performances in all four competitions (Saltsjöbaden, Langedrag, Ekero, Örnsköldsvik). READ MORE HERE.

J/Teams Silver @ Cowes Offshore Racing Series(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s inaugural Cowes Offshore Racing Series has signed off in style after seven thrilling, hard-fought races, marking the start of a bold new chapter for Solent-based offshore competition.Created to bring fun, competitive, and impeccably run offshore racing closer to home, the series delivered everything it promised — and more: tactical duels, testing overnight passages including a cocktail of short sprints and coastal classics, all with the RORC’s hallmark professionalism and the vibrant welcome of the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.Launched in the Club’s Centenary year, the series gave over 500 sailors, both Corinthian and professionals, the chance to go bow-to-bow in a compact but demanding program. With the best five races counting from seven, the fleet faced everything the Channel could throw at them — from glassy Solent drifters where inches mattered, to bruising legs around notorious headlands and into the open seas of the English Channel or Irish Sea.  READ MORE HERE.

Blustery, Boisterous J/Cup Ireland (Dun Laoghaire, England)- The second annual J/Cup Ireland was hosted, again, by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. The event featured the Irish J/109 Nationals, the Irish J/80 Nationals, and an IRC Handicap fleet. J/109 NationalsStrong southerly winds got the first race of the J/109 National Championships off to a spectacular start offshore of Dun Laoghaire. Pat Kelly’s STORM from Howth Yacht Club claimed victory in the opening race as winds gusted to 30 knots; they gave the fleet a demonstration in heavy air sailing when she dominated the eight-boat fleet in what turned out to be the only race of the day.  READ MORE HERE.

Segelclub Stäfa Crowned Swiss J/70 Youth Cup Champion (Kreuzlingen, Switzerland)- The Segler Vereinigung Kreuzlingen club in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, hosted eleven youth teams from across Switzerland on their gorgeous Swiss mountain lake. After two days of racing, the SVK RC/ PRO team managed to run seven races for the enthusiastic youth teams.The regatta evolved into a tough three-way battle for the podium, with only two points separating the top three teams.  READ MORE HERE.

JOUR J Wins French J/70 SEMAC Trophy (Marseilles, France)- The annual Dominique SEMAC Trophy Regatta in Marseilles, France, has always been a popular event for offshore teams as well as one-design classes. In recent years, the J/70 class has grown its participation in this fun event on the Mediterranean. Hosted by Union Nautique Marseillaise from September 6th to 7th, the fleet of nine boats enjoyed a total of seven races in two days run by UNM’s RC/PRO chief, Samuel Cartier. The regatta was the sixth stage of the J/70 French Cup. READ MORE HERE.

Tonsberg Seilforening Crowned Norwegian J/70 Sailing League Champions(Moss, Norway)- The Norwegian J/70 Sailing League concluded the 2025 season this past week in Moss, Norway. It included several regattas in different locations, such as Florø, Hankø, and Arendal, culminating in Moss. The Moss Seilforening club hosted the fifteen teams, and their efficient RC/PRO team managed to run 14 races for all 15 teams!Prior to the start of the series, two of the teams at the top of the series leaderboard expressed their perspectives on the upcoming regatta.  READ MORE HERE.

Why has Women’s Sailing Grown Strongly in Norway?(Oslo, Norway)- The sailing league in Norway has given Norwegian women’s sailing a tremendous boost, as evidenced by the five Norwegian women’s teams that competed in the Women’s SAILING Champions League this summer in Berlin, Germany. The league format gives older women and younger girls space and opportunities to grow!Women’s sailing in Norway has received a boost in recent years through the J/70 sailing league format. Low threshold, fast-paced, and social – this has proven to be a key to getting more women involved in both regatta sailing and club activities. The women’s league, which consists of the GRUNDIG Women’s Regatta and the Women’s National Championships, has contributed to recruitment, development, and unity among women from all over the country.  READ MORE HERE.

JELVIS Eclipses J/70 UK Solent Championships(Hamble, England)- The grand finale for the United Kingdom J/70 Class was held this past weekend at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, with sailing taking place on the infamous, challenging Solent. The RSYC Race Committee/ PRO team managed to treat the twenty sailing teams to great racing in epic sailing conditions in the 15-25 pts range all weekend. Though a bit tired, the racers enjoyed a seven-race, one discard series over the two days!  READ MORE HERE.

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(Dun Laoghaire, England)- The second annual J/Cup Ireland was hosted, again, by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. The event featured the Irish J/109 Nationals, the Irish J/80 Nationals, and an IRC Handicap fleet.

J/109 NationalsStrong southerly winds got the first race of the J/109 National Championships off to a spectacular start offshore of Dun Laoghaire. Pat Kelly’s STORM from Howth Yacht Club claimed victory in the opening race as winds gusted to 30 knots; they gave the fleet a demonstration in heavy air sailing when she dominated the eight-boat fleet in what turned out to be the only race of the day. Second place went to Barry Cunningham on CHIMAERA, and third was Richard Goodbody’s WHITE MISCHIEF, despite a shredded spinnaker.

Sunday Finale:While the STORM crew made a statement of their intent when they took an emphatic win in ‘storm’ conditions on Saturday, they followed this up with a strong performance in more moderate conditions on Sunday.
Kelly’s STORM secured three wins from four races on Dublin Bay. Second place went to Goodbody’s WHITE MISCHIEF, and rounding out the podium in third was Cunningham’s CHIMAERA.
In race one, STORM opened with a win, ahead of CHIMAERA and WHITE MISCHIEF. Race two saw SOTRM lead again, followed by WHITE MISCHIEF and CHIMAERA. For race three, WHITE MISCHIEF took the victory, followed by STORM in second and CHIMAERA third. Then, for the fourth and final race, STORM crossed first, followed by Brian Hall’s SOMETHING ELSE in second, and CHIMAERA in third.
Eight boats competed over the series, with four races sailed and one discard applied. The event was sailed as part of the RIYC’s J/Cup Ireland, supported by Viking Marine and Key Yachting.

J/80 NationalsIn the 2025 Irish J/80 National Championships, Austin Kenny’s RAM JAM took top honors in the hotly contested fleet of ten boats. Their record of 11-2-1-2 for 5 pts net included the single discard.
More moderate conditions prevailed on Sunday after 30 knot winds on Saturday led to one dismasting in the single race sailed.
Second place went to Pat O’Neill’s MOJO from Howth Yacht Club. MOJO finished with a 4-1-2-4 record for 7 pts net.
Third was Owen Laverty’s RED CLOUD, which secured a race win on the final day. Laverty’s team posted an 11-4-4-1 for 9 pts net.
In the extremely blustery race one on Saturday, Fred Tottenham’s NINE crossed first, followed by Stephen Gill’s JAVELIN in second and D. Curtin’s JESTER in third place. Most of the fleet either dropped out or never finished the race, including Kenny’s RAM JAM and Laverty’s RED CLOUD.
In Saturday’s more moderate winds, the entire fleet participated in all three races. Race two went to MOJO, ahead of RAM JAM and NINE. Then, RAM JAM took victory in race three, followed by MOJO and Ian Simmington’s PROBABLY. Laverty’s RED CLOUD sealed race four with a win, while RAM JAM placed second and JESTER third.

IRC DivisionIn the J/Cup Ireland IRC class, the tie-break rule was needed to decide the winner in a modest two-boat class. The J/112E VALENTINA and the J/122 THE BIG PICTURE each finished on four points after four races and one discard. However, it was VALENTINA that won on the countback rule to break ties by winning the last race!
VALENTINA, owned and skippered by Johnny Treanor, claimed the last two race wins to secure the weekend result. THE BIG PICTURE, helmed by Michael and Richard Evans of Howth Yacht Club, scored the first two race wins, yet lost on the tiebreaker format.
For more Key Yachting J/Cup Ireland sailing informationhttps://www.keyyachting.com/events/key-yachting-j-cup-ireland/

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s inaugural Cowes Offshore Racing Series has signed off in style after seven thrilling, hard-fought races, marking the start of a bold new chapter for Solent-based offshore competition.
Created to bring fun, competitive, and impeccably run offshore racing closer to home, the series delivered everything it promised — and more: tactical duels, testing overnight passages including a cocktail of short sprints and coastal classics, all with the RORC’s hallmark professionalism and the vibrant welcome of the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.
Launched in the Club’s Centenary year, the series gave over 500 sailors, both Corinthian and professionals, the chance to go bow-to-bow in a compact but demanding program. With the best five races counting from seven, the fleet faced everything the Channel could throw at them — from glassy Solent drifters where inches mattered, to bruising legs around notorious headlands and into the open seas of the English Channel or Irish Sea.

IRC One- 116 boatsMichael O’Donnell’s Irish team on the J/121 DARKWOOD took class victory in the final race to take the silver medal. This was the second year in a row that DARKWOOD has had a podium finish in the season point series!

IRC Two- 105 boatsRobin Herbert’s J/133 CORAZON took the silver medal in a well-orchestrated and successful campaign. Meanwhile, the top J/122s were 6th and 7th, respectively- Derek Shakespeare’s BULLDOG (past RORC division winner) and Frans van Cappelle’s MOANA. Peter Dunlop & Victoria Cox’s J/122 MOJITO finished 10th.

IRC Three- 127 boatsThis was a huge and very tough fleet, with a number of French professionals in the top ranks. Despite the formidable competition, some J/Teams fared well. Taking 8th place was Jean-Lin Flipo’s J/99 YALLA! Then, sitting in 15th was Alain Waha & Matt Waite’s J/99 FURTHER WEST.
IRC Four- 151 boatsAs the largest fleet in the season series with 151 boats scoring in the seven races, it was always going to be a challenge to finish even in the top ten. Despite the odds, J/Teams faired quite well in the “small boat fleet”. Here are their finish positions, taking up a lot of the top ten!6th- Mark Kendall’s J/99 JIRO8th- Richard Breese’s J/105 MOJO9th- Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN10th- George & Fred Neville-Jones and Robin Hardy’s J/109 JAMIRA16th- Lesley Brooman’s J/109 JUMUNU19th- Tim Tolcher’s J/99 RAGING BULL
For more RORC Season’s Point Series sailing informationhttp://www.rorc.org/racing/racing-portal

(San Francisco, CA)- With a three-hour-long Bay Tour race as the final test for competitors, the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club came to a stunning close on Sunday afternoon. The skippers at the top of the podium in the J/105 and ORC B classes were awarded coveted Rolex Submariner Dates. Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault’s ARBITRAGE came away victorious in the J/105 class (the regatta’s largest fleet), and Peter Wagner’s J/111 SKELETON KEY won the ORC B division. Then, Zach Berkowitz’s J/100 FEATHER won ORC C division (a sweep by J/Teams), and Brice Dunwoodie’s RAVENETTE eclipsed the J/88 class.
Going into the final day of racing, leaders in both Rolex contending classes were ahead by five points over the nearest competitor. However, that differential did not guarantee a win for either team before the last race. The heightened stakes made for striking competition on the water, with all fleets crossing the finish line in style in front of the StFYC Clubhouse.

J/105 Class“This regatta is very meaningful to me and my crew. My first Big Boat Series was 40 years ago,” said Bruce Stone, who last won a Rolex Submariner watch in 2014 on his J/105 ARBITRAGE. “This is the marquee event for the J/105 fleet, and now we are heading to Toronto for the J/105 North American Championships.”

Just behind Stone’s ARBITRAGE team (Nicole Breault, Mike Kennedy, Elliot Drake, Iain Doran-Des Brisay, & Tate Howell), it was a battle for the balance of the podium. Literally, “who beat who” in the last race would determine the podium and the top five positions. Winning that battle to take the silver medal was Ryan Simmons’s BLACKHAWK team (Brent Draney, Nico Colomb, Collette Zero, Jordan Rosenlicht, & Jeremy Herzog) with 39 pts. Two points back to take the bronze medal was Tim Russell’s NE*NE team (Ben Louttit, Arne Vandenbroucke, Orlando Montalvan, Bill Melbostad, & Ian Baldwin) with 41 pts. Then, Rolf Kaiser’s DONKEY JACK team (Steve Kleha, Tucker Hersam, Mike Collins, Dave Kelly, & Ryder Easterlin) was fourth with 44 pts, and fifth went to Doug Bailey’s AKULA team (Spencer, Gary Fung, Pauli’s Operas, Steven Tran, & Dave Kresge), just one point further back with 45 pts! As usual, the J/105 fleet on SF Bay has proven to be the most competitive fleet in the world.

J/88 ClassBrice Dunwoodie’s RAVENETTE dominated the J/88 one-design class, posting bullets in all but one race. “Racing together in RBBS has been the pinnacle of the last twelve years for our crew,” Dunwoodie said. “This has been the best season of sailing for the J/88 fleet on the Bay that I’ve ever seen. I have to congratulate my team on a job well done- Ian Schillebeeck, Brett Bastien, Kenneth Grayson, Dylan Farrell, & Mark Lightner.”

The “white-washing” of the J/88 fleet by RAVENETTE was surprising, given that the two other teams on the podium have also won the class in past Rolex Big Boat Series! The balance of the podium was Tom Thayer’s SPEEDWELL team (Robert Milligan, Brett Desire, Andrew Goodwin, Hans Kaufmann, & John Burr) with 17 pts to take the silver medal, then Dave Corbin’s BUTCHER team (Tim and Leah Gulley, Olly Gill, Jeff Harte, Michelle Larose, & Adam Simmonds) took the bronze medal with 26 pts.

ORC B DivisionThe ORC B division has seen Cape 31s dominate the podium for the past two years. However, Peter Wagner sailed his J/111 SKELETON KEY to its full potential to secure the Rolex Submariner watch, as well as the ORC B Pacific Coast Championship.

“Our team (John Hayes, Cory Schillaci, John Collins, Nick Gibbens, Dave Lyons, John Pernick, Seadon Wijsen, & Ernesto Perez) has sailed in San Francisco for many years, so the big breeze is very familiar,” Wagner said. “Teams spend a lot of time preparing for RBBS, making it the featured event of the season. It really brings out the best in people and is just a great week.”
The J/125s had quite a battle during the regatta. In the end, it was Andrew Picel’s ARSENAL that took the J/125 honors, finishing 4th in the division. Then, right behind them in 5th place was Jim Nichols’s VELVET HAMMER.

ORC C Division- J/Sweep!The seven-boat ORC C division was treated to a complete sweep of the top five by J/Teams. Leading the charge was Zach Berkowitz’s bright pumpkin orange J/100 FEATHER; they prevailed for the second consecutive year at RBBS. “We have a great mix of young and old sailors on our crew, which makes it really fun sailing,” Berkowitz said. “Thanks to my awesome crew- Chris Steinfeld, Hoel Menard, Trevor For, Anthony Abate, & Max Roth!”

The balance of the podium includes John Arens’s J/109 REVERIE team (Jim Coburn, Randall Lesley, Erik Breedlove, Paul DeMers, Gregg Golembeski, Ben Burbridge, Hugo Knew, Ed Conti, & John Days) in second and Mike O’Callaghan’s J/120 PEREGRINE team (Randy Smith, David Halliwill, EJ Rowland, Robert Mcintire, Jennifer Krone, Cameron Tuttle, Owen Sordillo, Chris Davison, Tad Lacey, Greg Felton, & Andi Williams) in third place. Fourth went to Barry Lewis’s J/120 CHANCE, while Camille Mousette’s J/99 LATENCY finished fifth place to complete the sweep.
The race management team brought some creativity to course selection, presenting fresh challenges for sailors who know the Bay well. “I’m really pleased with how the Race Committee team performed these four days. A big thanks to all our volunteers and visiting race officers,” said Gerard Sheridan, Deputy Course Race Officer. “It was great to get back to running races on the western face of Alcatraz after a long multi-year break, which required us to rewrite a new set of courses. The racers also loved the new course out of the Golden Gate Bridge to Point Bonita.”
The Storm Trysail Club Team Trophy went to the best scoring three-boat team, with one boat from an ORC class, one from a one-design class, and one from any other class. This year’s winning team, “Shadow Armada,” was comprised of J/111 SKELETON KEY, J/105 BLACKHAWK, and J/88 RAVENETTE.
Sailing photo credits- Sharon Green/ Ultimate Sailinghttp://www.ultimatesailing.com
For more ROLEX Big Boat Series sailing informationhttp://www.rolexbigboatseries.com/

(Charlevoix, MI)- Hosted by the Charlevoix Yacht Club for more than 50 years, the premier event of the local racing season takes place every Labor Day weekend on Lake Charlevoix in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan- the Red Fox Regatta.
The weekend event comprises two events. It kicks off with the NuCore Triangle race on Friday evening and concludes with a two-day race the length of Lake Charlevoix from Charlevoix to Boyne City and back.
About the NuCore TriangleThere’s no better way to kick off a fun Labor Day weekend than with the NuCore Triangle race on Friday evening. Whether you race regularly with the Charlevoix Yacht Club or are in town for the Red Fox Regatta, you’ll enjoy the competition in this Olympic Triangle race at the west end of Lake Charlevoix. Following the race, the Charlevoix Yacht Club provides copious quantities of food and drinks for skippers, crew. and guests.
About the Red Fox RegattaTreasured by sailors and their families, this two-day event begins on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend with a race down the length of Lake Charlevoix to Boyne City. That evening, sailors enjoy a club-hosted party at the Veterans Pavilion on the waterfront, with family-friendly activities including the Raingutter Regatta.
Sunday features a race back to the top of Lake Charlevoix, culminating in an afternoon Awards Ceremony at the Charlevoix Yacht Club. It’s a fun-filled event that attracts sailors from all around the Great Lakes, marking the grand finale of the summer racing season.
For the most part, the race traversing the length of Lake Charlevoix can be a complete “crap shoot”, e.g., a “roll of the dice”. Why? Because the prevailing west to southwest winds on Lake Michigan don’t often make the “hop” across the narrow isthmus of Charlevoix onto the lake. And, with a WNW to ESE orientation for the lake, the winds can be very fickle, streaky, and puffy. As a result, one side of the lake can be favored over the other side, despite the fact that the lake is less than one mile wide at its “fattest” points.
While blessed with spectacular weather this year, the 2025 edition of the Nucore Triangle and the Red Fox Regatta will have to make do with just two races due to a cancellation on one day. Here is how it all went down this year at each event.
NuCore TriangleThis race on Friday evening was blessed with wind, so the fleet had good racing in front of the Charlevoix YC bar.

J/22 ClassSince this was the J/22 Michigan Class Championship, a great fleet of ten boats showed up to lay claim to being the best J/22 on the peninsula of Michigan. Winning this race was Bob Grove’s PALE FACE LIGHT. Second went to Chris Shadek’s WINDY CITY, and third place to Robert Molter’s TACTFUL.
PHRF 4In this seven-boat class, it was George Golder’s J/111 TERRIER that took the silver medal. Meanwhile, Colin Calaban’s J/111 NO QUARTER took fourth, and Mark Pirie’s J/111 SWATTER took fifth place.
Red Fox RegattaWhile the weather was beautiful, the wind wasn’t. Just one race was held for this event.
J/22 ClassWinning the one race was Tom Barnes’s RECKLESS. He was followed by Robert Molter’s TACTFUL, and Bill English’s COMMADORE RACING Team.

PHRF 3Despite having a won-place-show in many previous Red Fox Regattas, local starlet and rock goddess Libby Tomlinson and partner Rob Lovell could only manage a 4th place this year on their J/92 KNOCKOUT. Fifth in fleet was Colin Texter’s J/70 SISTERSHIP. Fifth place went to Ben Poucher’s J/95 WARRIOR 95, a noble program for veterans!

PHRF 5Winning this fleet was Keith Attee’s J/120 ROCKET SCIENCE; they seem to get on the podium most times with this veteran crew.

PHRF 6This fleet saw a clean sweep of the top four spots by J/Teams. Winning was Colin Caliban’s J/111 NO QUARTER. He was followed by George Golder’s J/111 TERRIOR in second, Matt Schaedler’s J/122 BLITZKRIEG in third, and Mark Pirie’s J/111 SWATTER in fourth place.
For more Red Fox Regatta sailing informationhttp://www.charlevoixyachtclub.org/red-fox-regatta/schedule.html

New J/36 interior and sailing photos
It’s that time of the year in the northern hemisphere. Summer’s over. Kids are back to school. Back to work to pay for those summertime extravagances. But, there’s a silver lining in that fall/ winter/ spring time period… best time for sports TV fanatics (baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, & lacrosse). Additionally, it’s fall/ winter boat show time, with major events in Europe and the USA. Dreaming about a new boat for next summer? Now’s the time to plan and browse the latest J/models at the shows. Here’s the schedule of the major shows:
September 11-14- Newport Boat Show- Newport, Rhode Island On display: NEW J/7, J/9, NEW J/36, and J/40 Newport International Boat Show information (https://www.newportboatshow.com)
September 23-28- Grand Pavois Boat Show- La Rochelle, France On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 Grand Pavois La Rochelle Boat Show information (https://grand-pavois.com)
October 9-12- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland On display- J/7, J/9, J/36, J/40 Annapolis Sailboat Show information (https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/sailboat-show/)
January 17-25, 2026- BOOT Düsseldorf- Düsseldorf, Germany On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 BOOT Düsseldorf 2026 boat show information (https://www.boot.com/)
Here are links for each J/Boat model that will be on display: J/7- https://jboats.com/boats/j7 J/9- https://jboats.com/j9 J/99- https://jboats.com/j-99-new J/36- https://jboats.com/boats/j36-2025 J/40- https://jboats.com/j40

(Jamestown, RI)- The Around the Island Race (ATI) is the flagship sailing event for the Conanicut Yacht Club and the crown jewel of Narragansett Bay yacht racing. Held annually since 1927, the ATI sails the classic 18.0nm course around the scenic Conanicut Island, typically drawing close to 100 boats in both racing and cruising classes.
And, what a spectacular day it was for the 98th Around the Island Race! 86 boats took on the full lap of Jamestown on Sunday, August 31, after a morning that looked doubtful on the forecast— a light NW breeze fading before a SE fill. With shortened-course marks prepped at the Jamestown Bridge and Beavertail, the fleet launched off Conanicut Yacht Club in 8–10 knots and a flooding tide.

Up the first beat, it was all about connecting the puffs and staying patient. After the northern turn, kites went up, until the wind dropped out near the Jamestown Bridge and clocked southeast— a full-on “restart.” A few savvy calls paid big, namely several boats that slipped inside Dutch Island to find pressure first. Soon, a beautiful southeasterly cool breeze blew in from the temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and Rhode Island Sound, to grace the fleet with a fast port tack fetch to Beavertail Lighthouse point and Newton Rock red bell. Then, it was a quick tack, and another fast reach on starboard to the finish line just off Conanicut YC inside Narragansett Bay. In the end, it was a colorful day of upwind work, downwind parades, and tactical calls all around the island. Overall, J/Teams faired quite well in the classic round island race.

PHRF B- Non-spin DivisionIn this eight-boat fleet, Scott Ferguson’s J/35 UNA took the silver medal while Kim Anderson’s J/42 LARVIK won the bronze medal.

PHRF F DivisionThis seven-boat fleet saw the two J/109s enjoy a see-saw 18.0nm battle going around the island. In the end, it was John Sahagian’s PICANTE taking the silver medal, while Bill Kneller’s VENTO SOLARE garnered the bronze medal.

PHRF G DivisionWinning this fleet was Susan & Sean Doyle’s J/112E PHOENIX, also taking 4th PHRF Overall!

PHRF H DivisionWhile five J/crews sailed in this fleet of eight boats, only Joe Brito’s J/121 INCOGNITO was able to get a podium finish, taking the bronze medal and missing the class win by just over 3 minutes! Fourth place went to Jeff Johnstone’s J/40 DOV, and fifth place was Jack Gregg’s J/122 TARAHUMARA.
Sailing Photo credits- @blockislandsteve
For more Conanicut YC Round Island Race sailing informationhttps://conanicutyachtclub.org/ati-race-details-waterfront

(Breskens, Netherlands)- The Jachthaven Breskens in Breskens, Netherlands, hosted the annual Breskens Sailing Weekend for the leading offshore yachts in the Benelux region. Over three days of sailing, the IRC handicap fleet enjoyed great sailing in a variety of weather conditions, with five races run, permitting a discard race for the final scores.

It was a closely fought battle for the podium between a custom Ker 46, a J/112E, and a J/122E. In the end, Rutger Krijger’s J/112E JACK RABBIT from the Netherlands, fresh off her podium finish at Cowes Week two weeks ago, managed to score a 3-2-2-4-6 for 13 pts net to take the silver medal. Their stablemate, Paul Jonckheer’s J/122E NJORD team from Belgium, also sailed well to post a 2-1-4-1-10.5 tally for 14.5 pts net to garner the bronze medal. Sadly, NJORD was not permitted to throw out their worst finish due to a scoring penalty. IF NJORD could have thrown out that score, she would have won the regatta easily!
Follow Breskens Sailing Weekend on Facebook herehttps://www.facebook.com/breskenssailingweekend
For more Breskens Sailing Weekend informationhttp://www.breskenssailing.nl