(Newport, RI)- A quick harbor spin on the new J/7 daysailer from J/Boats confirms its selling point: simplified sailing should be easy.

There is ice on the foredeck as the blue-wrapped J/7 with the No 1. on its mainsail glides to a smooth stop alongside the dock at Sail Newport (Rhode Island). Once secured to the cleats, the crew flakes the boat’s crisp Dacron main, snugs the sail ties, and tidies lines that are piled on the cabin top. And, as they move about on the boat’s wide side decks, removing toolboxes and personal gear, the boat barely rocks. Even at the dock, the new 23-foot daysailer from J/Boats is remarkably stiff.

There’s a substantial white L-shaped keel and bulb hanging 3-feet-and-change below the hull, and to further illustrate the boat’s stability— an important selling point, says J/Boats’ Jeff Johnstone— he grabs hold of the port shroud and steps onto the boat’s 3-inch wide molded toe rail. The boat leans a few degrees but then stops. 

Read the rest of Dave Reed’s SAILING WORLD review here:
https://www.sailingworld.com/sailboats/simplicity-is-the-sell-for-j-boats-new-j-7/

Watch this YouTube video by Dave Reed and team:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjUmtemJRxo

(Dusseldorf, Germany)- The world-famous Boot Dusseldorf Boat Show is taking place from January 18th to 26th, 2025 in Dusseldorf, Germany at the sprawling Messe Conference & Exhibit Center.

With over 300 sailboat-related exhibitors, there is no question that the world’s largest sailboat show in the heart of Europe is an exciting place to visit.

Renowned as one of the major “arts” centers in Europe, Dusseldorf is both a cultural attraction along the gorgeous Rhine River as well as an amazing boat show to attend- truly one of those cultural events the entire family can enjoy!

On display in Hall 16/ Booth D21 will be the latest J/99 shorthanded offshore speedster, the world’s largest international sportsboat class- the J/70, and the magnificent new J/40 performance cruising yacht! For more BOOT Dusseldorf boat show information.  Read more here.  

(Sydney, Australia)- Over the past 78 years, the ROLEX Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has become an icon of Australia’s summer sport, ranking in public interest with such national events as the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open tennis, and the Boxing Day cricket test. No regular annual yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage as the three starting lines on Sydney Harbour.

The 628.0 nm course is often described as the most grueling long ocean race in the world, a challenge to everyone who takes part. From the spectacular start in Sydney Harbour, the fleet sails out into the Tasman Sea, down the southeast coast of mainland Australia, across Bass Strait (which divides the mainland from the island State of Tasmania), then down the east coast of Tasmania.  At Tasman Island, the fleet turns right into Storm Bay for the final sail up the Derwent River to the historic port city of Hobart.

People who sail the race often say the first and last days are the most exciting. The race starts on Sydney Harbour and attracts hundreds of spectator craft and hundreds of thousands of people lining the shore as helicopters buzz above the fleet, filming for TV around the world. Read more here.

(Miami, FL)- The J/70 Bacardi Winter Series kicked off on December 14-15, 2024 at Shake-A-Leg Miami, with the second event unfolding from January 24-26, 2025. 2024/2025 marks the seventh edition of the J/70 Bacardi Winter Series which has been strongly and enthusiastically supported by the J/70 class since its inception.

The J/70 Bacardi Winter Series events lead into the season finale at the renowned Bacardi Cup Regatta from March 5-8, 2025 in Miami, FL, and hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club.

The first event saw a stellar turnout from the J/70 class, with top teams from around the world. A contingent of thirty-three international teams from five nations (USA, Canada, Caymans Islands, United Kingdom, and Brazil) were strongly tested in full-on planing wind conditions. Read more here.

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The very popular YC Monaco J/70 Winter Series commenced in November 2024 and will continue until the fourth and final regatta at the 41st Primo Cup- Trohpee UBS this spring in March 2025. The event has proved to be a very successful format, with more than 350 sailors coming from across Europe to set up their winter training base in the Principality of Monaco based out of the famous Yacht Club de Monaco to prepare for the upcoming season’s big meetings.  Read more here.

(Tampa, FL)- For the first time in years, the Davis Island Yacht Club’s J/70 Winter Series is not fully subscribed. There are just thirty-three teams entered in the 2025 edition to go sailing on the infamously light Tampa Bay. That’s nowhere close to the maximum sixty boats permitted where, in past years, the entry list was over-subscribed with a waiting list. The December 7-8 regatta was canceled due to extreme weather conditions, similar to what was experienced across the state of Florida for the Bacardi Winter Series in Miami, FL. 

Nevertheless, there is a highly competitive fleet of international teams sailing in this weekend’s event from January 11th to 12th, 2025. Sailing photo credits- Phil Pape.

 Read more here.

(Ft Lauderdale, FL)- This week, the Storm Trysail Club is hosting the renowned Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, covering a distance of 160.0 nautical miles around the Florida Keys. Several J/Teams will be participating in the race. The strategy for these teams will be to avoid the northerly flowing Gulf Stream, which has a speed of around 5 knots. Instead, they will skirt the Florida Keys reefs to stay in slack current and breeze. Read more here.

(Ruskin, FL)-  The USA J/24 Kelly Holmes Moon Youth Grant Program is supported and promoted by the USA J/24 Class and is designed to assist and mentor young sailing teams wanting to take their program to a higher level of competition. 

Program recipients are selected by a panel of experienced J/24 sailors based on the proposals that each team submits and through an interview process. The Grant Program is tailored to each Grant recipient based on their various needs, and you will be partnered with a J/24 Class Mentor. Grant recipients should have access to or own a class legal J/24 and have a team that can meet the maximum crew weight. The Grant Program year will begin on February 1st and end on December 31st of the Program year. You should apply if you are between the ages of 18 and 30 and you have access to or own a J/24. Read more here.