Challenging Chicago Sailing World Regatta 2025

(Chicago, IL)- As they’ve done enthusiastically for years, the Chicago Yacht Club and its army of volunteers rolled out the proverbial red carpet for hundreds of sailors for the three-day weekend Chicago Sailing World Regatta presented by HELLY HANSEN. The regatta featured one-design classes for J/70s, J/88 Great Lakes Championship, J/109 Great Lakes Championship, and J/105s. In addition, there were J/Crews that enjoyed the offshore events for both ORC and PHRF handicap divisions.

J/88 Great Lakes Championship
In the first major win in the class, Lindsey Duda and family on their SIN DUDA handily won the seven-boat class, counting five bullets in their scoreline for just 13 pts total! Second went to Dave Dennison’s PIRANHA with five 2nds in their tally for 18 pts. Then, rounding out the podium to snag the bronze medal was Andy Graff’s well-traveled EXILE crew with 24 pts.

J/109 Great Lakes Championship
The J/109s offered spirited competition all weekend with a near three-way tie for the podium for the top three boats! Not surprisingly, the final legs in the final race determined the nail-biting outcome! Winning was the Millet/ Jahn team on TUMBLER with 22 pts. Taking the silver by winning the last race was Jim Caesar’s LIQUID LOUNGE with 25 pts. Then, rounding out the bronze medal step on the podium was the quartet of Miz/ Dreher/ Hatfield/ Neenan on their SMEE AGAIN with 26 pts.

J/70 Class
Participating in the twenty-boat J/70 fleet were many class veterans with podium finishes at the Midwinters, Nationals, Europeans, and even Worlds level events, not for a lack of talent in this fleet!! Winning by setting a blistering pace of five straight bullets was Cate Muller-Terhune’s CASTING COUCH with a total of 35 pts. Second was determined by a tiebreaker at 46 pts each. Winning the countback was Jim Prendergast’s USA 167. Meanwhile, losing that countback was Rich Witzel’s ROWDY team to settle for the bronze medal.

The balance of the top five included Lee Sacket & Dave Kerr’s USA 1516 in fourth and John Heaton’s EMPEIRIA in fifth place.

Notably, the top three women skippers sailed well in this regatta. First, of course, was Cate Muller-Terhune. Second went to Maggie McKillen’s MAGATRON (6th overall), and third went to Ava Wilson’s TEAM CONVERGENCE (9th overall).

J/105 Class
The thirteen-boat fleet saw a class veteran show their transom to the fleet for most of the races. Starting with three straight bullets, Clake Pellet’s SEALARK never looked back to win the class with 24 pts total in nine races. Richie Stearns’s FIVE took the silver medal with 33 pts, while Mike Collins & Keith Krause’s VYTIS took the bronze medal with 40 pts total.

Rounding out the top five were more class veterans, Jon Weglarz’s THE ASYLUM in fourth and Mike Sheppard’s FLYING PIG in fifth place.

ORC 1 Division
The large sixteen-boat fleet was swept by a contingent of hot offshore J/speedsters. Winning was Jeff Davis’s J/111 SHAMROCK with two bullets. Second went to Matt Songer’s J/122 EVVAI with a 2-3, while third place went to Len Siegel’s J/122E LUCKY DUBIE with a 6-2. The balance of the top five was Blane Shea’s J/111 STRIKING BACK and Kevin Saedi & Raman Yousefi’s J/111 MOMENTUS 2 in fourth and fifth, respectively.

For more Chicago Sailing World Regatta information
https://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series-chicago/