ZAQUERO Crowned Mexican J/70 National Champions!
(Valle de Bravo, Mexico)- At the gorgeous lake high in the mountains in Valle de Bravo, west of Mexico City, a fleet of thirty J/70 teams from across Mexico participated in the four-day Mexican J/70 National Championship. Hosted by the most gracious and accommodating club one could ever imagine- the Club de Vela La Peña- the sailors enjoyed not only good racing on the lake, but plenty of the famous hospitality onshore after the racing. As has been described by sailors familiar with the club, it’s truly a family affair, and everyone is made to feel part of their extended family.Â
After a total of seventeen races sailed, with fourteen races to count (3 discards), it was the Perez family from Vallarta Yacht Club that dominated the top of the podium. In fact, it was a “nip & tuck” battle between the two family boats until the very last race! Winning by just one point was Ignacio Perez-Morett’s ZAQUERO with crew of Santiago Perez Soltero, Manuel Weiller, and Rodrigo Cuellar Dipp. Their remarkably consistent scoreline filled with podium finishes produced a net total of 33 pts in 14 races for a 2.36 average! Â READ MORE HERE.
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G-SPOT Leads Monaco J/70 Winter Series- Act I
(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- As they have since 2013, the Yacht Club de Monaco launched their Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, offering J/70 teams a window of competition in the middle of winter on one of the most consistent venues in the Mediterranean.
Twenty-five teams from seven nations competed for Act 1 from November 6th to 9th, with YC Monaco members fielding a particularly strong fleet. In fact, YC Monaco currently boasts one of the highest concentrations of J/70s in the Mediterranean, with seventeen boats registered in the J/70 Monaco Class Association. As a result, every year the Principality attracts international teams looking to train under race conditions against a competitive and well-represented fleet. With steady breezes, clear seas, and well-oiled organization, it has become a popular winter training ground to test equipment, rotate crew, and validate tactical decisions ahead of the major competitions. READ MORE HERE.
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VAMOS Eclipses Victorian J/70 States
(Blairgowie, VIC, Australia)- The Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron hosted this year’s 2025 Victorian J/70 States Championship for a big, competitive fleet of twenty-three teams from across eastern Australia. Boats came from near and far to test their mettle against the best the Australian J/70 fleet had to gather together.
In the end, it was the globe-girdling team on VAMOS, led by their veteran skipper Tim Ryan, that started off with four straight bullets and never looked back. After the eight race series, they counted six 1st and a 3rd for 9 pts net, a breathtaking performance theirs was! Ryan’s crew included Drew Barnes, Rob Greenhalgh, and Charlie Gundy. READ MORE HERE.
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VAMOS Dominates NSW J/70 States Championship
(Sydney, NSW, Australia)- Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron hosted a highly competitive fleet of fourteen boats for the 2025 J/70 NSW State Championship, with Tim Ryan’s VAMOS taking overall victory after a thrilling final day on Sydney Harbour. Ryan’s crew (Rob Greenhalgh, Jess Grimes, and Charlie Gundy) returned to form after a year apart, sailing consistently across variable conditions to secure the championship title.Â
“What looked like being a disappointing weekend after light winds was saved by a classic Sydney nor’easter on Monday,” said Ryan. “It was our first time sailing together since the Worlds in Palma over a year ago, but the teamwork clicked straight away. Our recent European regattas definitely helped us stay sharp in a very competitive fleet.”  READ MORE HERE.
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TENZOR TEAM Tops Turkish J/70 Championship
(Turgutreis, Turkey)- The 2025 Turkish J/70 Championship was shaping up to be quite the battle between several veteran teams of the Turkish J/70 circuit over the past few years.Â
The two-time winners of the J/70 Turkish Championship 2023-2024, the winners of the TIC Winter Series 24/25, and the silver medalist of last year- TENZOR TEAM helmed by Andrey Pushkin- were aiming to defend their title. But, their main rivals- Russian BOGATYRS team, DOLCE VITA, NAUTIQUE YACHTING, CHEESE SAILING, EKER KAYMAK, AMEERA JET, and DENIZCIK- have all been podium finishers in past J/70 Turkish Championship and Tenzor International Cup events, and they promised to show their best skills as well. READ MORE HERE.
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J/99 LADY CHOPPER Wins Chile Interclub Regatta
(Algarrobo, Chile)- Thirty-five boats participated in the 2025 Interclub Regatta, held on November 29th and 30th, hosted by CofradÃa Náutica del PacÃfico in Algarrobo, Chile. Categories included IRC Cruiser, IRC Classics, IRC Racing, and J105.
The conditions on Saturday were northwest winds of 6-9 kts (315-325 degrees). All categories, except the J/105 one-design class (which raced three windward-leeward races), completed the nine-mile race consisting of a close-hauled leg, a downwind leg, and a round-the-buoy leg towards El Quisco beach and back to the starting buoy.  READ MORE HERE.
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TREMENDOUS SLOUCH Crowned J/24 US National Champions!
(Jacksonville, FL)— Forty J/24 teams from across the continent gathered November 21-23 for the 2025 J/24 US National Championship, an event defined by patience, persistence, and tactical mastery in unusually light and challenging conditions.

Racing was scheduled to begin on Friday, but a complete absence of wind kept the fleet ashore. Saturday delivered a shifty, inconsistent breeze that allowed the Race Committee to complete three races, with a fourth race abandoned as conditions deteriorated. On Sunday, the Race Committee once again attempted to get racing underway, but the wind never materialized, solidifying Saturday’s three-race results as final. Despite the limited racing, competition was fierce, and several teams put on exceptional performances.  READ MORE HERE.
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44th Hamble Winter Series Report- Weekend VII
(Hamble, England)- The 44th running of the Hamble Winter Series is now in its seventh weekend of sailing on the infamous, capricious Solent Water between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. J/teams across the board are enjoying a wide range of conditions from wet & wild to sunny and benign. Here are the last two weekend reports.Â
Weekend VI Report
Recently qualified National Race Officer, Kathryn Clark, was the CRO for Sunday’s racing. She took the CV Baldur out towards East Knoll (4H). Kathryn commented, “The wind behaved almost exactly as forecast, mostly 12-15 kts from 035.” The plan for this Sunday, sponsored by The Bugle, Hamble, was to give IRC 1- 13 miles; IRC 2- 12 miles, and IRC 3- 11 miles. The courses would stretch from the Meon Shore to the North Shore of the Isle of Wight.
A lack of shipping movements in and out of Southampton gave competitors the option to try and take advantage of the tide in the Thorn Channel. This led to a wide spread of yachts on the run from Darling Buoy (4R) to Williams Shipping (3W). “A great site from the CV”, remarked Kathryn.  READ MORE HERE.
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San Diego Hot Rum Series II Report
(San Diego, CA)- The second race of the three-race long Hot Rum Series was a bit of an improvement over the first weekend’s light-air affair. This time, most of the fleet finished the iconic race course that started just off Shelter Island, exited south past Point Loma to offshore buoys in the Pacific Ocean, then back inside the harbor to the finish line next to Shelter Island.
Hosted by San Diego Yacht Club for decades, the Hot Rum Series has been a popular pursuit race for J/Boats offshore sailors for decades.
Using the PHRF SoCal ratings, the slowest boats start first at 10:00 AM, and by noon, the biggest, fastest boats have started. Given the normal scenario for developing winds on San Diego Bay, it takes some time for the seabreeze thermal to develop over the top of Point Loma. As a result, it’s usually the big boats that benefit from a late start with decent breeze. Here are the latest divisional results after the first two weekends of sailing. READ MORE HERE.
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J/70 North American Championship Preview
(Tampa, FL)- The Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, will be hosting forty-four teams from across North & South America for the 2025 J/70 North American Championship. Sailing in the northern reaches of Tampa Bay, the fleet will be challenged by the mix of flat waters and shifty offshore breezes, or southerlies and short, choppy waters. A strong cast of teams is participating from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, and Bermuda.
Perhaps the most notable team is Joel Ronning’s CATAPULT team, a past J/70 World Champion. Joel has a new combination of talent aboard, including another J/70 World Champion in the form of Jeremy Wilmot as his tactician, along with a famous Olympics 29er competitor- Steph Roble- from Lake Beulah, WI.new Text block ready for your content. Â READ MORE HERE.
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J/Community
What J/Sailors, family, and friends are doing around the world
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How the J/70 Can Keep Young Sailors in the Game
J/70 North American Sailor Spotlight: Lydia Woolson
(Tampa, FL)- For many lifelong sailors, the story begins with a family boat or weekend sails. For Lydia Woolson, it began with summer camp.
“I was seven when my parents signed me up for a sailing and paddle-boarding camp in Southern California,” she says. “They just wanted me to have fun on the water. I ended up falling in love with it.” That camp became her second home. By thirteen, she was a counselor-in-training, and by fifteen, she was coaching adult lessons and managing the paddleboard rentals. “The community there was the best part,” she remembers. “Everyone knew each other well; it was a family.”
Then came a cross-country move that would shape her next chapter. “I was fifteen when we moved to Florida,” she says. “I joined the Plant High School sailing team before I even unpacked.” Through high school, Lydia dove into racing, joining both the high school and Club 420 teams. “That’s where I really learned how to race,” she says.
Then came her first taste of the J/70, racing with a youth team of five. “It was a big challenge at first. I was the newest sailor on the boat,” she admits. “Sailing the J/70 showed me how important teamwork is,” Lydia says. “Everyone has their job, and when it clicks, it’s amazing.” That experience was transformative. The J/70 was the perfect bridge and contributed to my fascination with keelboat racing.” Â READ MORE HERE.
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J/70 NA’s Sailor Spotlight: Steve Knoop from Chicago
(Tampa, FL)- The J/70 is arguably one of the most competitive one-design classes in the world. Some of the best professional sailors regularly race in the fleet. What makes the class unique is that, while it’s incredibly competitive, everyone is willing to share notes and help one another improve.
As a Corinthian sailor, it can be intimidating, humbling, and deeply rewarding to sail against the best in the world. The class actively encourages pros to host post-race debriefings, and many freely share “speed tips.” Steve remembers one day when Willem Van Waay hopped aboard his J/70 after he asked a simple trim question—”Willem immediately began marking our sheets and showing us how to optimize trim.” Other top sailors, like Ron Weed, Jud Smith, Will Felder, Zeke Horowitz, Marty Kullman, Kristen Berry, and many others, are equally generous with their insights. Even owners of entirely professional programs, such as John Heaton, often share coaching notes. In fact, the J/70 class will ban professionals who act like “bad actors,” ensuring the fleet remains both fair and collegial. The result is a rare balance of intensity and camaraderie. The J/70 class, in Steve’s view, has few—if any—equals in competitive sailing today.  READ MORE HERE.Â
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The J/46 SWEET RUCA’s Adventures
This is an ongoing story about a couple that bought a J/46 and, with little offshore experience, decided they wanted to sail around the world. The crew consists of Kate, Curtis, and Roxy the dog. Their introduction is quite amusing.Â
“One day we woke up, saw a boat on the Internet (the J/46), and in less than 24 hours, we had the winning bid!! Kate and I purchased the boat in January 2019 with the intention of refitting her and sailing her around the world. We sold our house, left Ohio, and moved onto the boat in Newport, Rhode Island, in July 2019. That’s before the global Covid-19 pandemic!”
Since then, this American couple from the Midwest has had quite the adventure cruising around the world on SWEET RUKA. Here is the short story of their travels to date. READ MORE HERE.Â
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J/Gear HOLIDAY Special- 20% off!
(Newport, RI)-Â 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: Â JB2025HS
For any clothing, hats, blankets, and so forth, choose your J/Class logo and customize with boat name and sail number as an option.Â
Browse all products here on the J/GEAR website:
https://jgear.vsport.biz
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