Jobson Chases the Fleet Aboard New J/7 BLUE-J in Annapolis
An experienced trio jumped onboard the J/7 BLUE-J for the first time and—without a spinnaker—gave a good chase to the big boats.
(Annapolis, MD)- During last weekend’s HELLY HANSEN Sailing World Regatta in Annapolis, Gary Jobson and his J/80 World Champion crew of Will and Marie Crump sailed the J/7 BLUE-J in the PHRF Coastal Division. Much to their amusement and delight, they scored a bronze medal! Here is Gary’s account of their experience.
“Over the past few years I’ve been racing aboard the highly optimized 66-footer Temptation. The boat is usually at the top of the handicap rating list, and as a bigger boat amongst smaller competitors, let’s just say it is nice to have the ability to get out in front of the fleet and focus on sailing the boat to its potential. Sometimes it can be tough being the smallest boat in the fleet, and after a recent regatta, I know how that feels. I was also reminded, however, that being the small boat at the back of the fleet is like being the scratch boat out front—when everyone else is on the horizon all we can do is sail our boat to its rating and hope the wind works in our favor. READ MORE HERE
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Women’s J/70 Sportsboat Regatta Showcases the Rise of Female Leadership in Sailing
(Blairgowrie, VIC, Australia)- Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron again hosted the BYS Women’s J/70 Sportsboat Regatta in 2026. The event continued to demonstrate the growing strength, depth, and leadership of female sailors in Australia’s competitive racing scene.
Now in its fifth year, the regatta continues to evolve– both in scale and impact. What began as a smaller round-robin format, limited by boat availability, has grown into a fully-subscribed fleet racing event. In 2026, all loan and club boats were booked, supplemented by teams bringing their own J/70s, reflecting both increased demand and a welcomed cultural shift within the sport.
At its core, the regatta addresses a long-standing gap in sailing: providing women with the opportunity to develop and lead in competitive racing environments. Unlike introductory or participation-focused programs, this event is designed for skill progression. It is a powerful platform for skill development, placing female sailors at the forefront of on-board decision-making; from helming and tactical strategy, to sail trimming and crew coordination, women take full command— building confidence, capability, and leadership in every aspect of racing. This commitment to empowerment continues with women in the key race management roles— including Course Race Officer, Deputy Race Officer, Jury Chairperson, and On-Land Regatta Manager. Together, they demonstrate the growing strength and depth of female initiatives in sailing, helping to shape a more inclusive and dynamic future for the sport.
Across nine teams and 39 sailors, the racing was tight, tactical and relentless. Fifteen short-course windward-leeward races were completed over two days, with target times of just 15 minutes per race. The format demanded constant maneuvers; tacks, hoists, gybes and drops, testing both technical execution and teamwork under pressure. Light, shifty conditions of five to ten knots, combined with strong tidal flow across the course, added another layer of complexity. READ MORE HERE
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J/Teams Winning Silverware @ PalmaVela Regatta in Mallorca
(Palma Mallorca, Spain)- Organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma, this year’s 22nd PalmaVela Regatta offered the sailors a wide range of late spring conditions on the Bay of Palma. On the first day, there were light, tricky winds. Two short and relatively quick races took place in the light breezes, challenging and frustrating many tacticians. The second day started with a few spots of rain that ultimately cleared and provided 2-3 races for most courses. The third day of racing on Saturday was a “classic Palma day”. One might call it a “perfect” day of racing, sunny with reliable winds of 12-16 kts all day. There were many happy teams after the racing enjoying onshore festivities at Real Club Náutico de Palma. The finale on Sunday was another story altogether. The titles were decided after thunderstorms and calm prevented the last day of racing. A torrential morning storm brought spectacular thunder and lightning to the Bay of Palma. That was then followed by a prolonged calm, which prevented racing on the final day. Cumulative results from Saturday stood for all classes. Several J/Teams managed to garner some silverware on the podium after strong performances the first few days. READ MORE HERE
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J/Teams Lead The Fleet for 2026 American YC Spring Regatta
(Rye, NY)- The American Yacht Club Spring Regatta that took place from May 1-3, 2026 provided the large contingent of J/sailors a variety of challenging weather conditions over the three-day event. The last day proved to be a “gear-buster” for many boats; many were seen sporting reefed main and/or J4 heavy weather jibs!
The three-day format included the Friday AYC Coastal Race (separately scored with trophies) and the weekend AYC Spring Series- two days of windward-leewards and random leg buoy racing. J/Boats were the predominant brand for the regatta; of the 38 entries, 22 were J/Teams- about 58.0% of the fleet! Here’s how it all went down for each division. READ MORE HERE
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2026 Yachting Cup: J/Teams Lead the Charge in San Diego
(San Diego, CA)- Last weekend, San Diego Yacht Club hosted its popular Yachting Cup Regatta for over fifty boats. Descending upon the waters of San Diego Bay and Coronado Roads were one-design classes for J/111s, J/105s, and J/24s, plus a PHRF Division.
Kicking things off was the always-popular Friday “Ton Cup” race, sailed in La Playa Basin aboard SDYC’s fleet of J/22s. It’s a relaxed, high-energy warm-up designed to get crews dialed into teamwork and setting the tone for the weekend. It was a lively start, a fast-paced, tactical showdown that set the tone for the racing ahead.
The Ton Cup brought together sixteen teams for an exciting afternoon of short-course, round robin racing. Under sunny skies and a steady breeze, the compact format kept pressure high with quick turnarounds, tight mark roundings, and no room for error. Consistency and clean execution were rewarded across the rotation. READ MORE HERE.
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Windy Finale for Helly Hansen Annapolis Regatta 2026
(Annapolis, MD)- The Helly Hansen Regatta 2026 took place in Annapolis last weekend from May 2-4, 2026. More than 160 teams were hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club; their annual spring regatta is considered the premiere local sailing event of the year on the Chesapeake Bay.
“The whole weekend was just amazing,” said one breathless sailor, echoing a sentiment shared across the regatta’s many teams. “Friday’s racing was a spectacular sea breezy day, Saturday’s winds were lighter, and Sunday’s blustery northerlies tested the boat-handling chops of many teams racing for the first time this season!! Totally awesome weekend!”
This year’s event was heavily attended by J/Boats aficionados, with EIGHT one-design classes for J/22s, J/24s, J/70s, J/80s, J/88s, J/29s, J/30s, and J/105s! Plus, a few J/Boats were sailing in PHRF Spinnaker division. READ MORE HERE.
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J/Teams Silver in RORC Cervantes Trophy Race 2026
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club held the first of its summer-long series of offshore sailing- the Cervantes Trophy Race. Sailors were participating from across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and elsewhere from around the world.
Starting off the classic Royal Yacht Squadron starting line off Cowes, the team started off in light airs, then raced down the Solent from Cowes to Le Havre, France on a 110.0nm race track. It was a light airs race, even when the fleet crossed the infamous “La Manche”, the English Channel. After the leading boats had made Le Havre, the breeze faded significantly across the Channel, hurting the smaller boats. Several J/Teams faired well in the race. READ MORE HERE.
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J/Boats Podium At 2026 MIYC Offshore Winter Series In Turkey
(Marmaris, Turkey)- The 2026 Marmaris International Yacht Club (MIYC) Winter Series was made up of six events and concluded on Sunday 26th April after fourteen races. The races took place between December 2025 and April 2026 in the Bay of Marmaris, Turkey in the far eastern Mediterranean. The races were either round the buoys or round the island.
There were six divisions and forty-seven boats in the series. The varying degree of wind speeds over the course of the series- mostly light airs- made the competitions very tactical, with the importance of trimming vital. READ MORE HERE.
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J/Teams Feast On Silver At 2026 Race To The Straits
(Seattle, WA)- Every year, the remarkably laid back, fun-loving sailors that call the Sloop Tavern YC home in Ballard, WA hold their annual Race To The Straits Regatta. The format is simple, essentially a double-handed race from Seattle to Port Townsend and back. The full course length is 30.25 nautical miles each day. Saturday’s race was from Shilshole Bay to Point Hudson keeping the Double Bluff Buoy to port. Then, Sunday’s race was from Point Hudson to Shilshole Bay keeping the Double Bluff Buoy to starboard. The regatta has always been popular with J/crews over the years. Here’s how the leading teams faired in the Doublehanded Flying Sails Divisions. READ MORE HERE.
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J/80s And J/24s Shine At 2026 SVG Sailing Week!
(St. Vincent & Grenadines)– SVG Sailing Week 2026 concluded on a high note, with top sailors from across the region crowned champions after a week of exhilarating competition. This year’s edition recorded a remarkable increase in participation, with the number of entrants doubling compared to previous years, underscoring the growing appeal of the event.
The week-long regatta officially began on March 29 with the Junior Championships on mainland St. Vincent, highlighting the nation’s commitment to youth development in sailing. The event then transitioned to the Grenadines, culminating in Bequia on April 6 with a series of competitive races across multiple classes.
In addition to the Junior Championships, the 2026 program featured Racing Class, Cruising Class, J/24 Class, and the Canouan CSA Division, offering a dynamic mix of competition for both seasoned sailors and emerging talent. READ MORE HERE.
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Italian J/70 Cup Heads To Lerici For Second 2026 Event
(Lerici, Italy)– The Circolo Della Vela Erix will be hosting the second event of the Italian J/70 Cup series on the “Golf of Poets” for a fleet of nineteen boats. The race course offered by the Gulf of Poets is tactically challenging and well-known to J/70 specialists, who are set to vie for victory between Friday and Sunday amidst weather conditions that are forecast to be unsettled.
Eight races are scheduled for a fleet that—compared to the first leg—arrives in greater numbers, despite the absence of two top contenders: Rich Witzel’s ROWDY and Matteo Marenghi Vaselli’s G-SPOT. The fleet now includes representatives from no fewer than eight nations. A crew to watch closely will be Mauro Roversi’s J-CURVE- relying, as always, on the support of Giulia Conti. While the American team aboard FURIO (led by former J/24 World Champion Keith Whittemore), Manfredo Toninelli’s T-ONE, and the formidable Corinthian entry- Gianfranco Noe’s WHITE HAWK- must also be counted among the favorites. READ MORE HERE.
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Edgartown ’Round-the-Island Race Returns to July Conditions in 2026
(Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA)— When Edgartown Yacht Club’s ’Round-the-Island Race (’RTI) returns to its traditional time slot in 2026 (July 25), it will provide racers with a steadier breeze that requires sharper execution and a more decisive test of sailing skill around Martha’s Vineyard.
At 52.0nm, the ’RTI course is long enough to demand preparation and strategy, yet manageable enough that both racing and cruising boats typically finish by late afternoon or early evening. If tidal currents or lighter winds slow progress, the Race Committee may shorten the finish to just north of Menemsha Basin, ensuring a rewarding day for all participants. READ MORE HERE.
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2026 J/80 World Championship & J/80 North Americans Announcement!
(Kingston, ONT, Canada)- In an unprecedented scenario, lovers of the J/80 one-design class can enjoy an honest-to-goodness “two-fer” this coming summer in what may be the best sailing freshwater venue in the world- Kingston, Ontario. Located at the far northeast corner of Lake Ontario, the waters of Kingston are famous for the reliable Seabreeze that pipes in by noontime virtually every day and can often build into the 14-19 kts range. The sailing is awesome and is easily a “bucket list venue” to add to your lifetime of sailing experiences.
While the sailing is quite remarkable, the onshore festivities and associated local culture, restaurants, and bars is second to none in the world of sailing. Home to one of Canada’s nicest universities- Queens College- the downtown is vibrant with lots of attractions and great places to eat and drink. READ MORE HERE.
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J/Gear May Special- 20% off!
The J Sail Plan Polo comes with the J Class logo on the front and corresponding sail plan on the back. This long sleeve polo is a nice crew shirt for competition or relaxing. Durable and comfortable.
Specifications:
– 5 oz./yd² / 172 gsm (US), 8.4 oz/Lyd (CA), 100% polyester face plaited to 60/40 polyester/cotton back (total overall garment 61/39 polyester/cotton)
– Proprietary dual-sided mesh pique knit constructed of fine denier wicking polyester on the outside and soft-as-cotton wicking blend on the inside
– Moisture-wicking performance
– UPF 39 protection
– Luxury, comfort and performance in one
– Active fit
– Matching flat-knit collar
– Three-button placket with dyed-to-match buttons
– Side vents
Order your J/Sail plan polo here – CLICK HERE
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