Inshore Verve Cup Preview

(Chicago, IL)- From August 26th to 28th, the Chicago Yacht Club will be hosting the Verve Cup Inshore Regatta on the challenging waters of Lake Michigan, right off the majestic waterfront of Chicago.  Participating are eight one-design fleets, with the largest participation coming from the J/70 and J/88 classes.

As a 2023 J/70 World Championship qualifier that is taking place in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Inshore Verve Cup is also serving as the J/70 Great Lakes Championship. As a result, the J/70 fleet has a stellar turnout of twenty-eight teams with boats attending from all over the USA and Canada. Several class veterans should be a factor at the top of the leaderboard when all is said and done after a scheduled 7+ races; those teams may be Martin Johnsson’s AQUAHOLIKS, Cate Muller-Terhune’s CASTING COUCH, Don Wilson’s family crew on CONVEXITY (with daughters Ava and Jen), John Heaton’s all-pro crew on EMPEIRIA, Doug Rastello’s GOOD TO GO (local hotshot Alex Curtiss as tactics), Rich Witzel’s ROWDY, Allan Terhune & Paul Sevigny’s SMOKESHOE, Bruno Pasquinelli’s STAMPEDE, and Doug Newhouse’s YONDER. 

Similarly, the J/88 class has an amazing turnout of sixteen boats! Most of them are registered for the J/88 North American Championship that is also being hosted by Chicago YC later in September. Leading teams include past Midwinter, Great Lakes, and North American Champions, such as Ben Marden’s BANTER, Iris Vogel’s DEVIATION, John & Jordan Leahey’s DUTCH, Andy Graff’s EXILE, and Dave Tufts’ GAUCHO. For more Chicago YC Inshore Verve Cup sailing information