J/Boats News & Reviews

(Larchmont,  NY)- This past weekend, from October 12th to 13th, the de-facto “J/Fest” Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) took place at Larchmont Yacht Club, co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club. The event saw 42 schools from 19 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces come together for a unique offshore sailing experience, designed to give collegiate sailors a new challenge beyond their typical college sailing experiences.
This year’s regatta featured 30 J/Boats owners generously contributing their boats- 71.0% of the 42-boat fleet! J/Boat owners have been enthusiastic participants in this event as they support their alma maters from across the USA. It’s quite extraordinary to see J/Teams supported from California to Maine and Minnesota to Texas!
In the end, J/105s ruled! The Webb Institute J/105-mod SLEEPER and College of Charleston’s J/105 KESTREL teams took top honors!
Saturday delivered perfect conditions for the sailors, with sunny skies and a steady breeze of 8-12 knots, ideal for racing. All classes completed four windward-leeward races over a 5-nautical mile course, making the most of the favorable weather. Sunday started with overcast skies, but the clouds soon parted, allowing for an early start and two additional races to round out the weekend. The sailors enjoyed solid competition across both days, thanks to the great weather and race management.
The prestigious Paul Hoffman Trophy, awarded to the overall winner with the highest winning percentage, went to Webb Institute’s modified J/105 SLEEPER, skippered by Rayne Duff. Duff credited their victory to “consistently good starts, a team that works great together, and a fun-focused attitude were the most important things this weekend.” Webb Institute, known for its strong offshore program, delivered a stellar performance throughout the event, not losing a single race.
The IOR is a monumental undertaking, relying on the generous donation of boats and time from owners and club members who offer college sailors a unique opportunity to experience offshore racing. While some schools, like Webb, have dedicated offshore teams, many of the participating schools only sail keelboats once a year, with a primary focus on dinghy sailing. Despite this, teams traveled from as far as Texas A&M in Galveston, the University of Wisconsin, and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia to compete in this annual event.
Yet despite the logistics, the event continues to grow, and organizers were thrilled to welcome new schools this year: Clemson University, Middlebury College, Olin College of Engineering, Rutgers University, Texas A&M, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
The Puff Trophy, awarded to the team with the second-highest winning percentage, went to the College of Charleston Cougars for their outstanding performance in the J/105 KESTREL, owned by CofC alum Chuck McCarthy. Skipper Luke Tougas reflected on the weekend, sharing, “Larchmont IOR is an event that we look forward to every year because of the many opportunities it provides. This event came down to how bad we wanted it.” Tougas credited the team’s success to crew work and teamwork, explaining, “It’s easy to drive the boat in the right direction, but it’s not easy to keep the sails in the perfect spots at all times.” He also expressed gratitude to the McCarthy family for providing the team with a J/105 and thanked their safety officer, Ned Goss, for keeping the team motivated with his mantra, “Firetrucks don’t stop at red lights!”
PHRF Large DivisionFive J/Teams were participating in this eight-boat division. The top dog amongst J/crews was the US Navy’s J/44 MAXINE posting four 1sts and a deuce, but did not win. An arbitrary penalty was leveled on them for 10/ABD… whatever that means. As a result, they took the silver medal. The next two teams also suffered a similar fate. Fourth went to Univ. of Maryland’s J/124 TENEBRAE and fifth place went to Mass Maritime’s J/122 DIRE WOLF.
PHRF Medium DivisionThis eight-boat fleet saw two J/Teams on the starting line. Northeastern University’s J/112E REBELLE  sailed a solid series to take the bronze medal.  
PHRF Small DivisionThis half-dozen boat fleet was predominated by J/crews sweeping the top three spots on the podium! Winning was Webb Institute’s J/105-mod SLEEPER, followed by Univ. Vermont’s J/88 ONE TOO MANY in second place, and Syracuse Univ.’s J/99 THIN MAN in third position. 
J/109 ClassFive teams were sailing this one-design class. The regatta turned into a “mano-a-mano” duel between two very well-sailed teams. In the end, it was Brown Univ.’s NORDLYS that won with 11 pts, followed by Univ. Wisconsin’s TBD with 12 pts. Rounding out the podium with the bronze medal was Embry-Riddle College’s AVIATO with 19 pts. 
J/105 ClassThe largest fleet in the event, the twelve-boat fleet included many talented teams that are accustomed to J/105s and are experienced sailing them in their local waters. Not surprisingly, it was the College of Charleston’s KESTREL team that took top honors with a blistering scoreline of five 1sts and a deuce for 7 pts total! Sitting 5 pts back to take the silver was another experienced J/105 team from Princeton Univ. sailing MAGIC. Their record was an enviable 3-2-1-2-2-2 for 12 pts. Rounding out the podium for the bronze medal was Olin College’s SYNERGY with a 23 pts total. 
A highlight of the regatta was the camaraderie, both on and off the water. The regatta hosted a lively social under the tent on Saturday, thanks to the generous hospitality of the Larchmont Yacht Club, creating an unforgettable experience for the participants.
The success of this event would not have been possible without the support of the Storm Trysail Foundation and the generous support from its partners who believe in the mission: ShopRite of Carteret, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Helly Hansen, Risk Strategies-Gowrie Group, Harken Derm, Carlsberg (Sheehan Co), McMichael Yacht Yards and Brokers, UK Sailmakers Northeast, Dimension-Polyant, and Gifted of Larchmont.
The IOR came to a close on Sunday with all smiles as teams were already looking ahead to future events and asking when 2025 sign-ups will open. As the world’s largest intercollegiate sailing regatta, the 2024 IOR solidified its place as a “must-attend” regatta, offering college sailors an invaluable opportunity to sharpen their offshore racing skills and build lasting connections.
Sailing Photos Credits- Steve Cloutier/ @BlockIslandSteve on Instagram. 
Are any college teams interested in 2025? Fill out this form here.
For more STC Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta sailing resultsFor more STC Intercollegiate Regatta sailing information

(Gzira, Malta)- For most racers, the Rolex Middle Sea Race needs little introduction. Hosted by Royal Malta Yacht Club the race starts and ends in Malta, with an offshore race that makes a circumnavigation around the spectacular volcanic island of Sicily, Italy. The 606.0nm journey starts from the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta, beneath Fort St Angelo and the Saluting Battery, then the fleet heads northeast along the coast of Sicily, towards the Straits of Messina. You can usually spot Mount Etna and hear the Volcano rumble, or so they say.

The course heads north from the Straits in the direction of Stromboli, another active volcano, where the yachts then turn west to the Egadi Islands. After reaching Favignana the fleet heads south towards the island of Lampedusa with the island of Pantelleria on their port side. Once they have passed Lampedusa the fleet is on the home straight towards Malta and the finish at Marsamxett Harbour. 
The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a challenge for both skippers and crews. Everyone has to be on their A-Game to cope with the demanding and often changeable conditions on the 606.0nm course.
Amongst this year’s 94 entries are a half-dozen J/Teams spread over three divisions. 
ORC/ IRC 4 Division- 14 boatsSailing this tough fleet will be Andrew & Sam Hall’s J/125 JACK KNIFE. In the past, J/125s have proven incredibly difficult to beat given the right wind and sea conditions. J/125 has won the Rolex Middle Sea Race twice before overall!
ORC/ IRC 5 Division- 20 boatsThis fleet has three J/crews participating and all have abundant offshore experience and good track records. There are two J/112Es- Hort Huelsey’s BEFREE OPENPAYD from Malta (local offshore hotshots) and Peter Lezhnin’s JEDI crew from Australia. Joining them is Mark Wilson’s J/122 NOISY OYSTER, a proven winner on the Mediterranean offshore circuit. 
ORC/ IRC 6 Division- 18 boatsAs the smallest boats racing for 606.0nm, it’s a tough “ask” for these small crews to keep up the pace 24×7 for over three days! Nevertheless, the intrepid young crews on the two J/109s are up to the task and have sailed remarkably well! Supported and sponsored by the Jarhead Young Sailors Foundation in Malta, those two teams include Gary Mercieca’s JARHEAD and Claudio Bugeja’s JYS JAN. For more Rolex Middle Sea Race sailing information

(Larchmont,  NY)- Initially established in the early 1970s by The Corinthians, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta for college sailors is held annually out of Larchmont Yacht Club and brings together sailboat owners and young sailors for an opportunity to go head-to-head each fall.
This weekend, October 12th to 13th, the de-facto “J/Fest” Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) will take place at Larchmont Yacht Club, co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club. The event will see 42 schools from 19 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces come together for a unique offshore sailing experience, designed to give collegiate sailors a new challenge beyond their typical dinghy racing.
This year’s regatta features 30 of 42 teams that are J/Boats owners- 71.0% of the fleet! J/Boat owners have been enthusiastic participants in this event as they support their alma maters from across the USA. It’s quite extraordinary to see J/Teams supported from California to Maine and Minnesota to Texas!
PHRF Large DivisionFive J/Teams are participating in this eight-boat division. Featured are two J/44s- US Naval Academy’s MAXINE and Univ. of Rhode Island’s PALANTIR 5. Joining them are Univ. Maryland’s J/124 TENEBRAE, Mass Maritime’s J/122 DIRE WOLF,  and Clemson Univ.’s J/111 SUMMER STORM.   
PHRF Medium DivisionThis eight-boat fleet will see two J/Teams on the starting line. One is Northeastern University’s J/112E REBELLE and the other is Michigan State’s J/42 ATALANTA. 
PHRF Small DivisionThis half-dozen boat fleet is predominated by J/crews. Two J/100s are sailing- Rochester Univ.’s GALATRONA and Texas A&M’s. AVOCET. Joining them are Webb Institute’s J/105 SLEEPER, Univ.  Vermont’s J/88 ONE TOO MANY, and Syracuse Univ.’s J/99 THIN MAN. 
J/109 ClassFive teams are sailing this one-design class. They include Brown University’s NORDLYS, and Embry-Riddle College’s AVIATO, Queen’s Univ (Canada) QUICKSILVER,  SUNY Maritime’s RESOLUTE, and Univ. Wisconsin’s TBD. 
J/105 ClassThe largest fleet in the event, the twelve-boat fleet includes top teams like College of Charleston’s KESTREL, Princeton Univ.’s MAGIC, and South Carolina’s ECHO. 
For more STC Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta sailing results  For more STC Intercollegiate Regatta sailing information

Welcome to the latest edition of our J/Newsletter, where we bring you all the exciting highlights from around the world of competitive sailing and J/owners enjoying their sailboats! This week was been packed with thrilling races and impressive victories by J/Teams. From the “J/Fest” Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta in Larchmont, NY, to the all-women’s Swiss J/70 HEIDI Cup, and the all-women’s Red Bra Regatta in San Francisco, J/Boat sailors were dominating across the globe.
We’ll also take you to Europe, where the Dutch JOOL Team claimed victory at the German J/24 Open Championship. Then, the J/111 FIREBALL secured the overall win at the Stratford Shoal Gearbuster Race on Long Island Sound. Additionally, we cover the action at Lake Wolfgangsee in Austria where Reiner Brockerhoff’s team triumphed at the J/22 EuroCup.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues with the J/22 World Championship in Annapolis, MD, and the legendary Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta, where J/Teams will once again be in the spotlight. Stay tuned for all the action and join us in celebrating the incredible achievements of these talented sailors.

Fall Boat Shows Calendar!
(Newport, RI)- It’s time to dream about the future! Here is the fall boat show highlight for you to consider.
J/45 Video by Mike Coe- Experience the Performance & Luxury!In Annapolis, MD, Mike Coe and 410 Films take us on an informative tour of the J/45 luxury performance offshore cruising yacht. Enjoy and watch it here on YouTube.
EUROPE
Valencia Boat Show- Valencia, Spain- October 23rd to 27th, 2024At this spectacular marina that was significantly updated for the America’s Cup back in the AC75 days will be the 2024 Valencia Boat Show. On display will be the J/99 offshore shorthanded speedster that has been the stuff of legend in its short history of sailing across the world’s oceans. Learn more about it at the show!  For more Valencia Boat Show information

“J/Fest” Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta Dominated by J/Teams!
(Larchmont,  NY)- This past weekend, from October 12th to 13th, the de-facto “J/Fest” Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) took place at Larchmont Yacht Club, co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club. The event saw 42 schools from 19 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces come together for a unique offshore sailing experience, designed to give collegiate sailors a new challenge beyond their typical college sailing experiences.
This year’s regatta featured 30 J/Boats owners generously contributing their boats- 71.0% of the 42-boat fleet! J/Boat owners have been enthusiastic participants in this event as they support their alma maters from across the USA. It’s quite extraordinary to see J/Teams supported from California to Maine and Minnesota to Texas!
In the end, J/105s ruled! The Webb Institute J/105-mod SLEEPER and College of Charleston’s J/105 KESTREL teams took top honors!
Saturday delivered perfect conditions for the sailors, with sunny skies and a steady breeze of 8-12 knots, ideal for racing. All classes completed four windward-leeward races over a 5-nautical mile course, making the most of the favorable weather. Sunday started with overcast skies, but the clouds soon parted, allowing for an early start and two additional races to round out the weekend. The sailors enjoyed solid competition across both days, thanks to the great weather and race management.
The prestigious Paul Hoffman Trophy, awarded to the overall winner with the highest winning percentage, went to Webb Institute’s modified J/105 SLEEPER, skippered by Rayne Duff. Duff credited their victory to “consistently good starts, a team that works great together, and a fun-focused attitude were the most important things this weekend.” Webb Institute, known for its strong offshore program, delivered a stellar performance throughout the event, not losing a single race.
The IOR is a monumental undertaking, relying on the generous donation of boats and time from owners and club members who offer college sailors a unique opportunity to experience offshore racing. While some schools, like Webb, have dedicated offshore teams, many of the participating schools only sail keelboats once a year, with a primary focus on dinghy sailing. Despite this, teams traveled from as far as Texas A&M in Galveston, the University of Wisconsin, and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia to compete in this annual event.
Yet despite the logistics, the event continues to grow, and organizers were thrilled to welcome new schools this year: Clemson University, Middlebury College, Olin College of Engineering, Rutgers University, Texas A&M, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
The Puff Trophy, awarded to the team with the second-highest winning percentage, went to the College of Charleston Cougars for their outstanding performance in the J/105 KESTREL, owned by CofC alum Chuck McCarthy. Skipper Luke Tougas reflected on the weekend, sharing, “Larchmont IOR is an event that we look forward to every year because of the many opportunities it provides. This event came down to how bad we wanted it.” Tougas credited the team’s success to crew work and teamwork, explaining, “It’s easy to drive the boat in the right direction, but it’s not easy to keep the sails in the perfect spots at all times.” He also expressed gratitude to the McCarthy family for providing the team with a J/105 and thanked their safety officer, Ned Goss, for keeping the team motivated with his mantra, “Firetrucks don’t stop at red lights!”
PHRF Large DivisionFive J/Teams were participating in this eight-boat division. The top dog amongst J/crews was the US Navy’s J/44 MAXINE posting four 1sts and a deuce, but did not win. An arbitrary penalty was leveled on them for 10/ABD… whatever that means. As a result, they took the silver medal. The next two teams also suffered a similar fate. Fourth went to Univ. of Maryland’s J/124 TENEBRAE and fifth place went to Mass Maritime’s J/122 DIRE WOLF.
PHRF Medium DivisionThis eight-boat fleet saw two J/Teams on the starting line. Northeastern University’s J/112E REBELLE  sailed a solid series to take the bronze medal.  
PHRF Small DivisionThis half-dozen boat fleet was predominated by J/crews sweeping the top three spots on the podium! Winning was Webb Institute’s J/105-mod SLEEPER, followed by Univ. Vermont’s J/88 ONE TOO MANY in second place, and Syracuse Univ.’s J/99 THIN MAN in third position. 
J/109 ClassFive teams were sailing this one-design class. The regatta turned into a “mano-a-mano” duel between two very well-sailed teams. In the end, it was Brown Univ.’s NORDLYS that won with 11 pts, followed by Univ. Wisconsin’s TBD with 12 pts. Rounding out the podium with the bronze medal was Embry-Riddle College’s AVIATO with 19 pts. 
J/105 ClassThe largest fleet in the event, the twelve-boat fleet included many talented teams that are accustomed to J/105s and are experienced sailing them in their local waters. Not surprisingly, it was the College of Charleston’s KESTREL team that took top honors with a blistering scoreline of five 1sts and a deuce for 7 pts total! Sitting 5 pts back to take the silver was another experienced J/105 team from Princeton Univ. sailing MAGIC. Their record was an enviable 3-2-1-2-2-2 for 12 pts. Rounding out the podium for the bronze medal was Olin College’s SYNERGY with a 23 pts total. 
A highlight of the regatta was the camaraderie, both on and off the water. The regatta hosted a lively social under the tent on Saturday, thanks to the generous hospitality of the Larchmont Yacht Club, creating an unforgettable experience for the participants.
The success of this event would not have been possible without the support of the Storm Trysail Foundation and the generous support from its partners who believe in the mission: ShopRite of Carteret, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Helly Hansen, Risk Strategies-Gowrie Group, Harken Derm, Carlsberg (Sheehan Co), McMichael Yacht Yards and Brokers, UK Sailmakers Northeast, Dimension-Polyant, and Gifted of Larchmont.
The IOR came to a close on Sunday with all smiles as teams were already looking ahead to future events and asking when 2025 sign-ups will open. As the world’s largest intercollegiate sailing regatta, the 2024 IOR solidified its place as a “must-attend” regatta, offering college sailors an invaluable opportunity to sharpen their offshore racing skills and build lasting connections.
Sailing Photos Credits- Steve Cloutier/ @BlockIslandSteve on Instagram. 
Are any college teams interested in 2025? Fill out this form here.
For more STC Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta sailing resultsFor more STC Intercollegiate Regatta sailing information

Regattaclub Oberhofen I Team Top Swiss J/70 HEIDI Cup!
(Spiez, Switzerland)- This past weekend, the Yacht Club Spiez hosted the famous J/70 Heidi Cup for all-women’s teams on the spectacular Lake Thunersee in the middle of Switzerland. The incredibly picturesque town, famous for vineyards that border the lake and beautiful vistas of snow-capped Swiss Alps surrounding the lake, played host to thirteen women’s teams from across Switzerland. 
Virtually all of the top sailing clubs in Switzerland were supporting the 100+ women and their sailing teams, including Regattavlub Oberhofen, Cercle de la Voile d’Estavayer, Yachtclub Zug, Yachtclub Zurich, and Seglervereinigung Kreuzlingen. 
Without question, the women sailors were blessed with three wonderful days of sailing. Each team sailed ten races in a combination of sun, rain, and nice shifty winds. 
In the end, the regatta turned into a battle to the end by two top sailing clubs- Regattaclub Overhofen I and Regattaclub Bodensee Whemen. After the ten races, the regatta outcome was determined on a tiebreaker at 17 pts each! By winning six of ten races, the countback gave the Regattaclub Oberhofen I team the 2022 HEIDI Cup title! Their team was comprised of skipper Lisa Thonen and crew of Romea & Salvina Fries, and Felicia Adam. 
Losing that countback, the silver medal went to the Regattaclub Bodensee Whemen crew led by skipper Livia Naef and a team of Mirjam Abeggien, Danielle Rast, and Tessa Egl. 
Rounding out the podium in third place was the Segelclub Oberer Zurichsee team led by skipper Christa Kuster and crew of Corinne Kohler, Jana Hess, and Michele Grossenbacher. 
The balance of the top five include Erin Cross’s team on Cercle de la Voile Vevey- La Tour in fourth place and Natacha Reynaud Oudot’s crew on Cercle de la Voile d’Estavayer in fifth place. Follow the J/70 HEIDI Cup regatta here on FacebookFor Swiss J/70 Heidi Cup results and entry list  For Swiss J/70 Heidi Cup sailing information

Empowered Women Empowering Women- The Red Bra Regatta!   

(San Francisco, CA)- Recently, the South Beach Yacht Club on the southern part of San Francisco Bay hosted its annual Red Bra Regatta. The event was all about fun and supporting other women. Specifically, the regatta supported “Girls United” for the sixth year this September! 
Girls United is an amazing organization that organizes clubs and student-led advocacy for girls in Kenya, as well as training female teachers to be role models for these girls. 
United Girls for KenyaRun out of Flying Kites Academies, Girls United empowers young women in many ways, including skill-building workshops as well as providing access to information on important topics like reproductive health. The aims of Girls United are clearly aligned with those of the Red Bra Regatta and its motto- “Empowered Women Empowering Women.”
This year, we ask that you give any amount that feels meaningful to you- no amount is too small. If you want to further increase your impact, you can share this on your page. Let’s keep empowering each other!  Please consider a donation here
Many passionate women J/sailors participated in the event and while having fun they also managed to win some silverware! 
PHRF F Divsion- Spin