J/Boats News & Reviews

(Miami, FL)- The seventh edition of the Bacardi J/70 Winter Series II Regatta kicked off last weekend with forty-one teams pointing their bows across the starting line on the gorgeous aquamarine waters of Biscayne Bay.

Winning with relative ease was ex-J/70 World Champion Peter Duncan’s RELATIVE OBSCURITY with a World Championship-level crew of Jud Smith, Willem van Waay, and Victor Diaz de Leon. Their 1-6-3-1-12-1-4-1-DNC in the nine-race series was good enough to not sail the final, take the DNC drop race, and still win by 10 pts net! An impressive return to the class for Senor Duncan after a few year’s hiatus.

Second was the British ex-J/70 World Champion team of Charles Thompson’s BRUTUS III- Chris Grube, Ben Saxton, Marina Cano-soster, and Doug Rastello. Their 7-16-7-3-9-2-2-8-1 scoreline was good enough for 39 pts net.
To round out the podium in third place was Cate Muller-Terhune’s CASTING COUCH. She and her husband Alan have been sailing consistently well in the past year. They started with a leading tally of 3-1. Then, added a 10-11-5-3-3-6-10 to end the series with 41 pts net! A great showing in this talented fleet for this husband/ wife team!
The balance of the top five was David Jannetti’s TWO ODD in 4th place and Dick Kalow’s SUPERIOR 1 in fifth place.
For more Bacardi J/70 Winter Series II sailing informationhttps://bacardiinvitational.com/winterseries1/

J/125 Crushes Overall! J/Crews Clean House and Silver in Various Divisions
(San Francisco, CA)- An annual favorite in the bay, the SSS (Singlehanded Sailing Society) Three Bridge Fiasco is the biggest yacht race in the USA west of the Mississippi River, with 300+ boats every year. The race is a pursuit race (slowest boats start first), starts and finishes on the city front at the Golden Gate Yacht Club, and the course involves the Blackaller Buoy (by the Golden Gate Bridge), Yerba Buena Island/Treasure Island (Bay Bridge), and Red Rock (by the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge). The marks can be rounded in any order and any direction, providing the crazy appeal of this race.
There were 303 keelboat entries for this year’s edition of the 3BF!! And, there are 54 J/Teams entered as mostly doublehanded teams- 18.0% of the fleet! Here’s the shocker, the wind conditions were so light this year that just 40 boats in total finished the race! Amazingly, J/crews nearly cleaned house and silvered in several divisions! Here is how it all went down.
This year’s event lived up to its “Fiasco” name, with sailors making varied – and sometimes opposite – choices and experiencing diverse conditions. This year’s edition was characterized by light winds and a strong ebb tide, particularly at the start. Many sailors struggled with the current, with some boats being “flushed” out of the gate. Weather conditions varied throughout the race, including fog, sun, and even a squall later in the day on their way back to Richmond.
As usual, sailors adopted different strategies, some going clockwise and others counterclockwise. Key decision points included whether to round Blackaller first or head directly to Red Rock. Many participants had to adapt their plans due to changing conditions.
Overall, this year’s event provided a challenging and memorable experience for the participants, with finishing considered a significant achievement given the challenging conditions.
Latitude 38’s publisher/editor- John Arndt- provided his usual entertaining perspective on the proceedings on San Francisco Bay. As he described…
“Plans are useless, but planning is essential.” – quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
“This is one of our favorite quotes. We always show up at the already busy docks early on the morning of the Three Bridge Fiasco with a working theory on how we might actually win the race. The plans are usually tossed overboard as we approach the starting line to see the actual conditions and observe the boats starting ahead of us.
This year was no different. It would be ebbing solidly all day. Wind predictions were anywhere from 2 knots to 22 knots, though we never saw that latter figure in our brief pre-race planning searches. Regardless, as we joined hundreds of boats approaching the starting area, there was some breeze from the north and some of the early starters were actually heeling. A little bit.
Naturally, that early morning breeze began to fade as the reverse handicap starts progressed. Most boats were choosing to attempt to cross, reaching from the west against the already well-established ebb and staying close to the pin where there was a bit more breeze than along the shore. It was crowded.
We chose to cross on starboard so we could go with the flow and then button-hook back onto port tack. That left us facing dozens of port tackers trying to head across the line. Somehow we found a path through the phalanx of port tackers. Amid the mess, we lost steerage and almost flopped to port, but were able to rush forward to hold our jib to weather and push our bow back down onto starboard. Phew!
We crossed the line and optimistically joined the 300 other boats, looking for a breeze while the current built toward max ebb at 12:10. While we sailed out to the middle looking for some of the fading flood, a large group of determined port tackers were hugging the shore to the west trying to fight the flood to start. Many never made it.
We felt hopeful as we slowly worked toward Alcatraz while seeing many boats along the Cityfront vainly hoping to start. It all fell apart from there. Occasional ripples, cat’s paws, and zephyrs passed our way. The building northwesterly we’d held in our dreams remained a dream. We were getting sucked and suckered to the north looking for that breeze and closing on the ebbing river out of Raccoon Strait. Forward motion vanished and we began to hear the loud flushing sound while doing unplanned donuts near Horseshoe Cove and the North Tower.
Many boats had already been sucked (pushed?) well outside the Golden Gate. Our race ended abruptly when we fired up the engine as the rocks under the North Tower rapidly approached. Oh, well. We started the long motor against the ebb and passed many skippers determined to persevere. We tied up at the Corinthian Yacht Club, put the boat away, had a sandwich, and were all done by 12:30, pretty sure that nobody would finish. (The good news was we were home in time to get to the 7:30 showing of the Ron Holland film in Mill Valley.) Suddenly, some spinnakers appeared over the breakwater, heading down Raccoon Strait. Could it be? Sure enough, a light westerly was filling in and boats were gaining on the ebb.
We’re not yet sure how they did it, but about 40 boats out of the 300+ that started, or attempted to start, finished before the 7 p.m. cutoff. Congratulations to all of them! Patience, perseverance, and some damn good sailing must have made it happen. Six or eight boats missed the 7 p.m. cutoff by minutes. Well over 200 boats had to withdraw, and we were among those.”
Read more of John Arndt’s Three Bridge Fiasco story on LATITUDE 38 here:https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/drifted-three-bridge-fiasco/
In fact, just thirteen of thirty-five divisions had one or more finishers!
J/105 DoublehandedJust three boats finished in the dozen-boat J/105 doublehanded fleet. Winning was Laurence Bekins & Mike Stephens’s JOSE CUERVO. Taking the silver medal was Bill Woodruff’s ROULETTE, followed by Richard & Graham Deane’s NANTUCKET SLEIGHRIDE garnering the bronze medal.
PHRF Doublehanded Spin Division 13Winning this ten-boat fleet was Andrew Picel & Leland Hubble’s J/125 ARSENAL by over 30 minutes, plus winning the whole enchilada Overall!! Then, Rufus Sjoberg & Dylan Benjamin’s J/125 took fourth place, while Shane Riehl & Irina Potekhina’s J/133 DEFIANT took fifth place.
PHRF Doublehanded Spin Division 16Winning this eight-boat fleet was Dan Brousseau & Tracy Usher’s J/109 TANGAROA.
PHRF Doublehanded Spin Division 19This eleven-boat fleet saw just two finishers. Winning was Tim Roche’s J/92 ZAFF by over 40 minutes elapsed time.
PHRF Doublehanded Sportboat Division 25This thirteen-boat class saw a clean sweep of the podium by J/Teams. Winning was Mark Howe & Laura Parent’s J/88 SPLIT WATER. Taking the silver medal was Peter Cameron & Brett Dewire’s J/80 KANGAROO JOCKEY. Then, rounding out the podium taking the bronze medal was Steve Gordon & Charlie King’s J/88 INCONCEIVABLE.
For more 3-Bridge Fiasco Race sailing informationhttps://www.jibeset.net/JACKY000.php?RG=T006291399

(Key West, FL)- The 2025 J/111 North American Championship was sailed on the gorgeous aquamarine waters off Key West. Sponsored by SAILING Inc. from Cleveland, OH, the regatta was hosted at the Galleon Hotel Tiki Bar, where the sailors enjoyed a fun, easy-going regatta in the rustic atmosphere of Key West.
A strong ten-boat contingent of J/111s experienced a challenging four days of racing with mostly overcast skies and northerly breezes. With shifty, streaky winds, it was a game of “chutes & ladders” for the top five on the leaderboard. In the end, winning was Peter Wagner’s SKELETON KEY team from San Francisco, CA- Seadon Wijsen (tactician), Ryan Kern (spinnaker trimmer), Cory Schillaci (pit), John Collins (bow), John Hayes (mast), Dave Lyons (spinnaker trimmer) and Nicholas Gibbens (headsail trimmer). They climbed to the top of the podium on the last day to be crowned J/111 North American Champion for the fourth time!

The fifth and final day of racing delivered a thrilling conclusion to an incredible week of racing. With the course axis set at 000° and wind velocities holding at 17 knots, gusting to 24 kts, the conditions brought a fittingly dramatic finale to this year’s competition.
Under the direction of Chip Till and his efficient Race Committee, the 10th race was turned around seamlessly, ensuring competitors got the best possible conclusion to the regatta. The tight leaderboard in the J/111 fleet saw just 3 points separating the top three finishers, with SKELETON KEY on top with. 29 pts. They were followed by Bill & Jackie Baxter’s FIREBALL in second place and Jeff Davis’s SHAMROCK in third place.
A special thanks to the Race Committee, organizers, event supporters, and the fantastic teams at Galleon Marina and Tiki Bar for their hospitality and seamless operations.
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of sponsors: Mount Gay Rum, The Sailing Inc., Rob & Abby Ruhlman, J/Boats, Evolution Sails NZ, Harken/Harken Derm, EWE Spirit Foundation, Blue Aqua Productions, AA Dive Services and the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce.
For more J/111 North Americanshttps://www.sailwave.com/results/NYC/j111.htm
Southernmost Regatta sailing informationhttps://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/16411

(Grand Anse, St. George’s, Grenada, West Indies)- Hosted by the Grenada Sailing Club, the Grenada Sailing Week is an exciting 6-day event for sailors who enjoy and love sailing in the eastern Caribbean in the “Windward Islands”. The format is fun and easygoing. The first day was the 30.0nm Around Carriacou Island. Then, day two was the Offshore from Carriacou to Grenada. On day three, it was Lay Day for big boats and small keelboat classes doing short buoy races- e.g. the J/80 one-design class. Then, the last two days are around the cans on the South Coast of Grenada for the entire fleet. Thirty teams were entered from all over the Caribbean.

CHS 1 DivisionSailing in this “big boat” fleet was Peter Lewis’s J/121 WHISTLER from Barbados Yacht Club. Loving the conditions, the WHISTLER boys cleaned house and walked off with the division win!

J/80 ClassThere is a small, but growing, contingent of J/80s in the Caribbean. A trio of teams fought for class honors. They include Chrystal Young’s JEDI and Mrs. Young’s all-women team on JOXER, a family affair! Joining them was Chris Rundlett’s J/STAR.

All three teams are members of the host Grenada Sailing Club! In the end, it was Chrystal Young’s JEDI winning, counting four bullets in their seven-race scoreline. Second went to the all-women’s team on Ms. Young’s JOXER, then rounding out the podium Chris Rundlett’s J/STAR in third place.
For more Grenada Sailing Week regatta informationhttps://grenadasailingweek.com/

From the shifting breezes of Key West to the unpredictable currents of San Francisco Bay, competitive sailing continued to deliver high-stakes drama, intense rivalries, and moments of sheer exhilaration. As the 2025 racing season gains momentum, sailors and spectators alike have witnessed thrilling battles on the water, from the J/111 North American Championship to the Bacardi J/70 Winter Series in Miami and the ever-chaotic Three Bridge Fiasco in San Francisco.  
These events have not only tested the skill and strategy of seasoned crews but have also showcased the raw beauty and challenge of sailing across different conditions— from steady Caribbean trade winds in Grenada to light, drifting duels in the Bay Area. With top-tier teams claiming victory and new challengers rising through the ranks, this season is already shaping up to be one for the books.  

SAIL Magazine Top 10 Best Boats 2025 Winner- the NEW J/40!

(Boston, MA)- Do you remember the moment you got hooked on sailing? Jumping behind the helm of the new J/40 brought all that rushing back for me. This new design is beautifully balanced and responds to even the subtlest changes in the wind. Like many J/Boat designs before her, she is a true racer/cruiser.
Not to be confused with the classic J/40, built between 1984 and 1994, this new design, launched in 2024, aims to push the envelope as an offshore-worthy, high-performance cruising yacht capable of double-digit speeds. While the breeze never even hit double digits the day we sailed, I have no doubt she would accelerate well into her promised performance range off the wind. Read more here.  

Yachting World J/40 Performance Cruiser Test off Palma

(Palma Mallorca, Spain)- Bob Hodges, a yachting journalist for YACHTING WORLD in the United Kingdom, recently put the new J/40 through its paces sailing offshore and evaluated its striking interior and super-efficient new deck layout.  Read more here.

SKELETON KEY Four-peats J/111 North Americans

(Key West, FL)- The 2025 J/111 North American Championship was sailed on the gorgeous aquamarine waters off Key West. Sponsored by SAILING Inc. from Cleveland, OH, the regatta was hosted at the Galleon Hotel Tiki Bar, where the sailors enjoyed a fun, easy-going regatta in the rustic atmosphere of Key West. 
A strong ten-boat contingent of J/111s experienced a challenging four days of racing with mostly overcast skies and northerly breezes. With shifty, streaky winds, it was a game of “chutes & ladders” for the top five on the leaderboard. In the end, winning was Peter Wagner’s SKELETON KEY team from San Francisco, CA- Seadon Wijsen (tactician), Ryan Kern (spinnaker trimmer), Cory Schillaci (pit), John Collins (bow), John Hayes (mast), Dave Lyons (spinnaker trimmer) and Nicholas Gibbens (headsail trimmer). They climbed to the top of the podium on the last day to be crowned J/111 North American Champion for the fourth time!  Read more here.

They Came, They Saw, They Drifted- a REAL 3BR Fiasco!

J/125 Crushes Overall! J/Crews Clean House and Silver in Various Divisions(San Francisco, CA)- An annual favorite in the bay, the SSS (Singlehanded Sailing Society) Three Bridge Fiasco is the biggest yacht race in the USA west of the Mississippi River, with 300+ boats every year.  The race is a pursuit race (slowest boats start first), starts and finishes on the city front at the Golden Gate Yacht Club, and the course involves the Blackaller Buoy (by the Golden Gate Bridge), Yerba Buena Island/Treasure Island (Bay Bridge), and Red Rock (by the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge). The marks can be rounded in any order and any direction, providing the crazy appeal of this race.
There were 303 keelboat entries for this year’s edition of the 3BF!! And, there are 54 J/Teams entered as mostly doublehanded teams- 18.0% of the fleet! Here’s the shocker, the wind conditions were so light this year that just 40 boats in total finished the race! Amazingly, J/crews nearly cleaned house and silvered in several divisions! Here is how it all went down. Read more here.
Read more of John Arndt’s story on LATITUDE 38 herehttps://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/drifted-three-bridge-fiasco/

RELATIVE OBSCURITY Dominates Bacardi J/70 Winter Series II Regatta!

(Miami, FL)- The seventh edition of the Bacardi J/70 Winter Series II Regatta kicked off last weekend with forty-one teams pointing their bows across the starting line on the gorgeous aquamarine waters of Biscayne Bay. 
Winning with relative ease was ex-J/70 World Champion Peter Duncan’s RELATIVE OBSCURITY with a World Championship-level crew of Jud Smith, Willem van Waay, and Victor Diaz de Leon. Their 1-6-3-1-12-1-4-1-DNC in the nine-race series was good enough to not sail the final, take the DNC drop race, and still win by 10 pts net! An impressive return to the class for Senor Duncan after a few year’s hiatus.  Read more here.

J/Crews Enjoy Gorgeous, Windy Grenada Sailing Week

(Grand Anse, St. George’s, Grenada, West Indies)- Hosted by the Grenada Sailing Club, the Grenada Sailing Week is an exciting 6-day event for sailors who enjoy and love sailing in the eastern Caribbean in the “Windward Islands”. The format is fun and easygoing. The first day was the 30.0nm Around Carriacou Island. Then, day two was the Offshore from Carriacou to Grenada. On day three, it was Lay Day for big boats and small keelboat classes doing short buoy races- e.g. the J/80 one-design class. Then, the last two days are around the cans on the South Coast of Grenada for the entire fleet. Thirty teams were entered from all over the Caribbean. 
 Read more here.

J/Weather Jacket- February 25% Special
(Newport, RI)-  The J/Weather jacket is a multi-layered jacket with a warm fleece liner for comfort and a poly shell to repel the elements. Reflective piping stripes on the shoulder and back make it cool for night sailing.
The J/Class logo is embroidered and you may customize it for the whole crew. Order the J/Weather Jacket here

 26th January 2025
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(Miami, FL)- The seventh edition of the Bacardi J/70 Winter Series Regatta kicked off in December 2024 at Shake-A-Leg Miami. The second event is unfolding this coming weekend from January 25-26th, 2025.
The Bacardi J/70 Winter Series events lead into the season finale at the renowned Bacardi Cup Regatta, March 5-8th, 2025 for the J/70 Class and other one-design classes on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida.
There are currently thirty-three teams registered to sail in this weekend’s regatta. Currently leading the series is Cate Muller-Terhune’s CASTING COUCH, followed by Bruno Pasquinelli’s STAMPEDE in second, John Brim’s RIMETTE in third, Maggie McKillen’s MAGATRON in fourth, and John Heaton’s EMPEIRIA in fifth place. The heat will be on for this group to maintain their lofty positions at the top of the leaderboard. There is certainly any number of “mercenaries” waiting in the wings to pounce on every opportunity they get to ascend the ladder and contend for the coveted spots on the podium.
Some of those teams that are certain to avenge their less than stellar “opening gambits” will be teams like Jim Murray’s HESTIA, the Brazilian Ralph Vasconcellos-Rosa’s MINDSET, the British Paul Wollmann’s BRUTUS II, Bryce Kalow’s KID’S TABLE, Rich Witzel’s ROWDY, Brian Keane’s SAVASANA, and Dick Kalow’s SUPERIOR I.
For more Bacardi J/70 Winter Series II sailing informationhttps://bacardiinvitational.com/winterseries1/