J/Boats News & Reviews

Late summer was electric for the J/Community this past week, with new boats, big regattas, and plenty of silverware. Newport buzzed, first at the Sail Newport Gala where the new J/7 daysailer turned heads, and soon at the Newport International Boat Show, where sailors can see the full lineup— from the J/7 and J/9 to the new J/36 and J/40.
On the race course, J/Teams have been busy racking up results on both sides of the Atlantic. From distance racing glory in the Round Long Island and Ida Lewis Distance Races to blustery one-design battles in Hood River, Chester, and San Francisco Bay, the action has been non-stop. Across Europe, the J/70 Sailing Leagues in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Austria are heating up—with national pride, bragging rights, and tight racing on the line.
It’s also been inspiring to watch women’s sailing take center stage, with top performances at the USA Women’s Match Racing Championship in San Francisco and strong youth competition in Newport.

J/7 Daysailer Stars @ Sail Newport Gala!
(Newport, RI)- The annual summer gala for the Sail Newport organization in Newport, RI took place this past week. Featured at the docks in front of the huge “marquee” tent and the Sail Newport building was the new J/7 daysailer, resplendent in “dress ship” style. Next year, a new fleet of J/7s will become the new training boat for the Sail Newport keelboat programs!.  Read more here.

Newport Boat Show- J/7, J/9, NEW J/36, and J/40 on Display

(Newport, RI)- Mark your calendars now! It’s that time of year to catch up with friends and discuss the current line-up of J/Boats at the Newport International Boat Show. The event runs from Thursday, September 11, to Sunday, September 14. 
On display will be the daysailer sisterships- the J/7 and the J/9. In addition, the HOT new offshore cruiser-racers will be on display- the NEW J/36 with twin-wheels and the J/40.  Read more here.

J/Teams Garner Boatloads of Silverware @ Round Long Island Race

Sweep Top 5 PHRF 9 and Top 2 in PHRF 10 Divisions!(New York, NY)- “Our ACADIA had a successful start to distance racing last week! I sailed the 209-mile Around Long Island Race with my cousins and some longtime friends,” commented Erik Asgeirsson, owner/ skipper of the J/45 ACADIA.
“We got 2nd in our competitive division and were 5th overall out of a 50-plus fleet of boats. It was a few races in one, and we did well in each leg. We led our division beating to windward out of New York Harbor and have some great pictures with the Statue of Liberty. We then had an exciting code zero and spinnaker run to Montauk in a 20-knot-plus southerly. We achieved a new top speed of over 16 knots! 
A well-sailed J/121 HARIBU passed us on the way to Montauk. They had an A3 spinnaker, which they deployed a couple of hours before we set our A4 spinnaker.  Read more here.

Big Winds for J/70s @ Hood River One-Design Regatta!

(Hood River, OR)- The Columbia River Gorge is a wind seeker’s paradise. The river marks the boundary between Oregon and Washington. Windsports of all kinds gather here during the summer for thrilling high-wind rides. With launch sites like Doug’s Beach or Swell City, you might think it’s a Pacific beach, but it’s where coastal rain meets desert sun. The desert heats to 90+ degrees, creating predictable thermal westerly winds funneled up the Gorge. Windshifts occur, and wind can slant NW, W, or SW. Here’s Janet Laffitte’s story of wild sailing on their J/70 in 20 to 35 kts conditions!
“For one weekend in the summer, the boarders share the river with intrepid J/70 and Moore 24 sailors who seek the same thrills- short upwind legs flowing with the river and long wild planing downwind sleigh rides against the river’s current. Run by the small but mighty, tight but friendly Hood River Yacht Club, the Hood River One-Design Regatta (HR1D) draws sailors from as far south as San Francisco and north up to Seattle. The Gorge is home base for many professional and Olympic-class sailors. They are also HRYC members who are more than happy to share local knowledge or donate their time to boost the junior sailing program. Let’s be clear- regardless of sailing level, the local sailors are not wallflowers. Race night is game on, even in the 25-30 kts wind range, which the locals call a  normal race day. Forget the J/70 class rule wind limit because they would never go out otherwise!!. Read more here.

J/Teams Eclipse Chester Race Week 2025!
(Halifax, Nova Scotia)- The beautiful little seaside village of Chester, Nova Scotia, played host to another wonderful Chester Race Week. The Chester Yacht Club played host to over 100 yachts that competed on three different courses over the four-day event, which is billed as the largest keelboat regatta in Canada. Boats were registered from all over Nova Scotia, plus boats from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. For those viewing the racing from shore or on the water, they were treated to a kaleidoscope of color with the spinnakers billowing and pulling the boats to the finish lines. 
Near Perfect WeatherThe opening day began under calm conditions, with glassy waters and light air delaying the action. By mid-afternoon, a sunny day with a light breeze filled in across Mahone Bay, setting the stage for competitive racing. On day 2, it dawned with steady morning breezes, a welcome change from the calmer start on the first day. Crews took to Mahone Bay ready for another round of fierce competition across all courses, with close mark roundings, tactical duels, and shifting wind conditions keeping tacticians on their toes. Then, on the final day, the crews experienced lively conditions on Mahone Bay, with steady winds fueling fast-paced racing across all divisions. Crews pushed hard into the weekend, with overall standings tightening, and several fleets setting up for thrilling final day showdowns. Read more here.

Sarpsborg SA Crushing Norwegian J/70 Sailing League 2025!
(Arendal, Norway)- The Norwegian Sailing Association and the Arendals Sailing Club hosted the third stage of the 2025 Norwegian J/70 Sailing League in Arendal, Norway. Eighteen clubs from across the mountainous peninsula of Norway competed for “best sailing club” honors over the three-day event. Each club sailed fourteen races!
In the end, the regatta became a tightly fought battle between Sarpsborg Sailing Association, Trondhjems Seilforening, and Kongelig Norsk Seilforening. Just three points separated the three teams after the clouds had cleared in the fog of war. Winning was the Sarpsborg SA team with 18 pts, followed by Trondhjems SC in second place with 20 pts, then just one point in arrears for the bronze medal was KNS (Royal Norwegian Yacht Club) with 21 pts. Read more here.

Roskilde Sejlklub Tops Danish J/70 Sailing League- Hellerup 

(Hellerup, Denmark)- The Hellerup S ejlklub hosted the twenty-one sailing clubs from across Denmark for the third event of the Danish J/760 Sailing League in Hellerup, Denmark. 
After a tightly fought battle, the Roskilde SC team pulled off the regatta win. They were followed by the Kalovig Badelaug team in second place and the Sonderborg Yacht Club in third place. The balance of the top five saw the Royal Danish YC teams (Kongelig Dansk Sejlklub) take fourth place, with Sejlklubben Neptune Vejle take fifth place. Read more here.

Stenungsunds SC Wins Swedish J/70 Sailing League- Ekero

(Jungfrusund (Ekerö BK), Sweden)- The third event in the Swedish J/70 Sailing League series took place in Ekero, Sweden, for the eighteen teams competing for the title of Best Sailing Club in Sweden. Each team sailed fifteen races over the two-day weekend that was blessed with great sailing weather! Both Saturday and Sunday offered fresh gusty winds. All the crews coped with this well, but the unpredictable wind shifts meant there were constant, quick reversals in the races and in the results list!
After fifteen preliminary rounds, fifteen races per crew, Åmålsviken was in the lead ahead of Strängnäs, Stenungsund, GKSS, Halmstad, and Ekerö. These six clubs then qualified to participate in the grand finale race. Here, Halmstad was best, but closely followed by Stenungsund and Strängnäs. This meant that Stenungsund and Strängnäs ended up on the same final points of 5 each. The final victory was then awarded to the Stenungsund team (Jonas Berntsson, Clara Svensdotter, Herman Andersson, and Doris Lagergren), due to the better result in the final race. Rounding out the podium was determined by another tiebreaker at 6 pts each. Winning that countback was Halmstads Segelsallskap team over Segelsallskapet Amalsviken team. Read more here.

J/109 Wins Youth Challenge @ Ida Lewis Distance Race

(Newport, RI)- The 20th anniversary of the Ida Lewis Distance Race delivered an unforgettable offshore challenge for 35 teams that took to the starting line Friday morning (August 15) in blustery east northeasterly winds. With a demanding downwind start in 12-15 knots, crews had to precisely time their spinnaker hoists – a thrilling sight just outside of Newport Harbor – as they launched into the 24-hour endurance race.
“Hosted by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, this year’s edition stayed true to its reputation, serving up the full spectrum of offshore sailing: strong breezes, tidal currents, and sometimes frustrating stretches of light to no wind at all,” said Event Chair Anselm Richards. “The racecourse tested both seamanship and strategy, keeping crews and tacticians on their game from start to finish.”
The fleet featured two ORC, one Doublehanded, and three PHRF (Aloha, Bagheera, Coronet) classes. From seasoned veterans to ambitious newcomers, all teams faced the demanding conditions that have made this race a classic on the northeast sailing calendar.
All was not easy, however, on the track to victory that sent the fleet from Narragansett Bay to Rhode Island Sound and as far as Block Island Sound. Stretches of little to no wind pushed wits and determination to the edge, extending the 24-hour race to between 25 and 27 hours for some and giving 10 boats reason to retire before finishing. Read more here.

Breault Dominates Women’s USA Match Race Championship!

(San Francisco, CA)- The USA Women’s Match Racing Championship was hosted last weekend by the eponymous St. Francis Yacht Club. This match race regatta was sailed in the club’s matched J/22 one-design sailboat, with ten all-women’s teams participating. The format includes a series of Qualifying Round Robins, Semi-Finals, and a Finals Series.
Posting sharp tactics and blistering boatspeed for all three days of the event, Nicole Breault’s team from the host St. Francis YC (Molly Vandemoer, McKenzie Wilson, and Hailey Thompson) virtually ran the table, losing only twice in races for the entire weekend!. Read more here.

Nautic Club Austria Tops Austrian J/70 Sailing League- Achensee

(Achensee, Austria)- The Nautic Club Austria celebrated its first victory at the final stop of the Austrian Sailing League on Lake Achensee. The Styrian team prevailed ahead of the Union Yachtclub Wörthersee and the home team, SCTWV Achensee. It was the third and penultimate event before the final on Lake Mattsee in September. The 18 best Austrian sailing clubs will be competing for the championship title in six identical J/70 sailboats.
On the first two days of the regatta, the wind didn’t arrive until late afternoon. However, at the end of the race, Lake Achensee showed off its best side: a steady northerly wind of around 15 knots set in by midday, allowing a total of 18 races to be sailed until the final whistle.
“Our goal is to compete in the Sailing Champions League long-term. We train with our J/70 class boats in Punat, we have reliable sponsors, and we sail with a well-coordinated team in fixed positions, which brings stability. Lake Achensee also suits us,” said NCA team captain Mischa Strobl, explaining their success. Read more here.

J/Gear- August 20% off Special
The J Diamond Polo is a mild departure from the solid colors. This fun diamond pattern is featured on a quality shirt by Adidas. Soft uniform collar and available with your J Class logo. Specify your option imprints and location.
Features:- 3.5 oz./yd², 100% recycled polyester- All-over diamond jacquard pattern- Three-button placket
Get your J/Gear 20% off special here- ORDER your special discount items here. 

 

 

(Newport, RI)- The 20th anniversary of the Ida Lewis Distance Race delivered an unforgettable offshore challenge for 35 teams that took to the starting line Friday morning (August 15) in blustery east northeasterly winds. With a demanding downwind start in 12-15 knots, crews had to precisely time their spinnaker hoists – a thrilling sight just outside of Newport Harbor – as they launched into the 24-hour endurance race.
“Hosted by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, this year’s edition stayed true to its reputation, serving up the full spectrum of offshore sailing: strong breezes, tidal currents, and sometimes frustrating stretches of light to no wind at all,” said Event Chair Anselm Richards. “The racecourse tested both seamanship and strategy, keeping crews and tacticians on their game from start to finish.”
The fleet featured two ORC, one Doublehanded, and three PHRF (Aloha, Bagheera, Coronet) classes. From seasoned veterans to ambitious newcomers, all teams faced the demanding conditions that have made this race a classic on the northeast sailing calendar.
All was not easy, however, on the track to victory that sent the fleet from Narragansett Bay to Rhode Island Sound and as far as Block Island Sound. Stretches of little to no wind pushed wits and determination to the edge, extending the 24-hour race to between 25 and 27 hours for some and giving 10 boats reason to retire before finishing.
An Impressive Youth/ Collegiate TurnoutOf the 35 teams competing, five were dual-scored for the Youth Challenge and six were dual-scored for the Collegiate Challenge, each having the required allotment of 40% youth or collegiate sailors, respectively, as crew. Furthermore, a total of 11 boats (roughly 31% of the fleet) included at least one or more high school sailors (22 total) in their crews, and nine boats (25% of the fleet) had collegiate sailors (20 total) aboard.
Bill Kneller’s (Newport, RI) J/109 VENTO SOLARE, third in its PHRF Coronet class, won the Arent H. Kits van Heyningen Trophy for the Youth Challenge, while William Denker’s (Hull, MA) J/99 FALCON, second in Coronet class, won the Tuthill Collegiate Trophy for the Collegiate Challenge.
“It was an outstanding showing of the next generation of sailors,” said one of the race’s Youth/ Collegiate coordinators, Adam Witham.
ORC 2 DivisionIn this six-boat fleet, Bob Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE took the bronze medal, while Ned Jobson’s J/105 SLEEPER finished in 6th place.
PHRF Coronet DivisionIn this fleet of eight yachts, Denker’s J/99 FALCON was second, followed by Kneller’s J/109 VENTO SOLARE in third, and Jim Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER in 6th place.
Ida Lewis Distance Race Gold Sponsors were Hogan Associates/ Christie’s International Real Estate, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, and Van Liew Trust Company. Silver Sponsor was Contender Sailcloth, and Bronze Sponsors were the Brenton Hotel and Hilb Group. Contributing Sponsors were Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, Stella Artois, Toni Mills Graphic Design, and Mac Designs.
For Ida Lewis Distance Race sailing informationhttp://www.ilyc.org/distancerace

(Newport, RI)- Mark your calendars now! It’s that time of year to catch up with friends and discuss the current line-up of J/Boats at the Newport International Boat Show. The event runs from Thursday, September 11, to Sunday, September 14.
On display will be the daysailer sisterships- the J/7 and the J/9. In addition, the HOT new offshore cruiser-racers will be on display- the NEW J/36 with twin-wheels and the J/40.
Come join us and catch up on the latest happenings in the world of J/Boats! We hope to see you there!
Newport International Boat Show informationhttps://www.newportboatshow.com/en/home.html

Sweep Top 5 PHRF 9 and Top 2 in PHRF 10 Divisions!(New York, NY)- “Our ACADIA had a successful start to distance racing last week! I sailed the 209-mile Around Long Island Race with my cousins and some longtime friends,” commented Erik Asgeirsson, owner/ skipper of the J/45 ACADIA.
“We got 2nd in our competitive division and were 5th overall out of a 50-plus fleet of boats. It was a few races in one, and we did well in each leg. We led our division beating to windward out of New York Harbor and have some great pictures with the Statue of Liberty. We then had an exciting code zero and spinnaker run to Montauk in a 20-knot-plus southerly. We achieved a new top speed of over 16 knots!
A well-sailed J/121 HARIBU passed us on the way to Montauk. They had an A3 spinnaker, which they deployed a couple of hours before we set our A4 spinnaker.

It was then a beat to windward up Long Island Sound in 9 to 13 knots. We passed the J/121 a little before the finish and were first over the line. But the J/121 corrected over us. We also would have been 3rd in Division 1, beating a Soto 40 and the J/160 Cougar,” commented Erik on their successful race.
PHRF 9 DivisionIt was a clean sweep of the top five in this division. Winning was Max Hafen’s J/105 PHANTOM. They were followed by Cormac Murphy’s J/105 LITTLE TEXAS YC in second, and Steve Landy & Derek Soohoo’s J/100 SANGUINE in third. The balance of the top five included Ken Horvath’s J/37 WINDANCER and Kevin Sherwood’s J/99 BAY RETRIEVER, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
PHRF 10 DivisionWinning was Steve Losik’s J/121 HABIRU from United Yacht Club. Taking the silver medal was Erik Asgeirsson’s J/45 ACADIA from American Yacht Club, just 7 minutes behind on handicap corrected time! Fourth place was Andrian Lubimov’s J/120 DUET.
PHRF 0 DivisionThe “big boat” class saw Len Sitar’s famous J/160 COUGAR zoom around the course in style to take fourth place, just 14 minutes corrected time from taking the bronze medal!

The first week of August has been buzzing with action across every corner of the sailing world, and our J/crews have been right in the thick of it. From the legendary waters of Cowes Week to the blustery challenges of San Francisco Bay, from the Midwest’s Verve Cup to the sun-splashed fun of Newport and SoCal, it’s been a week packed with trophies, new stories, and plenty of dockside laughter.
Cowes Week delivered its usual mix of tough Solent currents and unforgettable shoreside festivities.  Youth sailors showed their mettle at the Sears Cup in San Francisco. And, Lake Michigan put on a perfect show for the Verve Cup Offshore. Newport turned on its trademark sou’wester for Safe Harbor Race Weekend, while out West, the J/105 fleet filled San Francisco Bay with spray at the Summer Keelboat Regatta. And that’s not even mentioning the fun and inspiration of the WOW/WAH Women’s Regatta in Marina del Rey.
We’re also sharing a special story this month: the first all-women J/42 crew to take on — and finish — the iconic Annapolis-Newport Race. It’s a milestone worth celebrating, and a reminder that our sport continues to grow, evolve, and welcome new voices at the helm. Join us as we look back on a week of racing, camaraderie, and plenty of silverware.

J/Crews Loved Awesome Cowes Week 2025
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- For the first week of August, the Cowes Combined Clubs hosted their annual highlight of the summer sailing season on the Solent- the famous Cowes Race Week off Cowes, Isle of Wight. Yet again, hundreds of boats and thousands of sailors graced the quaint seaside town with raucous parties and challenging sailing on the capricious waters of the famously fast-flowing Solent Water. 

Again, dozens of J/Teams were sailing for a full seven days on the water and garnered plenty of silverware! Cowes Week 2025 delivered everything sailors could have hoped for: competitive racing, changing conditions, and the kind of dockside entertainment that makes the week so memorable. Here’s the roundup for the J/Boat fleet.  Read more here.

San Francisco YC Crowned J/22 US Youth Sears Cup Champions

(San Francisco, CA)- This past weekend, the St Francis Yacht Club hosted the 2025 Chubb U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship for the coveted Sears Cup Perpetual Trophy. Twenty teams from across the USA sailed the StFYC’s fleet of matched one-design class J/22 sailboats using the sailing league style format of rotation. Each team was able to sail eleven races.  Read more here.

Hot Racing Action @ Verve Cup Offshore

(Chicago, IL)- The Chicago Yacht Club recently hosted the first of its perennial late summer regattas, the Verve Cup Offshore. Blessed with great weather most of the weekend, the two one-design classes of J/88s and J/105s enjoyed three great days of racing on Lake Michigan off the spectacular Chicago lakefront. Read more here.

Fun, Frolic, & Silver for J’s Sailing Safe Harbor Race Weekend   

(Newport, RI)- What began as a three-day weekend of tempered wind expectations evolved into a full-blown demonstration of skill, strategy, and spirited Newport sailing camaraderie during the fifth annual Safe Harbor Race Weekend held Friday, August 8, through Sunday, August 10. Despite early forecasts calling for barely-there breezes, Newport’s signature afternoon southwesterly arrived just in time each day to transform the racecourse into a dynamic proving ground for a record-breaking fleet of 72 teams in 10 classes. Read more here.

BLACKHAWK Tops J/105 Summer Keelboat Regatta
(Belvedere, CA)- The San Francisco Bay J/105 Fleet showed up en masse for the San Francisco Yacht Club summertime classic- the Summer Keelboat Regatta. Twenty-one teams enjoyed two days of great racing in typical blustery Bay weather, with a total of five races completed.
Starting with a bullet in their first race, long-time class veteran Ryan Simmons and his BLACKHAWK team put an affirmative stamp on where they wanted to be for the rest of the regatta. Read more here.

Women J/Teams Silver @ WOW Regatta SoCal    
(Marina del Rey, CA)- The 2025 edition of California Yacht Club’s Women on Water Regatta was enjoyed by a great turnout of two dozen women’s sailing teams. Sailing in southern California in sunny weather and gentle seabreezes is hard to beat in the summertime. The women sailors were looking forward to some more fun racing around the cans. 
The WOW/WAH regatta has two divisions: Women on Water (WOW) — composed of all female teams, and Women at the Helm (WAH) — composed of co-ed teams with a female driver. Both divisions race the same weekend in one regatta. 
The WOW/WAH is about promoting, empowering, and celebrating women sailors. The only regatta of its kind in Marina del Rey, it’s a great opportunity to sharpen racing skills by taking the helm, leading a crew, or trying a new position.
When it’s all said and done, this regatta is a celebration of women sailors and their love of this sport. The spirit and camaraderie felt during this event are what make it so special. Several J/Teams enjoyed the fun-in-the-sun in this year’s event. Read more here.

Ida Lewis Distance Race Preview

(Newport, RI)- Thirty-six teams have officially signed up for the highly anticipated 2025 Ida Lewis Distance Race, scheduled for its 20th edition August 14-15. Showcasing one of the most diverse fleets in recent years, the roster includes 10 ORC, seven doublehanded, and 19 PHRF boats, with a strong showing from youth and collegiate sailors for respective challenge trophies in each division. Unlike traditional round-the-buoy regattas, this event stands out by challenging sailors with an overnight coastal distance course, offering a unique test of strategy, seamanship, and endurance. Read more here.

The All-Women J/42 ALLEGIANT Story- First All-Women Crew Finishes Annapolis-Newport Race!

(Annapolis, MD)- This is a story by Joe Cooper from WINDCHECK Magazine and the “Ladies Alliance”. 
“I learned about the good yacht ALLEGIANT, a J/42 owned and skippered by Maryline Bossar, from a press release sent to me,” said Cooper. 
Well, ownership includes her husband, but since he wasn’t aboard for this race, we’re giving him a pass. Their finish time was 4 days, 17 hours, 52 seconds. OK, not hair-on-fire for a roughly 475-mile race, 40% of which is negotiating the patchy wind and sketchy currents of Chesapeake Bay, which in this case included some time anchored at the mouth. 
ALLEGIANT finished ninth in the PHRF class and 44th out of 71 entries. Maybe not Sailor(s) of the Year award stuff, but not too shabby. Think about how many guys they beat. Turns out 15% of the sailors in the fleet were women. This is a stat roughly equal to the percentage of female sailors in the 2020 Vendee Globe. I spoke with three of the girls via Zoom video conference call. Read more here.

J/Gear- August 20% off Special
The J Diamond Polo is a mild departure from the solid colors. This fun diamond pattern is featured on a quality shirt by Adidas. Soft uniform collar and available with your J Class logo. Specify your option imprints and location.
Features:- 3.5 oz./yd², 100% recycled polyester- All-over diamond jacquard pattern- Three-button placket
Get your J/Gear 20% off special here- ORDER your special discount items here. 

Yacht Club de Monaco’s flagship Tuiga (1909) won the 30th Illes Balears Clàssics Regatta in the Big Boat category. After winning two of the three hotly disputed races, the crew led by Daniel Pereira clinched the event one point ahead of The Lady Anne (1912).

(Newport, RI)- Thirty-six teams have officially signed up for the highly anticipated 2025 Ida Lewis Distance Race, scheduled for its 20th edition August 14-15. Showcasing one of the most diverse fleets in recent years, the roster includes 10 ORC, seven doublehanded, and 19 PHRF boats, with a strong showing from youth and collegiate sailors for respective challenge trophies in each division. Unlike traditional round-the-buoy regattas, this event stands out by challenging sailors with an overnight coastal distance course, offering a unique test of strategy, seamanship, and endurance.
“The race is structured to be a 24-hour overnight race,” said Event Chair Anselm Richards. “With a start off Jamestown on Friday at 11 am, the fleet is expected to return mostly in the mid-morning to early afternoon the following Saturday.”
To accomplish this, Richards says, the Ida Lewis Race Course Development Team has plotted a choice of several courses between 129 and 230 nautical miles. Before the start, it will determine which class will sail what course, based on weather and handicap ranges for each class.
Ida Lewis Yacht Club offers a congenial atmosphere where competitors can mix with club members at socials and Saturday night’s final prizegiving. At the finish line, each team is greeted on the water with a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate their efforts.
The ILDR is popular with J/Teams. Here is the breakdown by division.
ORC 2 DivisionIn this six-boat fleet, Bob Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE and Ned Jobson’s J/105 SLEEPER will be looking forward to the “tour” of Rhode Island Sound.
PHRF Coronet DivisionIn this fleet of eight yachts, sailing are Jim Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER, Bill Kneller’s J/109 VENTO SOLARE, and William Denker’s J/99 FALCON. Both DIGGER and VENTO SOLARE are entered as “Youth” boats, while FALCON is also entered as a “Collegiate” boat.
PHRF Bagheera DivisionSailing in this five-boat fleet is EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT and Paul Kekalos’s J/40 RANGER.
Ida Lewis Distance Race Gold Sponsors are Hogan Associates/Christie’s International Real Estate, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, and Van Liew Trust Company. Silver Sponsor is Contender Sailcloth, and Bronze Sponsors are the Brenton Hotel and Hilb Group. Contributing Sponsors are Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, Stella Artois, Toni Mills Graphic Design, and Mac Designs.
For Ida Lewis Distance Race sailing informationhttp://www.ilyc.org/distancerace

(Marina del Rey, CA)- The 2025 edition of California Yacht Club’s Women on Water Regatta was enjoyed by a great turnout of two dozen women’s sailing teams. Sailing in southern California in sunny weather and gentle seabreezes is hard to beat in the summertime. The women sailors were looking forward to some more fun racing around the cans.
The WOW/WAH regatta has two divisions: Women on Water (WOW) — composed of all female teams, and Women at the Helm (WAH) — composed of co-ed teams with a female driver. Both divisions race the same weekend in one regatta.
The WOW/WAH is about promoting, empowering, and celebrating women sailors. The only regatta of its kind in Marina del Rey, it’s a great opportunity to sharpen racing skills by taking the helm, leading a crew, or trying a new position.
When it’s all said and done, this regatta is a celebration of women sailors and their love of this sport. The spirit and camaraderie felt during this event are what make it so special. Several J/Teams enjoyed the fun-in-the-sun in this year’s event.
WAH Performance DivisionThis eight-boat fleet saw Talin Babikian and Karia Reinhardt from Del Rey Yacht Club sail the J/80 AVET to a silver medal after five races. After a slow start, they posted three straight 2nds for a total of 13 pts.
WAH Racer DivisionThis six-boat class saw a few fast big boats. In the end, it was Alena Philpot’s J/105 CUCHULAINN from South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club that garnered a silver medal for her efforts in their three-race series. She posted a 2-3-2 for 7 pts.
WOW DivisionThis all-women teams division saw a few hardcore racers vying for the top of the leaderboard. A former collegiate All-American and Tufts Sailing Team member- Susan Taylor- managed to get her California Yacht Club crew around the course on her famous J/24 TAKE FIVE. Normally accustomed to beating “the boys” in the SoCal J/24 Class events, she could only muster a bronze medal against “the girls”. She missed the silver medal by a mere 2 points after five races.
Follow WOW Women on the Water on Facebook herehttps://www.facebook.com/womenonthewater/
For more Women’s Sailing Association information herehttps://wsasmb.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=26731&module_id=610516
For more Cal Yacht Club regatta informationhttps://calyachtclub.com/regattas

(Chicago, IL)- The Chicago Yacht Club recently hosted the first of its perennial late summer regattas, the Verve Cup Offshore. Blessed with great weather most of the weekend, the two one-design classes of J/88s and J/105s enjoyed three great days of racing on Lake Michigan off the spectacular Chicago lakefront.

J/88 ClassIt was spirited racing as usual amongst the eight-boat fleet. Winning for the first time in this fiercely competitive class was David Dennison’s PIRANHA. His team of Kevin Meier, Alex Smith, Meagan Bryant, Pat Sheehan, and Thorn Truner managed to pull off a consistent scoreline of 3-3-1-2-4-1 for 14 pts to be crowned the winners.
Second place went to another rapidly improving team, Lindsey Duda’s SIN DUDA! and crew of Tyler Woodworth, Kyle Vowels, Nathan Hollberbach, Abie McLaughlin, Zac Hernandez, and Adelaide Ferguson. Their record of 1-5-3-3-2-2 was good for 16 pts. Then, rounding out the podium with the bronze medal was past winner Andy Graff and his team on EXILE- Luke LeCoche, Scott Eisenhardt, Miranda Madden, Graham Eger, and Martin Johnsson. The EXILE crew managed a 2-1-8-5-1-3 scoreline for 20 pts total.
The balance of the top five included Ben Marden’s BANTER in fourth with 21 pts and John Leahey’s DUTCH in fifth position with 25 pts.

J/105 ClassThe thirteen-boat J/105 fleet saw a roller-coaster battle breakout between two veterans of the offshore wars on Lake Michigan- Jon Weglarz and Richie Stearns. After six races, both Weglarz’s THE ASYLUM team and Stearns’s FIVE team were tied at 14 pts each. THE ASYLUM posted a 1-2-2-7-1-1 tally, while FIVE had a 2-6-1-1-2-2 record. Winning the countback was Weglarz’s team (Sean Wilson, Tim Kohler, Joe Saccone, Danielle Fruin, and Andy Vincent). Losing that countback to settle for the silver medal was Stearns’s crew (Lori Stearns, Joe Kestler, Marci Grunert, Freya Olsen, and Augie Hernandez). Taking the bronze medal on the podium was yet another Chicago offshore veteran, Clark Pellet’s SEALARK with crew of Ned Sher, Sonny Jenema, John Songin, and Russ Radke.
The balance of the top five included John Kalanik’s PURA VIDA in fourth place and Mark Fruin’s NYCTOSAUR in fifth place.
For more Chicago YC Verve Cup Offshore sailing informationhttps://www.vervecup.com/offshore

(Newport, RI)- What began as a three-day weekend of tempered wind expectations evolved into a full-blown demonstration of skill, strategy, and spirited Newport sailing camaraderie during the fifth annual Safe Harbor Race Weekend held Friday, August 8, through Sunday, August 10. Despite early forecasts calling for barely-there breezes, Newport’s signature afternoon southwesterly arrived just in time each day to transform the racecourse into a dynamic proving ground for a record-breaking fleet of 72 teams in 10 classes.

ORC C DivisionRacing in ORC C, which was the largest offshore fleet (10 boats), could go down in Safe Harbor Race Weekend history as one of the closest racing finales. In overall scoring, three boats shared a three-way tie on 18 pts, including David Rosow’s (Fairfield, Conn.) J/122 LOKI and Tom Sutton’s (Houston, Texas) J/122 LEADING EDGE. On the tiebreaker, LOKI got the silver medal, while LEADING EDGE took the bronze medal.

PHRF D Division- J/SWEEP!Joe Brito’s (Bristol, R.I.) J/121 INCOGNITO turned in a stellar performance in PHRF D Division. INCOGNITO had three bullets in its five-race scoreline. They led a sweep of the fleet, with John Greifzu’s J/109 GROWTH SPURT taking the silver, with Ted Herlihy’s J/109 GUT FEELING taking the bronze medal.

PHRF E DivisionSailing fast and in contention all weekend for the top of the leaderboard was Kevin Dakan’s J/110 MEMORY. Starting by winning the first race, they closed the regatta with four 2nds to take the silver. Third place was Chris Tate’s J/105 BLITZ, fourth was Ned Joyce & Andy Reservitz’s J/105 DARK’N’STORMY, and fifth went to EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT.

PHRF NAV B Division“We were expecting much lighter air, and we ended up with fair wind (stronger on Sunday than on Friday and Saturday), cool, dry weather, and blue skies,” said Brian Nelson (Shrewsbury, NJ), skipper of J/112E HONEY BADGER, which won the PHRF Nav B (Performance Cruising) class. “What more could you ask for?”
Though it was Nelson and his New Jersey team’s first season sailing HONEY BADGER, they turned in a consistent performance of 3-1-1-3 in a series that included a short-distance race around Prudence Island on Friday, followed on Saturday and Sunday by three races around government marks, race buoys, and islands in Narragansett Bay.
Taking the third step on the podium was Jim Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER, with Mark Nannini’s J/120 SALACIA in fourth place and Doug Curtiss’s J/111 WICKED 2.0 in sixth place.

PHRF NAV C DivisionAfter sailing to a very consistent two 2nds and two 3rds, Brooke Mastriorio’s J/109 URSA ended up tied for 2nd place, but lost the tiebreaker to settle for the bronze medal.
All J/sailors enjoyed the social events of the weekend, which included Friday night’s Coastal New England Dinner Presented by Citizens on The Point at Safe Harbor New England Boatworks and Saturday night’s “Talk of the Town” Crew Party, with delicious bites and live music, presented by Mount Gay Rum at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard in the heart of downtown Newport.
“The effort that Safe Harbor puts into the social events is phenomenal,” said one sailor. “I’ve said it before: ‘this is the event of the summer.’ It’s the crescendo of the racing season, and everyone wants to be here in Newport with their crews and families.”
Sailing photo credits- Stephen Cloutier- “Block Island Steve”https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-kgP5qq
For Safe Harbor Regatta sailing resultshttps://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative/17003
For more Safe Harbor Regatta sailing informationhttps://shmarinas.com/safe-harbor-race-weekend/