j/Newsletter- September 24th, 2026

J/9 daysailer enjoying a cruise off Newport, RI

As September turns decisively toward fall, the J/Boats calendar is blending late-season championships, sailing league finales, regional regattas, and the first big look ahead to the Annapolis Sailboat Show. From San Francisco Bay and Buzzards Bay to Lorient, Stavanger, Aarhus, Berlin, Switzerland, Lake Ontario, and the Middle East, J/Teams are still racing hard as the next season already begins to take shape.

In Annapolis, the largest sailboat show in the United States, the J/7, J/9, J/40, and J/45 will be on display October 15-18, giving sailors a chance to compare four very different expressions of the J/Boats design philosophy—from simple daysailing and performance cruising to offshore-capable speed and comfort.

On the racecourse, J/Teams continued to produce major results. At the ROLEX Big Boat Series, J/Boats made up an extraordinary 62 percent of the offshore keelboat fleet, effectively turning San Francisco Bay into a four-day J/Fest. In France, J/70 and J/80 teams enjoyed a seven-race series at the L’Atlantique Le Télégramme Regatta. Meanwhile, GROWTH SPURT captured the J/109 North American Championship after a classic ten-race battle on breezy Buzzards Bay.

The European sailing league season also reached several important conclusions. Tønsberg was crowned Norwegian J/70 Sailing League Champion after a wild Stavanger finale, Sonderborg took the Danish league title, and Norddeutscher Regatta Verein moved to the front of the German Sailing League heading into its final act. In Switzerland, Thunersee YC won the J/70 Women’s League Championship after a weather-challenged finale that eventually delivered a full burst of racing.

Closer to home, J/Boats were again prominent across Buzzards Bay, where fourteen J/Teams participated in the summer trophy series and four finished among the top five overall. Looking ahead, American Yacht Club’s Fall Regatta will bring J/105, J/44, ORC, and PHRF fleets back to Long Island Sound, while Port Credit Yacht Club prepares to host a deep J/24 North American Championship fleet ahead of the 2027 Worlds in Canada.

The global footprint keeps expanding. The TENZOR J/70 Middle East Cup is positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a new international sailing destination connecting Europe, Asia, and the Gulf. And in Seattle, the Women at the Helm series delivered one of the week’s best grassroots stories, with Molly Howe and her all-women crew racing a borrowed J/80 to the front of the fleet and reminding everyone that opportunity, teamwork, and enthusiasm can matter just as much as polished equipment.

From championship titles and sailing league finales to fall regattas, emerging international venues, and women taking the helm, this week’s stories show J/Sailing finishing the season with the same energy, diversity, and competitive spirit that defined the summer.

J/Boats Brings J/7, J/9, J/40 and J/45 to Annapolis Sailboat Show

(Newport, RI)- Come one, come all for the biggest sailboat show in the United States! Annapolis is always a fun time and a fantastic opportunity to browse the latest J/models at the show. Plus, it’s a wonderful time to commiserate with one of the Johnstone Family clan that are always at the show!

October 15- 18- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland
On display- J/7, J/9, J/40, and J/45
Annapolis Sailboat Show information (https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/sailboat-show/)

J/105s sailing San Francisco Bay ROLEX Big Boat Series

J/Boats Dominate San Francisco’s ROLEX Big Boat Series

(San Francisco, CA)- The premier racing event on San Francisco Bay since 1964 delivered another legendary experience for sailors: epic conditions over four days of racing, dynamic race courses managed by a world-class race committee, and memorable post-racing parties hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club!

Without a doubt, it was a “J/Day” for the de facto J/Team domination of the three ORC handicap classes. The outcome was not altogether surprising considering that 46 J/Boats dominated the field of 74 offshore keelboats- J/Boats was by far the dominant brand in the regatta with 62.0% of the fleet- a “de facto J/Fest” celebration on San Francisco Bay! Plus, the huge J/105 one-design class had a few epic battles, while the hot J/88 class saw veterans pounding the race track hard each day! Here’s how it all went down between the various fleets. READ MORE HERE.

J/80 sailing L'Atlantic Le Telegramme Regatta in Lorient, France

JOUR J and MOJITO Win J/70 & J/80 at L’Atlantique Le Télégramme Regatta

(Lorient, France)- An annual rite of passage for French J/70 and J/80 sailors has been the popular end-of-summer-season event- the L’Atlantique Le Télégramme Regatta. Hosted by the friendly members at CN Lorient along the shores of the Bay of Biscay, the J/80 and J/70 teams both enjoyed a very well-run seven-race series. READ MORE HERE.

J/70 Norwegian Sailing League racing in Stavanger, Norway

Tønsberg Wins 2026 Norwegian J/70 Sailing League Championship
(Stavanger, Norway)- It was a thrilling finale in Stavanger, Norway, for the last weekend of sailing the 2026 Norwegian J/70 Sailing League. Punctuated by a wet, intense, and memorable ending, it was a challenging regatta sailing in typical Stavanger conditions, with rain, sun, hail, and a lot of wind! The Stavanger Sailing Club were great hosts, and their regatta RC/PRO manager Nilsson managed to complete eighteen races in sometimes very fresh sailing conditions. READ MORE HERE.

J/70s sailing UK Grand Slam Series on the Solent, England.

JIRAFFE Wins J/70 UK Grand Slam Act VI on the Solent
(Hamble, England)- With just one more event to go, things are getting tight for the top of the leaderboard in the 2026 J/70 UK Grand Slam Series, which has been hosted by the fabulous red carpet treatment on offer at every regatta at the Royal Southern Yacht Club on the Hamble River in the United Kingdom. What’s not to love about sailing from RSYC with great regatta management on the always mercurial Solent Waters! READ MORE HERE.

Danish J/70 Sailing League racing off Aarhus, Denmark

Sonderborg Wins 2026 Danish J/70 Sailing League Championship
KDY Team Wins Aarhus Finale
(Aarhus, Denmark)- The finale for the 2026 Danish J/70 Sailing League was hosted by Aarhus Sejklub in Aarhus, Denmark. With sailing taking place on the expansive harbor highlighted by its huge, picturesque bridge at one end, the twenty-one teams were treated to eleven races each in the thirty-three races run by the Aarhus RC/PRO team.

In the end, it was abundantly clear the top four teams for the series were all racing for the honor of “best sailing club” in Denmark. All teams were proud to represent their clubs, and that was evident in the very high level of sailing competition over the weekend. Past winners like the KDY (Royal Danish YC) team had their hands full, facing many of the extremely talented teams from some of Denmark’s smaller sailing clubs. READ MORE HERE.

German J/70 Sailing League racing on Lake Wansee in Berlin, Germany

NRV Wins Berlin, Leads 2026 German J/70 Sailing League
(Berlin, Germany)- In the penultimate regatta of the year for the Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga, the Potsdamer Yacht Club hosted both League 1 & 2 on the beautiful Wannsee Lake in the middle of eastern Germany. With 18 teams in each league, the PYC had their hands full hosting the 36 sailing club teams in the pretty, quaint facilities along the lake! Remarkably, the PYC RC/PRO team’s expert on-water race management enabled the teams to sail 16 races each! READ MORE HERE.

Swiss J/70 Women's Sailing League team racing upwind

Thunersee YC Wins 2026 Swiss J/70 Women’s Sailing League
(La Neuveville, Switzerland)- The Swiss J/70 Women’s Super League Act 2 took place at La Bordée de Tribord to determine the top women’s teams in Switzerland. The eleven teams from all four points of the compass in the Swiss mountain nation sailed twelve races; that was no easy accomplishment! It was a long Saturday of waiting with no wind, followed by a sunny Sunday afternoon with 1 race! To top it off, Sunday brought beautiful sunset sailing in the Joran! Ultimately, Monday delivered perfect conditions and super wind, allowing the RC/PRO team at Bordée de Tribord to sail 11 races and finish the event on a high! What a weekend of sailing! READ MORE HERE.

J/109 North American Championship sailed on Buzzards Bay.

GROWTH SPURT Crowned the 2026 J/109 North American Champion!
(South Dartmouth, MA)- Hosted in conjunction with the popular New Bedford YC Annual Regatta held on Buzzards Bay, the J/109 North American Championship enjoyed awesome sailing for its three-day event. Living up to its reputation as a world-class sailing venue, Buzzards Bay delivered its usual 15-20+ kts West/Southwest sea breezes every day, with plenty of sunny skies and classic 2-3 ft steep chop across the race track.

After a ten-race series, the battle for the top of the podium came down to two former J/109 North American champions- John Greifzu’s GROWTH SPURT from Stamford Yacht Club and the “local hero” Ted Herlihy and family on their famous GUT FEELING from the host New Bedford YC! READ MORE HERE.

J/121 sailing the Buzzards Bay Trophy 2026

J/Boats Take Four of Top Five at 2026 Buzzards Bay Trophy
(Marion, MA)- The Buzzards Bay competitive sailing season wrapped up on September 19th with the Hurricane Cup out of the Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, MA. This was the last of the eight races in the Buzzards Bay Trophy summer series. The races varied from the 106.0nm Whaler’s Race down to several shorter “Round Buzzards Bay” races to end the season. Thirty-four boats participated in at least one race; fourteen were J/Boats, including four of the top five boats! READ MORE HERE.

J/45 ACADIA sailing American YC Fall Regatta

Strong J/Fleet Set for 2026 American Yacht Club Fall Regatta
(Rye, New York)- Coming up next weekend will be the American Yacht Club’s famous fall regatta on Long Island Sound- the AYC Fall Regatta. For many sailors, it’s the culmination of a long summer of sailing on the Sound. Fall sailing weather often brings plenty of breeze, and the onshore festivities are second to none. The regatta has proven very popular with J/Boat owners from across the northeastern seaboard. The event features one-design classes for J/105s and J/44s, as well as offshore classes for ORC & PHRF handicap teams. READ MORE HERE.

J/24s sailing North American Championship at Port Credit, ONT, Canada

Star-Studded Fleet Set for 2026 J/24 North American Championship
(Port Credit, ONT, Canada)- The Port Credit Yacht Club and the Canadian J/24 Class Association will be welcoming twenty-seven high-caliber teams to the 2026 J/24 North American Championship. The teams will enjoy championship racing on Lake Ontario, outstanding Port Credit YC facilities, and a great social program— plus the opportunity to experience the venue in advance of the 2027 J/24 World Championship!

Because of that ultimate goal- qualification to the 2027 J/24 Worlds at Port Credit- the regatta has attracted many of the top veteran J/24 teams from across North America. The huge USA contingent has a raft of J/24 Champions from past Worlds, North Americans, Nationals, and Europeans! READ MORE HERE.

J/70 Middle East Cup Expands Sailing Across the Gulf
(Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates)- The Middle East is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most exciting sailing destinations. Exceptional sailing conditions, modern marinas, and year-round opportunities create the perfect foundation for a new generation of international regattas.

The TENZOR Middle East Cup is designed to become the region’s flagship J/70 series, connecting Europe, Asia, and the Gulf through a unified championship calendar. We aim to attract the world’s leading sailors, teams, partners, and brands while establishing the Middle East as a permanent destination on the international sailing circuit. READ MORE HERE.

J/80 women's sailing team race STYC Women at the Helm Regatta in Seattle, WA

Women at the Helm Regatta: J/80 ROAD TRIP Finds Its Winning Formula
(Seattle, WA)- Sloop Tavern Yacht Club recently completed their 7th Annual Women at the Helm Race Series. The second in the series is the Women at the Helm Regatta, a typical buoy race that includes up to three short races near West Point and Spring Beach. An eclectic team of women, headed up by skipper Molly Howe, managed to “borrow” a “long-in-the-tooth” J/80 called ROAD TRIP. Here is their story, recently published by our friends at 48 North. READ MORE HERE.

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Options let you choose your specific J Class logo and customize it with a Boat name, etc.

Order your J Starter Zip Top from Adidas here on the J/Store

j/Newsletter- September 24th, 2026

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