J/Teams Feast on Silver at 2026 Race to the Straits

ByStuart Johnstone

(Seattle, WA)- Every year, the remarkably laid back, fun-loving sailors that call the Sloop Tavern YC home in Ballard, WA hold their annual Race To The Straits Regatta. The format is simple, essentially a double-handed race from Seattle to Port Townsend and back. The full course length is 30.25 nautical miles each day. Saturday’s race was from Shilshole Bay to Point Hudson keeping the Double Bluff Buoy to port. Then, Sunday’s race was from Point Hudson to Shilshole Bay keeping the Double Bluff Buoy to starboard. The regatta has always been popular with J/crews over the years. Here’s how the leading teams faired in the Doublehanded Flying Sails Divisions.

PHRF 11 Division
This fleet was nearly swept by the J/Teams. Winning was Chris Lanzinger’s J/111 HOOLIGAN, followed by Steve Kirsch’s J/111 FLASH in second place.

PHRF 10 Division
It was nearly a sweep by J/Teams in this eleven-boat fleet. Winning was Kirk Fraser’s J/109 ECLIPSE, followed by Dave Miller’s J/99 ONE LIFE taking the silver medal. Then, two J/35s took fourth and fifth places, respectively – Paul Hanson’s TCHOUPITOULAS and Mike Tunney’s RYE. Just off the pace to take sixth place was Tad Fairbank’s J/100 SELAH.

PHRF 9 Division
This ten-boat fleet saw the sole “J” entry take the bronze medal- Matt Gardner-Brown’s J/88 SEA STORIES.

PHRF 8 Division- J/105s
Winning this ten-boat one-design class was John Aitchison’s MOOSE UNKNOWN… surprise surprise!! They were followed on the podium by Mike Cain’s PANIC in second and Kim Schulze’s MAZU in third place. Rounding out the top five was Jeff Pace’s LIFTOFF in fourth and Alex Weatbrok’s CORVO 105 in fifth position.

PHRF 6 Division
A few J/Teams faired well in this dozen-boat fleet. Gerry Gilbert’s J/80 AFTERBURNER took the bronze medal. Meanwhile, his classmate, Peter Lisy’s J/80 RECKLESS took fourth place 2:20 behind. Rounding out the top five was Mike Darcy’s J/27 ZEPHYR in fifth place.

For more Sloop Tavern YC Race to the Straits sailing information
https://www.styc.org/Race-to-the-Straits