Month: September 2025

Sailors around the globe have been busy making headlines this September, with everything from world championships to national league finales delivering drama, skill, and plenty of spray. From Plymouth Sound, where Ireland’s HEADCASE stormed to J/24 World Championship victory, to San Francisco Bay, where J/Teams swept the Rolex Big Boat Series, the racing has been fierce and unforgettable.Across Europe, the J/70 leagues in Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, and the UK all crowned champions in blustery, high-stakes finales, while in San Diego and Dun Laoghaire, the J/24 and J/Cup Ireland fleets kept the competition just as intense. Offshore sailors weren’t left out either — Cowes debuted its new offshore series with tactical overnight duels and classic Solent tests.And perhaps most exciting, the surge of women’s sailing in Norway shows how new formats and fresh energy are growing the sport for the next generation.Wherever you sail, the season is proving that J/Teams continue to thrive on every front — from youth and women’s sailing to world titles. Dive in below for all the highlights.

J/Boats Boat Show Schedule
(Newport, RI)- It’s fall/ winter boat show time, with major events in Europe and the USA. Dreaming about a new boat for next summer? Now’s the time to plan and browse the latest J/models at the sailboat shows. Here’s the schedule of the major shows:September 23-28- Grand Pavois Boat Show- La Rochelle, France On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 Grand Pavois La Rochelle Boat Show information (https://grand-pavois.com)October 9-12- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland On display- J/7, J/9, J/36, J/40 Annapolis Sailboat Show information (https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/sailboat-show/)January 17-25, 2026- BOOT Düsseldorf- Düsseldorf, Germany On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 BOOT Düsseldorf 2026 boat show information (https://www.boot.com/)Here are links for each J/Boat model that will be on display: J/7- https://jboats.com/boats/j7 J/9- https://jboats.com/j9 J/99- https://jboats.com/j-99-new J/36- https://jboats.com/boats/j36-2025 J/40- https://jboats.com/j40

Irish HEADCASE Crowned J/24 World Champions!(Plymouth, England)- Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, hosted the 45th J/24 World Championship last week. Plymouth Yacht Club, Saltash Sailing Club, and the UK J/24 Class Association ran the event on Plymouth Sound. Fifty boats from 12 countries—Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the USA, and the United Kingdom—competed in challenging conditions over five days. Winds were mostly in the mid-teens to low 20s, with one day of gusts to 30 kts. In the end, the current 2025 J/24 European Champion prevailed. Cillian Dickson and his Irish crew on HEADCASE claimed the 2025 J/24 World Champion title. Here is how the action unfolded over the five days.  READ MORE HERE.

J/Teams Sweep Rolex Big Boat Series!(San Francisco, CA)- With a three-hour-long Bay Tour race as the final test for competitors, the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club came to a stunning close on Sunday afternoon. The skippers at the top of the podium in the J/105 and ORC B classes were awarded coveted Rolex Submariner Dates. Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault’s ARBITRAGE came away victorious in the J/105 class (the regatta’s largest fleet), and Peter Wagner’s J/111 SKELETON KEY won the ORC B division. Then, Zach Berkowitz’s J/100 FEATHER won ORC C division (a sweep by J/Teams), and Brice Dunwoodie’s RAVENETTE eclipsed the J/88 class.Going into the final day of racing, leaders in both Rolex contending classes were ahead by five points over the nearest competitor. However, that differential did not guarantee a win for either team before the last race. The heightened stakes made for striking competition on the water, with all fleets crossing the finish line in style in front of the StFYC Clubhouse.  READ MORE HERE.

EVIL OCTOPUS Dominates J/24 Corinthian USA Nationals!(San Diego, CA)- The recent J/24 Corinthian USA Nationals were held on South Bay in San Diego, CA, for a fleet of twenty J/24s from across the country. The very gracious and generous host club- Southwestern Yacht Club- and their crack Race Committee/ PRO team managed to run nine races over the three-day regatta.The final day of racing started at noon with winds blowing 12-14 kts at 255 degrees and a distance to the weather mark of 1.2 miles to make it a “double W/L” course of 4.7 miles. Race 8 had a clean start with the field splitting six to the left and six to the right. When boats eventually crossed, the right had the advantage approaching the first mark. But then shifted for the second leg windward with the left gaining. READ MORE HERE.

Esbo Segelförening Crushes Finnish J/70 League Finale!(Mariehamn, Finland)- The Finnish Sailing League’s tenth anniversary season came to a fitting conclusion when the Finnish Championship finals were held off Mariehamn from September 5th to 7th. The competition was hosted by the Åland Islands Sailing Association for the top dozen sailing clubs in Finland.The semi-finals were held in Helsinki, organized by Nyländska Jaktklubben (NJK). The Åland teams were in excellent form: Färjsundets Seglarförening won the first semi-final and Åländska Segelsällskapet 2 the second. In Åland, these teams went into the final as early favorites – but there were plenty of challengers from other clubs and even from within ÅSS itself.There were twelve teams from different parts of Finland participating in the final. In addition to the Åland Islands, the challengers include three Nyländska Jaktklubben teams and the four strong and successful Esbo Segelförening teams.  READ MORE HERE.

GKSS Win Swedish J/70 Sailing League Finale!(Örnsköldsvik, Sweden)- The fourth and final round of this year’s Allsvenskan Sailing season was held on September 5-7 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Ahead of the final round of the Allsvenskan, GKSS (Goteborg Kungl Segel Sallskap/ Royal Gothenburg YC) was in the lead, but they were closely followed by Stenungsund, KSSS (Royal Swedish YC), Halmstad, and Strängnäs. As a result, everyone knew that anything might happen and the drama could be intense all weekend. GKSS is one of Sweden’s largest and most successful sailing clubs and has been in the Allsvenskan for all 11 seasons, but has never won. This year, however, it was finally time. GKSS won the Allsvenskan Sailing 2025 after impressive performances in all four competitions (Saltsjöbaden, Langedrag, Ekero, Örnsköldsvik). READ MORE HERE.

J/Teams Silver @ Cowes Offshore Racing Series(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s inaugural Cowes Offshore Racing Series has signed off in style after seven thrilling, hard-fought races, marking the start of a bold new chapter for Solent-based offshore competition.Created to bring fun, competitive, and impeccably run offshore racing closer to home, the series delivered everything it promised — and more: tactical duels, testing overnight passages including a cocktail of short sprints and coastal classics, all with the RORC’s hallmark professionalism and the vibrant welcome of the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.Launched in the Club’s Centenary year, the series gave over 500 sailors, both Corinthian and professionals, the chance to go bow-to-bow in a compact but demanding program. With the best five races counting from seven, the fleet faced everything the Channel could throw at them — from glassy Solent drifters where inches mattered, to bruising legs around notorious headlands and into the open seas of the English Channel or Irish Sea.  READ MORE HERE.

Blustery, Boisterous J/Cup Ireland (Dun Laoghaire, England)- The second annual J/Cup Ireland was hosted, again, by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. The event featured the Irish J/109 Nationals, the Irish J/80 Nationals, and an IRC Handicap fleet. J/109 NationalsStrong southerly winds got the first race of the J/109 National Championships off to a spectacular start offshore of Dun Laoghaire. Pat Kelly’s STORM from Howth Yacht Club claimed victory in the opening race as winds gusted to 30 knots; they gave the fleet a demonstration in heavy air sailing when she dominated the eight-boat fleet in what turned out to be the only race of the day.  READ MORE HERE.

Segelclub Stäfa Crowned Swiss J/70 Youth Cup Champion (Kreuzlingen, Switzerland)- The Segler Vereinigung Kreuzlingen club in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, hosted eleven youth teams from across Switzerland on their gorgeous Swiss mountain lake. After two days of racing, the SVK RC/ PRO team managed to run seven races for the enthusiastic youth teams.The regatta evolved into a tough three-way battle for the podium, with only two points separating the top three teams.  READ MORE HERE.

JOUR J Wins French J/70 SEMAC Trophy (Marseilles, France)- The annual Dominique SEMAC Trophy Regatta in Marseilles, France, has always been a popular event for offshore teams as well as one-design classes. In recent years, the J/70 class has grown its participation in this fun event on the Mediterranean. Hosted by Union Nautique Marseillaise from September 6th to 7th, the fleet of nine boats enjoyed a total of seven races in two days run by UNM’s RC/PRO chief, Samuel Cartier. The regatta was the sixth stage of the J/70 French Cup. READ MORE HERE.

Tonsberg Seilforening Crowned Norwegian J/70 Sailing League Champions(Moss, Norway)- The Norwegian J/70 Sailing League concluded the 2025 season this past week in Moss, Norway. It included several regattas in different locations, such as Florø, Hankø, and Arendal, culminating in Moss. The Moss Seilforening club hosted the fifteen teams, and their efficient RC/PRO team managed to run 14 races for all 15 teams!Prior to the start of the series, two of the teams at the top of the series leaderboard expressed their perspectives on the upcoming regatta.  READ MORE HERE.

Why has Women’s Sailing Grown Strongly in Norway?(Oslo, Norway)- The sailing league in Norway has given Norwegian women’s sailing a tremendous boost, as evidenced by the five Norwegian women’s teams that competed in the Women’s SAILING Champions League this summer in Berlin, Germany. The league format gives older women and younger girls space and opportunities to grow!Women’s sailing in Norway has received a boost in recent years through the J/70 sailing league format. Low threshold, fast-paced, and social – this has proven to be a key to getting more women involved in both regatta sailing and club activities. The women’s league, which consists of the GRUNDIG Women’s Regatta and the Women’s National Championships, has contributed to recruitment, development, and unity among women from all over the country.  READ MORE HERE.

JELVIS Eclipses J/70 UK Solent Championships(Hamble, England)- The grand finale for the United Kingdom J/70 Class was held this past weekend at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, with sailing taking place on the infamous, challenging Solent. The RSYC Race Committee/ PRO team managed to treat the twenty sailing teams to great racing in epic sailing conditions in the 15-25 pts range all weekend. Though a bit tired, the racers enjoyed a seven-race, one discard series over the two days!  READ MORE HERE.

J/Gear September Special- 20% off!(Newport, RI)- The J/Marmot vest is just in time for a few cool days sneaking in at the end of the season…..The J/Marmot Tempo Vest is a combination of performance and comfort. Light enough for easy stowage but formidable for weather changes.Material:6.8 oz/yd, softshell double-weave 97% polyester, 3% elastane stretchM3 SoftshellWater-repellent and breathableFeatures:Zippered chest pocketZippered handwarmer pocketsElastic drawcord hemChoose your J/Class logo and customize with boat name and sail number as an option. The Ladies 9591 is a companion to the men’s 9602.J Marmot Vesthttps://jgear.vsport.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_16&products_id=401J Marmot Ladies Arctic Vesthttps://jgear.vsport.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_17&products_id=321

(Hamble, England)- The grand finale for the United Kingdom J/70 Class was held this past weekend at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, with sailing taking place on the infamous, challenging Solent. The RSYC Race Committee/ PRO team managed to treat the twenty sailing teams to great racing in epic sailing conditions in the 15-25 pts range all weekend. Though a bit tired, the racers enjoyed a seven-race, one discard series over the two days!

While his team has suffered from somewhat mediocre results for most of the 2025 sailing season in the U.K. and Europe, Martin Dent’s JELVIS team finally pulled out their can of “Popeye’s Whupass Spinach”, flexed their muscles, and smoked the fleet. Starting out with two “practice races” of 2-2 (just getting the wheels spinning on their runaway train), Dent’s JELVIS crew blew away the fleet with five straight bullets to win by a huge margin of 12 pts. JELVIS counted just 7 pts net in six races!

While the JELVIS crew was disappearing over the horizon, it was a full-on battle for the balance of the podium between two teams. In fact, it was such a battle that both ended up tied at 19 pts net each! After the countback process to break the tie, it was Nick Griffith’s SPENCER team that took the silver medal, followed by Hector Simpson’s DADS’N’LADS team, garnering the bronze medal.

Top Women’s Helms AwardsTopping all women’s skippers was Isabelle Hung steering XV/ MANTA, with Jemima Lawson’s ELIZABETH taking second, and Carina Richards’s RTYC 2 taking third place.
Sailing photo credits- Paul Wyeth/ PWPictures.comhttp://www.pwpictures.com
Follow the UK J/70 Class on Facebook herehttps://www.facebook.com/j70uk/
For more UK J/70 Class sailing informationhttps://j-70.co.uk/2025-schedule/

(Oslo, Norway)- The sailing league in Norway has given Norwegian women’s sailing a tremendous boost, as evidenced by the five Norwegian women’s teams that competed in the Women’s SAILING Champions League this summer in Berlin, Germany. The league format gives older women and younger girls space and opportunities to grow!
Women’s sailing in Norway has received a boost in recent years through the league format. Low threshold, fast-paced, and social – this has proven to be a key to getting more women involved in both regatta sailing and club activities. The women’s league, which consists of the GRUNDIG Women’s Regatta and the Women’s National Championships, has contributed to recruitment, development, and unity among women from all over the country.

Here are short profiles of each sailing club’s women’s team that sailed in Berlin.
SANDEFJORD- Committed to adjustments and courage”We have spent the season finding new flow in the team after some changes, and we are excited to see how it works in Berlin. We will do our best and have fun along the way,” said Margit Gyllenhammar-Wig from Sandefjord Sailing Association.
She highlights the positive developments in Norway, “The level in Norway has improved a lot in the five years we have been sailing the J/70 class sailboats. It’s a very easy boat to sail for women and youth sailors. I hope we can help inspire more people – it is never too late to start!”
Sandefjord Sailing Association Team: Karin Sophie Andersen, Margit Gyllenhammar-Wig, Trine Tjøm, Jeanette Lunder

ASKER- focused on solid preparation and interaction”We have been training together since March and have had the opportunity to represent Asker in both the Sailing League, Grundig Women’s Cup, and the Women’s National Championships. This has made us well prepared for Berlin. Our strength is good teamwork, open communication, and that we work purposefully with development,” said Marthe Bjerkåsholmen. “We are looking forward to competing against Europe’s best – and to learning and growing as a team!”
Asker Sailing Association Team: Marthe Bjerkåsholmen, Nina Dirix, Victoria Emilie Lie, Cecilie Baklid

TONSBERG- back in Berlin for the third year in a row”This is our third year in the Women’s SAILING Champions League, and we feel better prepared than ever. After three close seasons together, we have put both communication and practical solutions in place,” said Silje Brathagen.
She praises the Asker Sailing Association for opening up to teams without their own J/70 sailboat. “We have been able to train there regularly – it is a flexibility that we believe is important for recruiting more sailors.”
Tønsberg Sailing Association Team: Siri Kamfjord, Fredrikke Lund, Anna Gregersson, Silje Brathagen

FAERDER- strong sailors and a focus on interaction”We haven’t been able to sail all four of us together that much this season. But everyone has had more time in J/70 than before. We hope it will have a positive impact on the championship,” says Helene Næss from Færder Sailing Association.
“The ambition is to sail well, avoid mistakes – and hopefully reach a final. It is incredibly fun to see the development in girls’ sailing, and that so many participated in the Women’s National Championships this year. The league format works very well to get more women involved!”
Færder Sailing Association Team: Helene Næss, Marie Rønningen, Alexandra Koefoed, Tiril Bue

KNS (Royal Norwegian)- Silver team from the Women’s National Championship.”The Royal Norwegian Sailing Association team took silver in this year’s Women’s World Championships and is entering Berlin with a strong lineup. Ambitions are high, and the team is looking forward to competing in tough, international competition,” said Karen Kristoffersen, a crew member.
KNS/ Royal Norwegian Team: Anette Melsom Myhre, Madeleine Østeby, Tine Simensen Oldereid, Karen Kristoffersen, Maren M. Book

A Norwegian boost for girls’ sailingThe fact that five women’s teams qualified for the Women’s SAILING Champions League speaks volumes about the breadth and level of women’s sailing in Norway. In a sport where girls have long been in the minority, the league format has provided a whole new entry point to both competition and community.
“It’s very inspiring to see how women’s sailing is growing through the league format – and how the clubs are facilitating it. It bodes well for the future,” says Magnus Hedemark, Project Manager at the Norwegian J/70 Sailing League.
For more Norwegian J/70 Sailing League informationhttps://seilsportsligaen.no/seilsportsliga-stevner-2025/

(Moss, Norway)- The Norwegian J/70 Sailing League concluded the 2025 season this past week in Moss, Norway. It included several regattas in different locations, such as Florø, Hankø, and Arendal, culminating in Moss. The Moss Seilforening club hosted the fifteen teams, and their efficient RC/PRO team managed to run 14 races for all 15 teams!
Prior to the start of the series, two of the teams at the top of the series leaderboard expressed their perspectives on the upcoming regatta.

Tønsberg Sailing Association- they have been leading the Elite Series before the finale at Moss. Jostein Aker points to continuity and interaction as the key to their success:
“The season has been very good for us. We have consistently sailed well, largely thanks to the fact that we mostly compete with the same team and build experience over time. It gives us confidence and drive when things get tough. We expect variable winds and difficult conditions this weekend. But we have been on the podium two years in a row in the SAILING Champions League. So, the goal is to qualify again and make it three years in a row. The league is a link between dinghy and big boat sailing, and I encourage all young sailors to get a team together and try their hand – it provides both mastery and learning.”

Grimstad Sailing Association- they were close behind in the series, sitting on a provisional third overall. August Austefjord saw great development opportunities:
“The season has been a bit up and down for us. But we are a team that rotates a lot and builds experience over time. Qualifying for the SAILING Champions League next year will mean a lot, both as motivation and as a way to recruit new members to our sailing club team.”
Those words from both Tonsberg and Grimstad crew members would prove to be prophetic.

After the 14-race series in Moss, and after sailing the initial three events in Florø, Hankø, and Arendal, the series inevitably saw Tonsberg Seilforening win both the Moss event and the series with an unbeatable record of 2-1-1-1 for just 5 pts total.
The balance of the podium for the Moss event is also reflected in the series standings. The silver medal went to the KNS (Royal Norwegian YC) that posted a 3-5-2-2 for 12 pts total. Rounding out the podium, taking the bronze medal was Oslofjorden Seilklubb that posted a 6-2-5-3 season tally for 16 pts.
The provisional third-place team after 3 events, Grimstad Seilforening, had a dismal and disappointing regatta in the challenging sailing conditions, finishing 8th in Moss. Consequently, the Grimstad team dropped to 4th overall for the series with a roller-coaster scoreline of 1-7-3-8 for 19 pts total.
The top five was rounded out by the Alesunds Seilforening team with another roller-coaster series record of 7-3-10-4 for 24 pts total.
Sailing photos credits: SAIL Logic Media- Henrik Eriksenhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/saillogic/albums/
For Norwegian J/70 Sailing League results on TracTrac.com:https://tractrac.com/event-page/event_20250913_NorskSeils/3346
For more Norwegian J/70 Sailing League informationhttps://seilsportsligaen.no/norsk-seilsportsliga-s4-moss/

(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s inaugural Cowes Offshore Racing Series has signed off in style after seven thrilling, hard-fought races, marking the start of a bold new chapter for Solent-based offshore competition.
Created to bring fun, competitive, and impeccably run offshore racing closer to home, the series delivered everything it promised — and more: tactical duels, testing overnight passages including a cocktail of short sprints and coastal classics, all with the RORC’s hallmark professionalism and the vibrant welcome of the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.
Launched in the Club’s Centenary year, the series gave over 500 sailors, both Corinthian and professionals, the chance to go bow-to-bow in a compact but demanding program. With the best five races counting from seven, the fleet faced everything the Channel could throw at them — from glassy Solent drifters where inches mattered, to bruising legs around notorious headlands and into the open seas of the English Channel or Irish Sea.

IRC One- 116 boatsMichael O’Donnell’s Irish team on the J/121 DARKWOOD took class victory in the final race to take the silver medal. This was the second year in a row that DARKWOOD has had a podium finish in the season point series!

IRC Two- 105 boatsRobin Herbert’s J/133 CORAZON took the silver medal in a well-orchestrated and successful campaign. Meanwhile, the top J/122s were 6th and 7th, respectively- Derek Shakespeare’s BULLDOG (past RORC division winner) and Frans van Cappelle’s MOANA. Peter Dunlop & Victoria Cox’s J/122 MOJITO finished 10th.

IRC Three- 127 boatsThis was a huge and very tough fleet, with a number of French professionals in the top ranks. Despite the formidable competition, some J/Teams fared well. Taking 8th place was Jean-Lin Flipo’s J/99 YALLA! Then, sitting in 15th was Alain Waha & Matt Waite’s J/99 FURTHER WEST.
IRC Four- 151 boatsAs the largest fleet in the season series with 151 boats scoring in the seven races, it was always going to be a challenge to finish even in the top ten. Despite the odds, J/Teams faired quite well in the “small boat fleet”. Here are their finish positions, taking up a lot of the top ten!6th- Mark Kendall’s J/99 JIRO8th- Richard Breese’s J/105 MOJO9th- Rob Cotterill’s J/109 MOJO RISIN10th- George & Fred Neville-Jones and Robin Hardy’s J/109 JAMIRA16th- Lesley Brooman’s J/109 JUMUNU19th- Tim Tolcher’s J/99 RAGING BULL
For more RORC Season’s Point Series sailing informationhttp://www.rorc.org/racing/racing-portal

(San Francisco, CA)- With a three-hour-long Bay Tour race as the final test for competitors, the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club came to a stunning close on Sunday afternoon. The skippers at the top of the podium in the J/105 and ORC B classes were awarded coveted Rolex Submariner Dates. Bruce Stone and Nicole Breault’s ARBITRAGE came away victorious in the J/105 class (the regatta’s largest fleet), and Peter Wagner’s J/111 SKELETON KEY won the ORC B division. Then, Zach Berkowitz’s J/100 FEATHER won ORC C division (a sweep by J/Teams), and Brice Dunwoodie’s RAVENETTE eclipsed the J/88 class.
Going into the final day of racing, leaders in both Rolex contending classes were ahead by five points over the nearest competitor. However, that differential did not guarantee a win for either team before the last race. The heightened stakes made for striking competition on the water, with all fleets crossing the finish line in style in front of the StFYC Clubhouse.

J/105 Class“This regatta is very meaningful to me and my crew. My first Big Boat Series was 40 years ago,” said Bruce Stone, who last won a Rolex Submariner watch in 2014 on his J/105 ARBITRAGE. “This is the marquee event for the J/105 fleet, and now we are heading to Toronto for the J/105 North American Championships.”

Just behind Stone’s ARBITRAGE team (Nicole Breault, Mike Kennedy, Elliot Drake, Iain Doran-Des Brisay, & Tate Howell), it was a battle for the balance of the podium. Literally, “who beat who” in the last race would determine the podium and the top five positions. Winning that battle to take the silver medal was Ryan Simmons’s BLACKHAWK team (Brent Draney, Nico Colomb, Collette Zero, Jordan Rosenlicht, & Jeremy Herzog) with 39 pts. Two points back to take the bronze medal was Tim Russell’s NE*NE team (Ben Louttit, Arne Vandenbroucke, Orlando Montalvan, Bill Melbostad, & Ian Baldwin) with 41 pts. Then, Rolf Kaiser’s DONKEY JACK team (Steve Kleha, Tucker Hersam, Mike Collins, Dave Kelly, & Ryder Easterlin) was fourth with 44 pts, and fifth went to Doug Bailey’s AKULA team (Spencer, Gary Fung, Pauli’s Operas, Steven Tran, & Dave Kresge), just one point further back with 45 pts! As usual, the J/105 fleet on SF Bay has proven to be the most competitive fleet in the world.

J/88 ClassBrice Dunwoodie’s RAVENETTE dominated the J/88 one-design class, posting bullets in all but one race. “Racing together in RBBS has been the pinnacle of the last twelve years for our crew,” Dunwoodie said. “This has been the best season of sailing for the J/88 fleet on the Bay that I’ve ever seen. I have to congratulate my team on a job well done- Ian Schillebeeck, Brett Bastien, Kenneth Grayson, Dylan Farrell, & Mark Lightner.”

The “white-washing” of the J/88 fleet by RAVENETTE was surprising, given that the two other teams on the podium have also won the class in past Rolex Big Boat Series! The balance of the podium was Tom Thayer’s SPEEDWELL team (Robert Milligan, Brett Desire, Andrew Goodwin, Hans Kaufmann, & John Burr) with 17 pts to take the silver medal, then Dave Corbin’s BUTCHER team (Tim and Leah Gulley, Olly Gill, Jeff Harte, Michelle Larose, & Adam Simmonds) took the bronze medal with 26 pts.

ORC B DivisionThe ORC B division has seen Cape 31s dominate the podium for the past two years. However, Peter Wagner sailed his J/111 SKELETON KEY to its full potential to secure the Rolex Submariner watch, as well as the ORC B Pacific Coast Championship.

“Our team (John Hayes, Cory Schillaci, John Collins, Nick Gibbens, Dave Lyons, John Pernick, Seadon Wijsen, & Ernesto Perez) has sailed in San Francisco for many years, so the big breeze is very familiar,” Wagner said. “Teams spend a lot of time preparing for RBBS, making it the featured event of the season. It really brings out the best in people and is just a great week.”
The J/125s had quite a battle during the regatta. In the end, it was Andrew Picel’s ARSENAL that took the J/125 honors, finishing 4th in the division. Then, right behind them in 5th place was Jim Nichols’s VELVET HAMMER.

ORC C Division- J/Sweep!The seven-boat ORC C division was treated to a complete sweep of the top five by J/Teams. Leading the charge was Zach Berkowitz’s bright pumpkin orange J/100 FEATHER; they prevailed for the second consecutive year at RBBS. “We have a great mix of young and old sailors on our crew, which makes it really fun sailing,” Berkowitz said. “Thanks to my awesome crew- Chris Steinfeld, Hoel Menard, Trevor For, Anthony Abate, & Max Roth!”

The balance of the podium includes John Arens’s J/109 REVERIE team (Jim Coburn, Randall Lesley, Erik Breedlove, Paul DeMers, Gregg Golembeski, Ben Burbridge, Hugo Knew, Ed Conti, & John Days) in second and Mike O’Callaghan’s J/120 PEREGRINE team (Randy Smith, David Halliwill, EJ Rowland, Robert Mcintire, Jennifer Krone, Cameron Tuttle, Owen Sordillo, Chris Davison, Tad Lacey, Greg Felton, & Andi Williams) in third place. Fourth went to Barry Lewis’s J/120 CHANCE, while Camille Mousette’s J/99 LATENCY finished fifth place to complete the sweep.
The race management team brought some creativity to course selection, presenting fresh challenges for sailors who know the Bay well. “I’m really pleased with how the Race Committee team performed these four days. A big thanks to all our volunteers and visiting race officers,” said Gerard Sheridan, Deputy Course Race Officer. “It was great to get back to running races on the western face of Alcatraz after a long multi-year break, which required us to rewrite a new set of courses. The racers also loved the new course out of the Golden Gate Bridge to Point Bonita.”
The Storm Trysail Club Team Trophy went to the best scoring three-boat team, with one boat from an ORC class, one from a one-design class, and one from any other class. This year’s winning team, “Shadow Armada,” was comprised of J/111 SKELETON KEY, J/105 BLACKHAWK, and J/88 RAVENETTE.
Sailing photo credits- Sharon Green/ Ultimate Sailinghttp://www.ultimatesailing.com
For more ROLEX Big Boat Series sailing informationhttp://www.rolexbigboatseries.com/

(Charlevoix, MI)- Hosted by the Charlevoix Yacht Club for more than 50 years, the premier event of the local racing season takes place every Labor Day weekend on Lake Charlevoix in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan- the Red Fox Regatta.
The weekend event comprises two events. It kicks off with the NuCore Triangle race on Friday evening and concludes with a two-day race the length of Lake Charlevoix from Charlevoix to Boyne City and back.
About the NuCore TriangleThere’s no better way to kick off a fun Labor Day weekend than with the NuCore Triangle race on Friday evening. Whether you race regularly with the Charlevoix Yacht Club or are in town for the Red Fox Regatta, you’ll enjoy the competition in this Olympic Triangle race at the west end of Lake Charlevoix. Following the race, the Charlevoix Yacht Club provides copious quantities of food and drinks for skippers, crew. and guests.
About the Red Fox RegattaTreasured by sailors and their families, this two-day event begins on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend with a race down the length of Lake Charlevoix to Boyne City. That evening, sailors enjoy a club-hosted party at the Veterans Pavilion on the waterfront, with family-friendly activities including the Raingutter Regatta.
Sunday features a race back to the top of Lake Charlevoix, culminating in an afternoon Awards Ceremony at the Charlevoix Yacht Club. It’s a fun-filled event that attracts sailors from all around the Great Lakes, marking the grand finale of the summer racing season.
For the most part, the race traversing the length of Lake Charlevoix can be a complete “crap shoot”, e.g., a “roll of the dice”. Why? Because the prevailing west to southwest winds on Lake Michigan don’t often make the “hop” across the narrow isthmus of Charlevoix onto the lake. And, with a WNW to ESE orientation for the lake, the winds can be very fickle, streaky, and puffy. As a result, one side of the lake can be favored over the other side, despite the fact that the lake is less than one mile wide at its “fattest” points.
While blessed with spectacular weather this year, the 2025 edition of the Nucore Triangle and the Red Fox Regatta will have to make do with just two races due to a cancellation on one day. Here is how it all went down this year at each event.
NuCore TriangleThis race on Friday evening was blessed with wind, so the fleet had good racing in front of the Charlevoix YC bar.

J/22 ClassSince this was the J/22 Michigan Class Championship, a great fleet of ten boats showed up to lay claim to being the best J/22 on the peninsula of Michigan. Winning this race was Bob Grove’s PALE FACE LIGHT. Second went to Chris Shadek’s WINDY CITY, and third place to Robert Molter’s TACTFUL.
PHRF 4In this seven-boat class, it was George Golder’s J/111 TERRIER that took the silver medal. Meanwhile, Colin Calaban’s J/111 NO QUARTER took fourth, and Mark Pirie’s J/111 SWATTER took fifth place.
Red Fox RegattaWhile the weather was beautiful, the wind wasn’t. Just one race was held for this event.
J/22 ClassWinning the one race was Tom Barnes’s RECKLESS. He was followed by Robert Molter’s TACTFUL, and Bill English’s COMMADORE RACING Team.

PHRF 3Despite having a won-place-show in many previous Red Fox Regattas, local starlet and rock goddess Libby Tomlinson and partner Rob Lovell could only manage a 4th place this year on their J/92 KNOCKOUT. Fifth in fleet was Colin Texter’s J/70 SISTERSHIP. Fifth place went to Ben Poucher’s J/95 WARRIOR 95, a noble program for veterans!

PHRF 5Winning this fleet was Keith Attee’s J/120 ROCKET SCIENCE; they seem to get on the podium most times with this veteran crew.

PHRF 6This fleet saw a clean sweep of the top four spots by J/Teams. Winning was Colin Caliban’s J/111 NO QUARTER. He was followed by George Golder’s J/111 TERRIOR in second, Matt Schaedler’s J/122 BLITZKRIEG in third, and Mark Pirie’s J/111 SWATTER in fourth place.
For more Red Fox Regatta sailing informationhttp://www.charlevoixyachtclub.org/red-fox-regatta/schedule.html

New J/36 interior and sailing photos
It’s that time of the year in the northern hemisphere. Summer’s over. Kids are back to school. Back to work to pay for those summertime extravagances. But, there’s a silver lining in that fall/ winter/ spring time period… best time for sports TV fanatics (baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, & lacrosse). Additionally, it’s fall/ winter boat show time, with major events in Europe and the USA. Dreaming about a new boat for next summer? Now’s the time to plan and browse the latest J/models at the shows. Here’s the schedule of the major shows:
September 11-14- Newport Boat Show- Newport, Rhode Island On display: NEW J/7, J/9, NEW J/36, and J/40 Newport International Boat Show information (https://www.newportboatshow.com)
September 23-28- Grand Pavois Boat Show- La Rochelle, France On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 Grand Pavois La Rochelle Boat Show information (https://grand-pavois.com)
October 9-12- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland On display- J/7, J/9, J/36, J/40 Annapolis Sailboat Show information (https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/sailboat-show/)
January 17-25, 2026- BOOT Düsseldorf- Düsseldorf, Germany On display- NEW J/7, J/99, NEW J/36, and J/40 BOOT Düsseldorf 2026 boat show information (https://www.boot.com/)
Here are links for each J/Boat model that will be on display: J/7- https://jboats.com/boats/j7 J/9- https://jboats.com/j9 J/99- https://jboats.com/j-99-new J/36- https://jboats.com/boats/j36-2025 J/40- https://jboats.com/j40

(Jamestown, RI)- The Around the Island Race (ATI) is the flagship sailing event for the Conanicut Yacht Club and the crown jewel of Narragansett Bay yacht racing. Held annually since 1927, the ATI sails the classic 18.0nm course around the scenic Conanicut Island, typically drawing close to 100 boats in both racing and cruising classes.
And, what a spectacular day it was for the 98th Around the Island Race! 86 boats took on the full lap of Jamestown on Sunday, August 31, after a morning that looked doubtful on the forecast— a light NW breeze fading before a SE fill. With shortened-course marks prepped at the Jamestown Bridge and Beavertail, the fleet launched off Conanicut Yacht Club in 8–10 knots and a flooding tide.

Up the first beat, it was all about connecting the puffs and staying patient. After the northern turn, kites went up, until the wind dropped out near the Jamestown Bridge and clocked southeast— a full-on “restart.” A few savvy calls paid big, namely several boats that slipped inside Dutch Island to find pressure first. Soon, a beautiful southeasterly cool breeze blew in from the temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and Rhode Island Sound, to grace the fleet with a fast port tack fetch to Beavertail Lighthouse point and Newton Rock red bell. Then, it was a quick tack, and another fast reach on starboard to the finish line just off Conanicut YC inside Narragansett Bay. In the end, it was a colorful day of upwind work, downwind parades, and tactical calls all around the island. Overall, J/Teams faired quite well in the classic round island race.

PHRF B- Non-spin DivisionIn this eight-boat fleet, Scott Ferguson’s J/35 UNA took the silver medal while Kim Anderson’s J/42 LARVIK won the bronze medal.

PHRF F DivisionThis seven-boat fleet saw the two J/109s enjoy a see-saw 18.0nm battle going around the island. In the end, it was John Sahagian’s PICANTE taking the silver medal, while Bill Kneller’s VENTO SOLARE garnered the bronze medal.

PHRF G DivisionWinning this fleet was Susan & Sean Doyle’s J/112E PHOENIX, also taking 4th PHRF Overall!

PHRF H DivisionWhile five J/crews sailed in this fleet of eight boats, only Joe Brito’s J/121 INCOGNITO was able to get a podium finish, taking the bronze medal and missing the class win by just over 3 minutes! Fourth place went to Jeff Johnstone’s J/40 DOV, and fifth place was Jack Gregg’s J/122 TARAHUMARA.
Sailing Photo credits- @blockislandsteve
For more Conanicut YC Round Island Race sailing informationhttps://conanicutyachtclub.org/ati-race-details-waterfront