Month: October 2025

(Rye, NY)- The 35th annual American Yacht Club Fall Regatta, virtually a J/Fest regatta for passionate J/Sailors, took place for two weekends in succession- September 27-28 and October 4-5 on western Long Island Sound. Of the 76 offshore teams sailing the regatta, 42 J/teams represented 55.0% of the fleet. After the two weekends of racing, here is how it all went down in the various divisions.
PHRF DivisionIn this nine-boat fleet, Abhijeet Lele’s J/111 VARUNA posted a 4-2-3-3 for 12 pts to take the silver medal. Then, Robert Schwartz’s J/109 NORDLYS was fourth with a 5-3-4-4 tally for 16 pts. Rounding out the top five was Ian Millward’s J/109 QUICKSILVER with a 6-4-6-6 scoreline for 22 pts.
J/44 ClassThe 44s had a great turnout for this year’s event. A half-dozen teams were eager to have some fun in this end-of-season regatta. Winning was Don & Rick Rave’s RESOLUTE with an all-podium scoreline of 2-2-1-2 for 7 pts. Pushing them hard was a perennial contender for the crown, Bill Ketcham’s MAXINE that took the silver with a 4-1-2-1 tally for 8 pts. Then, rounding out the podium for the bronze medal was June & Amanda Kendrick’s PALANTIR 5 with a 1-5-3-5 record for 14 pts.
J/105 ClassShredding the J/105 class was Dave Willis’s SOLUTION, much to the surprise of many in the fleet. Willis started out with a bullet and never looked back, posting two more wins and a 2nd to win easily with 5 pts. Giving them a hard run-for-the-money was class veteran Damian Emery on WARLOCK, a past J/105 North American Champion. Try as they might, the WARLOCK team could only manage a 2-2-2-1 for 7 pts for the silver medal. Then, the bronze medal step was taken by Frank Latawiec’s ATARAXIS with an all 3rd place tally for 12 pts.
J/100 ClassThis half-dozen boat fleet sailed “white sails” main & jib only. Winning was Scott MacVicar & Brad Parish’s RESOLUTE with a 1-2 for 3 pts. Second was the trio of Drew Fung, Barry Gold, and Pat Jakobson sailing FREEDOM to a 3-1 for 4 pts. Completing the podium in third place was another trio- Lisi Dunlop, Paula Schaefer, and Giff Constable sailing BLACKCOMB/ VALOUR to a 4-3 for 7 pts.
ORC Coastal RacingTaking the third place in this fleet was Ove Haxthausen’s J/133 RUMBA with two 3rds for 6 pts.
PHRF 2 SpinThe battle of the “heavyweights” was an epic clash between two big J’s. Len Sitar’s gorgeous flag blue J/160 COUGAR took that fight with a 2-2 for 4 pts for the silver medal. Settling for the bronze was Erik Asgeirsson’s equally majestic flag-blue J/45 ACADIA that posted a 3-3 for 6 pts.
PHRF 3 SpinWinning this seven-boat fleet was William Ingraham’s J/124 TENEBRAE, yet another gorgeous navy blue boat! They posted a 1-2 for 3 pts to take the division. Fourth place went to Albrecht Goethe’s vibrant red J/46 HAMBURG II with a 3-5 for 8 pts.
PHRF 4 SpinThis large eleven-boat fleet saw a sweep of the top two spots by J/Teams. Winning was Lawrence Cutler & Andrew Weiss’s J/88 ONE TOO MANY with a 2-1 for 3 pts. The silver medallist was Todd Aven’s J/99 THIN MAN with a 1-3 for 4 pts. Close racing those two!
PHRF 8 SpinWinning this class was Rodney Johnstone’s next design after the J/24- a J/30! It was Denis Lafarge’s MIDNIGHT RIDER- PMP STRATEGY that posted two bullets for 2 pts to take the win! Congratulations!
American YC Fall Regatta resultshttps://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50455

(Valparaiso, Chile)- The J/99 LADY CHOPPER II, owned by Eduardo Capdeville and skippered by Juan Reid, leads the Campeonato Apertura Oceanic that is being sailed off Valparaiso, the gorgeous mountainous seaside city with hundreds of pastel colored buildings. Hosts for the first IRC handicap regatta of the season are Cofradia Nautica del Pacifico, Yacht Club de Chile, and Club de Yates Higuerillas. Here is Juan Reid’s report on how they are progressing and leading the provisional standings.
“With three races on Saturday 27th of September at Valparaíso Bay and three races sailed in Higuerillas Bay on Sunday 28th, with winds of up to 27 kts, the J/99 managed to sail well and become the leader in the regatta with 8 pts. We are followed by the Chilean Navy’s CALEUCHE with 13 points and the Swan 45 RAYO with 13 points.

The upwind performance and stability of the J/99 against the other IRC boats is very good, especially in the choppy seas and with strong puffs. The stability of the boat with the standard bulb led keel was very good with winds blowing over 25 kts. The full mainsail and J2 jib were enough sail area to keep the boat 100% under control with no stress in the breezy conditions and big waves offshore.
In the downwind legs with moderate winds on Saturday, it was tricky to manage the IRC competitors (mainly with symmetric spinnakers). But once the wind started to increase, the simpler maneuvers and the speed of the J/99 made the difference. We won the 3 races on Sunday in real time against the boats of the size (Emme 37, X-37, Italia 9.98, and First 35).

The championship continues on October 17-18 with the 50th edition of Off-Valparaíso Regatta (a very traditional regatta organized by the Chilean Navy) and concludes with the Interclub Regatta to be held in Algarrobo Bay on November 22-23 by Cofradía Nautica del Pacífico, home club for LADY CHOPPER II.
This J/99 hull number 60 was sold in Chile in 2020 and, in the last 6 months, was prepared for racing. The team got in contact with OneSails UK to develop a new IRC mainsail and A2 spinnaker. With the support of OneSails UK, the team got the right mast tuning for the sails and target speed and angles upwind and downwind. The current TCC of the boat is 1.011. This appears to be a good number to compete against dedicated ORC and IRC boats like the Italia 9,98, Emme 37, First 35 with carbon rig, and X-37.
For a windspeed of 14-17 kts, the target TWA downwind is 167-170. Achieving this, the boat can be competitive upwind and downwind. The proper A2 developed in this case by OneSails UK is crucial for the downwind performance!”

The first week of October marked a lively opening to the northern fall sailing season— and what a week it’s been! From South America to Europe and North America, J/Teams have been on fire, racking up championship titles and silverware across fleets and classes. Buenos Aires set the stage for an epic 52-boat showdown at the J/70 South Americans, where American and Brazilian teams battled for top honors. Meanwhile, new national champions were crowned in Italy, the USA, and Chile, showcasing the depth and passion of J/Sailing worldwide.Closer to home, fall racing on Long Island Sound and Lake George brought out big J/Fleets and classic autumn conditions—crisp air, shifting breezes, and plenty of fun ashore. And as collegiate sailors gear up for the Storm Trysail Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, the next generation of J/Boat skippers and crews are ready to take their turn on the starting line.From world-class championships to local regattas, this issue celebrates the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and adventure that defines J/Sailing. Settle in and enjoy this month’s highlights—there’s plenty to inspire before we haul out for the winter and start dreaming about next season.

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:October 9-12- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland On display- J/7, J/9, J/36, J/40, and J/45 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

Grow Sailing in Your Community! Have More Fun in a New J/7 Fleet!(Newport, RI)- Wish to grow sailing in your community? Buy one, then loan a new J/7 for sailing program use. Then, use it yourself on evenings & weekends! Everyone wins! Here’s how it works and how you benefit as the J/7 owner. A Dream Come TrueFor starters, this may be your “dream come true” for sailboat ownership. Ever dream of sailing anytime on a nice sailing day, but not have to deal with the hassles of boat ownership- maintaining, docking, launching/ retrieving, and storing the boat? Then, at the end of the sailing season, wouldn’t it be nice if your boat just “disappears” and magically reappears for the next sailing season? We’re certain many of you have seriously pondered this fantasy over time.The dream is real. There are several great examples of how well this “win-win” scenario works for both the boat owner and the community sailing program or sailing club. In return for use of the “loaned” boat, the sailing program agrees to maintain, dock/moor, and store the boat. The program uses the boat for adult, women’s, and youth programs. Then, when it’s not in use on evenings and weekends, the owner can go sailing on their boat at any time. READ MORE HERE.

RELATIVE OBSCURITY Crowned Open J/70 South American Champions!Brazil’s EL ENEMIGO Wins J/70 South American Title(Buenos Aires, Argentina)- From October 2nd to 5th, 2025, the Yacht Club Argentino in Buenos Aires hosted the 2025 J/70 South American Championship for a hot fleet of fifty-two boats. Amongst that fleet were well-known skippers who have competed on the world stage in midwinter series in Miami/ Tampa Bay, off Cowes, England, Monaco, Sardinia, and other places for J/70 North American, J/70 European, and J/70 World Championship titles. The YCA Race Committee & PRO team managed to run ten races over the three-day event. READ MORE HERE.

Burns Crowned J/22 North American Champion!(Rochester, NY)– The final day of the J/22 North American Championship hosted by Rochester Yacht Club in New York brought conditions that mirrored the first two days— light and shifty, demanding patience and precision from both sailors and race officials. Despite the challenges, the Race Committee excelled, successfully completing eight races while on Lake Ontario, adapting to every breeze shift thrown their way. Here is how it all went down for the twenty-five boats participating in the regatta. READ MORE HERE.

CICLONE Crowned Italian J/70 National Champion(Porto Maurizio, Italy)- In the southern parts of the island of Sardinia, one is struck by the sheer magnificence of the large mountains that form the geography of the seashore, unlike the north shore, which is relatively rocky and flat. Nestled in a cozy harbor flanked by those mountains is Porto Maurizio and the Yacht Club Porto Maurizio. This past weekend, the YC Porto Maurizio and their passionate volunteers hosted a fleet of twenty-five boats from all over Italy and Europe (including France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain, Turkey, Monaco, Poland, and Austria). The YCPM Race Committee/ PRO team was up to the challenge to provide world-class racing to the equally passionate sailors assembled for the Italian J/70 National Championship. They managed to run eight races over the three-day event. The regatta turned into a four-way battle for the podium, with just four points separating them at the conclusion of racing on Sunday.  READ MORE HERE.

J/99 Leads Chilean IRC Championship(Valparaiso, Chile)- The J/99 LADY CHOPPER II, owned by Eduardo Capdeville and skippered by Juan Reid, leads the Campeonato Apertura Oceanic that is being sailed off Valparaiso, the gorgeous mountainous seaside city with hundreds of pastel colored buildings. Hosts for the first IRC handicap regatta of the season are Cofradia Nautica del Pacifico, Yacht Club de Chile, and Club de Yates Higuerillas. Here is Juan Reid’s report on how they are progressing and leading the provisional standings.”With three races on Saturday 27th of September at Valparaíso Bay and three races sailed in Higuerillas Bay on Sunday 28th, with winds of up to 27 kts, the J/99 managed to sail well and become the leader in the regatta with 8 pts. We are followed by the Chilean Navy’s CALEUCHE with 13 points and the Swan 45 RAYO with 13 points.The upwind performance and stability of the J/99 against the other IRC boats is very good, especially in the choppy seas and with strong puffs. The stability of the boat with the standard bulb led keel was very good with winds blowing over 25 kts.  The full mainsail and J2 jib were enough sail area to keep the boat 100% under control with no stress in the breezy conditions and big waves offshore.  READ MORE HERE.

Fun & Frolic @ American YC Fall Regatta(Rye, NY)- The 35th annual American Yacht Club Fall Regatta, virtually a J/Fest regatta for passionate J/Sailors, took place for two weekends in succession- September 27-28 and October 4-5 on western Long Island Sound. Of the 76 offshore teams sailing the regatta, 42 J/teams represented 55.0% of the fleet. After the two weekends of racing, here is how it all went down in the various divisions..  READ MORE HERE.

REDLINE Wins J/24 Changing of the Colors Regatta!(Diamond Pt, NY)- The 47th Annual Changing of the Colors Regatta took place from September 26th-28th, hosted by the legendary hospitality of the Lake George Club. This year, the event was also declared the J/24 Great Lakes Championship, with the winner receiving a berth to the J/24 World Championship! The twenty-eight teams in attendance from all over the northeastern USA enjoyed challenging, shifty conditions on Lake George, somewhat typical of a large mountain lake in the Adirondacks. J/24 Fleet #24 worked hard to make this a fun event. They found some giveaway goodies for each day from their awesome sponsors! Plus, there was complimentary beer and food on Friday evening, as well as post-racing kegs all weekend from the local sponsor- Adirondack Brewery. Saturday was the infamous, not-to-be-missed, Regatta Dinner with live entertainment at the Lake George Club! Trust us, it’s a serious party, with lots of fun, frolic, and dancing!   READ MORE HERE.

J/22 World Championship Preview(Naples, Italy)- For the first time in International J/22 Class history, the World Championship will be hosted in Naples, Italy, hosted by the Lega Navale Italiana Napoli, a club with a long-standing tradition of excellence in regatta management. The club has a J/22 fleet that has sailed locally in the gorgeous Golfo di Napoli for decades, all within sight of the famous Mount Vesuvius. Naples and its surrounding waters are a spectacular location for hosting the J/22 World Championship. As one of the most scenic and historic cities in the world, Naples offers a combination of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and ideal sailing conditions that make it a premier location for international sailing events.There are twenty J/22 teams from four nations (France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands) registered to participate in the regatta from October 11th to 19th, 2025.  READ MORE HERE.

J/80 North Americans Report(New Orleans, LA)- Twenty-one J/80s from across the United States and Canada descended on New Orleans, LA, for the 2025 J/80 North American Championship, hosted by Southern Yacht Club. Excitement has been high leading into this match-up, after recent championships in the North/Northeast of the continent. The results from day one proved a wide variance of entrants, led by James Buley of San Diego, CA, on LE TIGRE, who posted scores of 1-2 for the early advantage at 3 points. The breeze started quite promising on Lake Pontchartrain, with winds in the mid-teens. Buley’s LE TIGRE took the bullet, ahead of Daniel Wittig’s TURBO SLOTH, and John Van Landeghem’s FUJIMO. READ MORE HERE.

STC Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta Preview(Larchmont, NY)- On this Columbus Day holiday weekend, October 10-12, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) will take place at Larchmont Yacht Club, co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club. The event will see 47 schools from 19 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces come together for a unique offshore sailing experience, designed to give collegiate sailors a new challenge beyond their typical dinghy racing. Notably, this event has become by far the largest collegiate sailing event on the annual college sailing calendar in both the spring and fall!This year’s regatta features 47 boats generously donated by local sailors or schools. In fact, 34 of them are passionate J/Boats owners- 72.0% of the fleet!! In total, 400+ college sailors will participate, supported by 90 volunteers who will serve in roles from Race Committee to Safety Officers on the donated boats. The event, supported by the Storm Trysail Foundation and powered by generous donations from club members, sponsors, and partners, remains free for all student competitors.  READ MORE HERE.

J/Gear HOLIDAY Special- 20% off!(Newport, RI)- We’re offering the J/Holiday Special from October through November 15th, 2025! 20% off on ALL orders!But the 1/2 hull models are exempt from this offer.Order early to ensure a Happy Holidays delivery!Holiday discount coupon:  JB2025HSFor any clothing, hats, blankets, and so forth, choose your J/Class logo and customize with boat name and sail number as an option. Browse all products here on the J/GEAR website:https://jgear.vsport.biz

(Rye, NY)- The 35th annual American Yacht Club Fall Regatta, virtually a J/Fest regatta for passionate J/Sailors, is taking place for two weekends in succession- September 27-28 and October 4-5. Of the 76 offshore keelboat teams sailing the regatta, 42 J/teams are representing 55.0% of the fleet. Racing is taking place in Western Long Island Sound just south of Rye, New York. After the first weekend, here is how it all went down in the various divisions.
ORC DivisionIn this dozen-boat fleet, Trevor Roach’s J/121 TOUCH OF GREY took a third place, just 45 seconds from 2nd place and a mere 46 seconds from first place!
PHRF 2 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet was contending with the brace of J/111s that usually predominate on the podium. True to form, Bill & Jackie Baxter’s J/111 FIREBALL took third place, while Abhijeet Lee’s J/111 VARUNA took 4th place.
PHRF 3 DivisionFour J/44s and a J/46 comprised over half of this eight-boat fleet. June & Amanda Kendrick’s J/44 PALANTIR 5 took 2nd, Bill Ketcham’s J/44 MAXINE was 3rd, and Albrecht Goethe’s J/46 HAMBURG II took fourth place.
PHRF 4 DivisionLeading a near sweep of the eight-boat fleet was Doug McKiege’s J/99 SAVE THE SOUND. Second was Bob Schwartz’s J/109 NORDLYS. Fourth was Ian Milward’s J/109 QUICKSILVER, and fifth was the Norton Junior Big Boat team on their J/109 3 CHEERS.
PHRF 5 Division- Non-spin DoublehandedWinning this non-spinnaker doublehanded division was Erik Asgeirsson’s J/45 ACADIA.
PHRF 6 DivisionThis nine-boat fleet experienced a J/Team sweep of the podium. Winning was Matt Roleke & Trace Dittenhoffer’s J/33 CO-CONSPIRATOR, second was Damian Emery’s J/105 WARLOCK, and third was Don Dowd’s J/105 YOUNG AMERICAN.
PHRF 7 Division- J/100 classSailing as a non-spinnaker one-design class was a seven-boat fleet of J/100s. Winning was William Hennes’s LIBERTY, followed by Scott MacVicar & Brad Parish’s RESOLUTE in second and John & Corinne Forster’s SALTIRE in third position.
PHRF 8 DivisionA classic J/30 (design #2 after the J/24) was still going strong on Long Island Sound! Getting a second place was Denis Lagarde’s MIDNIGHT RIDER- PMP STRATEGY.
AYC Fall Regatta results- October 4-5https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50455
AYC Coastal Races- September 27-28https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50486

(Lorient, France)- The Centre Nautique de Lorient in Lorient, France, hosted the classic early fall regatta in the summer-long series of the J/80 French Cup- the Atlantic Telegramme Regatta. Eighteen teams participated in this year’s weekend event, which was punctuated by predominantly light airs. Here is Ludovic Gilet’s report on the regatta.
“The races were beautiful and hard-fought, driven by an ever-friendly atmosphere on land, within the Sailing Valley.
Sailing conditions ranged from medium to strong winds, with a very nice end to the day on Saturday and an equally pleasant Sunday.
It was a regular in the series, a local on the stage, who won in the light-weather races: Éric Brezellec on MOJITO. Sailing with him was a historic crew of friends- Alicia Vincent, Alexis Aveline, Marie Liger, and Matthieu Legard.
The podium was completed by:2nd- GRIOTTE- sailed by the young crew of Matéo Poudens-Provost that included Mateo Loudens-Provost, Mathis Denis, Nolan Da Silva, and Leonard Fury.3rd- MARINE BREST 10- skippered by Mael Rescue with crew of Charles DuBoeuf, Emeric Lacroix, Andrea de Giorgi, and Enora Percheron.
Just behind in 4th place was a perennial contender- Patrick Bot on ECOLE NAVALE LECAPONTON- with his crew of Frederic Hauville, Fabrice Morin, and Lily Reece. Then, rounding out the top five was Julien Le Granvalet’s INTERFACE CONCEPT, with a crew of Damien Fortini, Stephane Brouillet, and Aurelien Leduque.
A special word to welcome back to the regatta our friend Christophe Montoriol and his crew, as well as that of Anne Pruvot Debreu on EROS.
For more J/80 Atlantic Telegramme sailing informationhttps://www.classej80france.com/

(Annapolis, MD)- The 2025 J/88 North American Championship, hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club, enjoyed very competitive racing for the dozen teams that sailed on the northern reaches of Chesapeake Bay. In the end, one team came ready to “play ball” and nearly ran the table with all bullets, an amazing achievement in the tough J/88 class. As a result, it was John Bell and Ray Wulff’s HIWASSEE that were crowned the 2025 J/88 North American Champions. Here is the summary from four days of racing by Annapolis YC PRO Dick Neville.
Racing began Thursday in strong conditions, with Race 1 featuring significant shifts. With MarkSetBots in use for the Championship, the Race Committee was able to square the course each leg after the first beat, ensuring fair racing despite the moving wind. The day wrapped with three races in solid breeze, where John Bell and Ray Wulff’s HIWASSEE dominated with three straight bullets.
Friday delivered lighter air and more tactical racing, with three additional races completed. Conditions proved challenging, and the two Chicago boats- Lindsey Duda’s SIN DUDAD and John & Jordan Leahey’s DUTCH- pushed HIWASSEE harder, though the Bell/Wulff team again finished the day on top.
Saturday began under postponement before two light-air races were completed. An ebb tide made for difficult choices as less current to the left battled more pressure to the right, frustrating tacticians across the fleet. SIN DUDA and HIWASSEE traded 1–2 finishes, leaving the series poised for a close finale.
Sunday’s forecast did not bring relief, with sunshine but only 3–5 knots from 010° over a lumpy sea state. With no signs of improvement, the Race Committee called racing and moved to an early awards ceremony.
The winning HIWASSWEE team was comprised of skipper Ray Wulff, John Bell, Quantum Sails PRO Scott Nixon, Dan Cameron, Jamie Gilman (coached by Stu J when living in Wilmette, IL), and starlet Ashley Love of video fame. That was quite a talented team, a bit like bringing a submachine gun to a knife fight!
The balance of the podium was comprised of two very talented Chicago teams. Taking the silver medal was Lindsey Duda’s SIN DUDA, with nearly as much talent as the winners. Lindsey’s team was comprised of Zac Hernandez, Tyler Woodworth, Kyle Vowels, Nathan Hollerbach, and Abie McLaughlin.
The bronze medal spot was decided by a tiebreaker at 30 pts each. Winning the bronze medal on the count back was John & Jordan Leahey’s DUTCH with crew of Kris Werner, Hunter Ratliff, Dan Burns, Mike Rusin, and Vincent Yannelli. Yet another very experienced team.
The balance of the top five included Dave Dennison’s PIRANHA from Wisconsin in fourth and Jack McGuire’s MI-2 from Annapolis in fifth place.
How competitive was this fleet for the 2025 J/88 NAs? Well, three past J/88 NA Champions finished 7th, 8th, and 9th- Iris Vogel’s DEVIATION, Andy Graff’s EXILE, and Chris & Liz Chadwick’s CHURCH KEY, respectively.
Corinthian DivisionSix of the twelve teams qualified as Corinthian teams. Winning was Dennison’s PIRANHA team from Chicago with 30 pts, second was William Purdy’s WHIRLWIND from Long Island Sound with 35 pts, and taking third was Andy Graff’s EXILE team from Chicago with 43 pts.
The Annapolis Yacht Club thanks PRO Dick Neville, the Race Committee, shoreside staff, and the many volunteers for their dedication and professionalism throughout the event. Special appreciation goes to sponsors for their vital support: – Quantum Sails – Title Sponsor – North Point Yacht Sales – Navy Stadium Parking – LMND Hydration
The 2025 J/88 North American Championship highlighted the talent and sportsmanship of the J/88 Class, delivering three days of competitive racing and showcasing the fleet’s depth across both the overall and Corinthian divisions.
Sailing photo credits: Wilbur Keyworth Photographyhttps://www.keyworthphotography.com/Photos-By-Events/2025-Sailing-Events/2025-J88-DAY-2-edits
For more J/88 North American Championship sailing informationhttps://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/17012

(Blacksburg, Germany)- The christening of two brand new J/40s recently took place at Hanseatische Yachtschule in Glücksburg, Germany. The weekend ceremony celebrated the 100th anniversary of Deutscher Hochseeportverband Hansa (DHH). The new J/40s will be part of the offshore cruising and daysailing programs starting in the summer of 2026. They’re joining a large fleet of J/80s that are also used for sailing instruction.
The DHH– Europe’s largest yacht school!The DHH and its yacht schools have been the first port of call in Germany for sailing instruction since 1925. True to the association’s slogan “Learn to sail properly,” there are no “crash courses” here. Around 25 permanent DHH employees and several hundred seasonal sailing instructors from among the members have one goal: to train you to become a safe sailor.
For the 16,000-plus members and water sports enthusiasts from many nations, the DHH offers courses for all sailing licenses, motorboat licenses, correspondence courses, sailing holidays, school trips, yacht and skipper training, and crewed sailing trips in many sailing areas worldwide.
The DHH operates its yacht schools in Glücksburg on the Baltic Sea and in Prien am Chiemsee. There are no “club barriers” here. Anyone who wants to learn to sail here simply registers and applies for membership at the same time. Everyone is welcome!
For more Hanseatische Yachtschule/ DHH informationhttps://www.dhh.de/
J/80 German Open AnnouncementMany of the graduates of the Hanseatische Yachtschule also sail J/80s, as they are part of the school’s training boats and curriculum. Some of them will be sailing on the weekend of October 3-5 in the J/80 German Open. That regatta will take place at Deutscher Touring Yacht Club in Tutzing, Germany!
For more German J//80 Class sailing informationhttp://www.j80.de

As the calendar edges deeper into autumn, the J/Community continues to prove that the sailing season never closes. In the northern hemisphere, the late fall/ midwinter events kick in, and “down under,” their seven-month-long summer is just getting going! From Marblehead to Mattsee, Glücksburg to Montego Bay, Austria to Argentina, fleets large and small have filled the past weeks with the kind of racing, camaraderie, and celebration that define J/sailing worldwide.In Germany, the Hanseatische Yachtschule marked both history and renewal, christening two new J/40s as part of its 100th anniversary— proof that the next century of offshore instruction is already taking shape. Across the Atlantic, Corinthian sailors took center stage in Marblehead, where Bermuda’s HEDGEHOG team captured the J/70 Corinthian World Championship in a thrilling finale, while in Annapolis and Toronto, North American titles in the J/88 and J/105 classes were hard-fought in the full range of fall conditions— flat calms one day, washing-machine chop the next.Elsewhere in Europe, the pulse of competition and community remained strong. Women’s and national league champions were crowned in Switzerland and Austria; light-air tacticians battled it out in France’s J/80 Atlantic Telegramme; and Italy’s RABBIT hopped to the top of the J/24 Coppa Italia standings. Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, preparations are already underway for the J/70 South American Championship, a reminder that while the Northern Hemisphere is winding down, sailors south of the equator are just warming up.Looking beyond the race course, this season has also been one of reflection and recognition. The National Sailing Hall of Fame honored Newport’s Kenny Read for a lifetime of achievement that began in the J/24 fleet, while the sailing world bid farewell to Don Trask— visionary builder, champion, and tireless advocate for the J/24 and Laser classes. His influence continues to shape the sport for generations to come.Whether it’s new boats being christened, champions crowned, or legends celebrated, the J/spirit remains unmistakable: competitive yet inclusive, grounded in tradition yet always looking ahead. So settle in and explore this week’s stories — a testament to how the J/ fleet continues to thrive across oceans, generations, and seasons.

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:October 9-12- Annapolis Sailboat Show- Annapolis, Maryland On display- J/7, J/9, J/36, J/40, and J/45 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

Hanseatische Yachtschule Christens Two New J/40s(Blacksburg, Germany)- The christening of two brand new J/40s recently took place at Hanseatische Yachtschule in Glücksburg, Germany. The weekend ceremony celebrated the 100th anniversary of Deutscher Hochseeportverband Hansa (DHH). The new J/40s will be part of the offshore cruising and daysailing programs starting in the summer of 2026. They’re joining a large fleet of J/80s that are also used for sailing instruction.  READ MORE HERE.

HEDGEHOG Crowned J/70 Corinthian World Champions!(Marblehead, MA)- Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA, welcomed twenty-nine all-amateur teams to the third annual J/70 Corinthian World Championship. While the previous two editions took place in Europe (Italy & Denmark), this Corinthian regatta moved to the United States for the first time in this celebrated format. The battle for the podium between several talented teams from the USA, Bermuda, and Mexico went down to the wire on the final day. In the end, it was the Bermudian team led by Alec Cutler and his HEDGEHOG team of ex-US Naval Academy All-American dinghy sailors that were crowned the 2025 J/70 Corinthian World Champions. Here is how it all went down each day.  READ MORE HERE.

J/88 North Americans Witness HIWASSEE Eclipse!(Annapolis, MD)- The 2025 J/88 North American Championship, hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club, enjoyed very competitive racing for the dozen teams that sailed on the northern reaches of Chesapeake Bay. In the end, one team came ready to “play ball” and nearly ran the table with all bullets, an amazing achievement in the tough J/88 class. As a result, it was John Bell and Ray Wulff’s HIWASSEE that were crowned the 2025 J/88 North American Champions. Here is the summary from four days of racing by Annapolis YC PRO Dick Neville.  READ MORE HERE.

NIUHI Dominates J/105 North American Championship(Toronto, ONT, Canada)- Eighteen teams from the USA and Canada participated in the J/105 North American Championship hosted by Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, Ontario. Sailing was taking place on the infamous Lake Ontario; a mill pond one day, to violent 5-foot breaking waves the next day. Pick your poison when prepping for this regatta in late September, when virtually any weather can hit the fleet- billiard table flat waters to getting tossed around in violent washing machine chop. In the end, the battle of the “super J/105s” (e.g., Non-SCRIMP boats) was won by a San Francisco team- Randy Hecht’s NIUHI. After winning their first four races, they backed off on the throttle and used unleaded corn-fed gas instead of nitrous! Hahaha. Here is how it all went down for the rest of the fleet (e.g., the SCRIMP boats) left spinning in their wake.  READ MORE HERE.

MOJITO Wins J/80 Atlantic Telegramme(Lorient, France)- The Centre Nautique de Lorient in Lorient, France, hosted the classic early fall regatta in the summer-long series of the J/80 French Cup- the Atlantic Telegramme Regatta. Eighteen teams participated in this year’s weekend event, which was punctuated by predominantly light airs. Here is Ludovic Gilet’s report on the regatta.The races were beautiful and hard-fought, driven by an ever-friendly atmosphere on land, within the Sailing Valley. Sailing conditions ranged from medium to strong winds, with a very nice end to the day on Saturday and an equally pleasant Sunday.It was a regular in the series, a local on the stage, who won in the light-weather races: Éric Brezellec on MOJITO. Sailing with him was a historic crew of friends- Alicia Vincent, Alexis Aveline, Marie Liger, and Matthieu Legard.  READ MORE HERE.

American YC Fall Regatta Update(Rye, NY)- The 35th annual American Yacht Club Fall Regatta, virtually a J/Fest regatta for passionate J/Sailors, is taking place for two weekends in succession- September 27-28 and October 4-5. Of the 76 offshore keelboat teams sailing the regatta, 42 J/teams are representing 55.0% of the fleet. Racing is taking place in Western Long Island Sound just south of Rye, New York. After the first weekend, here is how it all went down in the various divisions.  READ MORE HERE.

Regattaclub Bodensee Crowned Swiss J/70 Women’s Sailing League Champions(Zurich, Switzerland)- The Zürcher Segel Club on Lake Zurich played host to eleven women’s teams from across the Alpine nation of Switzerland for the Swiss J/70 Women’s Sailing League Championship. The ZSC’s RC/ PRO team managed to run seven races in the challenging light air sailing conditions the fleet experienced all weekend.  READ MORE HERE.

Burgenland YC Crowned 2025 Austrian J/70 Sailing League Champions (Mattsee, Austria)- The dramatic finale of the eleventh Bundesliga season on Lake Mattsee was marked by unusually high temperatures, little wind, and thus few races. Nevertheless, the championship remained exciting until the very end. Hosting the exciting event was the Mattsee Sailing Club.Two rounds were completed on Friday, enough for the hosts from the Mattsee Sailing Club (SCM) to close the four-point deficit to the defending champions from the Burgenland Yacht Club (BYC). This set the stage for a long and dramatic sailing weekend. The midsummer temperatures and the accompanying light winds added to the excitement. As on the opening day, sailing on Saturday and Sunday was only possible in the afternoon. An easterly wind with a generally southerly weather pattern created extremely difficult tactical conditions on all three days.   READ MORE HERE.

RABBIT Wins J/24 Coppa Italia- Anzio Act VI(Anzio, Italy)- With a brace of victories in the five races sailed, Francesco Nucara’s RABBIT and crew of  Fabio Ascoli, Paolo Boero, Simone Fojanini, and Nicolò Gaddi won the sixth stage of the Italian J/24 National Circuit, held this past weekend in the waters of Anzio. On the podium in second place was the winner of the penultimate race, Massimo Mariotti’s AVOLTORE with crew of Francesco Cruciani, Fulvio Cruciani on sheets, Goffredo Russo, and Maria Sole De Blasi on the bow.Michele Potenza’s ARPIONE and crew of Panfilo Del Beato Corvi, Italo Paulini, Giuseppe Speziale, and Elisabetta Centeone bowman rounded out the podium with the bronze medal.”It was my first time in Anzio, both as a competitor and as an owner. I must say the race course did not disappoint, giving us a first day of light winds with a few shifts that created quite a few difficulties for us,” commented Francesco Nucara. “The second day featured stronger winds, conditions that were more favorable to us, as we were fresh from recent experiences in Wemeldinge (European J24 Championship) and Plymouth (World Championship). The level of the boats present was good, and the warmth and friendliness of their crews was great. READ MORE HERE.

J/70 South American Championship Preview(Buenos Aires, Argentina)- From October 2nd to 5th, 2025, the eponymous Yacht Club Argentino in Buenos Aires will be hosting the 2025 J/70 South American Championship for a hot, competitive fleet of fifty-two boats. Amongst that fleet are well-known skippers that have competed on the world stage in midwinter series in Miami/ Tampa Bay, off Cowes, England, Monaco, Sardinia, and other places for J/70 North American, J/70 European, and J/70 World Championships.  READ MORE HERE.

Jamin’ J/22 Montego Bay Regatta Announcement(Montego Bay, Jamaica)- The Montego Bay Yacht Club is proud to present the 36th running of their iconic event- the Jamin’ J/22 Montego Bay Regatta in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The regatta will be held from December 4th to 7th, 2025, in the gorgeous aquamarine blue waters of Montego Bay.The regatta has to be a serious consideration for anyone’s “bucket list” experiences for sailing around the world. It’s an open invitational regatta, so anyone can go. But it’s first-come, first-served. Bring your own crew, bring your racing sails, and the MBYC J/22 fleet supplies you a boat for the nominal entry fee of $900.00. The venue is simply one of the best in the world. Situated on the north shore of Jamaica, Montego Bay is a large natural harbor. The Caribbean trade winds of 10 to 18 kts typically blow from the east, paralleling the shoreline. With plenty of sun, good breeze, and shirts & shades weather in the high 70s/ low 80s, it’s truly a sailor’s paradise.  READ MORE HERE.

Kenny Read Inducted into USA’s National Sailing Hall of Fame(Newport, RI)- The National Sailing Hall of Fame plays a pivotal role in celebrating the rich legacy of sailing and its impact on American culture. The sport of sailing has been shaped by generations of individuals who have demonstrated the courage and conviction to plot their own courses, defy convention, and redefine excellence. Newport’s Kenny Read happens to be one of them, having cut his teeth in the world of J/24 sailing for decades to launch his sailing career.“College Sailing Gave Me a Career Path”Early in life, Kenny thought he would attend law school after college or work in his family’s business. He had enviable success growing up as a junior sailor on Narragansett Bay and says he was “an unheralded freshman” when he went to college. His sailing team coach at Boston University, Skip Whyte, recognized young Ken’s talent and named him the starter for the freshman championship being held at the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club. Ken describes himself at the time as being “too brash and took too many chances.” The New England Freshmen Championship was the first time Ken Read realized he could successfully compete against his peers from across the nation. In 1982, he was awarded the Everett B. Morris Trophy as the College Sailor of the Year.  READ MORE HERE.

Eight Bells: Don TraskWe’re very saddened to share the news that Don Trask, long-time colleague, friend and sailing icon, passed away September 29, 2025, in Mooresville, North Carolina, surrounded by family and online well-wishers.  Don started sailing as crew for his father, graduated to Snipes, and then Stars, where he won the 1966 North American Championship, two District Championships, and placed 3rd in the 1967 World Championship.Don’s connection to J/Boats started in 1973, when Bob Johnstone founded the 1st US Youth Sailing Championship in Wilmette, IL.  READ MORE HERE.

J/Gear HOLIDAY Special- 20% off!(Newport, RI)- We’re offering the J/Holiday Special from October through November 15th, 2025! 20% off on ALL orders!But the 1/2 hull models are exempt from this offer.Order early to ensure a Happy Holidays delivery!Holiday discount coupon:  JB2025HSFor any clothing, hats, blankets, and so forth, choose your J/Class logo and customize with boat name and sail number as an option. Browse all products here on the J/GEAR website:https://jgear.vsport.biz