Month: December 2025

(Cascais, Portugal)- The Club Naval de Cascais held the second event in their Cascais J/70 Winter Series over the past weekend. A great turnout of 28 teams enjoyed excellent sailing conditions, with eight races sailed over the three days.
Sailing one of their best regattas in the past year, Nuno Es Silva’s BABA posted a blistering record of 6-3-4-1-4-1-1-2 for just 16 pts net to win the event by a substantial margin. Nuno’s crew included a famous Spanish Olympic medallist, Hugo Rocha, as his trimmer/tactician. In addition, his team included Francisco Palacios and Frederico Pinheiro de Melo.
Behind the high-flying BABA team, it was a battle for the balance of the podium. Ultimately, Vasco Serpa’s SAIL CASCAIS Team of Afonso Domingos, Bernardo Plantier Santos, and Tiago Alves overcame a 20th on the first day’s tally to take the silver medal with 30 pts net. Just four pts back to take the bronze medal was a perennial championship contender from Spain, Luis Perez Canal’s ABRIL VERDE, with his crew of Eduardo Reguera Fernandez, Luis da Roch Rial, Carlos Sanmartin Alvarez, and Juan de Cominges Carvalo.
The balance of the top five was determined by a tiebreaker at 43 pts each. After the tiebreaker countback process, it was Tiago Morais’s POR 1282 that took fourth place, while Diego Pereira’s NAVIS PORTUGAL had to settle for fifth place.
Follow the Cascais J/70 Winter Series on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/clubenavalcascais
For more Cascais J/70 Winter Series sailing information https://regatas.cncascais.com/en/default/races

(Beihai, Guangxi, China)- The 2025 Belt and Road International Regatta in Beihai, Guangxi Province, was held from December 4 to December 8, 2025. This event is part of a larger international sailing regatta that connects various countries, including China, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Thirty J/80 teams from nine nations competed for class honors and a $15,000 payday for the winners!
For the first time in history, connecting China, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, this sailing regatta brought together over 400 sailors from 20 countries and regions worldwide, including China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, China.
On the evening of December 7th, the 2025 Belt and Road International Regatta concluded in Beihai, Guangxi. After five consecutive days of intense competition, Xiamen City Vocational College Sailing Team One, Zinie Photovoltaic Sailing Team, and Nansheng Sailing Team claimed the championship, runner-up, and third place, respectively. The awards ceremony was held at the Yintan No.1 International Conference Center Hotel, marking the successful conclusion of this high-level sailing event.
International Dignitaries Gathered for Sailing FeastSince its opening on December 4th, the event has attracted widespread attention both domestically and internationally. Distinguished guests, including Mr. Li Quanhai, President of World Sailing; Mr. Tomasz Chamera, Vice President of World Sailing; Mr. Liang Jianbo, Deputy Director of the Guangxi Sports Bureau; and Mr. Lei Chen, Vice Mayor of Beihai City, attended the opening ceremony and jointly launched the event. At the closing ceremony, Mr. Tomasz Chamera, Vice President of World Sailing, Mr. Chen Chao, Director of the Guangxi Water Sports Development Center, and officials from relevant Beihai City departments presented awards to the top six teams.
To express gratitude to all parties for their support, the Guangxi Sailing and Windsurfing Association presented specially invited technical officials with souvenirs of Beihai’s intangible cultural heritage, shell carving. At the same time, Guangxi Tourism Development Coastal Investment issued honorary certificates to volunteer representatives, highlighting the event’s humanistic warmth and spirit of international collaboration.
High-Level Competition Showcases Sailing CharmThis year’s event adopted a combined format of “inshore races + long-distance race,” comprehensively testing the athletes’ skills and teamwork. On the windswept waters of Beihai, teams navigated the waves and competed with precision. Xiamen City Vocational College Sailing Team One secured the championship through consistent performance, followed by Zinie Photovoltaic Sailing Team and Nansheng Sailing Team. Teams from the United States, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, and other participating countries also demonstrated excellent competitive spirit.
Sports as a Bridge, Deepening Belt and Road Exchange and CooperationSince its inception in 2019, the Belt and Road International Regatta has been successfully held for seven editions, with its footprint expanding to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Croatia, Turkey, and other countries, making it the first large-scale Chinese sailing event to land in Europe. Beihai, a crucial departure port on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, leverages its exceptional maritime environment to continuously develop an event model integrating “competition + tourism” and “competition + commerce,” thereby promoting the deep integration of sports with the cultural and tourism industries.
At the opening ceremony, Vice Mayor Lei Chen of Beihai stated that Beihai always adheres to the philosophy of “hosting one event to invigorate a city,” injecting new vitality into the cultural, tourism, and sports industries through such events. Deputy Director Liang Jianbo of the Guangxi Sports Bureau pointed out that this event has become a key platform for Guangxi’s international sports exchange. In the future, efforts will continue to promote the deep integration of sports with tourism, culture, and other industries, building a new sports development model with Guangxi characteristics.
With the successful conclusion of the 2025 Belt and Road International Regatta, Beihai has further solidified its status as an excellent venue for international sailing events. The event not only showcased the passion of high-level sailing competition but also embodied the integration of sports and culture, injecting new vitality and meaning into the development of the Maritime Silk Road.
Follow the Belt and Road International Regatta on Facebook herehttps://www.facebook.com/people/Belt-and-Road-International-Regatta/61555625415653/

(Barcelona, Spain)- The third event of the Barcelona J/70 Winter Series, organized by the Real Club Nàutico de Barcelona, brought together a total of twenty-six boats from nine European countries— Hungary, Portugal, Poland, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Spain.
The weather conditions were particularly changeable throughout the three days, demanding maximum adaptability from both the fleet and the Race Committee. On Friday, no races could be held due to the complete instability of the wind, marked by very low pressure, and an uncomfortable swell that prevented a stable race course.
On Saturday, the scenario changed completely: sunshine and a southerly wind between 10 and 16 knots allowed the completion of four intense races.
Finally, Sunday’s racing took place with calmer seas and a wind that shifted to 260º, blowing at 10-13 knots, allowing three more races out of the four scheduled.
The victory in this third series went to SASSY, ​​skippered by Dane Frederick Hvalsoe, who was crowned winner with 17 points. In second place, NOTICIA, skippered by Luis Martín Cabiedes, delivered an excellent performance, winning the second race and finishing just three points behind the Danish team. Third place went to the HSN SAILING TEAM, led by Ricardo Terrades, who won the third and seventh races and was also crowned Catalan J/70 Champion. The top five was completed by BODEGA CAN MARLES, skippered by Lucia Pombo Garcia in fourth place, and Tony Hayward’s British team SERIOUS FUN in fifth position.
Barcelona Winter Series Provisional StandingsFor the provisional overall standings, after three events and a total of 24 races held, the lead returns to the HSN SAILING TEAM. On this occasion, the team competed with Javier Padrón at the helm, with Luis Martínez Doreste as tactician, Ricardo Terrades as trimmer, and Gerard Bosch on the bow.
Then, sitting in second is BODEGA CAN MARLES, owned by Ángel Blázquez and Lucía Pombo, which remains in second place overall. They solidified their team and performance by adding Olympic sailor and SailGP Spanish team member Joel Rodríguez to their crew for this series. Rodríguez took on the role of tactician, while his brother Nahuel helmed the boat, replacing Alejandro Pérez from Tenerife.
Rounding out the provisional series podium in third place is Marcelo Baltzer & Mike Murray’s LET IT BE.
The top five is rounded out by Jose Francisco Correa’s CORREA KESSLER team in fourth place and Luis Martín Cabiedes’s NOTICIA in fifth place. NOTICIA continues to demonstrate an exceptionally high level of performance, once again posting very consistent results and consistently finishing among the top four in all the races sailed.
The next event will take place from December 12th to 14th, with an expected turnout of more than 30 boats on the starting line. The Barcelona Winter Series thus reaffirms its position as one of the leading circuits in Europe for the J/70 class.
Follow the Barcelona J/70 Winter Series on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/rcnbarcelona
For more Barcelona J/70 Winter Series sailing informationhttps://www.barcelonawinterseries.com/

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- After two events, it looks like G-SPOT is sailing in a class of its own. Having dominated the season-opener, Monaco sailor Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s crew repeated their success this weekend, never really giving the rest of the 28-strong fleet a chance to disrupt their ascent to the top. But, while victory may appear clear-cut, the contest for supremacy behind the leaders is close, especially at this stage in the season, as the fleet proved far more competitive than in November for Act 1.
Act I was a masterclass in one-design racing, with G-SPOT posting five wins and establishing a clear lead. This time, the competition was more brutal, particularly on day two, as G-SPOT demonstrated why top teams do well by avoiding wasted opportunities, improving on average positions, and seizing openings at just the right moment. Where a late backing or veering gust caught some teams out, the Monaco team kept up the pace, as evidenced by its results in the five races: 1-4-13-7-2.
Behind the leader, two pursuers remained steadfast. True to form, ALICE remained a boat that rarely lags and was difficult to overtake. The Italian team was on good form, even winning two races. YCM member Graeme Peterson on MOONLIGHT II finished 3rd, showing steady progress and total control of his boat. Behind the leaders, gaps remained tight, with the Monaco teams of Pierrik Devic’s FRASER YACHTS and Nico Poons’ CHARISMA V doing well to come 4th and 5th respectively, but lacking the continuity required for a podium finish.
Corinthian contest heats up.In the Corinthian (amateur) category, it was a lively contest from the start. The Swiss mountain boys on TARTE-3NUITS.COM topped the ranking at the end, followed by their compatriots on JERRY. Cesare Gabasio from Monaco on TINN-J70 – with Leonardo Bonelli skippering, a former young sailor from YCM’s Sports Section – was in 3rd place. What is it in that crystal-clear Swiss mountain air and ice-cold freshwater lakes that powers those Swiss guys? Need to bottle that stuff and sell it!
Upcoming meetingsThe J/70 fleet meets again for Act III on 12-15 February 2026. While G-SPOT has got off to a good start, there’s still everything to play for. Judging by the gaps at the weekend, this is a season where a mistake rounding a mark could still upset the ranking.
For more YC Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series sailing informationhttps://www.ycm.org/en/event/sport-event/monaco-sportsboat-winter-series/
For more Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing informationhttps://yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/sailing/j-70-class/

(Pusan, Korea)- The inaugural Jeju International Sailing Championship was held on 27-30 November 2025. Twelve teams representing seven countries sailed a matched J/70 one-design fleet for three days over a wide variety of wind conditions. A total of nine races were sailed.
TEAM MARLIN from Russia had a close fight with the local top team VALUETECH from Korea, with the Russians topping the podium with 11 pts net, while the Koreans finished with 14 pts net. China’s Guangzhou Sailing Club, helmed by Olympic Champion sailor Lily Xu Lijia, claimed 3rd overall.
Lily commented on her experience, “Jeju is a wonderful place to sail with clear seawater and stunning scenery alongside the coast. The island itself is a great tourist attraction with only about a one-hour flight from China, Japan, and mainland Korea. The geography and weather of the sailing area created great waves during the regatta, providing an exhilarating experience for prolonged planing and surfing on the sporty J/70 keelboat.”
Prize money was awarded to the top six teams, and the organization covered most of their flights and accommodation. The winners were awarded W 4,000,000 (about $2,700 USD).
Limited charter boats are available, so make sure you keep an eye on this event next year!! Be quick to register without disappointment, it’s an enjoyable regatta with excellent onshore entertainment and festivities! Plus, if you WIN, the big check is fun to enjoy for an evening or two of celebrating yourselves, too!

Brazil’s OCEANPACT Wins Open J/70 NA’s!(Tampa, FL)- The Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, hosted forty-two teams from across North & South America for the 2025 J/70 North American Championship. Sailing in the northern reaches of Tampa Bay, the fleet was challenged by the mix of flat waters and shifty offshore breezes, plus the typical southerlies and short, choppy waters. Three of the four scheduled racing days featured nine races for teams from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, and Bermuda. In the end, Dalton Bergan’s WAR CANOE was declared the 2025 J/70 North American Champion. Meanwhile, Haroldo Soberg’s Brazilian team on OCEANPACT won the Open J/70 North American Championship. Winning the Corinthian Division was Lee Sackett’s FM. Here’s how it all went down over the four-day event.
Day 1- Sunshine and Steady Breeze Grace Tampa Bay
After a brief one-hour onshore postponement, sailors were rewarded with sunny skies, warming temperatures, and a building breeze. Winds began around 8 knots and rose steadily to 14 knots, allowing the Race Committee to deliver a three-race opening day.
The overall standings after day one saw Haroldo Solberg’s Brazilian OCEANPACT (crew of Geison Mendes, Mario Tinoco, and Gabriel Silva) in first place, having sailed a 1-11-3 for 15 points. They had the early advantage over two US teams: Dalton Bergan’s WAR CANOE (22 points) and Bruce Golison’s MIDLIFE CRISIS (26 points).
Solberg summarized, “The level here in the United States is very high. We’ll need a little luck and a lot of hard work to stay near the top.”
Brazil struck early, with Solberg’s OCEANPACT taking the opening bullet of the Championship. They were followed by Bergan’s WAR CANOE and Per Roman’s GARM. For race two, the breeze settled into a steadier rhythm, allowing Golison’s MIDLIFE CRISIS to dominate for the win. Ralph Rosa’s Brazilian MINDSET claimed second, and Joel Ronning’s CATAPULT completed the top three. Corinthian teams shone in race three. Patrick Shanahan’s BRONCO captured the win, followed by James Gary’s AYACUCHO— both fully Corinthian crews. OCEANPACT returned to the top group with a strong third, including an opportunity to port-tack the fleet.
Leading the Corinthian Division was AYACUCHO with James Gary, Edward Gary, Brendan Read, and Travis Carlisle. A standout final race placed the all-amateur team atop this leaderboard.
CATAPULT dominated the Mixed-Plus Division. Led by Joel Ronning with Jeremy Wilmot, Beccy Anderson, Stephanie Roble, and Giulia Conti, their consistency has put them in command.
In the One-Pro Division, RIFF (USA), with Boris Luchterhand, Ron Rosenberg, Emmett Beadnall, and Ryan Carson, had a strong opening day.
Day 2- No Wind!Thursday’s sailing was canceled with an “AP over A” after the sailors patiently waited a long time for any breeze to develop in the northern reaches of Tampa Bay.
Day 3- Planing Conditions- Woohoo!!Finally, the second day of sailing delivered spectacular conditions on Tampa Bay, as the teams enjoyed sunshine, steady 10–15 kts breezes, rolling whitecaps, and powered-up planing legs downwind. With the discard race now in effect after six completed races, the leaderboard tightened up considerably, setting up an exciting final stretch toward Saturday’s conclusion.
Race 4: Under bright skies and classic Tampa Bay pressure, Bergan’s WAR CANOE punched out early and never looked back, taking a clean win. Lee Eikel’s LAST CALL and Per Roman’s Swedish GARM team followed to round out the top three.
Race 5: The breeze held strong. Ronning’s CATAPULT surged ahead for the bullet, showcasing its hallmark upwind pace. Ralph Rosa’s MINDSETE claimed second, while Rich Witzel’s ROWDY delivered one of the day’s standout performances to take third.
Race 6: In the day’s final race, the Chicagoans dominated. Witzel’s ROWDY climbed another step and powered into first place. Fellow Chicagoan John Heaton’s EMPEIRIA grabbed a second-place finish, while Golison’s MIDLIFE CRISIS stayed locked in with a solid third, strengthening their overall position.
With breeze-on racing and tight margins throughout the fleet, the championship remained wide open heading into the final day. Consistency has been key, and MIDLIFE CRISIS currently held the advantage at the top of the leaderboard over the hard-charging Brazilian OCEANPACT squad and the WAR CANOE team.
Day 4- FinaleAfter four days and nine races, the J/70 North American Championship title came down to the final race. Saturday’s final three contests, sailed in planing conditions, saw a shifting leaderboard with five different teams within just eight points going into the final race. In the end, WAR CANOE won the final race just seconds ahead of OCEANPACT, but it wasn’t enough to take the overall win. WAR CANOE placed second overall, one point behind OCEANPACT.
“We felt relief as we crossed the finish line,” said Bergan, who subbed in for long-time class member Michael Goldfarb, who couldn’t make the event because of a family emergency. Bergan, Goldfarb, and crew Alyosha Strum-Palerm are all part of the “J/Pod,” a growing group of sixty Seattle-based J/70 teams.
Solberg finished fourth at the recent J/70 World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now takes the win in Tampa.
“The J/70 Class in Brazil is improving a lot. Two or three years ago, we had only six boats. Now we have almost 20 teams, and the level keeps rising! At the J/70 Worlds in Buenos Aires, Brazilians finished third, fourth, and fifth — that shows how strong the fleet has become!!” Brazilians took two of the five spots at the North American Championship!! The Brazilians are certainly on a roll! It will be interesting to see how they fare this winter on the Florida circuit.
Finishing just four points back to take the bronze medal was Golison’s MIDLIFE CRISIS team from Southern California- Erik Shampain, Jeff Reynolds, and Ian Barrows.
Rounding out the top five was Ralph Vasconcellos Rosa’s MINDSET in fourth place with his team of Guilherme Hamelmann, Julio Carvalho, and Felipe Rondina. Taking fifth place was Ronning’s CATAPULT team.
CORINTHIANS DivisionFourteen teams competed in the Corinthian division, led by Lee Sackett and his FM team, which included Abie Griggs, Jeff Haase, and Liam Walz, representing Edgewater Yacht Club. Taking home the silver was James Gary’s AYACUCHO team, followed by Patrick Shanahan’s BRONCO crew on the bronze medal step.
MIXED-PLUS DivisionJoel Ronning’s CATAPULT earned the Mixed-Plus title with his teammates, Olympians Stephanie Roble and Giulia Conti, Jeremy Wilmot, and Beccy Anderson.
ONE-PRO DivisionFrank McNamara’s CHINOOK earned the One-Pro Division title with Malcolm Lamphere, Colin Jermain, and Joshua Pfosi.
TOP FEMALE HELM
Top female helm was won by Corinthian and Mixed-Plus entry BEAT MACHINE, skippered by Marina Lamphier with her crew of Roy Lamphier, Cassidy Chalut, and Matt Koch.
Social Media: – Instagram: instagram.com/j70class- Facebook: facebook.com/J70Class/
Sailing Photo Credits- Hannah Lee Noll https://gallery.hannahleenoll.com/2025-j70-north-americans/
For J/70 North American Championship resultshttps://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50327
For more J/70 North American Championship host club informationhttps://diyc.org/