Will Welles claims J/24 Midwinter title

Tampa, FL (February 22, 2015) – Will Welles continues his six-month hot streak, adding the 2015 J/24 Midwinter Championship to his trophy case, which also holds the 2014 J/24 US National Championship and 2014 J/24 World Championship. Racing Cougar with Chris Morgan, Monica Morgan, Jeff Linton and Erik Rexford, Welles totaled 25 points in eight races with a line of 1,2,1,12,7,1,1,(16).

The three-day event on February 20-22 had no racing today due to lack of wind.

Welles credited Chris Morgan for putting the crew together and using his local boat. “I’d been looking forward to sailing with this team, and it just all fit together.” He commended the race committee for completing eight races in the first two days. “The Bay has lake-like conditions. It’s very shifty racing. There’s nothing better than the people, the club and the grounds at Davis Island Yacht Club. It all makes this spot a gem.”

This is Welles first J/24 Midwinter Championship victory, and he noted that he’s especially excited to be the first recipient of the new Midwinters perpetual trophy in honor of Lambert Lai. Lai, USJCA President for the last two years, passed away on December 30, 2014. Lai and Welles worked closely together, as Welles is now the current USJCA President.

Twenty-seven teams from across the United States and Canada participated in the event hosted by Davis Island Yacht Club.

The top five: Will Welles, Cougar (25 points), Robby Brown, USA799 (27), John Mollicone/David Ogden, Buckaroo (37), Carter White, Sea Bags Sailing Team (41), Travis Odenbach, HoneyBadger (45).

Race website – Results – Photos

Report by class media.