2017 J/70 North American Championship

Published on October 15th, 2017

Fifty-three teams competed in the 2017 J/70 North American Championship, hosted by American Yacht Club on October 12 to 15 in Rye, NY.

While day one was blown out due to high winds, the second day allowed for four races. Day three saw only one race in light and variable conditions while the final day had champagne sailing with three races in 10-12 knots of breeze and 70 degree, partly sunny skies.

By winning the final race, 2016 World Champion Joel Ronning and his Catapult team of John Kostecki, Christopher Stocke, and Patrick Wilson leaped over 2017 World Champion Peter Duncan to take the title in the 8-race series. Finishing 14th overall and winning the 20-boat Corinthian title was Jenn and Ray Wulff with crew Catherine Pelo, Brady Stagg, and Fletcher Sims.

Final Results (Top 10 of 53; 8 races, 1 discard)
1. Catapult, USA187, Joel Ronning – 7 -1 -3 -5 -[18] -8 -8 -1 ; 33
2. Relative Obscurity, USA49, Peter Duncan – 3 -4 -1 -6 -6 -6 -[12] -10 ; 36
3. Midlife Crisis, USA26, Bruce Golison – 4 -2 -14 -1 -[23] -12 -1 -6 ; 40
4. Savasana, USA96, Brian Keane – 9 -7 -7 -4 -[38] -2 -10 -2 ; 41
5. New Wave, USA246, Martin Kullman – 8 -5 -5 -15 -8 -1 -4 -[30] ; 46
6. Rimette, USA340, John Brim – 11 -8 -8 -11 -3 -3 -13 -[20] ; 57
7. AFRICA , USA179, Jud Smith – 2 -6 -[23] -10 -10 -4 -3 -23 ; 58
8. Team vineyard vines, USA901, John & Molly Baxter – [26] -24 -4 -2 -1 -7 -14 -11 ; 63
9. Nine, USA819, Oivind Lorentzen – 10 -17 -[28] -7 -2 -10 -2 -19 ; 67
10. Flojito 3 JT, USA3, Jack Franco – 1 -12 -2 -9 -28 -18 -6 -[29] ; 76