British Isles sweep J/70 Worlds

Torquay, Devon, UK (September 6, 2019) – Two races were held on the final day of the Darwin Escapes 2019 J/70 World Championships to complete the 14-race, 2-discard series. Beginning with 12 knots from the southwest, that moderate breeze shifted and built west to 20 knots, gusting 26, to produce a fantastic finale. A memorable world championship for both Open and Corinthian Classes was decided in the very last race.

2019 J/70 Open World Champions
Paul Ward’s Eat Sleep J Repeat has become the first British team to win the Open J/70 World Championship, holding off a strong challenge from Joel Ronning (USA) racing Catapult, Pichu Torcida (ESP) racing Noticia, and Alberto Rossi (ITA) racing Enfant Terrible. Claudia Rossi (ITA) racing Petite Terrible, was fourth and best Open Woman Helm in the championship.

“Very very pleased, it has been hard work and we have a very good team.We have sailed well all year and this has been a tough week but a lot of fun,” said Ward. “We were just a few meters from the finish when we realized we had probably won, we worked hard right up to the end, the Americans and the Spanish pushed us really hard, it was full on.

“There were plenty of tough moments, but that is why we came to Torbay, this is a tricky and challenging place to race. I would also like to thank everyone at Key Yachting and especially Paul Heys who I would love to have a pint with tonight, but sadly he is no longer with us.”

Corinthian winners

2019 J/70 Corinthian World Champions
Ian Wilson (GBR), Marshall King (IRL), and their Soak Racing team won the J/70 Corinthian World Championship in dramatic style. In the last race, Soak Racing was four places ahead of Doug Struth (GBR) racing DSP. A tie on points for the series was settled by countback, a single place after 14 races gave Soak Racing victory. Denis Cherevatenko (RUS) racing Joyfull was third. Fiona Hampshire (GBR) racing Elizabeth was best Corinthian Woman Helm in the championship.

“Amazing, we have been trying to win this for six years, so it feels just amazing,” notes the winning duo. “Torbay has been exceptionally tricky, and we have had great competition at a really well organized regatta, and it is great to come away with the win.

“Today’s racing was really exciting; we were 10 points behind DSP going into the last two races. We had an excellent Race 13 and then it was about staying with DSP and making sure there were not too many boats between us. It all came down to the last 100 meters, and we did just enough.”

Racing at the 2019 J/70 World Championships was held from September 2 to 6.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Final Open Results (Top 10 of 77; 14 races, 1 discard)
1. Eat Sleep J Repeat, GBR1451, Paul Ward / Charlie Cumbley / Ruairidh Scott / Mario Trindade – 24 -11 -[32] -2 -5 -3 -1 -4 -15 -6 -8 -[30] -15 -6 ; 100
2. Catapult, USA180, Joel Ronning / Victor Diaz De Leon / Christopher Stocke / Patrick Wilson – 8 -7 -6 -[26] -15 -8 -14 -14 -10 -[33] -11 -9 -5 -3 ; 110
3. Noticia, ESP961, Jose Maria Torcida / Luiz Martin Cabiedes / Rayco Tabares / Pablo Santurde / Robin Imaz – 1 -[26] -23 -3 -11 -9 -5 -17 -6 -11 -9 -11 -[78] -14 ; 120
4. Enfant Terrible, ITA1256, Alberto Rossi / Alberto Bolzan / Stefano RIzzi / Branco Bircin / Bianca Crugnola – [42] -3 -20 -1 -16 -2 -9 -8 -27 -30 -1 -7 -[78] -9 ; 133
5. Petite Terrible, ITA853, Claudia Rossi / Michele Paoletti / Matteo Mason / Rossella Losito / Giulio Desiderato – 28 -2 -3 -[38] -12 -14 -[78] -16 -8 -21 -4 -8 -6 -17 ; 139
6. Rascal, USA25, Henry Brauer / Brian Kamilar / Karl Anderson / Orrin Starr – 3 -28 -[48] -17 -10 -11 -4 -1 -26 -16 -[44] -31 -3 -4 ; 154
7. Junda-Banca del Sempione, MON1186, Ludovico Fassitelli / Enrico Fonda / Andrea Felci / Lorenzo Azzi / Francesco Orlando – 33 -9 -8 -18 -[37] -12 -16 -23 -4 -3 -3 -[45] -27 -2 ; 158
8. Calvi Network, ITA949, Carlo Alberini / Stefano Cherin / Sergio Blosi / Karlo Hmeljak – 35 -17 -25 -10 -[78] -27 -[78] -3 -1 -9 -5 -5 -7 -16 ; 160
9. Maria, RUS1405, Andrey Malygin / Leonid Klepikov / Andrey Kirilyuk / Aleksey Borisov – 13 -10 -21 -30 -1 -6 -[78] -6 -30 -17 -14 -16 -1 -[32] ; 165
10. ArttubeRus1, RUS1403, Valeriya kovalenko / IGOR LISOVENKO / DENIS ROZHKOV / SERGEY AVDONIN / PAVEL SAVENKO – 2 -12 -[78] -7 -18 -28 -[78] -15 -38 -4 -12 -4 -19 -8 ; 167

Final Corinthian Results (Top 10 of 36; 14 races, 1 discard)

Source: Louay Habib