2023 J/70 North American Championship

Brian Keane and Team Savasana are the 2023 J/70 North American Champions after nine races held September 21-24 in Chicago, IL. Conditions for the 45 teams were light and lumpy in the first two days, allowing one race each day, but moderate winds arrived on days three and four with a choppy sea state on Lake Michigan.

Bruce Golison was in the running for the title after the first two days but pulled out due to illness, with Keane and his crew Thomas Barrows, Conner Harding, and Ronald Weed setting the tone with a 1-1-1-6 on day three.

But the scores got tight on the final day as when Savasana had a Black flag start on the penultimate race, narrowing the margin with 3 Ball JT–– helmed by Jack Franco, with a team of two-time J/70 NA Champions Jud Smith, Patrick Wilson and Bill Hardesty.

3 Ball JT engaged Savasana in the final race of the regatta with both boats rounding the first windward mark at the back of the pack. Savasana started race nine with an 11-point lead (17 points overall) over 3 Ball JT (28 points), and 41 points over the next place boat, Cate Muller-Terhune’s Casting Couch (58).

Teams were scored minus their worst place finish, and with a Black flag as Savasana’s drop already counted, 3 Ball JT had much more leverage to play ball against Savasana only and come out on top overall if successful. But Savsana broke free to post a 29th versus Franco’s 40th to win by one point.

“In the last race, Jack just went and attacked us hard,” Keane said. “He sat on us up the entire windward leg, and we kept trying to tack out of there and he just kept covering us. We were way back, probably the last boat. Downwind, we gybe set, and he followed. Then we went to wing and were able to pass them, which gave us freedom to go in the second windward leg. We were fighting like crazy. It was a lot of boats we had to pass.”

The win comes as teams prepare for the 2023 World Championship on October 30-November 5 in St. Petersburg, FL.

“I think we’re confident,” Keane said on how he feels looking toward the world championship. “We feel the boat is going well, the teamwork is excellent. I think we have a very strong ability to change modes in a variety of conditions––if it’s windy, light, wavy, flat, we know what we need to do. There’s a lot of good boats out there, so it’s going to be tough. This was excellent preparation for October.”

Savasana’s successes this year (Bacardi Cup, the Midwinter Championship in Miami, the Davis Island Winter Series and Verve Inshore) are all the more sweeter for skipper Keane, who was treated for cancer this past spring and has inspired many on the racecourse with his perseverance.

“This year is special,” he said. “Earlier in the year I was diagnosed with cancer, and I’ve sought excellent treatment. I’m very optimistic about that, but it adds a sort of urgency. And I think that’s made all the difference. Everybody’s been supportive.

“I had chosen to go public with the cancer a while back, and I’m glad I did because more people should talk about it because millions of people have it. Everyone has been so supportive, it’s a great sailing community. And I’m very thankful for that.”

Another regatta winner was USA 1516, helmed by Lee Sackett and co-owned by Dave Kerr. The team was crowned the top Corinthian boat in the fleet after a successful nine races landed them 15th overall with 124 points. Rounding out the team was local Chicago sailor Erica Trejo and Michael Booker, of St. Petersburg, Florida.

With only one entry in the Mixed+ division, Laura Sigmond’s Norboy took the honor, ending the regatta in 12th place overall with 97 points.

Hestia, helmed by Chicago Yacht Club member James Murray, was the top team in the One-Pro division, finishing 26th overall with 196 points.

Event information – Race details – Results

Source: CYC/Amy Baxter Felder