Brazilians win J/70 Midwinter Champs

Brazil’s Haroldo Solberg and his OceanPact team delivered a masterclass to win the 2026 J/70 Midwinter Championship, becoming the first Brazilian team to claim the title. Alec Cutler’s Hedgehog complete a three-peat to win their third consecutive Corinthian title at this event.

The 45-boat fleet represented 10 countries, with racing on March 27-29 in Miami, FL.

Sailing with Carlos Robles, Mario Tinoco, and Gabriel Silva, Solberg’s team rose from ninth on Day 1 to first overall on Day 2, then held their position when racing was abandoned during a rain squall on the final day.

“It’s the result of three or four years of work,” said Solberg. “We are very happy. Miami is a very special place for us, and this was a very difficult championship. The result is a consequence of all the preparation we do before the event.”

After two days of unstable, shifty conditions, the final day brought one significant twist. The fleet launched for racing before a dramatic rain squall rolled down Biscayne Bay, reducing visibility to mere feet. Race committee abandoned the race and ultimately the day, locking in the standings as final.

The regatta was defined by unpredictability. Across six races, sailors faced patchy pressure, 30-degree shifts, and a battle between sea breeze and gradient over Biscayne Bay’s warm spring water. Gains and losses came quickly, producing multiple leaderboard inversions and rewarding teams who stayed composed.

Robles, competing in just his second regatta as OceanPact tactician, highlighted the strength of the teamwork. “It’s a super well-oiled machine. Everyone is on point doing their job, which makes mine easier. Haroldo is a great leader. He stays calm, even when things aren’t going well. That makes a big difference.”

The team plans to compete together at the J/70 European Championship in Barcelona this summer and the J/70 Open World Championship in Cascais this fall.

In the Corinthian division, Alec Cutler’s Hedgehog / Old NADS secured a third consecutive J/70 Midwinter Championship title. Sailing with Keith Davids, Charles Pucciariello, and Brad Rodi, the reigning J/70 Corinthian World Champions finished 14th overall.

Event details – Results – Photos

Source: Hannah Lee Noll