Storm shortens J/22 World Championship

Glenn Darden (USA) won the 2026 J/22 World Championship, dominating the 46-boat field in New Orleans, LA. With crew Willem van Waay, Min Min Kelly, and Jackson Benvenutti, the event scheduled for October 7-10 was halted after day two and 7-races as Hurricane Isaias approached the Gulf coast.

After opening the regatta with three consecutive race wins on day one, the Baby Doll team faced a spirited challenge from Jeff Hayden’s Polar Express on the final day. But they answered with two more victories, sealing the World Championship with one race to spare.

“This is one we’ve been chasing for a while,” said the Fort Worth, Texas-based Darden. “This team, everybody pulls together. The camaraderie is great. It’s just a pleasure to sail.”

Baby Doll finished the seven-race championship with 11 net points, 10 ahead of Hayden’s Polar Express, representing Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Maryland. Mike Gemperline’s Defiance finished third with 25 points, followed by Alex Schwinn’s Tilt in fourth and Jeff Progelhof’s Schitzen Giggles in fifth.

New Orleans delivered two spectacular days of championship sailing, with brilliant sunshine and heavy air challenging the 46-boat fleet.

Thursday’s racing was especially demanding. A strong northerly breeze of 15-20 knots kicked up the shallow waters of Lake Pontchartrain, producing steep, confused waves reported at two to six feet. Four races were completed in the challenging conditions, bringing the championship total to seven.

For Darden, the venue held a particular advantage, but also a personal connection.

“We’ve worked very hard on developing speed and all of our mechanics,” he said. “We’ve sailed a lot on Lake Pontchartrain to train, and I think that was the key. It’s a very tricky place, being shallow, with a big wave set and a random pattern.”

Darden grew up in Fort Worth but attended Tulane University, where he sailed on Lake Pontchartrain during his college years. His son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren now live in New Orleans, making this World Championship something of a homecoming. “This is a hometown feeling,” he said.

For a sailor who has competed at the highest levels of one-design racing, winning this particular championship in a city with such personal significance made the occasion especially memorable.

“Southern Yacht Club is one of the best clubs in the country,” Darden said. “The hospitality is fabulous. Everybody is very willing to help.”

Details: www.regattanetwork.com/event/30892