J/Teams dominate SORC Wirth Munro Ocean Race

SORC Wirth Munro Ocean Race © J-Boats

In picture-perfect tropical conditions, Matthew Schaedler's J/122 BLITZKRIEG from Toledo, Ohio was the overall winner of the Sailfish Club of Florida's 68th Wirth Munroe Race from Miami to Palm Beach on December 6, 2024. This was the second event of the 2024-25 Islands in the Stream Series.

The 29-boat fleet representing 14 states included four ORC classes and a PHRF division racing on two courses — the Classic course starting in Miami and the Sprint course starting in Fort Lauderdale. Both courses finished off Palm Beach.

Racers enjoyed sunny skies and warm temperatures. A light northerly tested tacticians and prompted the Race Committee to shorten the 60-mile Classic course by 8 miles. All boats finished within the time limit, and the 350 sailors enjoyed the Sailfish Club's dockside Bossa Nova cocktail reception and legendary seafood buffet awards dinner.

The annual Wirth M. Munroe Ocean Race is among the oldest races in North America. First sailed in 1957 and named for the renowned Miami naval architect, the Wirth M. Munroe pits skippers and their crews against the vagaries of the Gulf Stream and the early winter frontal systems along Florida's southeastern coast. The race, sailed the first Friday in December, is affectionately known by participants as the "Race to the Buffet," a nod to the sponsoring Sailfish Club of Florida's legendary seafood dinner, reception, and awards ceremony offered to all skippers and their crews.

ORC Overall

Winning was Schaedler's J/122 BLITZKRIEG, followed by Chris Saxton's J/125 VORTICES from Detroit, MI. Then, finishing 4th and 5th, respectively, were two J/122s; Andrew Clark's ZIG ZAG and Constantine Boris's DIRE WOLF.

ORC B Division

Sailing in this seven-boat fleet was Saxton's J/125 VORTICES 2 from Detroit, MI. His team was hoping to continue their winning ways after their excellent performance in the first race of the series- the Sailor's Choice Race. Without a doubt, they are now leading their division by a significant margin.

ORC C Division

A trio of J/122s were sailing the eight-boat fleet and, not surprisingly, they swept the division win! They are three very experienced J/122 offshore teams. Winning was Schaedler's BLITZKRIEG, followed by Clark's ZIG ZAG for the silver and Baris's DIRE WOLF earning the bronze medal.

PHRF Division

Sailing the shorter course from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach in this five-boat fleet was Alex Hill's 40+-year-old classic, his J/30 PAPARAZZI. They took a well-earned bronze medal for their efforts!

For more Wirth Munro Ocean Race sailing information & results: yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=16848

For more SORC Sailors Choice Race sailing information: www.sorcsailing.org