J/Teams silver multi-divisions at Race to the Straits Regatta
by J/Boats 12 May 07:20 PDT
May 3-4, 2025
Race to the Straits Regatta 2025 © Sloop Tavern Yacht Club
The Sloop Tavern Yacht Club in Seattle, WA, hosted its popular season-opening offshore race, the Race to the Straits Regatta, for a fleet of 103 boats.
The full course length is 30.25 nautical miles each day. Saturday's race was from Shilshole Bay to Point Hudson, keeping the Double Bluff Buoy to port. Then, Sunday's race was from Point Hudson to Shilshole Bay, keeping the Double Bluff Buoy to starboard. All boats are prohibited from using the Port Townsend Canal. The regatta has always been popular with J/crews over the years.
PHRF Singlehanded Division- J/Sweep!
Comfortably winning this fleet was Dan Wierman's J/35 GREAT WHITE! Then, just 25 minutes in arrears to take the silver medal was Rafe Beswick's J/32 DRAGONFLY! A fantastic performance by these two single-handed veterans!
PHRF 7 Doublehanded Division
This fleet of all J/70s and J/80s was swept by J/80s: Gerry Gilbert's AFTERBURNER won, followed by Ryan Porter's JOLLY GREEN in second, and Peter Lisy's JOUSTER in third place.
PHRF 10 Doublehanded- J/105 Division
Winning the J/105 battle was a familiar team- John Aitchinson's MOOSE UNKNOWN. It was not an easy win in this closely fought one-design competition, with Al Hughes's CREATIVE taking the silver just 5 minutes behind, and Drew Zangle's JADED only 1 min 20 secs further back to take the bronze medal!
PHRF 11 Doublehanded Division
This rough and tumble class of mostly 35-36 footers was won by Stephanie Arnold's J/112E MYSTERY by a fourteen-minute margin. Fourth went to Kirk Fraser's J/109 ECLIPSE, while Chad Stenwick's J/35 THE BOSS placed fifth, and Dave Miller's J/99 ONE LIFE took sixth place.
PHRF 12 Doublehanded Division
Winning this extremely hard-fought fleet was Jay Renehan's J/111 HOOLIGAN, winning the top prize by a mere 1 min 46 secs!
PHRF 13 Doublehanded Division
Taking fourth place in this fleet of blue-water blue-platers was Astolfo Rueda's J/122 QUERENCIA, just 12 min off the pace from winning their division!
For more Sloop Taven YC's Race to the Straits sailing information: www.styc.org/Race-to-the-Straits