2025 J/70 World Championship at Yacht Club Argentino - Day 2
by Julie & Christopher Howell 29 Oct 2025 15:19 PDT
28 October - 1 November 2025
Sailors from the 71 teams at the J/70 World Championship were giddy on Wednesday after two races in wet and wild conditions on the Río de la Plata. Under sunny skies, 15-18 knots of breeze paired with a running river current to equal a lively day off the shores of Yacht Club Argentino, as now four races are in the books.
A new leader has emerged in Travis Odenbach's Honeybadger (USA) and also two fresh names in the top five—Brian Keane's Savasana and Richard Witzel's Rowdy (both USA). Cate Muller Terhune's Casting Couch (USA) ascended to sixth overall, leading the group of five female helms.
"The Honeybadger team likes to have fun and keep it loose. It's unique to have this amount of talent on a boat that also happen to be really good friends," said Odenbach.
In race three, Odenbach's Honeybadger (USA) made it look easy in the heavy air. Bruno Bethlem's Aretê (BRA) and Peter Duncan's Relative Obscurity (USA) also excelled in the dramatic weather, as boats churned rapidly on the downwinds.
The exhilarating racing lasted into race four where local knowledge ruled as Guillermo Parada's Nildo (ARG) took line honors, ahead of Keane's Savasana (USA) and John Heaton's Empeiria (USA).
Look for loads of shuffling on Thursday when the discard kicks in.
Results after Day 2: (top five)
1st: Travis Odenbach, USA Honeybadger with Dave Hughes, Andy Horton, Chris Stocke, 24 points
2nd: Peter Duncan, USA Relative Obscurity with Willem Van Waay, Jud Smith, Victor Diaz De Leon, 25 points
3rd: Haroldo Solberg, BRA Viking Oceanpact with Geison Mendes, Mario Tinoco, Gabriel Silva, 38 points
4th: Brian Keane, USA Savasana with Ian Barrows, Ron Weed, Conner Harding, 40 points
5th: Richard Witzel, USA Rowdy with Carlos Robles, Tomas Dietrich, Max Salminen, 46 points
Continuing atop the 30-boat Corinthian Division is Ducasse Sailing Team (CHI): Andrés Ducasse, Ignacio Ducasse, Rodrigo Ducasse, Francisco Ducasse. They are in eighth overall.
Commanding the nine-boat One Pro Division is 707 (ARG): Ezequiel Despontin, Pablo Despontin, Sebastián Halpern, Gabriel Marino.
Racing continues through Saturday with up to 10 races planned. Boats are on hand from 16 countries and four continents: ARG, AUS, BER, BRA, CHI, CHN, ESP, GBR, GER, ITA, POR, SUI, SWE, TUR, URU, USA.
Sponsors include Life Seguros, Almarena Madero Urbano, Galeno, South American Rigging/Marlow/Velo, Ansilta, Eximia, Windsail, Emergencias, Fantoche, and Vacalin
Follow live via Vakaros RaceSense: J70 2025 World Championship ARG
Find out more at yca.org.ar/2025/01/15/2025-j70-world-championship