Tim Ryan's Vamos wins J/70 NSW State Championship at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
by J70 Australia Class Association 5 Nov 2025 23:16 PST
1-3 November 2025
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron hosted a highly competitive fleet of 14 boats for the 2025 J/70 NSW State Championship (1-3 November), with Tim Ryan's Vamos taking overall victory after a thrilling final day on Sydney Harbour.
Ryan's crew — Rob Greenhalgh, Jess Grimes, and Charlie Gundy — returned to form after a year apart, sailing consistently across variable conditions to secure the championship title. "What looked like being a disappointing weekend after light winds was saved by a classic Sydney nor'easter on Monday," said Ryan. "It was our first time sailing together since the Worlds in Palma over a year ago, but the teamwork clicked straight away. Our recent European regattas definitely helped us stay sharp in a very competitive fleet."
Despite delays early in the regatta due to unstable winds, the race committee delivered a full schedule, with the final day producing ideal 11-20 knot easterly conditions and planing speeds of up to 14 knots — a fitting finale for the growing Australian J/70 fleet.
Second overall went to Rod Warren's Joust70, sailing with Malcolm Page, Mark Bulka, Aaron Cole, and Paul Mitchell. "RSYS always puts on a great event," said Warren. "Congratulations to Tim Ryan, who continues to set the benchmark for the class."
Third place was claimed by Chris Dare's Ambition, sailing with Lachlan Dare, Jeremy O'Connell, and Will Sargent. "It was our first J/70 event in six months, and Sydney Harbour delivered a full mix of challenges," said Dare. "We're thrilled to have secured our 2026 Worlds qualification with an event to spare."
Division Highlights
Corinthian:
1. Ora - Eliza Ewart, Josh Griffith, Aaron George, Kieren East
2. Jabiru - Karyn Gojnich, Danielle Gerace, Natasha Miller, Annie Wilmot
3. Tramontana - Liam Robinson Hounsell, Beth Tedstone, Alice Endersbee, Lulu Di Sciascio, Max O'Connell
Young Crew Division (Under 30):
1. Jedi - Miles McLennan, Max Brennan, Samuel Ezra, Thomas Quinlan
2. Ora - Eliza Ewart, Josh Griffith, Aaron George, Kieren East
3. Slingshot - Chelsea Williams, Nathan Gulliksen, Hamish Vass, Nick Drummond, Charlie Watts, and 10-year-old Carol Cheung, the youngest sailor in the fleet
Mixed-Plus Division:
1. Jabiru - Karyn Gojnich, Danielle Gerace, Natasha Miller, Annie Wilmot
2. Tramontana - Liam Robinson Hounsell, Beth Tedstone, Alice Endersbee, Lulu Di Sciascio, Max O'Connell
Next on the J/70 Calendar
The 2025 Victorian State Championship will be hosted by Blairgowrie Yacht Club from 20-23 November 2025, serving as the final event in the 2024 J/70-Cup Series.
The 2026 J/70 Australian Championship returns to RSYS from 11-16 January 2026, launching the J/70 Cup Australia 2026 Series and acting as a qualifier for the 2027 J/70 World Championship in Annapolis, USA.
Recognized by World Sailing as one of the fastest-growing keelboat classes globally, the J/70 continues to thrive in Australia, attracting new owners and competitive sailors nationwide.
Open Results:
- 1st Vamos (Tim Ryan, Rob Greenhalgh, Jess Grimes, Charlie Gundy)
- 2nd Joust70 (Rod Warren Aaron Cole, Malcolm Page, Mark Bulka, Paul Mitchell)
- 3rd Ambition (Chris Dare, Lachlan Dare, Jeremy O'Connell, Will Sargent)
- 4th Swish (Steven Proud, Billy Sykes, Finn Alexander, Shaun Connor)
- 5th nemology (Kim Ketelbey, Murray Jones, Jed Cruickshank, Malcolm Parker)
- 6th Jouet (Stephen Ellis, Colin McMahon, Julian Plant, Jack Eickmeyer)
- 7th Jedi (Miles McLennan, Max Brennan, Samuel Ezra, Thomas Quinlan)
- 8th Maybe-J (Michael Nash, Andrew Simpson, Tyler Simpson, Adrian Helbig)
- 9th Ora (Eliza Ewart, Josh Griffith, Aaron George, Kieren East)
- 10th Firefox (Graham Williams, Andrew Parkes, Cole Tapper, Ian McKillop)
- 11th Jabiru (Karyn Gojnich, Danielle Gerace, Natasha Miller, Annie Wilmot)
- 12th Slingshot (Chelsea Williams, Carol Cheung, Hamish Vass, Nick Drummond, Nathan Gulliksen, Charlie Watts)
- 13th Jet (Jonathan Rogers, Peter Rogers, Garth Bickford, Pierre Harrison)
- 14th Tramontana (Liam Robinson Hounsell, Beth Tedstone, Alice Endersbee, Lulu Di Sciascio, Max O'Connell)
