Baby Doll wins 2026 J/22 Midwinter Championship in St. Petersburg
by Julie & Christopher Howell 16 Feb 08:36 PST
13-15 February 2026
2026 J/22 Midwinter Championship in St. Petersburg © Walter Cooper
The 2026 J/22 Midwinter Championship delivered a full spectrum of conditions as part of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series St. Petersburg, February 13-15.
Twelve J/22s took to Tampa Bay for a weekend that began with light, tactical racing and concluded with a breezy Sunday showdown under brilliant Florida sunshine.
Racers were greeted with warm temperatures and blue skies throughout the three-day event hosted by St. Petersburg Yacht Club. The first two days tested patience and finesse in light air. Sunday brought a dramatic shift as a frontal system swept through the area, delivering strong winds and classic Tampa Bay chop.
Emerging victorious was Baby Doll, helmed by Glenn Darden of Fort Worth, TX, whose consistent performance (7-1-2-1) secured the Championship title with 11 points. Darden and crew Min Min Kelly, Jackson Benvenutti and Willem van Waay rebounded from a seventh-place finish in the opening race to post two race wins and a second-place finish. Finishing second overall was The Jug 4 1, skippered by Chris Doyle, with scores of 6-2-3-3 for 14 points. Just one point back in third was Defiance, led by Mike Gemperline, who notched an impressive Sunday as the breeze built (8-4-1-2; 15 points). Rounding out the top five were Miss Conduct, helmed by James Freedman (2-5-6-4; 17 points), and Tilt, skippered by Alex Schwinn (3-3-5-13/DNF; 24 points).
Beyond the racing, competitors enjoyed a full social schedule at SPYC's downtown clubhouse, providing opportunities for J/22 sailors to connect with fellow Class members and mingle with racers from other fleets competing in the regatta series. The combination of competitive racing, ideal winter weather and vibrant shoreside camaraderie made St. Petersburg a highlight of the J/22 calendar.
Results, photos and event details are available at www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series-st-petersburg.