2026 Etchells World Championship at San Diego Yacht Club - Day 4
by Etchells Class 15 May 13:25 NZST
May 11-15, 2026
2026 Etchells World Championship at San Diego Yacht Club day 4 © Mark Albertazzi
Mayo leads with one race left
Eight of nine races are now in the rearview at the 2026 Etchells World Championship. Race Day 4 was bright and sunny with a slightly lighter breeze than previous days in the regatta. However, upon returning to the docks after Race 8, sailors noted the choppy and challenging conditions that made for dramatic action out on the water.
Day 4 kicked off with boats favoring the pin end at the starting line. JC Strong of Flying Higher AUS 1518 repeated her Day 2 winning performance with a jump off the pin quickly and did not waste time tacking towards the middle of the course. Many others in the fleet soon followed. But it was Jud Smith and Fast Mermaid USA 1111 who reached the windward mark first and started building a lead with the spinnaker up.
That lead held through the remainder of the race, but several top competitors were hot in pursuit. D Craig Mense with Freedom USA 1456, James Mayo aboard Magpie AUS 1526, and Jay Cross on Skanky Gene USA 1464 crossed the line in second, third, and fourth respectively with a photo finish settled thanks to Vakaros within seconds of each other.
After race 7, throw outs came into effect and shook up the leaderboard. At this point, just three points separated the overall leader and third place. John Sommi had the top spot, but James Mayo and Jim Cunningham were well within striking distance. The Corinthian competition was just as tight, with Andrew Lawson's No Dramas GBR 1490 overtaking the lead from Ben Wilkinson's Freebird USA 1060 by a single point.
"I'm just grateful to share the starting line with such great sailors," said John Sommi, the 2023 World Champion. "Being associated with this group has just been an incredible experience."
The start of Race 8 gave sailors a classic San Diego sight with a Navy aircraft carrier coming over the horizon. A sporty start was followed by a three-way battle at the windward mark and an excellent tack from Mayo and his crew. That was not enough to hold off James McHugh and Tquila IRL 1501 who created a lead at the gate and built on it, crossing the finish line well ahead of the rest of the pack.
Mayo's second place finish pushed him to the top of the leaderboard, ending the day with an 11 point lead over Scott Kaufman's Rogue USA 1519 who had to drop a DSQ due to hitting a mark in Race 3. "At the end of the day, we just have an incredible team," added Mayo. "Not just the three of us, but everyone who has sailed with us before this past year." Should he keep the lead after tomorrow's final race, Mayo would win his third straight Etchells World Championship - a hat trick that has not been done in over 40 years since David Curtis in 1983.
Expect to see skippers and crews with heads on swivel keeping eying their competition tomorrow. One final race stands between the fleet and the crowning of this year's champion. In this field loaded with talent, several top crews remain in the hunt for the ultimate prize.
Full results at www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50460
Find out more at 2026.etchellsworlds.org