J/80 World Championship 2026 at CORK Sail Kingston - Overall
by Julie & Christopher Howell 25 Jul 14:07 PDT
July 20-25, 2026
The 2026 J/80 World Championship concluded Saturday, July 25 after three final races at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, capping an outstanding week of competition hosted by CORK/Sail Kingston.
Thirty-four teams from across North America, Germany and Gibraltar completed 13 races in a Championship that tested sailors with everything from heavy breeze and waves to light, tactical conditions.
No team proved more dominant than James Buley's Le Tigre of San Diego, CA. Sailing with Jackson Benvenutti, Bill Hardesty and Skip Dieball, Buley delivered one of the most commanding performances in recent Championship history, finishing with just 15 net points after posting nine race wins and three second-place finishes. Having already secured the title before the final race, Le Tigre sat out Race 13, allowing it to become the team's discard while celebrating an emphatic World Championship victory. The win capped an extraordinary run for Buley and Le Tigre, who also captured the 2026 J/80 North American Championship in Kingston the previous week, after winning the 2025 North American Championship last fall.
Germany's Michael Grau and the Paint it black team of Florian Thoelen, Willem van Waay and Jud Smith finished second overall with 43 net points after another consistent day on the water.
Daniel Wittig's Turbo Sloth (USA), with Kristen Berry, Mike Coe and Ian Moriarty, secured the final podium position with 47 points. The crew edged Jesse Thompson's Tubby (USA), with Carter White, Evan Petley-Jones and Sam Court, by a single point. Canada's Christopher Hobbs rounded out the top five aboard Lifted with Kris Werner, John Enwright and Samantha Webster.
Buley continued his remarkable streak in the opening two races of the day, winning Race 11 ahead of Thompson and Wittig before taking Race 12 over Wittig and Grau. With the Championship mathematically secured, Le Tigre returned ashore. Wittig closed the regatta with a victory in Race 13 over Grau and Bengt Johansson aboard Blaze.
The 25-boat Corinthian Division featured close racing throughout the week, with Graham Philpot's Black Dog (USA) claiming the title with Tom Wells, Ben Crosby and Emmet Todd. Canada's John Vallee and Sheets & Giggles, with Steven Shaw, Andrew Vallee and Eric Christensen, placed second, while Conor Hayes' More Gostosa (USA), crewed by Dan Jolda, Joe Dillier and Cat McLaughlin, completed the amateur podium. All three teams placed in the top 10 overall. Warren Flannery's Feisty claimed top honors in the Mixed Division with crew Yvonne Flannery, Kevin Morgan, Jack Porter and Tate Howell after a strong week, also coming in seventh overall.
While the racing in Portsmouth Olympic Harbour showcased the very best of J/80 competition, the Championship was equally memorable ashore thanks to the outstanding hospitality and organization provided by CORK/Sail Kingston. Competitors gathered daily for post-race debriefs using Vakaros RaceSense replay technology, where sailors broke down starts, mark roundings and tactical decisions, providing valuable insights that enhanced the Championship experience. Everyone enjoyed a welcoming atmosphere throughout the week, supported by an exceptional Race Committee, Jury, staff, volunteers, sponsors and countless organizers whose efforts delivered a first-class World Championship both on and off the water.
For complete results, visit Sailwave results for 2026 J/80 Worlds at CORK/Sail Kingston 2026
Photos are available on the J/80 North American Class Association Facebook page, www.facebook.com/j80na