J/70 North American Championship 2026 at Annapolis Yacht Club - Day 1
by Julie & Christopher Howell 29 Oct 17:10 PDT
October 29 - November 1, 2026
J/70 North American Championship Day 1 © Hannah Lee Noll
Local Team Progress Leads at Annapolis Yacht Club
Paul Green's Progress got off to a strong start on Thursday, winning two of three races to lead the 2026 J/70 North American Championship hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club. The local team holds a five-point advantage after the opening day, which features 54 teams representing seven countries and 15 US states. Sailing on the Chesapeake Bay under mostly sunny skies and warm fall temperatures, the fleet waited through an onshore postponement before conditions settled into 6-8 knots of breeze. Three races were completed, with the Chesapeake current adding another layer of strategy to an already competitive fleet.
The Championship brings together an impressive mix of talent, including World Champions and Olympians alongside Corinthian competitors, Mixed-Plus teams, young and collegiate sailors, and local favorites. The event is being held at the same venue and during the same time of year as the 2027 J/70 World Championship, offering a valuable preview of the conditions and hospitality teams can expect next year.
Green's Progress opened with a race win, followed by a 12th-place finish before closing the day with another victory. Spain's Luis Albert, with Patakin, sits second overall with 19 points (5-8-6), while Brian Keane's Savasana (USA) is third with 24 points (7-2-15).
Race winners reflected the Championship's international depth. Brazil's Bruno Bethlem and Aretê finished second behind Progress in Race 1, followed by Per Roman's GARM. Haroldo Solberg's OceanPact (BRA) won Race 2, with Savasana second and Bruno Pasquinelli's Stampede (USA) third. Progress returned to the top in Race 3, ahead of Renato Faria's TÔ NESSA (BRA) and Richard Witzel's Rowdy (USA). In the Corinthian division, Alec Cutler's Hedgehog (BER) leads the charge.
Racing continues through Sunday, with plenty of opportunities for the leaderboard to shift as the fleet takes on more Chesapeake Bay conditions. With a talented field and several days remaining, the battle for the North American title is just getting started.