A high quality UK J/70 National Championship took place over the bank holiday weekend at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Twenty three boats experienced very tight racing in conditions from 5 to 18 knots across the three days with teams from USA, France, Netherlands and Australia supplementing the UK fleet. Monday dawned with very light and shifty winds, with PRO Ian Bullock doing a great job to get the fleet started. After several false attempts, race 7 got underway in a light northerly, and Calypso sailed smartly to a third place finish, with Brutus fourth. Jelvis came ninth, effectively putting themselves out of running for the open title. With only one race left, owing to their better discard, Calypso could win if Brutus were 11th or lower. Brutus had a poor start and were back in the pack at the end of the first lap, but managed to find a great shift on the right of the second beat and sailed smartly down the run to win the last race and the series to become 2023 UK National Champions. Calypso had to be content with second overall, but Corinthian National Champion, with DSP third overall (second Corinthian). Max Clapp’s youth team sailing Little J made a strong late run which included two race wins to finish third Corinthian. Details: j-70.co.uk and wpnsa.org.uk.

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