Great White Emerges as J/70 Canadian Champion at Chester Race Week
Great White Crowned J/70 Canadian Champion at Chester Race Week
Competitors from Across Canada Gather for Chester Race Week
Dozens of competitors from across Canada and the Eastern Seaboard descended upon the picturesque fishing village of Chester, Nova Scotia for Canada’s largest keelboat regatta, Chester Race Week, which took place from August 15th to 18th and was hosted by Chester Yacht Club.
Over 150 yachts participated in this year’s Chester Race Week under a variety of conditions, including light air, fog, and medium air accompanied by brilliant sunshine.
J/70 Class Overview
The hot nine-boat fleet showcased incredibly tight competition for the podium. Ultimately, just five points separated the three leaders at the top of the leaderboard. Winning the title of J/70 Canadian Champion was Mitchell Horn’s GREAT WHITE, who finished with a total of 20 points net after achieving three 1st places and five 2nd places in an 11-race scorecard. Federico Donzino’s LIFTED garnered the silver medal with 24 points net, while Graeme Carr’s JOYRIDIN rounded out the podium with 25 points net.
J/105 Class Results
The eight-boat J/105 class saw spirited competition among most of the fleet, except for the dominant winners! Sean McDermott and Rory Macdonald’s McMAC decisively won all races after the single discard in the seven-race series. Robert Merchant’s AUSTER II earned the silver medal with 15 points net, while Evan Oulahen’s BEAR secured the bronze with 19 points net.
PHRF A1 Division Highlights
In the dozen-boat fleet, Andrew Childs’s J/120 JANE took the bronze medal, while fellow J/120 owner Jordan MacNeil on HELIX finished in 5th place.
PHRF A2 Division Recap
This seven-boat fleet witnessed a clean sweep by J/100s, which engaged in a thrilling battle among the three teams. Winning was Terry McKenna’s DOG PARTY with 10 points net, followed closely by Paul Rafuse’s CROWS in second place with 12 points net, and Larry Creaser’s YOUNGBLOOD taking the bronze with 13 points net.
PHRF B1 Division Overview
Competing with eight J/29s, the class saw strong performances from the 29s, who dominated the top six spots. Chris MacDonald’s SCOTCH MIST claimed the second position, while the popular Colin Mann’s J/92 POOHSTICKS secured third place. Fourth place went to Paul Fillbee-Dexter’s J/29 PAINKILLER, and fifth to Terry Schnare’s J/29 HEAD GAMES.
PHRF B2 Division Summary
This seven-boat division saw Jesleine Baker’s J/30 JUST ADD WATER team achieve the silver medal, finishing remarkably with an impressive streak of 3-3-2-1 in their last four races.
For more Chester Race Week sailing information, please visit the event’s official site.
Emily Carter, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Vancouver, has a deep-seated passion for the ocean that has shaped her career. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of British Columbia, Emily has become known for her captivating and detailed storytelling. Her work vividly portrays the excitement of sailing and the distinct maritime culture of Canada, earning her a respected place in the sailing community. When not writing, Emily enjoys navigating the rugged coastlines of British Columbia and participating in local regattas, always eager to embark on her next maritime adventure.