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Christopher Hobbs wins the J/80 North American Championship
1-6 October 2024
It’s been eight years since the J/80 North American Championship came to Toronto, and again the National Yacht Club did not disappoint. Thirty teams competed in perfect warm Fall conditions on Lake Ontario October 1-6.
Tight racing and dynamic shifty winds ensured no one could relax, and every game-plan was subject to continuous rewrite.
Race Committee got right down to business, and after three races on day one, Lifted (Chris Hobbs, Samantha Webster, Kris Werner, Tyler Woodworth) topped the leaderboard, while Cristian Bieder (Chimichurri), returning NAs champion Conor Hayes (More Gostosa) and Graham Philpott (Black Dog) were ready to pounce.
The day two forecast was for light or dying breeze, which indeed it did part way through the second race. Eight boats completed the race as a thermal flipped the breeze 180 degrees, stranding the rest of the fleet and causing all to score TLE. Lifted survived and delivered three bullets to consolidate her pole position.
Sunday brought a bigger SW breeze and choppy conditions, with Lifted fending off the competition to convincingly win the regatta overall. Second place was Graham Philpott (Black Dog), with third place to fellow Winnipesaukee stalwart Conor Hayes (More Gostosa). Corinthian (fully amateur) honors went to Philpott and team Black Dog, with Hayes in second and Thomas Kopp (Kopp-Out) and team from Grosse Point, MI in third.
Huge credit to all racers for making this a true North American Championship and a banner event. Boats travelled from Lake Winnipesaukee, Massachusetts, Annapolis and Newport and most especially Seattle (Julian Croxall with Reckless). Amazing commitment by teams to the Class – congratulations to all racers!
Fleet 20 is the fastest-growing J/80 fleet, now with 33 boats across five individual fleets: Toronto, Oakville, Port Dover, Ottawa/Nepean, Kingston and Rochester. Canada also will host the 2026 J/80 World Championship in the Olympic sailing venue of Kingston, Ontario.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Bow No | Sail No | Boat Name | Owner / Skipper | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | CAN 528 | Lifted | Christopher Hobbs | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 21 |
| 2 | 29 | USA 829 | Black Dog (Corinthian) | Graham Philpot | 4 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 34 |
| 3 | 53 | 1153 | More Gostosa (Corinthian) | Conor Hayes | 2 | 3 | 14 | 4 | DNF | 5 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 48 |
| 4 | 71 | USA 590 | Kopp‑Out (aka ) (Corinthian) | Thomas and Jennifer Kopp | 9 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 49 |
| 5 | 91 | USA 591 | Tubby | Jesse Thompson | 12 | 8 | 4 | DNS | 7 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 50 |
| 6 | 98 | CAN 298 | Chimichurri (Corinthian) | Cristian Bieder | 10 | 4 | 1 | 10 | DNF | 4 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 53 |
| 7 | 96 | USA 296 | Reckless | Julian Croxall | 5 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 19 | 17 | 5 | 18 | 75 |
| 8 | 81 | CAN 181 | Innocent Bystander | David Doyle Mark McLean | OCS | 13 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 83 |
| 9 | 12 | CAN 12 | Fiammetta for Sale (Corinthian) | Stephen Bardon | 8 | 1 | 22 | 2 | DNF | 8 | 7 | 20 | 21 | 89 |
| 10 | 33 | CAN 33 | Puffin’ (Corinthian) | Darin Sameshima | 1 | 2 | 19 | 7 | DNF | 22 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 89 |
| 11 | 1 | USA 1001 | Blind Faith (Corinthian) | Brian Gibbs | 16 | 7 | 26 | 9 | DNF | 11 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 90 |
| 12 | 26 | CAN 126 | Rogues Roost (Corinthian) | John Haverstock | 11 | 11 | 7 | 12 | DNF | 18 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 103 |
| 13 | 60 | CAN 360 | Free Radical (Corinthian) | Martin Rutter | 15 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 5 | 21 | UFD | 17 | 20 | 119 |
| 14 | 10 | CAN 1326 | Sheets & Giggles | John Vallee | OCS | 14 | 9 | 6 | DNF | 10 | 24 | 18 | 8 | 120 |
| 15 | 22 | USA 1322 | Stacked Deck (Corinthian) | Ramzi Bannura | 13 | 24 | 8 | 17 | DNF | 20 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 123 |
| 16 | 3 | USA 3 | Party Tree (Corinthian) | Party Tree Racing | 6 | 18 | 20 | 16 | DNF | 7 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 124 |
| 17 | 92 | 592 | Yacht‑Sea (Corinthian) | Aiden Belfrage Max Clark | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | DNF | 9 | 16 | RET | DNC | 126 |
| 18 | 54 | CAN 54 | Flyer (Corinthian) | Edward Bilopavlovic | 19 | 23 | 12 | OCS | DNF | 2 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 129 |
| 19 | 78 | USA 249 | Cheeks | Allan Powell | 17 | 22 | 15 | OCS | DNF | 14 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 129 |
| 20 | 67 | CAN 1067 | Cheeky Monkey (Corinthian) | Doug Gibson | 24 | 25 | 16 | 19 | DNF | 13 | 11 | 16 | 13 | 137 |
| 21 | 2 | CAN 2 | Relentless (Corinthian) | Andy Elkin | 14 | 20 | 21 | 23 | DNF | 25 | 2 | 24 | 12 | 141 |
| 22 | 52 | USA 1152 | Le Tigre (Corinthian) | Peter d’Anjou | 18 | 21 | 23 | 22 | DNF | 17 | 20 | 21 | 11 | 153 |
| 23 | 43 | CAN 343 | enigma (Corinthian) | Owen Schneider | 23 | 12 | 27 | 14 | 8 | 24 | 21 | 27 | 25 | 154 |
| 24 | 80 | USA 803 | Blaze (Corinthian) | Bengt & Marie Johansson | 25 | 17 | 28 | 18 | DNF | 16 | 6 | 23 | DNF | 164 |
| 25 | 23 | CAN 1323 | Segueh (Corinthian) | Elisabeth Neasmith | 20 | 28 | 29 | 15 | DNF | 23 | 26 | 25 | 17 | 183 |
| 26 | 30 | CAN 130 | Echo Beach (Corinthian) | Dominic Goodwill | 21 | 27 | 25 | 26 | DNF | 27 | 25 | 14 | 23 | 188 |
| 27 | 14 | CAN 545 | Kokoro (Corinthian) | Thomas Tyson | 27 | 19 | 18 | 21 | DNF | 26 | 23 | 29 | 26 | 189 |
| 28 | 41 | CAN 441 | Alchemist (Corinthian) | Jason Goncalves & Matt Vetter | 26 | 26 | 17 | 24 | DNF | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 204 |
| 29 | 61 | CAN 1161 | Flyer (Corinthian) | Gary Stephenson | 22 | 30 | 24 | 27 | DNF | 29 | 29 | 22 | 24 | 207 |
| 30 | 62 | CAN 262 | Happy J (Corinthian) | Janet Geisberger | OCS | 29 | 30 | 20 | DNF | 30 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 221 |
Source
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.
