08/28/2026
J/111 North American Championship — Day 3
Racing Stalled as Lake Ontario Turns Off the Breeze
YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. — August 28, 2026 — Day 3 of the J/111 North American Championship, hosted by Youngstown Yacht Club, became a waiting game as the breeze that greeted competitors early Friday morning disappeared before racing could begin.
The morning started with a northerly breeze and some optimism for another day on Lake Ontario. By the scheduled 1100 warning signal, however, the velocity had dropped below raceable conditions. The AP flag was displayed, and the 14-boat fleet returned to shore while Principal Race Officer Chip Till and the Race Committee waited to see whether developing land thermals would produce a sailable breeze.
Despite the wait, the anticipated breeze never materialized, leaving Thursday’s seven-race cumulative results as the current championship standings heading into the final scheduled day of racing.
Race 5 Protest Decision Reversed
Following Thursday’s racing, Shamrock (USA 136) protested Skeleton Key (USA 115) regarding a port-starboard incident in Race 5. The initial hearing resulted in Skeleton Key being disqualified (DSQ) from the race. Later Thursday evening, the hearing was reopened following the presentation of new evidence. After considering that evidence, the jury reversed its original decision and Skeleton Key was reinstated in Race 5.
The revised Race 5 results are:
1. Bravo — Sedgwick Ward
2. Skeleton Key — Peter Wagner
3. Moneypenny — Douglas Clarke
4. Shamrock — Jeffrey Davis
5. Chip’s Ahoy — Chip Merlin
The revised scoring has been incorporated into the championship’s cumulative standings.
Overall Standings — After 7 Races
With no racing completed Friday, the revised cumulative results from Thursday remain the current championship standings:
1. Bravo — Sedgwick Ward — 11 points
2. Shamrock — Jeffrey Davis — 20 points
3. Black Seal — Kevin & Seth Young — 24 points
4. Chip’s Ahoy — Chip Merlin — 24 points
5. Skeleton Key — Peter Wagner — 24 points
With just nine points separating first and second, and three teams tied at 24 points immediately behind them, the championship remains very much alive heading into the final scheduled day.
Honoring the Unsung Heroes of the J/111 Fleet
Championship racing may happen on the water, but getting a J/111 to the starting line—and keeping it there through a demanding week of racing—takes an enormous amount of work behind the scenes.
Today, we recognize some of the unsung heroes of the J/111 fleet: the boat captains. They’re the ones solving problems before most people know there is one, managing endless lists, keeping boats race-ready, and making sure their teams can concentrate on one thing when the warning signal sounds: racing.
A well-prepared race boat is rarely an accident. Somewhere behind it is a boat captain who made it happen.
Black Seal — Seth Young
Bravo — Ed Bahen
Chip’s Ahoy — Brian Malone
Fireball — Max Hutter
Quickdraw — Scott MacGregor
Shamrock — Kevin Meier
Skeleton Key — Keith “Panda” Love
Spaceman Spiff — Doug Moose
To the boat captains of the J/111 fleet: thank you for the hours nobody sees, the problems nobody hears about, and all the work that happens long before—and long after—the racing.
The J/111 North American Championship concludes Saturday at Youngstown Yacht Club, weather permitting.
The championship is hosted by Youngstown Yacht Club, with racing managed by PRO Chip Till and the Race Committee. The event is supported by sponsors Youngstown Community Boating, Quantum Sails, Savoir Travel, and Dyneema.
Event website / results ➡ https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50514
Vakaros live tracking ➡ https://player.vakaros.com/watch/oEpeslRbCGEtYkhCAyVB/J-111?live=true
📸 Tim Wilkes Photography ➡ https://www.timwilkes.com/searchlinksJ111NA26.html
🖊 Marlene Plumley
