The Eastern Yacht Club hosted the J/70 World Championships Sept. 25-27 with 28 amateur teams from five countries.
With only one point separating the leaders on the final day, Edward Gary’s Ayacucho (U.S.) and Alec Cutler’s Hedgehog (Bermuda) were set for the final face-off.
Following a brief postponement, the breeze picked up to allow race eight in 10 knots, as Cutler’s Hedgehog stepped up for the tight win. The breeze continued diminishing to 8 knots for race nine, and Cutler’s Hedgehog rose to the occasion with a third-place to secure the World Championship with 19 net points. The team included Ryan Cox, Brad Rodi and Charles Pucciariello.
“These are my buddies from the Navy. It’s just wonderful to sail with your brothers. That’s who they are,” said Cutler. “Together we talk about the joy of fielding a Corinthian sailing team, where the focus is on enjoying the process with friends rather than just winning. Working together, having a set of goals, and going out and executing. The Corinthian World Championship is not just about being an amateur. It’s about embodying the Corinthian spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie. It’s about sailing like ladies and gentlemen — being happy for others’ successes and feeling bad when something bad happens to a competitor, even if you benefited from it.”
Gary’s Ayacucho, the 2024 Corinthian U.S. National Champion, performed solidly all week for the runner-up position, and the U.S. Corinthian National Championship trophy as the highest finishing US competitor, at 39 points. Ignacio Perez’s Zaguero (Mexico) finished a respectable third at 43 points.
Perpetual trophies were also presented to:
Top helmswoman: Marina Lamphier’s Beat Machine, with Roy Lamphier, Cassidy Chalut and Matt Koch
Top young team: Zach York’s MiniMax with Robert Jacobs, John Egger and Finn Weeden
Top mixed plus: Andrew Lowe’s Dime with Mallory Loe, AnaLucia Clarkson, Jen Glass and Lee Sackett (winner of the final race and fourth overall)
