Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard brokerage

2023 J/88 North American Championship at Larchmont Yacht Club

by Julie & Christopher Howell 3 Oct 2023 19:41 BST September 28 - October 1, 2023
Andy Graff wins J/88 North American Championship © Christopher Howell

The weather was the story over the first days of the four-day J/88 North American Championship hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club September 28-October 1.

With the opening day getting in four races in high teen/low 20s wind conditions, with the 4-6-foot sea state compounded by multiple days of easterly winds, Andy Graff (Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club) came ashore with his chilly and damp crew with a hold on the leader board he would not relinquish. Graff's day-one scoreline (1-1-1-2) gave him a seven-point lead on the fleet that continued to increase throughout the Championship. After that, the competition was for second and third as other boats continued to be separated by only a few points.

Sailing on the second day had to be postponed as lower Westchester got hit by a storm that created high winds, large seas on the Long Island Sound, and flooding conditions in and around Larchmont Yacht Club. That said, however, four races were sailed on Saturday's third day followed by three on the Sunday finale.

In the end, it was Graf winning by 13 points with nothing lower than a third being counted. The remainder of the podium positions weren't finalized until the very last race as the next three boats' scores were so close. Past J/88 Class President Iris Vogel finished second just one point ahead from fellow Huguenot Yacht Club (New Rochelle, NY) members Justin Scagnelli. Vogel, Scagnelli, and fourth place finisher Andrew Weiss from the host Club, who was in the mix throughout, served as the event Committee, too.

The top Corinthian boat was Chicago Yacht Club's Michael and Grace Gillian finishing in fifth overall.

Graff commented that, "Our team sailed together well making consistent gear changes as the conditions were constantly shifting. We also focused on maintaining good boat speed. There were some big shifts and we played them well. When we did best when we were focused on gear changing well, actively trimming both main and jib as necessary. A lot of the shifts would tempt you to follow them with the helm only, but they would only last a brief period. We'd have to work the sails in the shifts, too, because if you tried to do it all on the helm you'd be oversteering the short-lived shifts. By the time you turned down you'd be luffing again." Graff continued, "We had a lot of close races this regatta. Chicago has a deep J/88 fleet and that has been good training for us coming into this Championship."

This Championship would not have been possible without the support of McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers, UK Sailmakers Northeast, Quantum Sailmakers, Switlick, and the VOCO Fiorella and Franklin Hotels.

Next year's J/88 North American Championship will be held at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland, MI September 25-28, 2024.

Full results available here.

Related Articles

J/88 North American Championship overall
Lindsey Duda's Sin Duda wins overall at Macatawa Bay, Michigan The J88 North American Championship took place this past weekend at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland, Michigan. With 11 highly competitive boats on the line, the stage was set for an intense showdown. Posted on 2 Oct
Register Now for Charleston Race Week 2025
Launch and haul with free storage Event organizers of Charleston Race Week 2025 at Patriots Point cordially invite you to a bigger and better-than-ever regatta. Registration is now open — take advantage of early entry discounts! Posted on 1 Oct
Awesome, epic Rolex Big Boat Series!
J/Teams sweep top five- ORC C Division! One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, the iconic San Francisco Bay, lived up to its reputation for the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club, September 11th to 15th, 2024. Posted on 22 Sep
Outstanding racing at 60th Rolex Big Boat Series
Breeze on conditions brought out the best skills and tactics for podium winners Breeze on conditions brought out the best skills and tactics for podium winners. Posted on 16 Sep
60th edition Rolex Big Boat Series ready to race
One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, iconic San Francisco Bay One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, iconic San Francisco Bay, is ready to turn it on for the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club, September 11-15, 2024. Posted on 12 Sep
American Yacht Club Fall Regatta: Time to register
You don't want to miss one of the last big regattas of the 2024 sailing season! Register now for the AYC fall classic on Long Island Sound! Posted on 20 Aug
Sin Duda runaway J/88 victor at Verve Cup
Chicago Yacht Club's Verve Cup is an annual world-class sailing event One of the largest regattas in North America, Chicago Yacht Club's Verve Cup is an annual world-class sailing event attracting many national and international sailors. Posted on 19 Aug
Last call for 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series
What makes it fabulous? Epic, breeze-on conditions over four days of racing For sailors who've competed in Rolex Big Boat Series over its 60-year history, "It's the most fabulous event there is, period," according to Chris Perkins, who's raced it since the 1980s and is the 2024 Commodore of event host St. Francis Yacht Club. Posted on 15 Aug
Larchmont Race Week
Ten days of sailing, parties, and fun For a major regatta to retain its vitality for 126 years, it must be offering something special. Larchmont Yacht Club's annual Race Week does just that, yet that special factor has evolved over the past century. Posted on 29 Jul
Commit to the 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series
Lock in our special hotel deal for competitors, book your dock space & skip the late entry fees Lock in our special hotel deal for competitors, book your dock space + skip the late entry fees of August. Posted on 8 Jul