J/105 North American Championship at Royal Canadian Yacht Club - Day 1
by Julie & Christopher Howell 18 Sep 2025 00:49 BST
September 17-20, 2025
Lake Ontario presented light conditions for the 18 teams kicking off the J/105 North American Championship hosted by Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, ON.
Three past J/105 NA Champions stayed true to form on Wednesday, comprising the top three positions after two races. Randy Hecht’s Niuhi (winners in 2022 and 2023) teed up back-to-back bullets for only 2 points in the no-discard series. Bruce Stone’s Arbitrade (2019 winner with Good Trade and 2009 winner with Power Play) holds second place with 6 points after finishing 4,2 on the day. Local Terry McLaughlin and Rod Wilmer’s Mandate (winners in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024) are third at 9 points.
Winds of 5-7 knots, warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies greeted competitors to open the four-day event. Following Hecht’s Niuhi in the first contest were McLaughlin and Wilmer’s Mandate and David Wilkes’ Thunderstruck. Two San Francisco boats led race two (Hecht’s Niuhi and Stone’s Arbitrade) with Simon Hirst’s Millicent completing the top trio. Race Committee hoped for a third race, but the wind did not cooperate, and teams headed ashore for Canadian night.
The Championship, with title sponsor British Virgin Islands, continues through Saturday. Photos from Tim Wilkes are available here, and complete results may be found on the J/105 North American Championship website.