2026 J/80 World Championship at CORK Sail Kingston - Day 2
by Julie & Christopher Howell 22 Jul 21:46 BST
July 20-25, 2026
After storms and heavy winds kept the fleet ashore for Tuesday's scheduled opening races, the 2026 J/80 World Championship got under way Wednesday on the waters of Lake Ontario, where 34 teams were greeted by gusty conditions averaging about 20 knots off Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. Hosted by CORK/Sail Kingston, the Championship has attracted competitors from across North America, along with international teams from Germany and Gibraltar. The waiting proved worthwhile as two exhilarating races delivered white-knuckle competition as teams began staking claim of the leaderboard.
Fresh off defending his J/80 North American Championship title on the same racecourse just over a week ago, James Buley's Le Tigre continued its impressive Kingston form. A race victory followed by a second-place finish gives Buley the overall lead with just 3 points after two races. Warren Flannery's Feisty sits second overall with 5 points after posting a fourth-place finish in the opening race before winning Race 2. Tied on six points are Daniel Wittig's Turbo Sloth, who finished second in Race 1, and Michael Grau's Paint it black which recorded third-place results in both contests.
The top three finishers in Race 1 were Buley, Wittig, and Grau. Race 2 belonged to Flannery, with Buley crossing second and Grau adding his other third. Conor Hayes' More Gostosa leads the highly competitive and robust Corinthian Division.
Ashore, competitors are enjoying the welcoming atmosphere at CORK/Sail Kingston. Post-race debriefs centered around Vakaros RaceSense data allow teams to review starts and tactics, adding another valuable dimension to the Championship experience.
With two races completed and a full Championship schedule still planned, teams will look to capitalize on Kingston's renowned racing conditions over the remaining three race days.
Complete results can be found here.
Photos are available on the J/80 North American Class Association Facebook page, www.facebook.com/j80na