After a patient start ashore, the 2026 J/111 North American Championship officially got underway Wednesday at Youngstown Yacht Club, with three races completed for the 14-team fleet.
The morning began under AP ashore while the Race Committee waited for conditions to develop. AP was lifted at 1:15 p.m. and the fleet headed to the racecourse, where conditions settled into a remarkably consistent ENE breeze around 10–11 knots with a 75° course heading and gentle 1–2 foot seas. Racing began at 2:30 p.m., allowing Principal Race Officer Chip Till and the Youngstown Yacht Club Race Committee to complete three races before wrapping up a productive opening day.
“Patience ended up being the key to today’s racing,” said PRO Chip Till. “Once a very nice ENE breeze filled in, it was an epic 3-race day on Lake Ontario to kick off the championship.”
Race Results
Race 1
1. Fireball — Bill & Jackie Baxter
2. Chip’s Ahoy — Chip Merlin
3. Shamrock — Jeffrey Davis
Race 2
1. Black Seal — Kevin & Seth Young
2. Chip’s Ahoy — Chip Merlin
3. Bravo — Sedgwick Ward
Race 3
1. Black Seal — Kevin & Seth Young
2. Bravo — Sedgwick Ward
3. Shamrock — Jeffrey Davis
Overall Standings — After 3 Races
1. Black Seal — Kevin & Seth Young — 6 points
2. Chip’s Ahoy — Chip Merlin — 9 points
3. Bravo — Sedgwick Ward — 12 points
4. Shamrock — Jeffrey Davis — 12 points
5. Fireball — Bill & Jackie Baxter — 14 points
With back-to-back bullets in Races 2 and 3, Black Seal emerged from opening day with a three-point advantage over Chip’s Ahoy, while Bravo and Shamrock sit tied at 12 points.
“It was a great day of racing,” said Kevin Young of Black Seal. “The Race Committee did an outstanding job, the competition throughout the fleet was strong, and the conditions gave us some really enjoyable sailing. Great race management, great competition and, overall, just a fantastic day on the water.”
Corinthian Standings — After 3 Races
1. Moneypenny — Douglas Clarke — 20 points
2. Quickdraw — Martin Zonnenberg — 27 points
3. Leading Edge — Tom Sutton — 31 points
With three races successfully completed on opening day, the Championship is underway with three more days of racing ahead. Youngstown Yacht Club extends its appreciation to PRO Chip Till, the Race Committee, event volunteers and shoreside team for their efforts both on and off the water.
The Championship also recognizes the support of Youngstown Community Boating, Quantum Sails, Savoir Travel, and Dyneema, whose sponsorship helps make the J/111 North American Championship possible.
Event website / results: https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50514
Photos by Tim Wilkes: https://www.timwilkes.com/searchlinksJ111NA26.html
