Fifty J/70’s reveled in gorgeous Biscayne Bay conditions on February 22 - 24 for the International J/70 Midwinter Championship. This event, hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, FL, was also a qualifier for the 2020 World Championship to be hosted by California Yacht Club (2 Open berths and 1 Corinthian berth). Miami delivered its renowned weather with sunny skies, temperatures in the low 80s and winds between 8-20 knots for the nine race series. With multiple J70 world champions, Olympic medalists and many other champion sailors competing, the competition was incredible. San Diego Yacht Club’s Bruce Golison with his team of Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain and Jeff Reynolds were one of the teams to watch for the championship going into the event.
In the end, former world champion Peter Duncan on Relative Obscurity and his crew of Will Felder, Willem Van Waay and Bill Hardesty won the J/70 Midwinter Championship.
Bruce Golison’s Midlife Crisis, with Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain and Jeff Reynolds crushed the final day with three bullets, giving them second place overall and securing a world’s berth for the 2020 Worlds at California Yacht Club.