History was made on the waters of the Río de la Plata as the 2025 J/70 World Championship kicked off at the prestigious Yacht Club Argentino. This 11th edition marks the first time the World Championship has been held in South America, drawing a highly competitive fleet of 71 teams including a strong contingent from Bermuda. Two high-intensity races successfully jumpstarted the run for the global title.
Local knowledge proved key in the opening race, with Argentine teams dominating the top spots. Fernando Gwozdz’s Petro Green Racing, sailed by a local crew, went wire-to-wire for the victory, followed by fellow countryman Juan Diego Figueroa’s Homero in the runner-up position.
However, the Bermudian team, continuing their hot streak after winning the Corinthian World Championship last month, immediately made their presence felt. Alec Cutler and his crew of Ryan Cox, Charles Pucciariello, and Brad Rodi sailing *Hedgehog*, secured an excellent third place.
The women's helms also made a statement in the opener, with Margaret McKillen’s Magatron and Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy (both USA) finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Conditions for the race were demanding, with winds from the Southeast around 12-15 knots generating choppy waters upwind and requiring expert mode-changing in planing conditions downwind.
The second race saw a slight delay due to a wind shift as the breeze temporarily softened. When racing resumed, the American teams charged forward, led by Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy (USA) who took the top spot.
The action at the leeward gates was particularly intense, described as a scene of "multi-lingual commotion" as teams battled for position. Sailors utilised aggressive wing-on-wing manoeuvres to slay the downwind legs. Samuel Albrecht’s El Enemigo (BRA) and Brian Keane’s Savasana (USA) rounded out the top three, taking the silver and bronze spots respectively.
Despite a tougher second race, the Bermuda boat remains firmly in contention after the first day of competition, sitting in a very respectable 7th place overall with a total of 26 points. The strong start sets up an exciting battle as the fleet prepares for the second day of racing.
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