Niuhi, helmed by Randy Hecht of San Francisco, won the 2026 J/105 North American Championship after four days of competitive racing on Puget Sound October 15-18. With 23 boats competing and 11 races completed, Hecht and his team secured the title with 39 points, finishing three points ahead of Seattle’s War Canoe. The victory marks Hecht’s fourth J/105 North American Championship title, adding to previous wins in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Representing a strong showing from the West Coast, Niuhi featured a crew of Russ Silvestri, Ryan Treais, Maggie Bacon, David Janinis and Laura Levy. War Canoe, sailed by Michael Goldfarb, Ben Mumford, Dalton Bergan, Esther Goodell, Julien Falxa and Jason Vandergaag, finished second with 42 points. San Francisco’s Ne*Ne, with Tim Russell, Ben Louttit, Don Ringer, Scott Smith, Mike Komar and Brent Draney, rounded out the podium with 47.8 points.
The Championship, hosted by Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle, opened Thursday with classic Puget Sound conditions. Northerly winds of 10–12 knots gradually eased to 5 knots as the sun emerged, but the fleet completed three solid races. Friday brought lighter winds and two races, with tight competition leaving just one point separating the top three boats. Saturday began with Seattle drizzle and very little breeze. As the sun finally broke through, the wind filled in, allowing the fleet to complete three more races. Heading into the final day, War Canoe held the lead, followed closely by Niuhi, with just one point separating the top two teams. Arbitrage, from San Francisco, stood in third. There were no discards in the Series.
Sunday delivered ideal conditions for the finale, with sunshine, flat water and a solid breeze for two races. Niuhi rose to the occasion, scoring a 1-2 in the final races to clinch the continental title. Arbitrage, sailed by Bruce Stone, Mike Kennedy, Claire Dennis, Maya Outhred, Praem Phulwani and Scott Humphreys, ended up in fourth with 50.8 points, while Texas-based Deja Voodoo, led by Bill Zartler with Gray Rackley, Catherine Chimney, Ryan Glaze, Andrew McTavish and Shawn Burke, completed the top five with 53 points.
Beyond the racing, the event showcased the Pacific Northwest’s sailing community through outstanding shoreside hospitality, social activities and camaraderie. Hosting the Championship in Seattle provided an excellent opportunity to build enthusiasm for J/105 sailing in the region and bring together competitors from across North America. Special thanks go to Adrien Felon for organizing local boat weigh-ins and dedicating significant time and effort to the process, as well as to the local organizing committee for delivering a successful Championship.
The event was made possible by the generous support of its sponsors. The British Virgin Islands served as Presenting Sponsor, with Kinetic Catamarans and Quantum Sails as Gold Sponsors, and Doyle Sails Seattle as Silver Sponsor. Bronze Sponsors included Raptor Deck, Fisheries Supply, Cheap Diver, Ivar’s Restaurants, Mustang Survival and Seattle Sailing Club.
Photos from Jan Anderson are available at J105 North American Championship Regatta 2026 – Jan’s Marine Photography, and complete results may be found at 2026 J/105 North American Championships.
