The 2026 J/105 North Americans are coming to Seattle, marking the first time this prestigious championship has been held in the Pacific Northwest. Hosted by Corinthian Yacht Club, the Northwest’s premier sailboat racing club with 77 years of national regatta experience, the event will bring North America’s top one-design keelboat teams to Puget Sound for four days of competitive racing.
Corinthian Yacht Club has an impressive track record of hosting major championships, including the J/24 World Championships in 2024 and Tasar Worlds in 2022. For many local J/105 owners, this will be their first opportunity to compete in the North Americans on home waters.
Introduced in 1992, the J/105 is the most successful one-design keelboat class over 30 feet in the United States, with 670 boats sailing worldwide. Numerous fleets are spread across the country, including San Francisco (Fleet 1) with over 60 boats, Annapolis (Fleet 3) with over 40, and Texas (Fleet 17) with more than 20. Seattle’s Fleet 20 boasts over 20 registered J/105s and has earned a reputation as the most consistent one-design class on Puget Sound over the past two decades. The class prides itself on maintaining strict one-design racing through extensive class rules, including restrictions on sail purchases, prohibitions on sailing professionals unless they own a boat, and crew weight limitations.
Racing J/105s increasingly attracts women sailors, as the class rules and physical boat design inherently lower traditional barriers to the sport. The J/105 features a retractable bowsprit and asymmetric spinnaker, which makes managing the sails significantly easier and shifts the competitive edge from physical power to strategic thinking, technical skill, and clear team communication. Official J/105 Class Association rules further incentivize mixed-gender teams by waiving crew weight limits for teams with three or more women. This regulatory support has catalyzed a vibrant grassroots community, leading to the rise of prominent events like the Annapolis J/105 Women’s Regatta and the J/105 Women Skippers Regatta on San Francisco Bay.
The forthcoming North Americans could not happen without sponsor support. The event is proudly presented by the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, renowned as one of the world’s premier sailing destinations with a deep commitment to world-class sailing, vibrant maritime communities, and unforgettable experiences on the water. Gold Sponsors Kinetic Catamarans and Quantum Sails join in supporting this championship event, helping bring top J/105 teams to Seattle for exceptional one-design racing.
The event’s debut in the Pacific Northwest will pair world-class competition with one of North America’s most popular sailing venues. Beyond the racing, the regatta will feature a number of Northwest-themed social functions throughout the week, giving competitors and visitors a true taste of the region’s maritime culture.
