Restarting one-design class racing

The success of a one-design class tends to be less about the boat and more about the people involved. Quite often, it is all about one person, the sparkplug, which is how the J/29 class racing has been reignited on the Chesapeake Bay.

It’s been ages since these late-1980s vintage one-designs have met en masse, but at the 2025 Sailing World Regatta Series on May 2-4 in Annapolis, seven J/29 owners were cajoled and herded from their slips by Liz Principe, the class’s new motivator-in-chief.

“There is a new energy among the owners,” Principe says. “And that’s really motivating me. It’s been at least 12 years, so we’re pretty stoked about what’s going on here.”

As commodore of the Eastern Shore Sailing Association, Principe tapped connections at sailing organizations up and down the Chesapeake, and social media outreach and emails allowed her to quickly connect with other J/29 owners to propose a simple goal of restarting one-design class racing in the US. – Full report

Details: https://www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series-annapolis/ – Facebook

Formerly known as the NOOD, this is the 35th season of the regatta series.

2025 Schedule – Sailing World Regatta Series:
February 14-16: St. Petersburg, FL
May 2-4: Annapolis, MD
May 30-June 1: Detroit, MI
June 6-8: Chicago, IL
July 24-27: Marblehead, MA
Oct 25-November 1: Caribbean

Series information: Series information – Event details –