2023 J70 WORLD CHAMPS - 4 X 470 SAILORS ON THE WINNING TEAM
06 Nov 2023Tom Mallindine and Charlie Thompson’s Brutus III (GBR), with team Chris Grube, Ben Saxton and Elisabeth Whitener, are bringing the J/70 World Championship title to the United Kingdom from St. Petersburg Yacht Club in Florida.
Ten races were sailed in spectacular conditions from October 31 through November 4. Brutus III started the regatta with a 53 (later discarded), but then never finished lower than 13 to demonstrate their determination to win and ending with 54 net points. Bruce Golison’s Midlife Crisis (USA) withstood a UFD penalty in Race Two to fulfill the runner-up position with 81 net points. Laura Grondin helmed Dark Energy (USA) to third place overall and top female skipper. She was awarded the perpetual Heli Trophy, in memory of Helen Chisolm Johnstone.
Thompson, owner of Brutus III, beamed that St. Petersburg is “one of the most beautiful places to sail in the world. We feel incredibly privileged to be able to race in a fleet against the very best sailors. I’m one of the oldest bowmen in the fleet and now a World Champion!”
Source: USA J/70 Class Association