Sailors from the 71 teams at the J/70 World Championship were giddy on Wednesday after 2 races in wet and wild conditions on the Río de la Plata. Under sunny skies, 15-18 knots of breeze paired with a running river current to equal a lively day off the shores of Yacht Club Argentino, as now four races are in the books.

A new leader has emerged in Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger (USA) and also two fresh names in the top five: Brian Keane’s Savasana (USA) and Richard Witzel’s Rowdy (USA). Cate Muller Terhune’s Casting Couch (USA) ascended to sixth overall, leading the group of five female helms.

“The Honeybadger team likes to have fun and keep it loose. It’s unique to have this amount of talent on a boat that also happen to be really good friends,” said Odenbach.

In race three, Odenbach’s Honeybadger (USA) made it look easy in the heavy air. Bruno Bethlem’s Aretê (BRA) and Peter Duncan’s Relative Obscurity (USA) also excelled in the dramatic weather, as boats churned rapidly on the downwinds.
Local knowledge ruled Race 4 as Guillermo Parada’s Nildo (ARG) took line honors, ahead of Keane’s Savasana 🇺🇸 and John Heaton’s Empeiria (USA) .

Look for loads of shuffling on Thursday when the discard kicks in.
1°Travis Odenbach
2° Peter Duncan
3° Haroldo Solberg
4° Brian Keane
5°Richard Witzel

Continuing atop the 30-boat Corinthian Division is Ducasse Sailing Team (CHI): Andrés Ducasse, Ignacio Ducasse, Rodrigo Ducasse, Francisco Ducasse. They are in eighth overall.

Commanding the nine-boat One Pro Division is 707 (ARG) Ezequiel Despontin, Pablo Despontin, Sebastián Halpern, Gabriel Marino.

Racing continues through Saturday with up to 10 races planned.

Boats are on hand from 16 countries and four continents: ARG, AUS, BER, BRA, CHI, CHN, ESP, GBR, GER, ITA, POR, SUI, SWE, TUR, URU, USA.

Hosted by Yacht Club Argentino from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Text by Julie Howell  & Hannah Lee Noll
Photos by Matías Capizzano