BUENOS AIRES (October 30, 2025) — The roller coaster scorelines of the J/70 World Championship started to settle in Thursday as the discard race came into effect with now six races scored. The day began as a light air affair, the opposite of the initial two days but picked up to a steadier pace for the day’s second contest.

Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy (USA) returned to the top of the leaderboard, able to toss a prior 40th and land at 37 net points just after the halfway point of the Championship at Yacht Club Argentino. Haroldo Solberg’s Viking Oceanpact (BRA) moved into the runner-up position, only two points behind.

The Ducasse Sailing Team (CHI) of Andrés Ducasse, Ignacio Ducasse, Rodrigo Ducasse and Francisco Ducasse is keeping hold of the 30-boat Corinthian Division. Winners of the 2021 Worlds Corinthian division, they remain eighth overall in Buenos Aires, aiming for a top ten position.

“It’s a family business, there are seven of us,” said Ducasse. “My younger brother is our coach. My older brother is our tactician. My dad helps keep everyone calm onboard. We’ve been sailing the J/70 for 10 years, and my brother and I raced 470 in the Rio Olympics. So yes, we’re Corinthians, but we’ve got hours on the water.”

RACE FIVE:
Light air tactics determined race 5, won by Luis Albert’s Patakin (ESP) with John Heaton’s Empeiria (USA) and Grondin’s Dark Energy extending on the rest of the 71-boat fleet.

RACE SIX:
A little more breeze of 10-12 knots made for hectic mark roundings in race 6 when Samuel Albrecht’s El Enemigo (BRA), Doug Rastello on Brutus III (GBR) and Renato Cunha Faria’s Tô Nessa (BRA) cracked the top three.

Top five overall:
1°Laura Grondin, USA Dark Energy with Taylor Canfield, Ian Liberty, Edward Hackney, 37 points
2°Haroldo Solberg, BRA Viking Oceanpact with Geison Mendes, Mario Tinoco, Gabriel Silva, 39 points
3° Peter Duncan, USA Relative Obscurity with Willem Van Waay, Jud Smith, Victor Diaz De Leon, 42 points
4°Travis Odenbach, USA Honeybadger with Dave Hughes, Andy Horton, Chris Stocke, 44 points
5°Bruno Bethlem, BRA Aretê with Rafael Martins, Pedro Tinoco, Alberto Vita, 49 points

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

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.

Sponsors include Life Seguros, Almarena Madero Urbano, Galeno, South American Rigging/Marlow/Velo, Ansilta, Eximia, Windsail, Emergencias, Fantoche, and Vacalin

Story by Julie Howell
Photos by Matías Capizzano