BUENOS AIRES (October 31, 2025) — It was a sunny, beautiful day on the Río de la Plata with a ripping tide that challenged the 71 boats at the J/70 World Championship. The standings continue to invert throughout this series, with eight of 10 planned races recorded. The final shootout is set for Saturday at Yacht Club Argentino, after another new leader has materialized: Bruno Bethlem’s Aretê (BRA) with 68 net points, eight ahead of Doug Rastello helming Charles Thomson’s Brutus III (GBR). Friday’s conditions could be referred to as a seesaw—when winds of 6-8 knots combined with significant current to test crews homing in on their 2025 World Champion.
“The day was quite good. We were not too aggressive in the settings so we could manage the tricky conditions of Buenos Aires,” said the new regatta leader. “My team? We’re all friends. We have been sailing in this Class for a long time together. They deserve this. I’m happy for them.”
“We have no expectations. We’re just here to sail. We don’t think expectations are good, so we don’t make them. We just go out there every day and try to sail our best.”
Race seven saw Richard Witzel’s Rowdy (USA) forcing a gybe at the finish line to take the win over Mauro Roversi’s Jcurve (ITA) and Filip Engelbert’s Elvis (SWE).
After a brief postponement to reset the line, race eight was off with many on port tack just after the start. As boats turned downwind, a parade of spinnakers lit up the left side of the course. Cate Muller-Terhune’s Casting Couch (USA) earned the victory, ahead of Nuno Espirito Santo Silva’s Bábá (POR) and Guillermo Parada’s Nildo (ARG).
Top five overall:
1° Bruno Bethlem, BRA Aretê with Rafael Martins, Pedro Tinoco, Alberto Vita, 68 points
2° Doug Rastello, GBR Brutus III with Charles Thompson, Ben Saxton, Chris Grube, 76 points
3° Peter Duncan, USA Relative Obscurity with Willem Van Waay, Jud Smith, Victor Diaz De Leon, 80 points
4° Laura Grondin, USA Dark Energy with Taylor Canfield, Ian Liberty, Edward Hackney, 81 points
5° Martin Dent, GBR Jelvis, with Rick Peacock, Henry Wethrell, Ruby Dent, 87 points
The Ducasse Sailing Team (CHI) of Andrés Ducasse, Ignacio Ducasse, Rodrigo Ducasse and Francisco Ducasse endured a tough day to maintain advantage in the 30-boat Corinthian Division.
Ezequiel Despontin, Pablo Despontin, Sebastián Halpern and Gabriel Marino (ARG) on 707 lead the nine-boat One Pro Division.
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