One of racing sailors’ favorite harbingers of spring returns to Annapolis
The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series Annapolis (HHSW) will unfold May 1-3 out of Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC). As of April 30, 217 competing boats in 16 classes had registered.
Returning podium finishers from 2025 in the 17-boat J/22 fleet will be Jeff Hayden on Polar Express, Brad Julien on Yard Sale, and fresh from a win at Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point, Jeff Todd on Hot Toddy.
In the 23-boat Lightning class, David Stark on Team PatStrong and third-place finisher Clint Neuman on Sundog will compete again. Second place finisher Britton Steele on BrewJax will be back in the Melges 15 division, fighting for first in 2026.
The Viper 640 class will run its Atlantic Coast Championship at the HHSW with Cole Constantineau on Meow! and Bill Vickers on Gnixe ready to compete for the top position once again.
Fierce competitors from 2025 will return in the 23-boat J/105 class: Ray Wulff on Patriot, Ben duPont on Warbride, and Bill Zartler on Deja Voodoo. In the 30-boat J/70 class, the largest of the event, if 2025 history teaches us anything, Paul Green on Progress and Alec Cutler on Hedgehog are the teams to keep your eyes on as racing unfolds.
The J/80 class will compete in its East Coast Championship (ECC) concurrently with the event; 20 boats have registered; last year’s first- and second-place finishers, Warren Flannery on Feisty and J.R. Maxwell on Scamp will again compete.
The five-boat J/29 division will also contest its ECC at the event with top competitor from 2025, Michael Baugh on Persephone back in action. Andy Graff on Exile and Chris and Liz Chadwick on Church Key will be back to defend their podium finishes in the J/88 class, as will all top finishers from 2025 in the J/24 class: Pat FitzGerald on Rush Hour, Pete Kassal on Spaceman Spiff, and Peter Rich on Buxom.
The 19-boat Harbor 20 class will be stacked with local competitors, with many-time winner Garth Hichens on Sugar and last year’s third-place finisher Margaret Podlich and Peter Trogdon on Skimmer being two among many to watch.
Pat Seidel on the Cal 25 Chicken Little and Alisa Finney on Fahrvergnugen, first- and second-place competitors in 2025, will be back on the racecourse. In the PHRF fleet (last year ORC), James Sagerholm on the J/30 Aunt Jean, Bruce Irvin on the Corby 40 Time Machine, and Todd Lalumiere on the Brooklyn Boat Yard Sloop 75 Isobel will compete.
Although there are only five competitors in the J/30 division, keep your eyes on the results as three boats will compete from Valhalla Sailing Project, a local nonprofit dedicated to getting veterans sailing and connected to community, along with past top finishers Dan Watson on Avita and Jim Burdick on One Love.
There will also be Melges 24 and WASZP divisions filled with Chesapeake talent.
AYC’s race committee volunteers will run several racing circles with assistance from Eastport YC and Severn Sailing Association. Daily award parties will take place after racing at AYC’s Regatta Center. Will Keyworth will take photos for SpinSheet on the water; make sure to put on your best post-race smile when you see us with a camera at the parties.
Learn more at sailingworld.com/regatta-series-annapolis. Find photos after the event at spinsheet.com/photos.
