The 2026 J/70 UK National Championships take place from 26 to 28 June on the Central Solent, hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club. Close to 30 teams are expected on the start line for Round 4 of the J/70 UK Grand Slam Series, and as ever in the J/70 the entry list mixes top Corinthian teams with a scattering of Olympic, America’s Cup and world champions.
Up to ten windward-leeward races are scheduled across the three days, with the first warning signal at 1125 on Friday after a practice start. Open and Corinthian National titles are both on the line, alongside Mixed and Youth categories.
Open Class
All eyes will be on Martin Dent’s Jelvis, who arrives as both the reigning UK National Champion and the runaway leader of the 2026 Grand Slam Series. Sailing with Rick Peacock, Henry Wetherell and Ruby Dent, Jelvis has set the standard all season and starts as the team to beat.
The chasing pack carries serious firepower. Simon Perry’s Jiraffe lines up with three-time Olympian and J/70 World Champion Chris Grube aboard, while William Edwards’ Sardonyx, third at last year’s Nationals, pairs Paris 2024 Olympian James Peters with helmsman Ian Dobson for a formidable combo. Jacintha Love’s Lady Khumbu, an in-form newcomer, is sailing with J/70 legend Ruairidh Scott.
Depth runs through the fleet: Archie Leaver’s Osprey counts Paralympic medallist and multiple world champion Niki Birrell among the team, while Simon Toms sails with Volvo Ocean Race and Emirates GBR SailGP sailor Hannah Diamond. Tim Simpson’s Just Right brings America’s Cup pedigree of its own, with INEOS Britannia cyclor and former Finn National Champion James Skulczuk on board. Nick Griffith’s Spencer Rigging sailing with Rhos Hawes, one half of GBR’s on-form 49er pair adds to the mix, and Paul Wollmann flies the flag for Bermuda with Frequent Flyer.
Corinthian
The Corinthian division is the heart of the class. A strong group returns fresh from the J/70 Corinthian World Championship in Marseille, where Ian Poynton’s Powder Monkey was the leading British boat in an 88-strong international fleet. Just behind on that result, is defending Corinthian national champion and 2025 Overall Grand Slam series winners, Ali Hall’s Calypso – sailing with Jonathan Calascione – will again be a team to watch.
An intriguing entry is David McLeman’s Offbeat, helmed by London 2012 gold medallist and former World Sailor of the Year Lijia Xu. Doug Struth’s DSP, a perennial Corinthian front-runner, will once again be in the hunt, and Max Clapp’s youth team Jeepster, runners-up and top Corinthian at the season opener and also fresh from Marseille, is expected to be among the favourites for Corinthian and Youth honours.
Youth and Mixed
The class continues to attract strong youth and mixed entries. Morgan Reynolds’ Lightfoot – Racing Spirit and the Ryde School team carry the flag for the next generation, while a number of mixed crews, including Jiraffe, Lady Khumbu, DSP and Offbeat, add to the mix on this category.
Racing is run on the Vakaros RaceSense system, adopted by the J/70 UK Class across the 2026 Grand Slam Series as the UK fleet helps lead the way in faster, fairer racing.
The J/70 UK class is supported by Rooster, Ocean Rope and XV Interiors.
Full entry list at j-70.co.uk/gs2026-04.
Racing begins Friday.
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