Sailors from the 71 teams at the J/70 World Championship were giddy on Wednesday after two 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* and Richard Witzel’s *Rowdy* (both 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.
The exhilarating racing lasted into race four where local knowledge ruled as Guillermo Parada’s *Nildo* (ARG) took line honors, ahead of Keane’s *Savasana* (USA) and John Heaton’s *Empeiria* (USA).
Look for loads of shuffling on Thursday when the discard kicks in.
Top five overall:
1st: Travis Odenbach, USA *Honeybadger* with Dave Hughes, Andy Horton, Chris Stocke, 24 points
2nd: Peter Duncan, USA *Relative Obscurity* with Willem Van Waay, Jud Smith, Victor Diaz De Leon, 25 points
3rd: Haroldo Solberg, BRA *Viking Oceanpact* with Geison Mendes, Mario Tinoco, Gabriel Silva, 38 points
4th: Brian Keane, USA *Savasana* with Ian Barrows, Ron Weed, Conner Harding, 40 points
5th: Richard Witzel, USA *Rowdy* with Carlos Robles, Tomas Dietrich, Max Salminen, 46 points
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.
Sponsors include Life Seguros, Almarena Madero Urbano, Galeno, South American Rigging/Marlow/Velo, Ansilta, Eximia, Windsail, Emergencias, Fantoche, and Vacalin
Follow live via Vakaros RaceSense → [J70 2025 WORLD CHAMPIOMSCHIP ARG](https://vakaros-racesense.web.app/watch/fw6RORkERpwFv9mXHtwS/J70?live=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawNtrWZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFTZXdpN2c1Snhtb3piaE1BAR71AmLaHrumXvD79wJG91USW62MRMO3i49e0B1pFkMLqPqYMrchYGTx2noDYw_aem_osi2flSkIAE2wcwzvU51Qg)
📸 Photos by Matias Capizzano → [https://capizzano.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/2025-J70-Worlds/C0000IQHv30m._o8](https://capizzano.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/2025-J70-Worlds/C0000IQHv30m._o8)
📊 Results → [https://yca.org.ar/2025/01/15/2025-j70-world-championship/](https://yca.org.ar/2025/01/15/2025-j70-world-championship/)
📱 Social media → @j70class
📧 Media inquiries: [hannah@winddancecreative.com](mailto:hannah@winddancecreative.com)
