International Etchells Class Association
Day 2 Recap- Double Bullets for Flying Higher
published 05/12/2026
SAN DIEGO, CALIF.— The second day of the 2026 Etchells World Championship opened under a thick marine layer settled across the Coronado Roads Race Course. An unusual weather pattern for San Diego in May kept sailors guessing throughout the morning as shifting pressure and unstable breeze directions made strategy especially challenging as the sun slowly began to break through.
In Race 3, it was the left side of the course that paid off early and decisively. Jeanne-Claude “JC” Strong and her Flying Higher crew led from the pin end start all the way around the racetrack, instantly recognizable across the fleet with their distinctive pink sail numbers and pink spinnaker. Strong is joined onboard by Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton, fresh off Team Australia’s SailGP victory in Bermuda.
“Winning these races, I had such a feeling of happiness,” added Strong. “It was just amazing, I could feel my heart beating out of my chest.”
Strong and Flying Higher were followed by USA 1453, helmed by Rick Merriman, a member of the winning crew from the 2000 Etchells Worlds in San Diego. Close behind was International Etchells Class President and North American Champion Jim Cunningham aboard Lifted. Cunningham’s experienced team includes four-time world champion crew members Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain, and Serena Village.
By Race 4, the marine layer had largely burned off and sunshine returned to San Diego, but the breeze remained unstable. A significant right shift on the opening beat quickly reshuffled the fleet, with some boats able to set spinnakers directly from the offset mark. The first downwind leg saw constant lead changes across the course as boats searched for pressure across the widening race track.
Once again, however, Flying Higher capitalized early. Strong repeated her left-side strategy off the line and benefitted from the shifting conditions, rounding both the first weather mark and leeward gate with commanding. At one stage, the Australian crew held nearly a two-minute advantage over second-place Austin Sperry’s Raygun, sailed with America’s Cup and Ocean Race veterans Noel Drennan and John Kostecki.
As conditions continued to evolve, the Race Committee displayed the Charlie flag and adjusted the course for the final windward leg of the day, spreading the 76-boat fleet widely across Coronado Roads as the breeze continued its gradual rightward trend.
Strong rounded the final mark comfortably ahead of the fleet to secure her second win of the day and establish herself as one of the early standouts of the championship.
In the Corinthian Division, the Rhode Island brother-and-sister duo of Ben and Sarah Wilkinson delivered an impressive performance, finishing third overall in the second race of the day. Their strong result vaulted the team into the lead of the amateur division heading into Day 3 of competition.
At the top of the overall standings, consistency has proven critical in the highly volatile conditions. Jim Cunningham and the Lifted crew moved into the overall lead after Day 2 thanks to a steady 3-6 scoreline on Tuesday. While many teams saw dramatic swings in finishes across the four races completed so far, Cunningham’s experienced crew has remained consistently near the front of the fleet.
All information on the 2026 Etchells Worlds can be found on the regatta’s website. Results of each race and the overall regatta will be posted on YachtScoring. For live updates throughout the week, follow the International Etchells Class Association on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Etchells Worlds is graciously hosted by San Diego Yacht Club, which can also be followed on Facebook and Instagram.