Simon Perry's Jiraffe has won Act VI of the 2026 J/70 UK Grand Slam Series on the Solent, sharpening the fight for the overall title with just one regatta left to sail.
Racing out of the Royal Southern Yacht Club on the Hamble River, Perry's crew of Alice Perry, Arran Holman, Sabine Potter and Martin Wrigley finally hit their stride after five underwhelming earlier rounds. Three race wins and two seconds from six starts gave them a net score of 7 points.
Behind them came a landmark result for the fleet. Second and third overall both went to women skippers, the first time that has happened in UK J/70 racing.
Jacintha Love's Lady Khumbu, crewed by Ruairidh Scott, Hannah Bristow, James Taylor, Jack Wetherell and Isabella Drewitt, posted 2-1-2-3-1-7 for 9 points net to claim silver.
Ali Hall's Calypso, with Benno Marstaller, Jack Elsby-Hartman and Jonathan Calascione aboard, had a scratchier week. A 12-3-3-2-7-8 scoreline was good enough for bronze on 23 points net.
With the series finale two weeks away, the top of the leaderboard remains unsettled. Jiraffe's round win puts Perry's team in a strong position, but the overall champion of the 2026 J/70 UK Grand Slam season will not be decided until the fleet lines up for the last time.