Sailors from Michigan, Rhode Island and Connecticut descended on the Beverly Yacht Club this weekend to compete in the J-30 North American championships.

Competitors said the conditions were challenging, with winds gusting up to 28 miles per hour.

First place went to Russ Atkinson of the North Cape Yacht Club, located in La Salle Michigan. Atkinson came in first five times on board Wildcat. He placed second in two races.

Beverly Yacht Club member Ken Deyett finished second with one first place finish, three second place finishes and three third place finishes.

Marion resident Bill Saltonstall earned third place aboard his boat, Arbella. Saltonstall notched one first place finish, two second place finishes and four fourth place finishes.

Saltonstall, and his wife Tinker, have owned Arbella for 17 years and have raced in J-30 class events and local races, including the club’s Wednesday series held this summer.

“We did not score particularly well in the club’s Wednesday night series this year, but we love to compete and occasionally we are in the running,” Saltonstall said. “My racing crew is made up of a wonderful group of local folks who have thrown themselves right into competitive sailing.”

The J-30 is a class of sailboat designed to be competitive in racing while also offering comfortable conditions for cruising.

As avid sailors, Saltonstall said he and his wife have visited ports from Annappolis, Maryland to Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

Alongside the Arbella, five boats competed across seven races held Friday through Sunday.

John McArthur, of the Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, Connecticut, earned fourth and Mark Rotsky, of the Bristol Yacht Club in Bristol, Rhode Island, came in fifth.

Beverly Yacht Club members Eric Braitmeyer and David Corkey, aboard Bayamo, came in sixth.

To view complete results, visit www.j30.us/blog.