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Sailor · 2009–2026

John Zelli

ewyc VX OnePHRF handicapJ/70

Search sailors · About these ratings

Events
91

518 races · 52 race wins

Win rate
11%

11% win rate · 10 of 91

Podium rate
28%

25 top-three finishes

Typically beats
47%

of boats faced (range 44%–49%, 1,208 boats)

Best class ranking
#29

Helm in VX One · rating 316

Longest win streak
4

race wins in a row

Most successful partnership
Chip Schaffner

2 wins · 3 podiums in 3 events together

Best trio
Jay Hawkins & Chip Schaffner

2 wins · 3 podiums in 3 events, all three aboard

Biggest lift
Chip Schaffner

+48 points of fleet beaten when sailing together

Longest-running crew
Tim Yanda

Aug 2016 – Jun 2026 · 8 events

Nemesis
Ben France

15–83 head to head in 98 races

Rival
Craig Kvale

58–62 in 120 races

Best day
2 Jun 2025

1-3-1-3 · 2025 EDGEWATER RACE PROGRAM

Signature result
1st of 23

Bob Nash Memorial RAce · PHRF handicap · 4 Jul 2013

Partnerships · 57 sailors

Most successful partnership: Chip Schaffner — 2 wins · 3 podiums in 3 events together
  • Michael Lechner · Beautiful Disaster, For Sale, Free energy, Free Energy · Handicap, J/70, PHRF handicap, VX One 32events 4 wins together · 7 podiums · 13% win rate · 24 of 209 races won Beat 55% of the fleet together(+6 vs. without) · best 1st · Jun 2017 – Jun 2026
  • Tim Yanda · Viva La Vida · J/120, PHRF handicap 8events 0 wins together · 2 podiums · 0% win rate · 1 of 23 races won Beat 55% of the fleet together(+5 vs. without) · best 2nd · Aug 2016 – Jun 2026
  • Jon Lupica · Free Energy, Viva La Vida · J/120, J/70, PHRF handicap 6events 0 wins together · 1 podiums · 0% win rate · 1 of 27 races won Beat 52% of the fleet together(+1 vs. without) · best 2nd · Aug 2016 – Jun 2026
  • PJ Blonski · Viva La Vida · J/120, PHRF handicap 5events 0 wins together · 2 podiums · 0% win rate · 1 of 20 races won Beat 67% of the fleet together(+17 vs. without) · best 2nd · Aug 2016 – Jun 2019
  • Pete Tylee · Cloud Nine, First Tracks · Beneteau First 36.7, PHRF handicap 5events 2 wins together · 3 podiums · 40% win rate · 3 of 23 races won Beat 77% of the fleet together(+27 vs. without) · best 1st · Aug 2009 – Aug 2012
  • Nick Turney · Cloud Nine, First Tracks, Viva La Vida · Beneteau First 36.7, J/120, PHRF handicap 5events 1 wins together · 2 podiums · 20% win rate · 2 of 30 races won Beat 72% of the fleet together(+23 vs. without) · best 1st · Aug 2009 – Jun 2019
  • Kevin Milligan · For Sale, Free Energy/Grin Factor, Viva La Vida · J/70, PHRF handicap 4events 0 wins together · 0 podiums · 4 events · 0 of 24 races won Beat 25% of the fleet together(−27 vs. without) · best 4th · Jun 2019 – Jun 2022
  • Tim Roberts · First Tracks, Second Chance, Viva La Vida · Ensign, PHRF handicap 4events 1 wins together · 3 podiums · 4 events · 1 of 12 races won Beat 75% of the fleet together(+25 vs. without) · best 1st · Jun 2011 – Aug 2025
  • Craig Kvale · Free Energy/Grin Factor, Viva La Vida · J/120, J/70, PHRF handicap 4events 0 wins together · 0 podiums · 4 events · 0 of 21 races won Beat 31% of the fleet together(−20 vs. without) · best 4th · Jun 2018 – Jun 2021
  • Chip Schaffner · First Tracks · PHRF handicap 3events 2 wins together · 3 podiums · 3 events · 3 of 7 races won Beat 97% of the fleet together(+48 vs. without) · best 1st · Jun 2011 – Aug 2012

Lift shows how much better this sailor finishes with that partner aboard.

Rating history

-43153349201020132016201920222025Helm rating, all classesCrew rating, all classes

— Helm rating, all classes · - - Crew rating, all classes

Event history · 91

DateEventBoatClassRoleFinish
23 Jun 20262026 Cleveland Race Week Double-handed, Women's & VX OneFree EnergyVX OneSkipper4th / 6
19 Jun 20262026 Cleveland Race Week One DesignFree EnergyVX OneSkipper5th / 17
5 Jun 20262026 Invitational Mills Trophy RaceViva La VidaPHRF handicapStaysail trimmer15th / 20
31 May 20262026 EDGEWATER RACE PROGRAMFree EnergyVX OneSkipper1st / 9
25 May 2026The Claire Race 2026Free EnergyPHRF handicapSkipper6th / 14
5 Oct 2025The Final Gun 2025Free EnergyHandicapSkipper2nd / 3
4 Oct 2025Sea Dog-Van Newberry Race 2025Free EnergyPHRF handicapSkipper4th / 14
20 Sep 20252025 216 RegattaBeautiful DisasterVX OneSkipper4th / 10
1 Sep 20252025 Vanpire RaceFree EnergyPHRF handicapSkipper4th / 18
4 Aug 20252025 Ensign National Championship RegattaSecond ChanceEnsignCrew24th / 30
4 Jul 20252025 BOB NASH MEMORIALBeautiful DisasterHandicapSkipper4th / 6
20 Jun 20252025 Cleveland Race Week One DesignFree EnergyVX OneSkipper8th / 15
26 May 20252025 Claire Memorial RaceBeautiful DisasterPHRF handicapSkipper7th / 19
25 May 20252025 EDGEWATER RACE PROGRAMFree EnergyVX OneSkipper1st / 12
21 Sep 20242024 216 RegattaFree EnergyVX OneSkipper12th / 15
17 Jun 20242024 Cleveland Race Week Double-handed, Women's & VX OneFree EnergyVX OneSkipper1st / 6
13 Jun 20242024 Cleveland Race Week One DesignFree EnergyVX OneSkipper9th / 18
26 May 20242024 Claire RaceFree EnergyPHRF handicapSkipper1st / 17
18 May 20242024 EYC Club Race ProgramFree EnergyVX OneSkipper1st / 14
26 Sep 20232023 VX One North American ChampionshipHisVX OneSkipper35th / 46
22 Sep 2023The 216 Regatta 2023HisVX OneSkipper15th / 22
9 Sep 2023Cleveland Cup 2023Free EnergyVX OneSkipper3rd / 4
20 Jun 20232023 Cleveland Race Week Double-handed & Women'sHisVX OneSkipper6th / 8
17 Jun 20232023 Cleveland Race Week One DesignFree EnergyVX OneSkipper7th / 13
13 May 20232023 EYC Club Race ProgramFree EnergyVX OneCrew2nd / 13

Helm rating across all classes: 349, #7,129.Crew rating across all classes: 213, #13,771. Compiled from public results; not an official ranking.