Tim Healy of Jamestown, R.I., a graduate of East Lyme High School, won the inaugural J/70 class sailing world championship Saturday in Newport, R.I. It was Healy's third world championship, in addition to the J/24 titles he won in 2010 and 2013.

Healy clinched the title in the final race of the five-day regatta, finishing second, while closest competitor Joel Ronning of Minneapolis was fourth. Ronning started the final day of the regatta 14 points out of first place, but won the first race and also finished ahead of Healy in the second race to pull within seven points.

Healy, aboard "Helly Hansen" with crew members Gordon Borges (Middletown, R.I.), Geoff Becker (Arnold, Md.) and Paul Abdullah (Jacksonville, Fla.), won the championship with 28 points, followed by Ronning with 39.

The J/70 class was introduced in March, 2012, and has already established itself with 600-plus boats sailing in more than 20 countries.

"It was a fun week," Healy said in a press release. "The nice part is there was wind the whole time; we enjoyed that, but because there's wind you have to work hard and at this point everybody is tired but also excited at the same time.

"The key to doing well (in the J/70) is time spent in the boat. From day one when Jeff Johnstone called and said 'we have the first two boats ready to go, are you interested in doing some sea trials?' I jumped on it. As soon as I sailed the boats, I knew the class was going to be huge. ... It's got just about everything for the typical sailor looking for a fast one-design boat that's easy to sail."

Healy will now try to win his fourth world championship, defending his J/24 title Sept. 22-26 in Newport.

- Vickie Fulkerson