Sailing from SYC, James Tanner competes in the Free State dinghy circuit. Since December 2023, 109 races across 14 regattas have been recorded for James. James competes mainly in the Optimist A fleet, alongside races in other fleets. Key performances include winning the 2025 Kzn Optimist Regionals in the Optimist A fleet, along with the 2025 Gauteng Regional Championships in the Optimist A fleet. James remains an active competitor in the Western Cape sailing circuit.