Raymond La Fontaine. 19/ 1/1962 – 19/2/2024.

Written by Hugo Ottaway 

Many individuals have contributed to making our J24 Class what it is today.

One of those is Raymond La Fontaine.

I first met Ray in 1985 when he, his father Barry, myself, Herschel Landers and Ian Torode (RIP) bought our first J24s. Discovering the Victorian class had disbanded, we sailed club course and Junior Offshore Group overnight bay races.

In 1986 Ray and I appointed ourselves President and Vice President, reforming the J24 Class Association of Victoria. That year despite having no experience, we secured a sponsorship with Club Marine Insurance for the Victorian and National Championships held at Royal Melbourne yacht Squadron.

The following year, Ray took ‘New Horizon’ KA 96 to Sydney for the 1987 Nationals, having no money, he slept on the boat at CYCA for a week before sailing down the coast to Port Hacking, establishing a camping ground in the club grounds, sleeping in tents.

In 1988 Ray took ‘New Horizon’ to the Worlds in Sydney. It was here that he met Ian Bashford the builder of J24s in Australia (RIP),  Ray formed a friendship with Ian that resulted in the purchase of a new J24, ‘French Connection’ AUS 146 which he sailed in the 1996 World Championship in Melbourne.

In 1998 Herschel Landers, President and Ray, Vice President, facilitated moving the remaining five Royal Brighton Yacht Club J24 fleet to Sandringham Yacht Club, initiating what remains today, a fleet of 21 J24’s on the hardstand.

It was this move that arrested the decline in numbers due to the Brighton J24s being overshadowed by the Etchell Class.

With a new home, it was identified that short courses and multiple races would keep the fleet together, the J24s ran their own races with self starts and laying their own marks . A totally new concept away from the traditional Saturday afternoon race around the cans.

In another pioneering concept, the class began racing on Sunday mornings with a rule that the boats must be back at the dock by midday. That decision helped those J members with young families, get back on the water. All of these totally new approaches to yacht racing, remain today, thanks to the committee and Ray, who made a significant contribution.

Ray’s crew included many SYC members, David Suda, Dee Telford, Andy White, Grant Robinson, Grant Wilmont and past Commodore  Phil Coombes to name but a few, competing in many J24 Nationals and World Championships in Sydney 1988, Melbourne 1996, Sardinia 2006 and Argentina 2007.

There are many wild and colourful stories about Ray that will be shared around bars where J’s are sailed, however on a brief sailing note, surfing down wind in 25 knots, two handed  with Robbie Hartnett passing most of the fleet with the kite up, sailing from Westernport Bay offshore, through Port Phillip heads in 30 Knots – pure madness! Putting a brand new genoa in a dump bin after race 3 at the Nationals (which was hilarious to watch from the bar) exemplifies Ray’s colourful personality.

The J24 class in Australia is richer thanks to the contribution of Raymond La Fontaine.

Ray is survived by James, Mitchell and Violet.                                              8 Bells.

Once again, the Australian J24 Nationals were held in Sydney, this time on the harbour. As opposed to huge swells off Cronulla last year this year were battling the traffic and their wakes, Sydney is a very congested place, especially on the weekend !

Held earlier this month in mostly jib weather, the smaller fleet size this year still contained the top sailors in Sydney, and only one entry from Victoria. The usual suspects from NSW mixed it up with new youth and female crews and it’s great to see them participating in the class. The Nationals were the qualifying regatta for the 2024 Worlds in Seattle USA, later this year and there is considerable interest in attending this regatta.

With three races a day for four days, it was a pretty solid and physical regatta with especially the female crews getting well bruised. Day one gave us a south easterly of 25 – 28 knots. Starting off Taylors bay and heading to the top mark off the northern end of Shark Island meant we were sailing across a number of ferry routes – it just adds to the excitement – and frustration. Tough sailing, but banging Bradleys Head out to the right hand side seemed to work quite well most of the time. Mixed results with Tinto (Steve Wright), Innamincka (John Crawford) and Ace (Dave West) taking out the wins.

Day two with 20 – 25kn SE winds was pretty much a re-run of day one, although we did have to pause the racing while the Virgin cruise liner (read … apartment block) left the harbour, completely blocking our race track. Day winners were Sailpac (Sean Kirkjian), Innamincka and Convicts Revenge (Simon Grain).

Day three saw us on genoas with around 15kn shifty easterly and then north easterly breezes. A tricky day with lots more traffic on the harbour being Saturday and many and large boat wakes. Starting off the west side of Bradleys Head this time and going across to the southern end of Shark Island, can’t say which side paid better as they both did at various times and the frustration came and went in the first race as the wind came and went. Winners were Sailpac, Innamincka x 2.

The last day saw us back on jibs with 20 – 25kn from the northeast. Starting down by Clark Island and racing up to the northern end of Shark Island. Banging Bradleys Head first pretty much gave you the win with a lifting breeze from there to the top mark. The Squadron laid their start line about 100m to windward of ours and that was a bit worrying but the two talked and we were away without interference from them. Winners were Tinto, Convicts Revenge and Sailpac. A day where quite a few of us had moments !

So overall results were a convincing win for John Crawford in Innamincka, second was Sean Kirkjian in Sailpac and third was Simon Grain in Convicts Revenge. Full results in this link.

https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/4/results/series/3113/pointscore?view=individual&handicap=s

That’s the pointy end, but back in the fleet there was hot competition in the middle with three boats finishing on 38 and 39 points, two boats finishing on 69 and 70 points and then the rest of the fleet spread out a little.

The women’s and youth boats competed in their own tough racing in the pack with consistency being the key to the placings. Our women’s and youth crews sailed hard in the conditions, Isabel Schlegel (Checkmate) and Tegan Franklin (Okavango Delta) and their crews battled with the two youth crews skippered by Will Hough (Waterborne Again) and James Bednaic (Calypso).

Last but not least was Cameron Cooke, perhaps the keenest skipper in the regatta, after buying his boat for $200 (!) he entered knowing what an uphill battle this was going to be. With help from numerous skippers and crews he was on a vertical learning curve but loving it. Keep at it Cam – it’s a journey for all of us !

RANSA put on a great regatta for us, the club is informal and friendly. Personally, I got so much help from Roger Wragby of RANSA before and during the regatta that made our trip up from Melbourne so much easier. Nothing like a coldie sitting right on the water in such a scenic setting after a hard day. Accolades should go to the RANSA volunteer team running the racing for us and to John Allan for being the RO. A tough gig in Sydney Harbour.

Thanks also to the NSW Committee who put on a great presentation dinner to round off the regatta, the crew of Tinto and Terry Wise on the BBQ and Marg Fraser-Martin for the great photos. To buy one of Marg’s photos, email her as below.

• High resolution pictures are available, $40.00, for a digital file for printing. Email (yachtphotos@yahoo.com) with event name and photo number. Photo credit is always needed wherever used in public (posters, social media, websites etc.).
• Facebook: Marg’s Yacht Photos
• Instagram: margsyachtphotos
• Contact: yachtphotos@yahoo.com

The next two Nationals will be held in Melbourne as a run up to the 2026 Worlds to be held at Sandringham Yacht Club.

Story by Simon and Dave West, Pics by Marg.

The Annual General Meeting will be held during the 2024 Nationals at RANSA next year on the Saturday the 9th at 9am as previously posted in the Nationals NoR.
If you have any items you would like to add to the agenda or nominate for committee, please contact National President Steve Wright.

Photo courtesy of Marg’s Yacht Photos

The NSW States are done and won, Sean Kirkjian in Sailpac, from Dave West in Ace and Dave McKay in Stamped Urgent. The ususal faces are set to do battle again in the Nationals.

To be held at RANSA (The Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association) in Rushcutters Bay next to the CYC on the 4th – 7th January. The 2024 Australian Championships NoR is out on the link below.

The J24 National Committee will use the 2024 Australian Championships to determine the eligibility for selection to the 2024 World J24 Championships in Seattle USA next year.

NoR link here Official Notice Board: NoRs, SIs and Amendments – RAN Sailing Association

Entries are also now open here 2024 J24 NSW National Championships – SailSys

If you plan to enter, the sooner the better for organisational purposes.

Simon

This is a live still pic that updates every minute

The stage is set for 36 boats from 10 countries to compete in Thessaloniki Greece from the 9th – 16th September.
Six Australian teams are competing:
Sean Kirkjian, Sydney – (Current National Champion)
Steve Wright, Sydney – (Immediate past Nat Champ and current Aust President)
John Crawford, Sydney – (NSW Measurer)
Dave West, Sydney – (NSW President)
Hugo Ottaway, Melbourne – (National Measurer)
Warren Slater, Melbourne – (Multiple Nat Champ in other classes)

So as you can see we have a considerable depth of talent in our Australian team, with multiple National Championship and State wins amongst them. All teams are chartering boats from Europe.

Races will be held in the Thermaikos Gulf. Participating boats will be moored in the marina of Nautical Club Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece, featuring an international airport and commercial port. The race area is characterized by the thermal breeze appearing every summer day early at noon, the wind varying from 8 up to 16 knots, gradually diminishing after sunset.

These mild but steady conditions are ideal for inshore, as well as daylight offshore racing. Racing will feature a mix of round the cans windward/leeward courses and offshore races, to fully test the teams’ skills on the waters of the Thermaikos Gulf. The challenge of close windward/leeward racing is likely to keep the fleet in close boat on boat battles, compared to the complexity of offshore racing. Interpreting the changing conditions and delivering consistency will reward with Championship success. Social activities for the 2023 J24 World Championship will take place at the premises of Nautical Club Thessaloniki, with renowned Greek hospitality throughout the week.

Here is a results / competitor list here

The Worlds site is here 

There are plenty of pictures on the Club FB page here https://www.facebook.com/nautical.club.thessaloniki

Photos of the pre racing set up from Linda Smith