Well didn’t Melbourne turn it on. 41 degrees with a Northerly building and gusting over 20knots. Fortunately on the water was the coolest place to be.
The day started with a briefing from Race Management followed by an acknowledgment of the recent passing of our beloved longtime Australian j24 President Steve Wright.
Steve’s trimmer Ian Goodbury (now skipper on Steve’s boat Tinto for the Regatta) spoke of Steve’s love for the sailing community and his desire for his crew along with his wife Karyn to compete at the Nationals.
Adam Keyes-Tilley from Poker Face then spoke of the Victorian Fleet’s longtime friendship and camaraderie with Steve and the constant competitive intestate banter between the Southerners from Victoria (Mexicans as he liked to call us) and the ‘Cockroaches’ from NSW.
Adam then announced that in honour of Steve a new perpetual interstate trophy would be bestowed to the State finishing with three boats scoring the lowest combined score of the Regatta.
The Trophy will be known as as
The Steve Wright Memorial Trophy and be awarded at the end of each National Championship.
After this lovely acknowledgment of Steve it was most fitting to see Tinto and Poker Face launch side by side off the start line and round the first lap in first and second place respectfully.
Steve was definitely smiling.
Overall with the wind up and down, along with big shifts and big holes we ended up with three race winners over the 3 races
Race 1 Haywire, Barney Walker VIC
Race 2 Checkmate, Sean Kirkjian NSW
Race 3 Bruschetta VI, Hugo Ottaway VIC
Boat of the day and current Clubhouse leader is Checkmate.
Bring on it for Day 2 !
2026 J24 Australian Championship Results Index (https://topyacht.net.au/results/syc/2026/kblt/j24nationals/series.htm)
AKT