Simon Grain

Hodges Sandringham Australian J24 Champs Day 2

Sean Kirkjian in Checkmate flying to windward with Two Dogs in the background
What a difference 24 hours makes! As the winds swung from the North to the South West overnight and the swell increased, Port Phillip Bay turned on a show.
With the start of Race 4 hit by a few sustained 27 knot gusts the race course was not one for the faint hearted with base breeze around 21 knots.
A 1.5-2 meter sea for good measure saw crews lost overboard (and recovered), boats damaged and returning the Marina, there was definitely a bit on.
Highlights of the day included Amuse Bouche skippered by Kurt Dammeier from Seattle came out hot, put the foot down and managed bullets in Race 4 & 5. Race 6 was wrapped up in an easing breeze by Checkmate skippered by Sean Kirkjian.
Consistent sailing by Haywire and Kenji has seen them consolidate themselves on the leaders board.
Boat of the day was of course Amuse Bouche
A little bit of movement at the top after a big day of racing
Amuse Bouche USA 9pts
Haywire VIC 11pts
Checkmate NSW 14 pts
What will Day 3 hold?
Happy sailing
2026 J24 Australian Championship Results Index (https://topyacht.net.au/results/syc/2026/kblt/j24nationals/series.htm)
AKT

Australian National Champs Day 1

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

The day before the National Champs start !

Gotta make the weight limit !
So here we are on the eve of the 2026 J24 Australian J24 Championship (doubling as the Epigen Worlds selection trials) with 27 entries. Teams are from QLD, NSW, SA, WA & three international skippers (USA, Japan & China). All boats are now rigged, tuned, measured, polished, in the pond and ready to rumble.
Yesterday the conversation was all about rig tune, final practice and deep data analysis on weather forecast.
Today there was only one question on everyone’s lips, when can my crew weigh in and what are we going to eat?
Coming in under a combined weight of 400kgs can be hard at the best of times let alone after celebrating Christmas and New Year with many stripping down to their underwear to make the cut!
Lots of hungry faces in the weigh in queue quickly turned happy once pledge weights were cleared and then to ecstasy over lunch on the SYC foredeck.
Last minute preparations included a Vakaros tips and tricks session for all sailors followed by a welcoming BBQ.
41 degrees is forecast for tomorrow with 10-15 knots from the North.
Bring it on!
AKT

2026 HODGES SANDRINGHAM J24 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

2026 HODGES SANDRINGHAM J24 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

The Nationals are almost upon us. Go to https://syc.com.au/j24-nationals for NoR, more information and entry.

We are expecting a big fleet this season due it being the qualification regatta for the 2026 Worlds to be held at SYC in November.

Qualification details are attached to the NoR.

Boats will need to be measured and weighed prior to the regatta and there will be check measurements carried out during the regatta as there is the above sheep station riding on it this year.

So please make sure your boat complies and if you are not sure check with your state measurer. You will need to supply your Cat 6 Safety Audit form, insurance certificate and measurement certificate digitally on entry, and you will need to have a copy of these forms, plus your Optional & Required Equipment carried on your boat.

We will be using Vakaros Race Sense during the regatta so make sure you have a unit attached to the back of your mast under the boom. If you don’t have one, you may be able to hire one, but check with the race management early to secure one. Best to have your own.

Enter by 12/12/2025 to avoid a late fee

The National Class Association AGM will be held during the Nationals, if you have any items you wish to be added to the agenda please send them to Simon at grain@smarketing.com.au

Go to https://syc.com.au/j24-nationals for information, entry and NoR.

SG

International J24 Newsletter November 2025

Hi Guys, here is the Fall edition of the International J24 newsletter. Can you please put this up on the community association page so everyone can see it.
Enjoy the read, Hugo

International J/24 Class newsletter, Pulse, is now available at https://bit.ly/49S7JuM

The 2025 J24 Youth Challenge is ON!

Get ready for some seriously fun, great one design racing on iconic Sydney Harbour!

Manly Yacht Club is proud to host the J24 Youth Challenge on Sunday, 22nd June 2025 — and this is your team’s chance to shine.

Five races. One epic day. Unlimited fun.
Bring your youth team (all sailors under 25) — and we’ll provide the J24. You just bring the passion, teamwork, and competitive edge.

Limited boats are available – don’t miss out! Enter NOW to lock in your spot.

👉 ENTER HERE (https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/23/entry/series/4629/pricing)

This is the perfect warm-up for those aiming at the 2026 J24 Worlds at Sandringham Yacht Club — and a great way to sharpen your skills against the best young crews around.

View the official 2025 NOR J24 Youth Challenge

Challenge your mates. Challenge your rivals. Challenge yourself.
Earn bragging rights, take home prizes, and gain serious respect.

Come and race, connect, and become part of the legendary J24 one design sailing family.

📞 For more info, contact David West on 0413 051 266 or email david.west@sourcedenergy.com.au

J24 For Sale “ZEST” AUS 105

 

Built 1986, Bashford Hull number #2681
Raced and moored Bellerive (BYC), Hobart.
: 3 mainsails, 1 training with reef, 1 race day, 1 North regatta.
: 3 genoas, 1 training, 1 heavy carbon, 1 med carbon.
: 2 jibs, 1 training, 1 race day. : 2 kites (average)
New rigging 2023, new sheets and halyards 2023. New life lines
New spin pole, Pro start instruments 2023
Mercury 3hp 2 stroke outboard (excellent condition)
Bunk cushions. Camp toilet. Anchor with Chain and rope.
Battery nav lights, Life ring. Life jackets, flare kit.
Full boat cover for uv protection.

$9,000 ONO
James 0414 184 774 , Dave 0418 305 532

2026 Worlds Boats For Sale

We have a number of overseas competitors contemplating bringing a hot boat to the Worlds in Sandringham in 2026. At least two of these owners have contacted me and are willing to bring a boat out to Australia if they can sell it to someone here.
This does mean you would only get the boat after the worlds, but you would be getting a very good ‘5 series’ boat from the current offerings. If you are even slightly interested in this please contact me with an expression of interest and I can put you in touch with one of the US or European owners we already know about.
Simon 0413 870 046

New or Used Masts

Two recent mast breakages have meant there is an immediate demand for replacement masts. This happens from time to time.
There are two options available, new or used.
With the 2026 Worlds coming up there are number of owners contemplating putting new masts on their boats, this means there maybe very good used masts available that would suit older boats wanting a replacement for an even older mast – new and good used masts do make a difference !
If you are contemplating upgrading an older mast to a new or good used mast, please give me a call and we may be able to help put you in touch with the right person.
Call Simon on 0413 870 046

EPIGEN + 2026 J24 World Championship

L to R, Nick Subotsch – Epigen, Megan Aulich – Vic and WCOC President, Simon Grain – National Secretary, Michael Perceval – Epigen

The 2026 J24 World Championship is being held at the iconic Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne from the 4 – 11th November.
The Organising Committee is excited and proud to announce the confirmation of our Title Sponsor, Peerless Industrial Systems.
They are an Australian company with an international client base involved in the manufacture of Industrial Epoxy Resin Systems under the brand name EPIGEN.
Peerless Industrial Systems have been an industry leader since 1970 in the development and provision of resin-based technology, they are dedicated professionals with technical expertise in the Mining, Water and Power, Oil and Gas, Mineral Processing, Refining, Pipeline, Material Handling and storage industries.
Their resin systems are also used in boat building industries throughout Australia and overseas.
To see more about the company, go to their website https://epigen.com.au
Nick Subotsch from Peerless is excited to come on board with us, “The opportunity to work with an international event like this is the sort of excitement we love being involved with, giving back to active and forward-thinking people is what our company is all about and it is a perfect match for us”.
Now is the time to be thinking about coming ‘down under’ in 2026.

For more information please regularly go to syc.com.au/j24-worlds or get in touch at j24@syc.com.au