General

In a nail biting finish that went down to the last race finish positions, Dave Suda and his crew of Herschel, Luke, Sam and Rachel sailing Pacemaker won a well deserved 2012 National Championship by one point from Ben Lamb sailing Alyn Stevenson’s Fun 2 with last years Nationals winner Sean Kirkjian sailing Sailpac.

In PHS the winner was local sailor Jamie Goode from fellow SA sailor and national Measurer Peter Stevens and Dave Suda. As csutomary the the PHS placeings can’t be won by OD place getters so third on PHS goes to Melbourne sailor and previous Nationals winner (10 years ago) Hugo Ottaway.

We hope to bring you more stories, pictures and views on the regatta as soon as more people write them (send them to Simon !) (go to it scribes)

Updated:  12/03/2012  4:32:21 PM

Here are the final results.

2012 J24 OD Australian Championships

Updated:  12/03/2012  4:32:21 PM

Th1e racing gets tighter with Dave Suda and Ben Lamb equal on 10 points. Monday’s racing will produce a winner but it is going right down to the wire.

2012 J24 Australian Championships

Hosted By Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

Updated:  3/11/2012  4:16:20 PM

Day one of the 2012 National Titles in being held at the CYCSA in Adelaide has been a bonanza for Ben Lamb and Artur Crothers sailing Fun 2. Sean Kirkjian also from NSW is lying second with Adam Evans from Victoria in third.

In glorious sunshine and shirts and short weather with a calm 8 knots building to a 15 knot sea breeze the 15 boat fleet enjoyed superb sailing conditions.

Dave Suda in his new-ish Italian boat cleared out in the first race to win by nearly half a leg ad must have been feeling pretty good, but by tthe end of the day with two OCS calls was back down the results. Hugo Ottaway is also having an average series so far and dropped one of his crew over the side in the last race to add a less than perfect touch. However the Italian boats seem to have good speed as shown by both Dave and Ben.

Back in the pack, chomping on the heels of the winners, is a very close group of very good sailors. The racing is extremely tight and one small mistake takes you to the back of the pack very quickly.

Four races were sailed today and another four are planned for tomorrow with two on Monday. Winds are expected to be the same tomorrow with lighter winds on Monday.

Here are todays results.

2012 J24 Australian Championships

Hosted By Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

Updated:  10/03/2012  3:40:34 PM

For anyone looking for an extra crew member for the Nationals in Adelaide, there is a current J24 member there looking for a spot. Crew weight is 80kg.

If you are interested call the SA Pres Dave Nicholson on 0412 760 526

J24 Divisions in 2 great Regattas on Sydney Harbour!

Getting  J24 divisions together is never easy and we have two great events coming up for you to enter and be part of the fun on Sydney Harbour.  We constantly hear you want more one desigh racing…so here goes…..

Sydney Harbour Regatta 10 & 11 March

We encourage all boat owners in Sydney to enter the Sydney Harbour Regatta on 10 & 11 March – we currently have a small J24 Division and would love to make this a worthwhile event.

http://www.shr.mhyc.com.au

RPEYC Classic Regatta 25 March & 1 April

Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club are hosting a Classic Regatta over two Sundays – with a special division for J24’s. Enter!!  This will be a great event and skippers will be receiving more details individually soon!!  One design racing, great prizes on offer – and a function on Sunday 25th March after racing at the Edwards for J24 sailors – we need your support to make this happen!!

Classic Regatta NOR

Contact Paula on 0404 39176 for more information.

For many years the world’s greatest have pondered the meaning of life, scientists, religious leaders, poets laureate, historians, politicians and sports people have all thought deeply to come up with the answer – 42

Recently a group of some of the worlds best brains have come up with the reason this ’42’ thing hasn’t worked across the board for all people in all situations and can’t be the complete answer. They have realised that the number is actually the wrong way round.

The real answer is    ’24’    and you all know what that means when you put a J in front of it.

You’ll remember the last few years we have run our J24 promotion and events under the banner of ‘Where Legends Begin’.

For anyone that didn’t get the message loud and clear during that time – here is an excerpt from the current J Boats Newsletter with coverage on the Key West Regatta – Day Four

“Amongst the J sailors, champions and alumni in other racing divisions, it’s pretty clear they’re having a dominating impact on both IRC Divisions and other one-design divisions.  Top amongst them is long-time J/80 sailor Ben Schwartz, now leading the notoriously pro-heavy M32 Class with his boat PISCES over such notables as John Kilroy on SAMBA PA TI.  Sailing with him is America’s Cup veteran and J/24 World Champion Ed Baird calling tactics and Quantum professional and J/24 Champion Scott Nixon trimming the jib and spinnaker. “You have to give Ed and Scott a lot of credit for getting our boat up to speed,” said Ben. “I’m fortunate to have a great crew, the guys never stopped working and we were able to change gears pretty well.”

POWERPLAY lived up to its name by making a strong move in IRC 2/ TP52 class with a strong line of 1-3-4 on Tuesday and a 2-6.5-3 today. Owner Peter Cunningham, a resident of Georgetown in the Cayman Islands and a champion J/22 sailor locally, has a nice mix of amateur and professional crew with tactician Tony Rey from Newport (yet another top J/24 sailor).  “We’ve only had the boat for six months and we’ve made a lot of modifications during that time,” Cunningham said. “We’re pretty happy with our performance so far. We’re sailing fairly well and having a lot of fun.”

QUANTUM RACING, skippered by former J/24 and J/44 owner Doug DeVos, continues to set the pace in the 52-foot class and leads PowerPlay by 14 points. Terry Hutchinson, helmsman for the Swedish syndicate Artemis Racing that is Challenge of Record for the America’s Cup and a J/24 World Champion, has made strong tactical calls in leading Quantum to the top of the leader board.”

Yes, that’s 5 J24 Sailors in 3 paras about other classes.

So sail like a legend today – you might be one tomorrow !

Content courtesy of J Boats

Remember the warm sunny days in South Australia?

The J24 Nationals are now just under 60 days away and are going to be held at the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, 9 – 12 March 2012.

This is the time to get your planning into gear for those things like trailers, boat maintenance and crew, accommodation, re-read the rules etc

The Committee in SA has been working hard to get the Regatta planning done and that includes a revised Notice of Race

The revised NOR for the 2012 Nationals in South Australia next March is now available on the Regatta Page

Also on the Regatta Page for the Nationals is more information to help you get there, stay there and many other things you may need to know.

The Regatta Page will be continually updated and more information added, so be sure to visit the page regularly.

Greg Pratt from Paparazzi Digital Photgraphy sent in this email regarding the pics he took of the Nationals in Adelaide 3 years ago. I have had a look at this page and it looks great with some awesome pics, so have a look, especially if you sailed the regatta.

From Greg Pratt

“I photographed the Nationals in Adelaide .  I’m trying a new platform that will allow the purchase and download of digital files. Please note : ONLY DIGITAL DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE – NO PRINTS.

I have put up a few albums and will put more up over the following week. Whereas you could only order prints previously thru the www.paparazzi.com.au website I have had many emails asking to purchase the digital file so as people can either make screen savers or print as they see fit.”

Here is the link to the site:

http://paparazziaust.smugmug.com/Boats/J24-Nationals-CYCSA-jan-2009/20515600_k8w6wd#1624830720_H8kqqVg

Whilst the Saturday keel boat fraternity wandered back to their pens and the bar after a long day around the sticks the entertainment out front of the club was just beginning.

The critics in the bar were oooing and arrrring as the fleet of 8 J24s performed for them. Some with binos and most pausing their drinks as the J24s sailed a four race set right in front of their eyes. With the start line not much more than 100m off the edge of the bar and a brisk southerly blowing in the crowd sat on the edge of their chairs as the gladiators performed.

Saturday afternoon turned on some of the best weather we’ve seen this summer and the J’s turned on the action for the first ever J/24 Saturday twilight. Racing was delayed slightly while we waited for the boats racing in the Club Marine series to get back to the club, but once they were all up in the bar they were treated to some seriously close racing in top end genoa and jib conditions.

Race Officer Glenn Taylor set a short course of windward leeward races inside number 4 mark only metres from the shore!!  The brisk southerly ensured plenty action with commentary from Luke Matthews giving a blow by blow description keeping all in the bar and deck area patrons enthralled.

The rolling four race format was fast and furious with any mistakes made costing race places in a blink.

With a fleet of eight boats, racing was always going to be tight and after the first two races, the lead was tied with Hugo Ottaway on Bruschetta VI and Kirsty Harris on Hyperactive both scoring a first and a second in both races. Hugo, finding his groove stepped clear in the third race, going a point clear of the girls on Hyperactive. For the last race Hyperactive needed to not only beat Hugo, but put a boat between them, so it was always going to be tough. Cat and mouse in the last start saw both boats start at the back of the pack after an OCS call. However, Hugo ended up getting the upper hand, leaving Kirsty in his wake.

Third in the first two races was the ever present Brendan Lee in ‘By the Lee’ who was always nipping on the leaders heels. This all being said, one of the most exciting moments went to the thrilling victory in the last race by Steve Aulich holding out a fast finishing Hugo to snatch his first race win in J’s.

The competitors loved it, needless to say the spectators did too. The first of hopefully many such events highlighting the fun a “J” has to offer.

The fleet is now looking forward to the next installment on 4th February, so make sure you are there with your big eyes and a calming drink!