2024 Nationals in Sydney

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 !

L to R Overall 2nd, 1st, 3rd

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 !

John Crawford and the Innamincka crew – Overall Winners

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.

The friendly and congenial atmosphere at the RANSA Club prizegiving (Pic by Simon)

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.

J24 2024 AGM

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.

2024 J24 Australian Championships at RANSA

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

IJCA Awards the 2026 J24 Worlds to SYC in Melbourne.

Early Friday morning the International J24 Class Association awarded the 2026 J24 World Championship to Sandringham Yacht Club. A small team led by National President Steve Wright, and including National Measurer Hugo Ottaway and then Victorian President Adam Keys-Tilley put together a comprehensive bid for the Championship.
We were up against a very slick bid from Argentina for the regatta to be held in a sensational location in a lake high in the Andes mountains, however the vote went unanimously to Melbourne.
The work now begins on the organisation for the regatta to be held in the second week of November 2026. Our new Victorian President Megan Aulich is right behind the bid and will be taking on an exciting and leading role in the regatta organisation. More to come as you can imagine. We will be looking for volunteers, charter boats and sponsorship.
Simon.

Check your rigging !!!

Here’s a really good reason to pull your mast out and check your rigging over before we really get summer sailing going.
Recently we have had a couple of mast issues, mainly around the standing rigging.
After the loss of a mast due to a shroud failure in Sydney, we have had the insurance angle brought home to us with a decline to pay out, due to age of rigging. A number of insurers will not pay out if your rigging is over 7 years old. This becomes an expensive exercise to replace a lost mast.
Just this week we have had a broken lower shroud in Melbourne, happily not resulting in a broken mast. Upon replacing the shroud it was found that the other lower was also on the verge of breaking – That’s the pic above.
The message in this pic is very clear and this T Ball fitting was on the verge of potentially losing another mast.
So now is a really good time to check your rigging and replace it if it is over 7 years old.

Simon

J24 Trailer For Sale

Low riding tandem trailer with 4 wheel disc brakes, low keel support, steel gear box, Good condition. $5,500

Call Simon 0413 870 046

USA’s Team Furio Reigns at J/24 World Championship

Keith Whittemore’s Furio of the USA, with team Willem van Waay, Marianne Schoke, Brian Thomas and Melanie Edwards, have been crowned 2023 J/24 World Champions. Whittemore, who also won the 2019 J/24 World Championship in Miami, Florida USA, ended this event with only 25 net points in the full 10-race series. After discarding a 19 from race seven, the Seattle, Washington-based helmsman kept scores in the top seven including three bullets. Ignazio Bonanno’s La Superba of Italy compiled their reliable solid scores all week, winning two races, for 40 net points and the silver position. Tony Parker’s Bangor Packet, also of the USA, was in the hunt throughout the Championship, placing third overall with 52 net points. Parker has been sailing in the J/24 Class for all of its 45 years, and shipped his hull #58 to Greece.

Cillian Dickson’s Headcase of Ireland won the 23-boat Corinthian division, also placing fourth overall and tied on points with Parker. The crew included Ryan Glynn, Marcus Ryan, Louis Mulloy and Sam O’Byrne. The all-amateur podium was also comprised of Stephan Mais’ Running Men of Germany and Alexandros Tagaropoulos’s Hellenic Police of Greece.

The IJCA awarded its perpetual Youth Turner Trophy to Papanikitas Spiridon-Eleftherios’s Hellenic Naval Academy.

Competitors reveled in gorgeous conditions for five days at the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki in Greece. Saturday’s race winner was Kohei Ichikawa’s Gekko Diana of Japan.

Top Three Overall:

1) Keith Whittemore, Furio, USA, 25 points
2) Ignazio Bonanno, La Superba, ITA, 40 points
3) Tony Parker, Bangor Packet, USA, 52 points

Top Three Corinthian:

1) Cillian Dickson, Headcase, IRL
2) Stephan Mais, Running Men, GER
3) Alexandros Tagaropoulos, Hellenic Police, GRE

Thirty-five boats from 10 nations and four continents competed from Argentina, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan and the United States on September 12-16. A complete list of all J/24 World Champions can be found at http://www.j24class.org/about-the-j24/hall-of-fame/world-champions/. Complete event details may be found at http://j24worlds2023.ncth.gr/. Photos/video are available on the J/24 International Class Facebook page.

This is a live still pic that updates every minute

mymfaio

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

Capturing those memories

2023 J24 Nationals at Cronulla Sailing Club

It’s a while since the day many will talk about for years to come, yes Saturday of the 2023 J24 Nationals at Cronulla Sailing Club – big waves and lots of wind. Plenty of carnage, plenty of tall tales and memories.

Capturing those memories was our intrepid photographer, Margaret Fraser-Martin and some of those pics are just amazing.

For example, this one doesn’t have the action of some, but just look at that swell in front of ‘Sailmates’, this lends new meaning to sailing uphill(s)!

You won’t see many J24 regattas with that size swell coming through, can’t imagine leaving the marina if that was coming into Sandy!

Margaret has a huge folder full of pics – most that haven’t come to light yet and are available here for the first time. Some are pics of the fleet (Margaret likes to get multiple boats in shots for more action and scale), some are individual yachts. I commend these pictures to you, and suggest you find your boat and order a copy. Margaret is offering high-res files of each for just $40. You’ll love an action shot and you will be supporting Margaret in her work which she did for us without any guarantee of remuneration. Helping her, helps you and us in the future if we can get her back for the next one.

Simon Grain, Nat Sec

Have a look at these amazing pics and here’s how to order.

  • 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


 

A bit about Marg Fraser-Martin – Passionate Life Photographer

My passion is for taking photos of people being engaged and passionate about their sailing. Capturing that moment in time when they are oblivious to the rest of the world and are totally involved in the task at hand and joy of life. The moment that is not posed.

This is about people who are competing in sailing and juggling all other aspects of life.

I want my photos to be a positive image to get more people in front of my lens, having fun, showing their friends and families. What they did on the weekend, and it is awesome.

To achieve this goal, I have been able to combine two of my favourite skills/qualifications – photography and sailing. Capturing the thrill, the teamwork, and the sheer joy of sailing.

A lot has changed since I started taking sailing photography and my area of expertise and interest has expanded. I now get involved in many Charity Events. Charity Yacht Regatta’s, Charity Balls, Golf Days, Eastern Creek Car Racing, Charity dinners and luncheons.

How to edit your boat details

Dear boat owners and skippers,

Our Boat Registry page has the latest information we have about the J24 boats in Australia. If your boat details are incorrect or missing, please let us know and we will update them for you.

When you click on the boat line in the registry you get a fly-out with the boat details. There is also a button there that will take you to your boat page.

J24 Boat Registry flyout

If you are logged in, you will see a different button, that will take to the page where you can edit your boat details:

J24 Boat Registry flyout

You can update your boat details and write posts on the website, but you need a user account for that. We can create one for you, just email us what email address you would like to use for it, we will send you the login details.

If all this is too complicated, just email us and we will do the updates for you.

Hope this information helps.
Please let us know if your have any other questions. 🙂

Boats and Bits for Sale

When you need to sell your boat or boat bits, we can list them on the site for you.
To do this please email, text or call Simon Grain on 0413 870 046