Thank you to NCAs who participated in the 2022 virtual World Council Meetings. The minutes of the Open and Business Sessions are now posted at http://www.j24class.org/organization/class-documents/wcm-minutes/.

Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger, with team Jay Miles, Chris Morgan, Monica Morgan and Terry Shannon, are the 2022 J/24 North American Champions. Seven races were completed in the series, although none on Sunday due to lack of breeze, at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Maryland. Odenbach tallied 18 points, one better than Mike Marshall’s American Garage who took the silver. Kohei Ichikawa’s Gekko Diana of Japan claimed the bronze position with 27 points. Evan Petley-Jones’ Lifted (crew Evan Burns, Spenser Dalzell, Ben Maloney and Matt Soosalu) topped the 17-boat Corinthian Division, followed by Finn Hadlock’s Boreas and Al Constants’ Blitz. Odenbach summarized, “Annapolis had great breeze this weekend. I think the team did a phenomenal job. Jay was unbelievable in keeping me calm. Having the team together as good friends was the reason for success.”

Top Five Overall:

1. Honeybadger, Travis Odenbach – 2 –[11] -3 -2 -1 -1 -9 ; 18
2. American Garage, Mike Marshall – 10 –[12] -2 -1 -2 -2 -2 ; 19
3. Gekko Diana, Kohei Ichikawa – 3 –[17] -4 -5 -8 -6 -1 ; 27
4. Bangor Packet, Tony Parker – 4 -9 -5 –[11] -4 -4 -7 ; 33
5. Mental Floss, Aidan Glackin – 8 -7 -6 -4 -3 -13 –[17] ; 41
   The IJCA extends its appreciation to Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis for stepping in to host the Championship and to PRO Sandy Grosvenor. Competitors enjoyed exceptional onshore camaraderie with social events and chalk talks. Thirty-eight teams competed from October 28-30. Complete results may be found at https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=15237, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

A gorgeous day on the Chesapeake Bay allowed four more races at the J/24 North American Championship, bringing the total to seven. Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger and Mike Marshall’s American Garage are duking it out for the title at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Maryland. The discard race came into effect, and Odenbach’s Honeybadger is clinging to the top spot with 18 net points. Following a 2,2,1 Saturday, they closed with a ninth. Marshall’s American Garage ruled the day with a 1,2,2,2 for 19 net points to shoot up to second place. Japan’s Kohei Ichikawa Gekko Diana moved into third place at 27 points. Evan Petley-Jones’ Lifted leads the 17-boat Corinthian Division. The day started with blue skies and winds between 12-14 knots in choppy seas. Marshall set off with a victory, trailed by Odenbach and Al Constants’ Blitz. Odenbach went back-to-back in the next two matches, as did Marshall in the runner-up position. The bronze places went to Aidan Glackin’s Mental Floss and Finn Hadlock’s Boreas, respectively. As the breeze lightened, Ichikawa Gekko Diana led the fleet back to the docks, with Marshall again in second and then James Freedman’s LOL. Racing concludes Sunday for the 38 teams. Complete results may be found at https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=15237, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

The 2022 J/24 North American Championship launched Friday at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Maryland. On the heels of a cold front, winds started in the mid-teens and slowly backed off throughout the three races. Evan Petley-Jones’ Lifted proved the most consistent with scores of 6,3,1 for 10 points. Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger notched a second and third but, with an 11 in between, landed in second place with 16 points. Local Tony Parker’s Bangor Packet is two points further back in third. Al Constants’ Blitz leads the Corinthian Division. Constants’ all-amateur Blitz kicked off the Championship with a bullet, forward of Odenbach’s Honeybadger and Kohei Ichikawa’s Gekko Diana of Japan. George Braddon’s Bogus crossed the finish line first in the middle contest, while Mark Hillman’s Sisu and Petley-Jones’ Lifted rounded out the top trio. Petley-Jones secured the day’s top spot overall by way of winning the final battle, holding off Mike Marshall’s American Garage and Odenbach. Racing continues through Sunday for the 38 teams. Complete results may be found at https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=15237, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

Sailors have been attracted to Valparaiso because it often gets both weather system winds and localized seabreezes from the mountains surrounding the natural valley. Following their successful J/24 South American Championship in 2019, the Club de yates Higuerillas hosted the Chilean J/24 National Championship for 2022. The first day saw breezes of 25 knots, gusting to 30+ knots. Winning the nine-race (one discard) regatta was Patricio Rodriguez’s DEMENTE AL VIENTO team with 17 points net, winning four of the nine races sailed. Second went to Federico Bierwith’s MANUECA from the Chilean Navy Sailing team with 21 points net. Third place was another Chilean Navy Sailing team: Maximiliano Vera’s QUIQUE with 26 points net. Rounding out the top five were Mauricio Segura Jimenez’s IL MARGARITA in fourth and Javier Nunez’s BRIBON in fifth.

The 2022 Argentinean J/24 National Championship took place in Cordoba in the foothills of the eastern Andes Mountain range. Sailed on the mountain lake of Lago Salinas Grandes, the Club Nautico Cordoba hosted the fleet of 20 teams. The teams enjoyed amazing sailing over the four-day event/10-race series. In the end, it was Javier Moyano’s GRAN CARAJO team who were declared the Argentine 2022 National Champions. Sailing a very consistent series, the GRAN CARAJO team never sailed a bad race and won with 27 points net. Their conservative tactical strategy paid off on the very shifty race course. Nicolas Cubria’s RINA team and Campero’s JAIMANSO team ended up tied on points at 36 points each. Winning that countback was Cubria’s RINA team to take the silver, with Campero’s JAIMANSO team having to settle for the bronze. Rounding out the top five were Galvan’s SHELBY in fourth place and Trigo’s PURA VIDA team in the fifth position. For more Argentinean J/24 information, visit https://j24arg.blogspot.com/.

Every point matters. After 10 races among 34 boats, the J/24 European Championship hosted by Howth Yacht Club in Ireland concluded in a tie at 65 points with the third-place team only one more point back. Winning the tiebreaker and the European title was JMania (GRE) helmed by Stelios Sotitiou plus crew Chris Kifidis, Kynthia Skotida, Costas Tridimas and Ourania Vergou. Although their final race became their discard, JMania outlasted a surge from David Hale’s Cacoon (GBR) who sprang from fourth place to claim the silver. The Kinsale Yacht Club group led by Micheal O’Suilleabhain (IRL) on Kinsailor claimed a second place in Saturday’s final contest to end with 66 points and the bronze position. Denny Vaughan’s East Street (USA) closed the regatta with a light air victory in Race 10. Hale’s Cacoon (GBR) topped the 21-boat Corinthian Division, in advance of the Kinsale Yacht Club team (IRL) and Cillian Dickson’s Headcase (IRL).

Overall 1st GRE5367 Stelios Sotitiou – JMania
Overall 2nd GBR4269 David Hale – Cacoon
Overall 3rd IRL4236 Micheal O’Suilleabhain – Kinsailor

Corinthian 1st GBR4269 David Hale – Cacoon
Corinthian 2nd IRL4236 Micheal O’Suilleabhain – Kinsailor
Corinthian 3rd IRL4247 Cillian Dickson – Headcase

Youth 1st IRL4236 Micheal O’Suilleabhain – Kinsailor
Youth 2nd IRL680 Jack McMahon – Kilcullen
Youth 3rd IRL4188 Mary McCormack – Jasper 2

Over 50 1st GBR4269 David Hale – Cacoon
Over 50 2nd USA3746 Denny Vaughan – Easy Street
Over 50 3rd GBR4260 Nick McDonald – Mojosi

Ladies 1st IRL4188 Mary McCormack – Jasper 2

Presented with the Stuart Jardine Trophy for Youngest Sailor was 15-year-old Matthew Turner on the boat Jeb Stuart.

Six nations were represented: Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United States. Complete results may be found at https://hyc.ie/j24-european-championships-2022#event-378, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

The Irish teams benefited from home field advantage for races 8 and 9 of the J/24 European Championship hosted by Howth Yacht Club. In winds between 8-10 knots, the top three in both of Friday’s matches were comprised solely of boats from Ireland. However, it wasn’t enough to knock the Greek team of JMania helmed by Stelios Sotitiou from first place (now with 42 net points). By way of two bullets on the day, Cillian Dickson’s Headcase (IRL) leapt into the runner-up spot with 48 net points. Stefan Karsunke’s Schwere Jungs (GER) sits another two points back in third. Dickson’s Headcase leads the 21-boat Corinthian Division, trailed by David Hale’s Cacoon (GBR) and the Kinsale Yacht Club group led by Micheal O’Suilleabhain (IRL). The 34 teams waited ashore with a two-hour postponement while enough breeze filled in. Dickson’s Headcase won the day, although Tadhg O’Loingsigh’s Janx Spirit (IRL) wasn’t much off that pace, lodging a second and third. Mark Usher’s Headgehog (IRL) placed third in Race 8, and David Bailey’s Hard on Port (IRL) was second in Race 9. Six nations are represented: Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United States. Racing concludes Saturday, and 10 total races are planned. Complete results may be found at https://hyc.ie/j24-european-championships-2022#event-378, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

Taking advantage of solid breeze at 12-16 knots, the Howth Yacht Club (Ireland) Race Committee pounded out three races at the J/24 European Championship Thursday. Conditions challenged the 34 teams and boats with choppy seas. Even with the discard race coming into play, Stelios Sotitiou helming JMania (GRE) was able to retain the leading position with 24 net points after seven races. Stefan Karsunke’s Schwere Jungs (GER) jumped up to second place with 30 net points. In third and also top Corinthian among 21 boats is David Hale’s Cacoon (GBR) at 37 net points. Nick McDonald’s Mojosi (GBR) and Cillian Dickson’s Headcase (IRL) swapped first and second places in races five and six. McDonald kicked off the day with the victory with Dickson next (Sotitiou’s JMania third), and then it was Dickson’s turn at the top with McDonald behind (Brian Raftery’s Hung Jury of IRL in third). A bullet in Wednesday’s final contest positioned Karsunke’s Schwere Jungs (GER) in the silver position overall, while Sotitiou’s JMania kept up their consistent scores with a second and the team from Kinsale Yacht Club helmed by Micheal O’Suilleabhain (IRL) followed. Six nations are represented: Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United States. Racing continues through Saturday, and 10 total races are planned. Complete results may be found at https://hyc.ie/j24-european-championships-2022#event-378, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

Two points are separating the top three boats after the second day of the J/24 European Championship, hosted by Howth Yacht Club in Ireland. Another warm, sunny day welcomed the 34 J/24s who completed an additional couple races in winds of 10-12 knots, bringing the current race total to four. Stelios Sotitiou helmed JMania (GRE) to the top of Tuesday’s leaderboard with 23 points. Denny Vaughan’s Easy Street (USA) kept pace to move into second place with 24 points. Another notch back is Stefan Karsunke’s Schwere Jungs (GER). Comprising the top three of the 21-boat Corinthian Division are Vaughan’s Easy Street, David Hale’s Cacoon (GBR) and James Torr’s MaJic (GBR). Reigning J/24 European Champions from the Marina Militare Italiana on La Superba (ITA) took line honors in Wednesday’s opening battle, while JP McCaldin’s IL Riccio (IRL) and Hale’s Cacoon (GBR) followed. JMania (GRE) secured the day’s top position by winning the next contest, in advance of Vaughan’s Easy Street (USA) and Louis Mulloy’s Headcase (IRL). Six nations are represented: Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United States. Racing continues through Saturday, and 10 total races are planned. Complete results may be found at https://hyc.ie/j24-european-championships-2022#event-378, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

34 J/24s vied in two races in winds of 6-10 knots to open to 2022 J/24 European Championship, hosted by Howth Yacht Club in Ireland. Six nations are represented: Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United States. American Kurt Dammeier, with newly crowned J/24 World Champion Mike Marshall on the crew, took Amuse Bouche to the early advantage with a pair of thirds for 6 points. James Torr’s MaJic from Great Britain kept consistent on the day with a 4,5 for 9 points and second place. Fellow American Denny Vaughan on Easy Street holds third place at 11 points. Comprising the top three of the 21-boat Corinthian Division are Torr’s MaJic, Konstantinos Tridimas/Kynthia Skotida on JMania (GRE) and David Hale’s Cacoon (GBR). Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted competitors for the 11am start to the Championship. Vaughan’s Easy Street earned the regatta’s first bullet, trailed by Louis Mulloy’s Headcase (IRL) and Dammeier’s Amuse Bouche. Hale’s Cacoon snagged the next victory, ahead of the team from Kinsale Yacht Club (IRL) and again Dammeier in third. Racing continues through Saturday, and 10 total races are planned. Complete results may be found at https://hyc.ie/j24-european-championships-2022#event-378, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.

Mike Marshall’s American Garage may have never been in first place overall during races one through nine, but he was after the tenth and final race to claim the title of 2022 J/24 World Champion. With crew Dave Hughes, Allan Terhune, Jeffrey Hayden and Rod Favela, the Newport, Rhode Island-based skipper overcame a Black Flag in Race 7 to finish with 29 net points. Paul Foerster’s Grand Slam 2 compiled a stellar week of racing, but a 10 in the last race became their discard, and they finished a mere point behind Marshall for second place. Nobuyuki Imai’s Siesta always impresses, and this Championship was no different as they placed third with 32 points. John Mollicone’s New England Ropes was in the hunt all week and ended just a notch behind Siesta for fourth place. Foerster’s Grand Slam 2 won the strong 27-boat Corinthian division, ahead of Imai’s Siesta and James Freedman’s LOL. This year is the inaugural presentation of the Corinthian perpetual trophy, generously donated by long-time J/24 sailor Jim Farmer. In regard to the team mood following the BFD, Marshall said, “It’s always hard waiting the race out. You know you put yourself in a bad start.” From Race 8 on, he continued, “We needed to be perfect, and we weren’t, but in the last race we rounded the top mark in first. Paul was behind us, and we knew we had to be in front of Siesta. (Friday) was the lightest day, but we liked the big breeze all week.” Marshall finished second in Race 10.

The IJCA also awarded its perpetual trophies:
• Jaeger Women’s Trophy to Beatriz Agusti on Mermaid Rescue
• Youth Turner Trophy to James Thurlow on Fortitude
Race nine started at Corpus Christi Yacht Club in Texas USA as scheduled under a Black Flag and was all clear. It was a four-legged course at a distance of 1.6 nautical miles for the first leg and 1.5 following. West wind speeds were 12-14 knots. Race 10 was similar: black flag all clear, course 4 at 1.55nm. Friday’s race winners were Keith Whittemore’s Furio and Mollicone’s New England Ropes.
Top Five Overall:

1. American Garage, Mike Marshall, 8-2-5-1-1-5-[39/BFD]-2-3-2- ; 29
2. Grand Slam 2, Paul Foerster, 1-1-1-7-6-1-4-7-2-[10]- ; 30
3. Siesta, Nobuyuki Imai, 4-6-3-4-2-4-1-[10]-4-4- ; 32
4. New England Ropes, John Mollicone, 5-3-2-3-[8]-6-3-3-7-1- ; 33
5. Furio, Keith Whittemore, 2-4-4-5-5-7-[39/BFD]-4-1-8- ; 40
   Top Five Corinthian:
6. Grand Slam 2, Paul Foerster
7. Siesta, Nobuyuki Imai
8. LOL, James Freedman
9. Caramella, Frederick (Ted) Wiedeke
10. Hair of the Dog, Jakob Lichtenberg
    Thirty-eight boats represented Argentina, Chile, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Trinidad and the United States from July 18-22.
    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 https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/23467#home. Photos are available at https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0U5nhQSTGzx88.

Four points separate the top four boats heading into the final day of the J/24 World Championship hosted by Corpus Christi Yacht Club in Texas USA. Paul Foerster’s Grand Slam 2 remains atop the leaderboard with 21 points, after posting a 4,7 on Thursday. Mike Marshall’s American Garage and Nobuyuki Imai’s Siesta are tied at 24 points for second and third, respectively. John Mollicone’s New England Ropes is only one point further back with 25 points. Foerster also leads the 27-boat Corinthian division, ahead of Imai’s Siesta and James Freedman’s LOL. Race 7 started on time with legs of 1.5 nautical miles. Wind speeds were 19-22 knots with peak gusts in the high twenties. Notable BFDs were Marshall’s American Garage, Keith Whittemore’s Furio and Travis Odenbach’s Bogus. Race 8 was also course four at a distance of 1.5 nautical miles. The Black Flag start was all clear. Wind speeds averaged 22 knots with a top gust of 33. Imai’s Siesta gained their first victory of the Championship to kick off the day, while William Fastiggi’s Fawn Liebowitz stayed on a hot streak in second and Mollicone’s New England Ropes placed third. Odenbach’s Bogus rebounded in Thursday’s second race, as did Marshall’s American Garage. Mollicone repeated a third in this contest as well. Racing concludes Friday with two scheduled races. Thirty-eight boats are representing Argentina, Chile, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Trinidad and the United States. 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 https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/23467#home. Photos are available at https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0U5nhQSTGzx88.

After the first race on Wednesday (Race 5) at the J/24 World Championship hosted by Corpus Christi Yacht Club in Texas USA, Paul Foerster’s Grand Slam 2 and Mike Marshall’s American Garage were tied for the top position. But in Race 6, Foerster nailed a bullet, giving him 10 net points. The discard race has now come into effect, allowing Foerster to drop a 7. Marshall’s American Garage is in close range with 14 net points for second place. Nobuyuki Imai’s Siesta moved up to third overall with 17 net points. The fourth and fifth spots are still quite tight: John Mollicone’s New England Ropes (19 points) and Keith Whittemore’s Furio (20 points). Foerster also leads the 27-boat Corinthian division, ahead of Imai’s Siesta and James Freedman’s LOL. The racecourse was reduced Wednesday to four legs but still at 1.45 nautical miles. The Black Flag was out again with an all-clear start for Race 5. Winds were 18-22 knots, gusting to 24. Code flag Yankee was displayed onshore and on signal boat, requiring all competitors to wear life jackets. Race 6 continued under Black Flag at 1.5 nautical miles, with one boat BFD. The breeze held at 18-22 knots as gusts increased to the mid/upper 20s. Marshall’s American Garage earned his second consecutive victory in the day’s initial contest, with Imai and William Fastiggi’s Fawn Liebowitz rounding out the top three. Foerster’s Grand Slam 2 won the race to the dock, trailed by Fastiggi and Travis Odenbach’s Bogus. Thirty-eight boats are representing Argentina, Chile, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Trinidad and the United States. Racing continues through Friday. 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 https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/23467#home. Photos are available at https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0U5nhQSTGzx88.