(Lemvig, Denmark)- The weekend finale that kept the audience on the pier in Lemvig entertained until the last flight. It was (again) KDY Sailing Club who took the final victory in the Danish J/70 Sailing League and could take home the gold. Roskilde SC, who had previously been declared the favorites, had to settle for silver in the overall standings. Kaløvig Sailing Club took bronze and an event victory.

How KDY won
The battle for the gold was again one of the most intense matches in the Danish J/70 Sailing League. Roskilde SC who went into the 4th event as favorites, although with a replacement in the team, and KDY SC who had not taken as many event wins as usual. Both teams showed their very best. It was close throughout and there was also a fight for 3rd place among the remaining top teams, where sailing was decisive. 

With a light medium wind throughout the weekend, sharp tactical decisions were made, and there was excitement until the end. Excitement was also maintained on land with the help of the two commentators Victor and Ditlev, who throughout the weekend fed the audience with sharp comments and analyses of the teams’ actions.

KDY SC said in their winner’s speech at the award ceremony, “The level continues to rise and it’s great to see so many intense racing and talented club teams. We are overjoyed with the victory and congratulations to all the other teams.” A well-satisfied team that once again shows why they have been at the top of the podium so many times. 

Perfect setting
The pier on Lemvig was well visited and many made their way to the final event in the city center. It was also this weekend that there was the locally known “Crab Festival”, which also contributed to many visitors. In addition, Lemvig puts itself back in the saddle as the absolute best host city, with an army of volunteers that make even the biggest championships look understaffed and a cake buffet as if there was an ongoing competition running. The ultra-high level of hospitality by Lemvig Sejlklub again set them up as the best event hosts.  See the overall leaderboard here.  See the event results here.  For more Danish J/70 Sailing League information.

(Annapolis, MD)- The J/30 sailors that attended this year’s 2024 J/30 US National Championship were thrilled to enjoy eight races over the three-day regatta on the Chesapeake Bay hosted by the very capable Eastport Yacht Club. 

Winning this year was a new name at the top of the leaderboard. Ralph Riddle’s CANNONBALL 2 team started off the regatta with a 2-3-1 on the first day to sit on top of the standings. They never looked back and kept extending their lead to finish with 20 pts net. 

The silver medal was taken by a familiar team that has always been on the podium in most J/30 NA’s. That was the duo of Bob Rutsch & Mike Costello’s BEPOP. They matched CANNONBALL 2’s record on the final day, both boats with a 1-2-5 tally. As a result, the BEPOP boys took the silver just 4 pts back with 24 pts. 

Rounding out the podium on the bronze medal step was top woman helm, Pamela Morris’s BUMP! She sailed an impressive series, had three podium finishes of 1-3-3, and ended up with 35 pts. For more J/30 US National Championship sailing information & results

(Cesenatico, Italy)- Twenty-five J/24 teams from across Italy enjoyed six races over the weekend, hosted by the excellent organization and red-carpet hospitality provided by Circolo Nautico Cesenatico.

The Italian Navy team on LA SUPERBA, led by Ignazio Bonanno with a crew of Alfredo Branciforte, Francesco Picaro, Simone Scontrino, and Francesco Linares yet again dominated the regatta with a stunning 1-1-4-1-1-DNS for 8 pts net. A force to be reckoned with in the Italian J/24 class for years, this was their TENTH victory in the Italian J/24 Nationals (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). 

“We are very happy with the result,” commented the helmsman Bonanno. “The fleet of Romagna has surpassed itself with the excellent organization of the championship supported by the Circolo Nautico Cesenatico that pampered us throughout the event. On the water, the conditions were not easy, very fluctuating weather only allowed us two days of racing out of the four scheduled with a strong breeze and current that put the entire fleet to the test. As usual, we thank our administration for allowing us the activity we carry out and a special thanks goes to Vincenzo Lamberti owner of Valhalla Ita 489 that allowed us to use it and win our 10th Italian title in the J/24 class. Our own LA SUPERBA is already overseas in the USA for the J/24 World Championship in Seattle, WA which will take place at the end of the month! Stay tuned and cheer for us!”

The podium was completed by the silver medal team of PILGRIM skippered Fabio Mazzoni (crewed with bowman Checco Berardi, Cesare Trioschi on the sheets, and Gennaro Maisto on the mast) with a record of 2-4-8-3-4-1 for 14 pts net. And, taking the bronze medal was perennial favorite Pietro Diamanti, President of the Italian J/24 Class. His team on JAMAICA (Andrea Porchera, Paolo Governato, Antonio Lupo, and Paolo Pezzica) posted a commendable 3-5-1-8-2-5 scorecard for 16 pts net. 

“The weather was capricious at first, then it gave us six beautiful races with good wind and waves (almost all with a jib!!!),” commented Benfatto. “An exceptional helmsman, an exceptional trimmer, an exceptional bowman, and an exceptional tactician took me up the rankings!!! Thanks to the organizers of Cesenatico, to the friends of Cervia, and all the owners and racers!!! Long live the Italian J/24 class!” 

“Six beautiful races with strong winds, combined with perfect and exceptional hospitality, made for an exceptional regatta,” commented Diamanti. “It’s a shame that the weather reduced the championship to only two days.”

“We are very satisfied with the Championship apart from the weather that compromised the first two days,” commented the President of CN Cesenatico Massimo Magnani. “For the rest, I would say that the wind on the race course was perfect, demanding, and challenging for all the crews. Six high-level races were completed on two gorgeous days of sailing!”  For more Italian J/24 Class sailing information

(Seattle, WA)- The Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle and the Port of Seattle’s Shilshole Bay Marina welcome J/24 sailors from around the world to Washington state and the beautiful Puget Sound for the 2024 J/24 World Championship presented by Beecher’s Handmade Cheese- the 45th anniversay!

The event’s debut in the Pacific Northwest will pair world-class racing with one of the most unique and popular sailing venues in North America. In addition to racing, the event will include a number of Northwest themed social functions including a unique Opening Ceremony and can’t miss post-race refreshments and daily awards. 

The Seattle J/24 Worlds has attracted competitors from Europe, South America, North America, Australia, and Asia in addition to the United States and Canada.

The week of racing will see 56 teams racing against each other on challenging courses set by renowned International Race Officer- Mark Foster from Austin/ Corpus Christi, Texas. The regatta will see close-quarters, competitive racing with regional, national and international level sailors, along with many professional sailmakers fighting it out for the elusive title of 2024 J/24 World Champion.

Since the 1977 launch of the J/24; the first J/24 Midwinters in 1978 in Key West, FL; the first J/24 Worlds in Newport, RI in 1979; the J/24 class worldwide has continued to enjoy a remarkable passion amongst its aficionados no matter where they are on the world’s five continents. This year’s J/24 Worlds in Seattle will see teams from ten nations; including the USA, Australia, Puerto Rico, Italy, England, Germany, Japan, Canada, Ireland, and Greece. Perhaps the most surprising “non-participant” are any teams from South America- Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil- a perennial J/24 “power” in J/24 sailing. 

The leading teams that should be a factor on the leaderboard include; Paul Abdullah/ Nick Turney’s TEAM TARHEEL, Ignazio Bonnano’s “superb” Italian team on LA SUPERBA, the Constants family (Al, Dave, Steve, Mike, Dave Jr) on BLITZ, the Australian John Crawford’s INNAMINCKA, Pietro Diamanti’s Italian team on MAGICA FATA, Kurt Dammier’s AMUSE BOUCHE (with local genius sailor Ron Ronsenberg on-board), Mike Goldfarb’s WAR CANOE, Japan’s Nobuyuki Imai’s SIESTA, Mike Ingham’s USA 5443 (past 2-time J/24 World Champion), Mark Laura’s  BABA LOUIE (watch out for these hot knuckleheads!), Scott Milne’s TREMENDOUS SLOUCH (they don’t suck), Travis Odenbach’s HONEYBADGER (his team doesn’t suck either- his “lucky. charm” is Monica Morgan, for sure!), Susie Taylor’s TAKE FIVE (she will shock you- 3x college woman All-American), and San Francisco’s Jasper Van Vliet’s EVIL OCTOPUS. Sooo cool to see such HOT teams sailing in this year’s J/24 Worlds since 1979… your editor knows most of them as personal friends… very competitive sailing teams!! For more J/24 World Championship sailing information

(Vilamoura, Portugal)- The grand season finale for the 2024 J/70 SAILING Champions League, held in collaboration with Vilamoura Sailing in the picturesque coastal town of Vilamoura, Portugal is taking place this weekend. Over the next four days, from 26th to 29th September, the 24 best sailing teams from around the globe will compete for the coveted title. These teams have earned their spot in the Finale after advancing through multiple challenging qualifiers in various parts of the world.

A Global Event: Teams from Around the World Compete
The participants of the 2024 J/70 SAILING Champions League represent the elite of international sailing in the J/70 class. The Richmond Yacht Club from California, USA, secured their place at the Kickoff Event of the first-ever American Sailing League. The Australian team from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club also earned their qualification through the SAILING Champions League Asia Pacific. Additionally, teams advanced through three major Qualifiers in Europe held in Vilamoura, Berlin, and Warnemünde, Germany.

Special attention will be on the Finnish team Åländska Segelsällskapet, the defending champions from last year. In 2023, they triumphed in Travemünde, Germany, and are now aiming to secure back-to-back titles. The 2022 German winner, Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, is also returning with an exceptionally young team, boasting an average age of just 20.4 years.

A Competition at the Highest Level
This season’s level of competition is outstanding, as demonstrated by the extensive list of experienced and accomplished participants. Poland’s Rafal Sawicki, who has been sailing since 1980 and is a five-time Polish champion, leads his team from Yacht Klub Polski Gdynia. Norway also demonstrates its sailing strength with four qualified teams from the Seilsportsligaen, reflecting the high standards of the sport in their country. In total, 18 clubs compete in Norway’s league, similar to the format of Germany’s Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga.

An Exciting Finale Awaits
“The SAILING Champions League Final is the highlight of the international sailing scene every year. The best clubs from around the world come together to determine the top of the top in a fair and thrilling competition,” says Oliver Schwall, Founder and CEO of SAILING Champions League.

Over the coming days, the sailors will not only be watched by their fans but by the entire sailing world. The organizers are excited to witness intense racing at the highest level and to crown the champion of the 2024 SAILING Champions League.

About the J/70 SAILING Champions League.  For more J/70 SAILING Champions League sailing information.

(Macatawa Bay, MI)-  The Macatawa Bay Yacht Club on Lake Michigan will be hosting the 2024 J/88 North American Championship for a fleet of eleven very competitive teams. The four-day regatta is taking place from September 25th to 29th on Macatawa Bay. 

Several perennial class leaders are participating including Lindsey Duda’s SIN DUDA, Ben Marden’s BANTER, John Leahey’s DUTCH, Andy  Graff’s EXILE, and Iris Vogel’s DEVIATION. All of those teams have won major J/88 events from Chicago to Long Island Sound and past J/88 North Americans! For more J/88 North American Championship sailing information

(Cleveland, OH)- This year’s J/105 North Americans are being hosted by Edgewater Yacht Club at their wonderful facilities on the waterfront of Cleveland on Lake Erie from September 24th to 29th. Just east of them is the famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; they recently experienced a ROLLING STONES concert tour this summer in the waterfront stadium (according to Bruce Stone’s team on ARBITRADE- “it was awesome”!).

The twenty-six teams attending have a large contingent of past J/105 champions from North Americans to Block Island Race Week to ROLEX Big Boat Series to Chicago SAILING WORLD Regattas! Those teams include Tim Russell’s NE*NE, Terry McLaughlin & Rod Wilmer’s MANDATE, Bill Zartler’s DEJA VOODOO, Jim Rathbun’s HEY JUDE, Bruce Stone & Nicole Breault’s ARBITRADE, Rich Stearn’s FIVE, and Clark Pellett’s SEALARK! For more J/105 North American Championship sailing information.

(Key West, FL)- The SAILING INC. company in Cleveland, OH is once again hosting their popular and fun-loving Southernmost Regatta @ Key West this coming winter from January 20th to 25th, 2025 in Key West, FL. Based out of the Galleon Resort’s awesome Tiki Bar on the waterfront, you cannot imagine a more fun, laid-back place to host and run a regatta in the only Caribbean-like setting in the USA!

Invited is the J/111 Class for its 2025 J/111 North American Championship. Already, eight teams are entered including multiple J/111 North American Champion Peter Wagner’s SKELETON KEY. 

Also invited is the J/70 Class and any J/Teams wishing to sail an ORC handicap division! So far, a half-dozen J/70s have entered! And, in the ORC Division entered are the J/45 SPACEMAN SPIFF and the J/122 DIRE WOLF! For Southernmost Regatta registration information   For more Southernmost Regatta sailing information.