J24 World Championship
Somewhere behind the curtain that hides the master regatta control panel, there is a wild haired maniac pulling levers and pushing buttons. This is the only logical explanation for the variety of conditions on hand for the Seattle 2024 J24 World Championship presented by Beecher’s Handmade Cheese.
There have been crystal blue skies most of the week, but today, a nasty rain squall. There has been flat water and steady breeze, but also up range conditions frisky enough to get some teams to switch to jibs. There has been steady even current across the course, but occasionally one-sided current advantages. Any competitor that came to Seattle looking for the full range of conditions – got that and more.
The first and most important thing regatta organizers need to host a world championship sailboat regatta is wind. Equally important is sponsorship. When the Seattle J24 Fleet and Corinthian Yacht Club got the chance to host this event, the first person to change the dream into a reality was J24 sailor Kurt Dammeier.
Kurt was essential because he wrote the most significant check. But he did not stop there. Contestants have been enjoying his Beecher’s Handmade Cheese after racing in many forms ranging from macaroni and cheese to soups. Everyone also got a Beecher’s Handmade Cheese T- Shirt.
Kurt has also been organizing training sessions for boats in the fleet, and traveled to the 2024 J/24 National Championship in Lake Minnetonka, MN, last month where he finished on the podium in third place.
In addition to wind and money, a regatta can’t be great without strong competitors. In the 56 boat fleet at the 2024 worlds there are a full complement of podium finishers from past worlds, six teams of rising youth sailors and four all female teams. Four boats came from Japan and three from Italy – and Seattle sailors have made may trips to regattas in those countries.
Today Travis Odenbach extended his first place lead, but it was “La Superba” from Marina Militare Italiana that won the day with a 3rd and a 1st. Their stunning performance today raised La Superba from 11th place to 5th , putting them in striking distance of 3rd place overall with only 6 more points than “Siesta” from Japan.
Tomorrow racing resumes for the final day, with two races planned starting at 11 AM PDT. The sun is making another appearance. We are hoping for the wind. But no matter what materializes tomorrow, the wind, money, and competitors are in Seattle for the 2024 J/24 Worlds
J24 More info: www.j24worldsseattle.org
