Patience paid off for both the Race Committee and competitors on the middle day of the J/24 World Championship hosted by the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki in Greece.
Scheduled for a 1500 start, and then postponed ashore, the 35 teams may have started making their evening plans. But the breeze picked up, and boats headed out for two more races (bringing the total to seven) in winds of 6-10 knots. Keith Whittemore’s Furio sustained his hold on first place, although it was feast or famine for the American team with a bullet but also a 19 on the day (the 19th becoming their discard). They have 17 net points, now being chased by another US team: Tony Parker’s Bangor Packet who shot up to second place with scores of 3,1 Thursday and 21 net points. Ignazio Bonanno’s La Superba of Italy and Cillian Dickson’s Headcase of Ireland are tied for the next two positions at 26 points. Headcase preserved their hold atop the 23-boat Corinthian division.
Whittemore’s Furio earned their second victory of the Championship in race six, with the familiar La Superba and Bangor Packet completing the top trio. Parker’s Bangor Packet continued their solid day with the next win, tailed by Dickson’s Headcase and Ramiro Martin Clemente Diaz’s Tata Patagonia of Argentina, as the sun began to set on the bay.
Ten nations are competing from Argentina, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan and the United States. Racing continues through Saturday, with 10 scheduled races. A complete list of all J/24 World Champions can be found at http://www.j24class.org/about-the-
Complete event details may be found at http://j24worlds2023.ncth.gr. Photos/video are available on the J/24 International Class Facebook page.
