J/24 Worlds Go Italian

Andrea Casale of Italy didn’t have to sail the last race to win the 2008 J/24 World Championship. In fact none of the fleet left port as storm conditions blew across northern Sardinia on the final day of racing, hosted by Club Nautico Arzachena in Cannigione, Italy. There was still a lot of racing to talk about with 8 races over 5 days, 76 boats and an incredible 17 countries represented. Any of the top six teams had a shot at the title going into the last 2 races. Milev Rossi of Canada finished a close 2nd to Casale followed by Ian Southworth of Great Britain and Daniel Glomb of Brazil. Mark Hillman of Annapolis, MD was the top US finisher in 6th, including back-to-back bullets in races 3 & 4. Annapolis will be the site for the 30th Anniversary J/24 Worlds in 2009. 2008 event website

New J/24 "no sink" Interior

The newest 2008 model J/24 is literally "no sink." The aft lockers, v-berth platform and hanging lockers are enclosed with watertight hatches, the main bulkhead opening is wider AND the galley/sink unit to starboard is gone in favor of a low foot locker and hanging locker. This new class-approved specification is being adopted by builders worldwide. Gourmet meals will now have to be served picnic style in the cockpit or at your favorite restaurant! New J/24s are available for late summer 2008 delivery, just in time for the 30th Anniversary J/24 North American Championship in Lake Minnetonka, MN.

Zaleski Brothers win J/24 Nationals

Chris and Waldek Zaleski, aboard their J/24 TWINS (#5259) have done it again. For their seventh consecutive major J/24 regatta, TWINS prevailed in moderate to windy conditions to win the 2008 J/24 Nationals at Staten Island, NY against a very competitive 54 boat fleet. It was not an easy regatta by any means. Staten Island waters saw conditions that were at times shifty, windy and rainy. The scores were as equally dicey with every boat in the fleet finishing at least 18th or lower in one race, and with TWINS averaging 8 points per race in the 7 race no throw-out series.

Runner-up Mark Hillman, from Annapolis, put pressure on the Zaleski’s with a race #7 bullet to the TWINS 28th to close the gap to 6 points by regatta’s end. Rounding out the top three (in the same finishing order as in this year’s 2008 Midwinters) was Tony Parker of Annapolis aboard BANGOR PACKET. With both Zaleski and Hillman having already qualified for the 2009 Worlds in Annapolis, the qualifying slots from the Nationals passed onto Parker and Kris Werner, who finished 4th. Check out some great photos at photoboat.com. Thanks to Richmond County Yacht Club for hosting a great event. Event Site

2008 Yachting Cup.....San Diego

40% of the 117 boat fleet at this year’s Yachting Cup were J’s with the J/105 class leading the way with 25 entries. Bill Logan and his team aboard PHOLLY won the five race no throw-out series, ahead of Dennis Case on WINGS and Jeff Janov on INVISIBLE. John Laun was the winning skipper in the J/120 class aboard CAPER, and is pictured (on the right) accepting his award from SDYC Commodore Wayne Terry. In PHRF action, Jim Madden’s J-125 STARK RAVING MAD won the impressive 12 boat PHRF 2 fleet with a string of firsts and a second. And in a show of solidarity – the J/29 class, normally a few strong within the PHRF 5 class, put together 5 entries and enjoyed one design racing with Larry Leveille skippering RUSH STREET placing first.

Zaleski's Win '08 J/24 Midwinters

The J/24 Class turns 30 this year and Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, FL served host for the first reunion event - the 30th Annual J/24 Midwinter Regatta, presented by Yale Cordage. 42 teams representing the top J/24 sailors in North and South America participated in the tough 11 race, no throw-out series, with brothers Waldek and Chris Zaleski (Noroton, CT) aboard TWINS emerging as the winner. This is the Zaleski’s 6th J/24 regatta victory in a row starting with the 2007 Nationals. The TWINS team also features Randy Perkins,Yahoo Glinski and Maciek Kosciuczuk.

It wasn’t easy. Conditions were shifty and alternatively breezy and light. In the windy 11th race, the Zaleski’s tore their spinnaker while in 2nd place and somehow managed to hang on during the last run, sailing wing-on-wing with genoa to cross the finish line in 12th … only 2 cumulative points ahead of regatta runner-up Mark Hillman of Annapolis, who took 2nd in the same race. Both teams won qualifying berths for the 2009 J/24 Worlds which will be held in Annapolis, MD.

Class veteran Tony Parker of Annapolis, FL sailed his 31 year old BANGOR PACKET to an impressive 3rd, followed by Stuart Challoner of New Jersey on SPOILSPORT. The class now sets its sites on the upcoming National Championship in Staten Island, NY (May 15-18) and the 30th North Americans in Lake Minnetonka, MN (Sept 8-12). Midwinters Results