(Marion, MA)- From the 22nd to 24th of August, the Beverly YC on
Buzzards Bay will again host the J/24 US Nationals. The last time the
US Nationals were held in the Northeast was in 2010 in Marblehead, MA
where there were over 45 boats that competed. This year’s 2014 version
breaks that record with 46 teams vying for J/24 supremacy not just in
the USA but also later in September for world supremacy!A number of foreign teams are participating in the event, using it as a “Pre-Worlds” warm-up. Such teams include Craig Rowes from Australia; five Canadian teams (Jean Levac- PURA VIDA, Ed Rees- A-SALT, Nicolas Mabboux- BAYGULL, Tom Barbeau- NAVTECH.CA, Stephan Blais- PREMATURE GREY); and Sumio Shimoyama- SOKOKUMARU from Tokyo, Japan.
Top American contenders include what many would consider “local knowledge”, if one considers his 30+ years sailing in the class- that is Tony Parker’s BANGOR PACKET. For Tony it’s “old home” week, having sailed out of Portland, Maine for years before moving down to the Washington, DC area and sailing in the local Annapolis J/24 fleet.
Other top contenders are surely Pat Toole sailing 3 BIG DOGS from Santa Barbara YC in Santa Barbara, CA (a past North American Champion); Tom Barbeau’s NAVTECH.CA from Quebec, Canada; Mike Sudofsky’s BOB DYLAN from Buzzards Bay (a bit of local knowledge there!!); John Denman’s AIRDOODLE; Craig Correia’s QUEE QUEG; Pete Quandt’s SPRINTER; Chris Stone’s VELOCIDAD; Mike Ingham’s champion team on USA 5443; Aidan Glackin’s MENTAL FLOSS; Travis Odenbach’s infamous HONEY BADGER from New York; Will Welles’ COUGAR from Newport, RI; Mike Marshall’s PIPE DREAM; John Mollicone’s Midwinter champion team on HELLY HANSEN; and Scott Milne’s TREMENDOUS SLOUCH from Seattle, Washington.
The 2014 J/24 Nationals will have a Women's Division and score boats helmed by a woman to recognize the importance of women to the J/24 Class. BYC's Fleet 16 has 6 women owners out of our 16 active racers and have a long tradition of hosting and competing in women events. Women helmed boats will have two scores - one for their overall finish and one for the Women's division. Boats may have a mixed gender crew, but the primary driver must be a woman. Those women’s teams vying for top honors are Katie Morgan from Connecticut; three Massachusetts teams (Frederique Popitz sailing PAGRAMIN, Nana Buckley on PITA, Anne-Marie Fredericks skippering MISS AMERICA); Elaine Haher driving A GOOD HAIR DAY from New Jersey; Margaret Borden sailing HEFFAH (who recently won the Marblehead NOOD Regatta) from Newport, RI; and Natalie Penner riding cowgirl-style on GIGGLES from Texas. For more J/24 US Nationals sailing information
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