(Portland, Maine)- J/24 Fleet 43 and the organizing committee of the
annual J/24 Downeast Regatta, which has been held for over 20 years on
Casco Bay, Maine, are looking forward to hosting the 2015 Pape Chevrolet
J/24 North American Championships. The regatta will take place from
Thursday September 10th to Sunday September 13th at Portland YC.There is a rich history of J/24s and sailors in Maine. The 2014 World Champion Will Welles is originally from Southwest Harbor, Maine and cut his teeth sailing J/24s in his early years Downeast! The J/24 Downeast Regatta has averaged over 30 boats over the last 7 years and has had as many as 42 boats attend. The hosts explained that, “this will be the most fun, competitive and inexpensive North Americans in recent history! After all, we only have great weather, flat water, consistent fall breezes, great racing. . . and the parties are epic!” As a result of such strong traditions and a reputation for actually “walking the walk” and delivering on their promises, it was not surprising the fleet hit the 50-boat limit!
The regatta has attracted sailors from far and wide- Canada, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico and from as far west as Minnesota in the Great Lakes and Miami in the south. Many of the class stalwarts are in attendance, including the aforementioned Will Welles sailing the speedy COUGAR. Joining the past J/24 World Champion are a range of good teams, like Terry Neff’s BUBBLES from MN, Carter & Molly White’s SEA BAGS SAILING TEAM, Nicolas Cubria’s ELVIS from Argentina, Travis Odenbach’s HONEY BADGER, Aidan Glackin’s MENTAL FLOSS, John Mollicone’s HELLY HANSEN (a past J/24 World Champion), the
Denman/Smith
duo on AIRODOOLE, Tony Parker’s BANGOR PACKET coming back home for some
lovin’ (also a past J/24 NA Champion), Evan Petley-Jones LIFTED, Mirsha
Herrera’s MONSTER FISH from Mexico and Patricio Sly’s MUY MUY from
Miami, FL. There are at least five women’s teams competing for top honors as the #1 women’s J/24 team in the NA’s. Erica Beck & Jess Harris’ SEA BAGS WOMEN’S SAILING TEAM will be the super hot team to beat after winning their class at the recent Marblehead ONE Regatta. They will be joined by Gretchen Sullivan’s DRACE, Natalie Penner’s GIGGLES, Katherine Collin’s FAST FOOD, and Elaine Haher’s GOOD HAIR DAY.
For more J/24 North American Championship sailing information
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