40th J/24 World Championship Update

(Riva del Garda, Italy)- Lake Garda lived up to its “bucket list” reputation on the opening day of the J/24 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy. Eighty-nine teams from 14 countries (Australia, Brazil, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden and United States) descended on the picturesque lake for the 40th edition of the Championship.

Day 1- Monday
With sunny skies and breeze at 10-15 knots, American Will Welles’ Kaster got out of the gate with the early advantage, posting 2,5,2 for nine points in the three races. Hungarian Tomai Bala’zs’ J.Bond 037 started the day strong with 1,2, but a 13 in race three left him with 16 points for second place. Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger of the USA rests in third place with 29 points.

Bala’zs opened the regatta with a victory, ahead of Welles and Italian Ignazio Bonanno’s La Superba. Keith Whittemore’s Furio, USA, took the next battle, as Bala’zs dropped to second and Duncan McCarthy’s Madeleine of Great Britain put another nation on the leaderboard. The final contest saw McCarthy, Welles and Whittemore comprise the top three.

Day 2- Tuesday
The leaderboard tightened up Tuesday at the J/24 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy. Lake Garda again produced fantastic conditions as the 89 teams recorded two more races, bringing the total to five, including now one discard. American Will Welles’ Kaster maintained the top spot with 18 net points, but Hungarian Tomai Bala’zs’ J.Bond 037 is just two points back in second place with 20, and Nobuyuki Imai’s Siesta of Japan launched up to third with 21 points. Both Welles and Bala’zs stumbled in the day’s final race, but benefited from the throw-out.

2016 World Champion Daniel Frost’s JJOne of Germany ruled the day, winning the first contest, and placing second in the next. Following Frost in Tuesday’s opener were two Americans: Keith Whittemore’s Furio and Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger. Imai’s Siesta also had a solid day, leading the fleet home in race five, ahead of Frost and fellow Japanese sailor Tomomi Hatakeyama’s Gekko.

Day 3- Wednesday
Lake Garda delivered more of the same champagne conditions on the middle day of the J/24 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy. American Will Welles’ Kaster showed the same consistency, posting two second place finishes in Wednesday’s pair of races. Welles now boasts a seven-point advantage over Nobuyuki Imai’s Siesta of Japan, who won the opening contest but added a seven in the next. Daniel Frost’s JJOne of Germany continued his ascent up the rankings with a 4,3 to move into third at 36 points, with Keith Whittemore’s Furio of the USA looking over his shoulder one notch back.

Imai’s Siesta stayed hot, winning the opening match Wednesday in the familiar 10-16 knot lake winds. Welles and Whittemore followed. Whittemore’s Furio earned his first bullet of the series in race seven, with Welles repeating in second and Frost third.  For more J/24 World Championship sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Rauschenberger Wins Groupama-Granini J/24 Hungarian Championship

(Lake Balaton, Hungary)- Sailing is different in Hungary.  Everything seems to revolve around food, wine & friends, though not necessarily in that order.  While racing and being competitive is important, for many Hungarian sailors, the social element and friends that are made partaking in their enjoyment on the water is what is most important.  An appreciation of being with friends, experiencing sunrise, sunset, beautiful days, spectacular weather, crazy frontal systems- it is all an extraordinary concoction of ingredients that make Lake Balaton what it is in central Europe— a mesmerizing lake for romantics, novelists, dreamers and innovators.  Plus, the sailing can be an eye-opening experience for those who love challenging lake sailing conditions.  No wonder such a little country has produced such amazingly good sailors over the course of time.

For this year’s Hungarian J/24 Championship, the weather was great, because the wind was blowing for most of the regatta.  But, according to Erik Hercsik, “the onshore program is superb.  We organized events for everyone because the sailors can be tired in the evenings. On Thursday, after three terribly tiring races, I arrived onshore and the Veszprém Taste restaurant team, led by Philip Laci (a great cordon-bleu chef), served a fabulous dinner under the tent!

On Friday because of the strong onshore wind, we waited all day. As a result, after a “sightseeing” day, the J/24 sailors all ended up at the Koczor CELLAR restaurant/pub in the late afternoon. There, by the Balaton YC invitation, was a fantastic dinner waiting for the competitors! The Koczor CELLAR (Koczor Kalman, Dora and friends) served up in their beautiful and elegant hall some great wines and a four-course gala dinner!

On Saturday, there were three more races. Fierce sailing, plenty of it with over 20 knots of breeze, a “fat-burning” wind, humans torn & broken (figuratively, of course). It was Neanderthal manly-man conditions! Womanly-warriors on the loose! And, here there was a continuous evolution of the J/24 class. Amazing since 1977- nearly 40 years on our lake!

The fleet was roughly divided into 3 groups. All three groups had enjoyable battles, everyone found his opponent with whom he fought a battle against flesh & blood, ultimately to be settled with a beer or glass of wine later. With winds of 20+ knots, the most naturally competent crews rose to the top. It was beautiful! In the evening dinner program there was enough food and drink to satisfy the most adventurous and the most calm of souls.

Then Sunday- big surprise- the wind did not want to conform to the weather forecast correctly, the worst of all protagonists! Just one race, that is what everyone wished. So, that ended the seven races of the championship.  Eighteen boats, 98 sailors.  That’s huge!  Great racing, a great host, excellent party parties, beautiful event t-shirts, beautiful prizes and special prizes.”

As noted earlier, it was Nicholas Rauschenberger’s JUKEBOX team that won. His crew included Peter Thomas, James Paladin, Ákos Pécsváradi, and Thomas Richter.  Second was Team ZULU with Matthew Cock as skipper with crew of Thomas Jager, Andrew Mustachio, Matyas Molnar, and Erika Nemeth.  Third was Team DJANGO with Erik Hercsik, Peter Csaba, and others. Fourth was NORD TELEKOM sailed by Gabor Makai, Krauth Balazs, Aaron Serke, Csaba Lokodi, & Szalay Tamas. Finally, in 5th place was EUPHEMY (Thomas Madarász, Stephen Illy, Viola Baumann, Alexandra Weaver, Mihály Filó).  Thanks for the report from Erik Hercsik.   For more Hungary J/24 Sailing news

PEUGEOT Wins J/24 Hungarian Open & Nationals

(Budapest, Hungary)- Lake Balaton was the scene of the recent Hungarian J/24 National Championships.  A gorgeous setting on one of the prettiest lakes in Central Europe, it often serves up capricious winds that can be very puffy and shifty or simply benign with sun-burnt days and gentle breezes.

This year's championship saw eighteen boats participate and the level of sailing amongst the top five was extremely close.  While the first day of racing was canceled due to a light offshore breeze, the second day dawned with the long-awaited NW breeze of 14-16 knots.  Four exciting races were completed.  Litkey Wolf sailed "lights out", taking three 1sts and a 2nd on his boat PEUGEOT/ LITKEY SAILS.  Second place for the day was Michael Filo's ZULU with a 1-2-3.  Attila Nagy's GARFIELD/ QUANTUM SAILS took third for the day.  Also showing good form was Gabor Makai's NORD TELEKOM and Erik Hercsel's SAIL FOR YOU.

The third day was going to push the teams even harder to the edge.  Some considered genoas, but most opted for 100% jibs in the conditions.  The wind was a bit stronger than forecast, blowing 17-19 knots from the NW. The teams fought bravely in the waves and strong breeze, enjoying some great racing and surfs on Lake Balaton! The Wolf's PEUGEOT "express" continued their excellent performance and after eight races had the championship won.  The club's PRO tried to get in one last race, but the weather simply would not cooperate as the breeze had died towards the end of the day.

So, the championship was decided in eight races. A gold medal to Litkey Wolf and his team, who defended their championship titles.  The silver medal goes to Michael Filo on ZULU and the bronze to Nagy's GARFIELD/ QUANTUM SAILS.  Rounding out the top five we find that fourth was Antal Szekely's COMPASS and fifth was Nagy's NORD TELEKOM.

As a result of this regatta, the Hungarian J/24 Season Championship also goes to Wolf's PEUGEOT/ LITKEY Sails team, followed by Makai's NORD TELEKOM in second, Nagy's GARFIELD/ QUANTUM in third, Hercsel's SAIL FOR YOU in fourth and Dr Thomas Wolf's J'KORSZAK in fifth.

Congratulations to all Hungarian J/24 sailors! Thank you for supporting the sponsors who contributed to the high level of competition all season long- Bernhofer Hotel, Compass Magazine, Manézs Bistro, Corner Merchandise, Site Talk In EyeWind, pontráérek.hu, The Body Shop, Porthole, Quantum Sails & BFYC.  For more J/24 Hungary Sailing information