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Lake Minnetonka, MN (September 12, 2008) Tim Healy had won the J/24 North Americans before, and was poised to do it again. All that stood in between him and the prize was the one race – the final race – scheduled for Friday. He was guaranteed second, and only a bullet by John Mollicone’s team could change his happy ending. There had been good breeze all regatta, not quite windy enough for jib conditions, but plenty of upper genoa range. The event venue, Lake Minnetonka, had been playing fair too, with both sides of the course working, and lots of shifts for the astute tactician to work his or her way to the front of the fleet. For just one race on Friday, he liked his team’s chances.

The only problem was that for the final day of the event, the wind was zero with puffs to 6 knots. Not exactly the kind of conditions where it was easy to control the only boat you had to beat. Healy’s team could have focused only on Mollicone, match raced him at the start, and forced him into one of the numerous bays along the 140 miles of lake shoreline. However, that’s not his style, and instead allowed Mollicone to start near the pin while Healy would set up more toward the center of the line and protect the favored right side. Of course, when the wind glassed off around Healy, all bets were off and the scramble began.

As had occurred all regatta, both teams found themselves in the top ten at the first windward mark, but when Bob Harden’s team on Mr. Happy worked out into a distant lead over both of them, ultimately winning with a leg lead, Healy knew that the threat was over, and went on to enjoy the most pleasant 18th place finish he ever recorded during his ten year career in the class. — Results: http://www.j24northamericans.com/pages/J24Results.html

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Incumbent and current All-Ireland Sailing Champion Stefan Hyde was deposed as J24 national champion over the weekend, when the Carrickfergus crew of Taz took the J24 National Championship title at Carlingford Lough.

Carlingford Sailing Club played host to boats from seven different clubs competed in the highly competitive Loughs Agency-sponsored J24 Class National Championship, with the overall title going to Michael Ennis and the crew of ‘TAZ’ from Carrickfergus Sailing Club.

Seven races were sailed over the two days of the event and the Carrick crew won the last two races impressively to beat former champion Mickey McAldin of Lough Erne YC in ‘Murder Picture’ by three points overall. Another three points behind in third place was the defending champion Stefan Hyde of the Royal St.George YC in Dun Laoghaire (who is also the current All-Ireland Sailing Champion).

The leading local Carlingford entry was James Byrne in ‘Gossip’ in fourth place, after consistently finishing in the top six in every race. Competitors travelled from as far afield as Dun Laoghaire, Malahide, Lough Neagh and Lough Erne to race in the event. The J24 is one of the biggest international classes of small keelboat racing boats and the Irish Class Association is looking to bring the European and World Championships to Ireland in the next five years.

Results

1st TAZ Michael Ennis Carrickfergus Sailing Club
2nd Murder Picture Mickey McCalden Lough Erne Yacht Club
3rd Carrabeg Stefan Hyde Royal St George Yacht Club
4th Gossip James Byrne Carlingford Sailing Club
5th Jay Kay Tim Sheard Lough Neigh Sailing Club

1. Crew chemistry is key. Everyone on the team should help organize the program and schedule.
2. Sail at maximum crew weight.
3. Keep the big picture always in mind. Avoid clusters of boats, get off the line with clear air, and avoid the big mistakes.
4. No protests!
5. Update the boat with the best equipment possible. Mast, boom, lines, compass, deck gear included. Work with an experienced company (such as Hall!) to ensure things are class legal.
6. Sail and practice regularly.
7. Be prepared going into the regatta. Set a schedule with the crew well in advance. For worlds especially, arrive early, get through the measurement quickly and spend a couple days with a low-key practice schedule before the regatta starts.
8. Buy new sails for a big event.
9. Thank the people who help you along the way. Our sponsors Hall Spars & Rigging and Samson Ropes made the event possible for us.

Full interview: Jens Hookansen, 2004 J/24 World Champion