Click the heading above for a message from the IJCA Chairman, Bob Turner, regarding the World Council Meeting.

3-5 October 2008

The United States J/24 Class Association invites the representatives of each recognized National J/24 Class Association from around the globe to the 2008 IJCA World Council Meeting in Annapolis. Hosts for the occasion are the U.S.J.C.A., J/24 District 8 and Fleet 16, and the Annapolis Yacht Club.

Annapolis is the site of the 2009 J/24 World Championship. We hope that the representatives will participate in the WCM and enjoy all that Annapolis has to offer as the Sailing Capital of the U.S. Of special note – Annapolis in October is overwhelmed with events. The U.S. Sailboat Show (in-water) starts 9 October 2008. WCM participants who desire to stay for the sailboat show are advised to make lodging reservations very early. 
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A fleet of 56 J24s has assembled for the Tropheo Navale regatta in Livorno, Italy. This holiday weekend regatta, now in its twenty fifth year is run by the combined club and the Italian Naval Academy.  The event is being used by the FIV to select its representatives for the J24 Worlds, to be hosted in Sardinia 5-13 June.

Six races have been sailed to date in light and difficult conditions. Twenty degree shifts and an occasional wind bend have tested competitor patience.

Di Stefani of Italy leads the series by five points from Britain's Ian Southworth in Hedgehog and Luigi Ravioli in Fiamme Gialla. The series leader, like Ravioli, works as a sports instructor for the Italian tax authorities.

Comments Ian Southworth " We are pleased to be on pace for this first event since winning the J24 Europeans last September. We are not yet sailing with our full Worlds crew. But are approaching this as a shake down event. A top five place would be a nice bonus!"

From the Chairman:
J/24 sailors around the world would wish to know that the IJCA has responded to the invitation to bid for selection for the Womens’ Match Racing event to be held for the first time in Weymouth in the 2012 Olympics. The J/24 has an excellent reputation for match racing and has already provided fleets of identical boats for Nations Cups, Womens Rolex, Pan American Games and other international events. The Class Executive Committee sees this as an opportunity to use our extremely versatile boat for yet another purpose, noting that Olympic selection for match racing will not conflict with our already established fleet racing, all the way up to World Championship standard.

In terms of decision making, ISAF will be refining the Women’s Match Racing details after their mid-year meeting in May this year, and a final decision on the boat to be used will be made at the ISAF Annual Meeting in November. Please note that this allows the IJCA to consider this whole subject at our Annual World Council Meeting in October, a month ahead of the ISAF meeting.

Buenos Aires, Argentina - Pereira Matias, helming ARG 5194 - CARRERA has won the 2007 South American Championship.  Matias, with his crew of J. I. Pereyra, P. Agrest, G. Bellinoto and F. Cassanello completed the nine race championship with a total score of 26 points, with one throw-out.

Joaquin Doval, sailing U2 J. Cabot, finished 2nd with 32 points.  Luca Vive, helmed by Nichola Rigoni finished 3rd.

The championship was hosted by Club Nautico Olivos, November 17-24.  24 boats competed from five countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay).  Full results can be found at www.j24arg.com.ar  Photos of the championship are available at www.elojonautico.com/photos/sudamericano_de_j24_/