Thirty-one boats from three countries, twelve races in four days and no reserve day needed at Club Náutico Córdoba.
Club Náutico Córdoba and the Argentine J/24 Class Association hosted the 2026 J/24 South American Championship on Lago San Roque, Villa Carlos Paz, from 13 to 16 August. Thirty-one boats came to the start line from three countries — 27 from Argentina, three from Uruguay and one from Chile — representing Club Náutico Córdoba, Yacht Club Salta, Club Andino Villa La Angostura, Yacht Club Bariloche / Club Náutico Bariloche, Yacht Club Uruguayo, Club Nautilus and J/24 Zona Centro of Chile.
The full programme of twelve races was completed inside the four scheduled days, with one discard. The reserve day on Monday 17 was not needed. Racing was windward-leeward over four legs, leeward gate, on a course area set in the middle of the lake, scored under the Low Point System of RRS Appendix A.
The lake delivered usable breeze every day, between 6 and 16 knots, and a different direction each time: northerly at 9 to 10 knots on Thursday, E/ESE at 10 to 12 on Friday, N/NNE at 11 to 16 on Saturday and a softer SE at 6 to 9 for the final day. Races ran between 53 and 66 minutes, with the finish line held open for 15 minutes after the leader. Race Officer Gustavo Schelotto brought the first warning signal progressively forward through the week — 14:00 on Thursday, 13:00 on Friday and 12:00 on both Saturday and Sunday — and that is what banked the full schedule ahead of the weather.
Mendieta retained the South American title on consistency rather than firepower: all eleven of Nicolás Cubría’s counting races finished in the top six. Cubría sailed with Alfonso Víctor Campos, Marcos Mignani, Federico Ambrus and Guillermo Bellinotto.
Rina, sailed by Ezequiel Despontin with Daniel Distefano, Miguel Bailo, Julio Torres and Lu Sánchez, won four races — two more than the champion — and came alive at the end of the series with three straight victories to take second overall.
Third place, and the leading overseas boat, went to Uruguay’s Ziggy: Harry Giuria with Eduardo Artucio, Felipe Artucio, Matías Castro and Adolfo Idoyaga.
Two other results are worth the Class’s attention. Retruco, helmed by Ignacio Buffa Danesi, was the youngest crew in the fleet and finished fifth overall — an entirely respectable result against this entry list. And Cambury, helmed by Trixy Agusti of Club Náutico Córdoba with Mariana Félix de Lara Soares, Mariana Lorenzo, Mariana Safar Exeni and Candelaria Berberian, was the first all-female crew ever to compete at a J/24 South American Championship, finishing 16th.
All thirty-one boats cleared accreditation and class measurement between 11 and 13 August: stickers, sail measurement for main, genoa, jib and spinnaker, hull measurement certificates, the declaration of mandatory and optional equipment, and crew weigh-in within the 400 kg limit.
Schelotto was assisted on the water by Verónica Luque, Cristian Pautassi and Gustavo Betelu. The jury was made up of national judges Carlos Gastelu and Gabriel Schroeder, both FAY, with club judge Marcelo Pesci. No protests remained outstanding at the end of the final day and the results were declared final on Sunday 16 August.
Each day’s racing was followed by an after-race gathering for competitors and organisers, and the prize-giving and closing ceremony were held at Club Náutico Córdoba at 18:00 on Sunday, with prizes for every crew and draws contributed by the event sponsors. Public access to the club and to the shore of Lago San Roque was free throughout the week.
On the evidence of this event, the Argentine J/24 Class Association and Club Náutico Córdoba consider Lago San Roque a suitable venue for future South American Championships of the Class.
The Championship was supported by Agencia Córdoba Deportes (Government of the Province of Córdoba) and the Secretaría de Turismo e Innovación, Cultura y Deportes of the Municipality of Villa Carlos Paz, together with Howard Johnson Hotel, Rivera Tower Hotel, Hood Sailmakers, Astillero J/Boats Argentina, Gilbercard, RE/MAX, Coca-Cola, Alfajores El Triángulo, Nautycar, Barlovento and Garage Sails.
The Championship was supported by Agencia Córdoba Deportes (Government of the Province of Córdoba) and the Secretaría de Turismo e Innovación, Cultura y Deportes of the Municipality of Villa Carlos Paz, together with Howard Johnson Hotel, Rivera Tower Hotel, Hood Sailmakers, Astillero J/Boats Argentina, Gilbercard, RE/MAX, Coca-Cola, Alfajores El Triángulo, Nautycar, Barlovento and Garage Sails.
1st – Mendieta
Helm: Nicolás Cubría
Crew: Alfonso Víctor Campos, Marcos Mignani, Federico Ambrus, Guillermo Bellinotto
2nd – Rina
Helm: Ezequiel Despontin
Crew: Daniel Distefano, Miguel Bailo, Julio Torres, Lu Sánchez
3rd – Ziggy (URU)
Helm: Harry Giuria
Crew: Eduardo Artucio, Felipe Artucio, Matías Castro, Adolfo Idoyaga
Youngest crew: Retruco (Ignacio Buffa Danesi), 5th overall. First all-female crew: Cambury (Trixy Agusti), 9th overall.
