Taking advantage of solid breeze at 12-16 knots, the Howth Yacht Club (Ireland) Race Committee pounded out three races at the J/24 European Championship Thursday. Conditions challenged the 34 teams and boats with choppy seas. Even with the discard race coming into play, Stelios Sotitiou helming JMania (GRE) was able to retain the leading position with 24 net points after seven races. Stefan Karsunke’s Schwere Jungs (GER) jumped up to second place with 30 net points. In third and also top Corinthian among 21 boats is David Hale’s Cacoon (GBR) at 37 net points. Nick McDonald’s Mojosi (GBR) and Cillian Dickson’s Headcase (IRL) swapped first and second places in races five and six. McDonald kicked off the day with the victory with Dickson next (Sotitiou’s JMania third), and then it was Dickson’s turn at the top with McDonald behind (Brian Raftery’s Hung Jury of IRL in third). A bullet in Wednesday’s final contest positioned Karsunke’s Schwere Jungs (GER) in the silver position overall, while Sotitiou’s JMania kept up their consistent scores with a second and the team from Kinsale Yacht Club helmed by Micheal O’Suilleabhain (IRL) followed. Six nations are represented: Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United States. Racing continues through Saturday, and 10 total races are planned. Complete results may be found at https://hyc.ie/j24-european-championships-2022#event-378, and photos are available on the International J/24 Class Facebook page.
International Class Association
