J/70 Worlds, Louis Vuitton Cup drama, plus IC37 and Hobie 16 North Americans
by David Schmidt 24 Sep 08:00 PDT
September 24, 2024
Yonder (USA) secures victory in the Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds in Palma © SailingShots by María Muiña
The regatta focused on Old Glory. Not the Louis Vuitton Cup—though we will address that—rather the 2024 J/70 Worlds (September 13-22), hosted by the Real Club Nautico de Palma (RCNP) in Baleares, Spain, organized by both the RCNP and the International J/70 Class Association. A total of 96 teams assembled on the Bay of Palma for this prestigious keelboat trophy.
After five grueling days of racing, the Yonder team, led by Douglas Newhouse and Jeremy Wilmot, proudly represented the American flag and claimed first place. The Yonder crew gained the lead on the initial day of sailing and maintained it throughout.
“Through extensive effort, planning, training, and teamwork, we have accomplished our goal of winning the world championship, which is truly remarkable,” stated Newhouse in an official regatta report. “We experienced the regatta of our lives, and the team battled fiercely.”
Joining the Americans on the winner’s stand were Ralph Vasconcellos’ (BRA) Mindset team and Charles Thompson and Tom Mallindine’s (GBR) Brutus II squad.
If I may express a sense of pride, it’s worth noting that American teams secured six of the top ten positions in the regatta.
Unfortunately, American competitors faced challenges in the Louis Vuitton Semi Finals (September 14-19), where New York Yacht Club American Magic lost to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli following eight races.
The Italians dominated the initial four races, pushing the Americans into a precarious position. However, American Magic bounced back to win the next three, closing the gap in this first-to-five series to 4-3.
In the final race, both AC75s engaged in tight competition, but ultimately, the quickest vessel around the course earned the chance to advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final (September 26-October 7), carrying the Italian flag.
“We were always a team that would improve with more racing,” said Terry Hutchinson, American Magic’s sailing operations president, in an official team statement.
“We encountered some obstacles, such as [Paul] Goody’s injury, but I’m incredibly impressed by Lucas [Calabrase] and his performance. I am also very proud of our team and how each person progressed,” Hutchinson noted, referring to Goody’s accident on September 7 that resulted in five broken ribs from a fall through an open hatch.
It should be remembered that Goody was one of the team’s principal drivers alongside Tom Slingsby.
While this setback hindered the team, Calabrase, the alternate helm, significantly rose to the occasion.
Hutchinson added: “It was fascinating to witness [Slingsby] and Lucas’s rapport develop rapidly, allowing them to compete against past winners of the Prada Cup and the latest challengers in the America’s Cup. We were consistently close, contending in nearly every race. Thus, the disappointment lies in recognizing our potential and the direction we were headed.”
Sadly, they did not secure victory, and Luna Rossa will face INEOS Britannia—who eliminated Alinghi Red Bull Racing in their half of the Louis Vuitton Semi Finals—in the Finals.
This raises an intriguing question about which team stands the best chance of progressing to meet Emirates Team New Zealand at the start of the 37th America’s Cup (October 12-27).
Since the commencement of the LVC Double Round Robin (August 29-September 11), Luna Rossa has faced INEOS Britannia three times, with the Brits claiming two victories. This could indicate a speed advantage, but the LVC and Cup often see teams adapt rapidly, improving both boat handling and design.
Consider the aspect of battle readiness.
Having won the LVC Double Round Robin, INEOS Britannia had the option to select Alinghi, deemed the least strong of the remaining teams, as their competitors for the LVC Semi-Finals.
The Brits may hold an additional point on the scoreboard in their match against the Italians, but since the Brits secured a 5-2 win over the Swiss, it’s safe to conclude that the Italians endured a tougher battle in their LVC Semi-Final journey.
Racing for the LVC Finals resumes on Thursday.
Meanwhile, make sure to keep abreast of the racecourse action from the Unicredit Youth America’s Cup (September 17-26).
Recently, closer to home, the IC37 North American Championship (September 20-22) unfolded in Newport, Rhode Island. Unfortunately for the 21 teams present at this high-profile event, the winds on the first two regatta days were too strong for racing to take place.
This resulted in the championship coming down to four intense races held in a single day.
After the final horn blew four times, Peter McClennen’s Gamecock crew took first place, followed by Steve Liebel’s New Wave team, and Hannah Swett and Ben Kinney’s MO.
“It was very windy out there and incredibly variable,” commented McClennen in an official regatta statement. “We were racing up near Prudence and Hope Islands, which presents unique challenges given the geography. For us, the goal was to get off the line quickly. We aimed to minimize our maneuvers and, once we had the spinnaker up, maximize our speed, reaching 16-17 knots. It was absolutely spectacular.”
Additionally on the East Coast, the Hobie 16 North Americans (September 16-20) took place at the Roton Point Sailing Association in Rowayton, Connecticut, with racing conducted on Long Island Sound.
After 11 races, Francisco Figueroa and Faith Payne, representing Puerto Rico, ended with 41 points, resulting in a tied score with the American duo of Ben and Casey Brown. This prompted the Race Committee to implement the tie-breaker rule, which favors the team with the most fourth-place finishes. Consequently, Figueroa and Payne clinched the victory, with the Browns finishing in second, followed by Mark Modderman and Jose Justiniano, also from the USA, in third.
May the four winds guide you safely home,
David Schmidt
Sail-World.com North American Editor
