J/24 World Championship 2024 at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle – Summary
by Jay Leon 6 Oct 12:57 PDT
1-5 October 2024
Honeybadger (USA 5325) triumphs at the J/24 World Championship in Seattle © Dennis Pearce
Seattle—renowned for its coffee, rain, and salmon—proved yet again that it can deliver an extraordinary event, particularly with top-notch sailboat racing on the agenda. The Seattle 2024 J/24 World Championship, sponsored by Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, culminated yesterday on Puget Sound, featuring about 10 knots of northerly breeze and a sky with rippled clouds punctured by blue patches.
The day began with a postponement that allowed the northerly winds to strengthen. Skipper Travis Odenbach and his crew on Honeybadger (USA 5325) showcased expert sailing, securing the day’s lone top finish and the overall championship title in a fleet of 56 boats.
“That’s such a relief!” Odenbach exclaimed joyfully right after clinching the regatta. “I’ve been aiming to win the J/24 Worlds for a decade!” Despite previously achieving second and third place finishes and winning the J/24 U.S. Nationals Championship, this regatta involved a significant commitment to competitive sailing in the world’s most beloved keelboat. “We devised a strategy back in January,” he shared, emphasizing that they adhered to it closely. “We’re from the Great Lakes, which offer a different experience as there are no tides.” To tackle this, he gathered an exceptional crew, including tactician and former Olympian Dave Hughes. “I had many remarkable individuals supporting this achievement,” he said, crediting his highly skilled team.
Odenbach’s Honeybadger team stood tall on the winners’ podium alongside Mike Ingham, skipper of USA 5443, who secured second place, and Kohei Ichikawa, steering Gekko Diana (JPN 5450), who finished third. In the Corinthian division, Nobuyuki Imai and his Siesta (JPN 5185) crew claimed top positions, followed closely by skipper Jakob Lichtenberg’s Hair of the Dog (USA 5354) crew, and Daniel Borrer’s Jesus Lizard (USA 2436) team.
In the All-Female category, skipper Elisabeth Hudson’s Two Shots (USA 2342) crew was formidable, followed by Lee Ann Zaretsky’s Lady Minx (USA 5482) and Chloe Nunn’s Super G (GBR 4260). In the Under-25 division, Sam Hopper’s Saltine (USA 62) excelled, trailed by Ryan Milne’s Jester (USA 5470) and Yuki Sekine’s Gyosyu (JPN 5273).
The final day featured just one race, but the overall regatta offered nine thrilling races across five days, highlighting numerous changes in standings and considerable rivalry within the fleet.
“It’s been phenomenal,” said Jon Anderson, who acted as regatta chair and participated in Lichtenberg’s Hair of the Dog. “We selected this period specifically for its typically superior breeze relative to the rest of summer, landing right between the seasons. Seattle lacks the consistent breeze of places like Miami or Texas, which challenges your tactical and strategic acumen.”
All sailors affirmed that the 56-boat fleet exemplified the pinnacle of competitive one-design keelboat racing.
“Racing against the best, akin to facing Tiger Woods, has been a significant theme this week as the greatest competitors were present,” shared Ron Rosenberg, a multi-time world champion who served as tactician on Kurt Dammeier’s Amuse Bouche (USA 3379). He noted that winds varied from 5 to 20 knots throughout the nine races, stating, “This regatta was more strategic than speed-oriented, challenging many teams in a welcomed way.”
While Seattle presented excellent racing conditions, competitors also enjoyed a wonderful onshore atmosphere, a tribute to the tireless efforts of dedicated volunteers and sponsors.
“The race committee excelled. Each day featured snacks and refreshments in the tent, along with some beers if desired,” Ingham remarked. “They truly delivered an impressive event.”
This seamless integration of racing and social scene was partly facilitated by title sponsor Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, with founder Kurt Beecher Dammeier being a passionate J/24 sailor.
“The level of competition is outstanding, 56 boats, with at least 35 capable of winning a race at any moment,” Dammeier noted. This sentiment was echoed in the results: Even though Odenbach and Honeybadger achieved three top finishes, victories were otherwise distributed throughout the fleet, with no other crew winning more than one race.
“It was crucial for this regatta to have a significant local sponsor—not a bank—representing us,” Dammeier added. “I hope future Worlds adopt this model, incorporating something inherently local as a lead sponsor,” he remarked, signifying its importance in embedding a unique identity within the regatta.
The 2025 J/24 World Championship is slated for September 6-14 off Plymouth, England. To learn more about next year’s championship, please visit www.j24worlds2025.com.
Final Results:
Pos Boat Name Sail No Club/Org R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 Net
1 Honeybadger USA 5325 Rochester YC 43 [18] 11 10 6 2 12 8
2 None USA 5443 Rochester Canoe Club 39 24 5 [28] 10 71 15 1
3 Gekko Diana JPN 5450 Seabornia Yacht Club Association 2 [28] 33 42 62 43 26 67
4 Siesta JPN 5185 WSC 11 17 [20] 71 67 12 18 79
5 Hair of the Dog USA 5354 CYC Seattle 7 [19] 11 16 12 12 11 38
6 War Canoe USA 5347 CYC Seattle 52 75 2 [DSQ – 57] 18 59 80
7 Jesus Lizard USA 2436 Borrer Yacht Racing 21 8 [23] 81 51 25 68
8 La Superba ITA 416 Marina Militare Italiana 12 [37] 62 32 03 12 90
9 Team Tarheel USA 5287 The Florida Yacht Club 62 20 [22] 11 33 71 22 92
10 Baba Louie USA 2365 Seattle YC/CYC Seattle 9 [41] 10 18 15 158 10 93
11 Jaded USA 1892 Ventura Yacht Club 16 17 [38] 92 13 46 89
12 Headcase IRL 4247 MSC
13 128 RDG – 14 RDG – 14 [32] 26 44 104
13 Ghost USA 5322 CYC Seattle [30] SCP – 101 32 12 26 11 14 16 22
14 Blitz USA 3775 Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club 82 2 [35] 15 21 42 134
15 Tata Patagonia ARG 5453 Club Nautico Bariloche 17 10 25 12 27 [40] 20 117
16 JMANIA GRE 5367 NOPF 185 211 1314 [49] 92 72 4131
16 Caramella USA 5235 Toms River Yacht Club 23 12 [43] 24 22 12 339
18 Amuse Bouche USA 3379 CYC Seattle 11 13 32 10 [36] 30 15 21 34
19 Tremendous Slouch USA 5471 CYC Seattle 33 14 11 19 12 [36] 27 136
20 LOL USA 126 DCYC 24 21 [29] 52 89 28 164
21 Wind Monkey GBR 2720 Saltash Sailing Club 15 SCP – 32 17 71 [44] 38 19 14
22 Atom Ant USA 1980 CYC Seattle 10 15 47 17 [50] 21 31 160
23 Self Abuse USA 2845 CYC Seattle 19 31 16 33 [41] 51 93 157
24 Evil Octopus USA 5277 Richmond Yacht Club 28 24 12 [34] 32 33 181 9183
25 Innamincka AUS 4793 Middle Harbour Yacht Club 38 [48] 34 25 17 73 161 1191
26 Zero Gravity USA 4200 Dillon Yacht Club 14 45 19 22 18 [52] 45 20 203
27 Saltine USA 62 Portland YC 44 26 20 31 19 14 29 29 212
28 Spark USA 5470 Seattle YC 22 27 [49] 27 35 29 20 216
29 Suspence USA 3421 CYC Seattle 29 38 48 39 20 [54] 28 221
30 Bad Moon USA 267 Grapevine Sailing Club 20 23 36 [42] 63 84 23 3223
31 Gyosyu JPN 5273 Koaziro Yacht Club 36 61 42 64 [55] 40 229
32 Itchy & Scratchy GER 3593 Klub am Rupenhorn 39 37 63 73 94 [53] 172 232
33 Pearl USA 5477 Seattle YC / CYC Seattle 34 [46] 27 28 31 27 34 37243
34 Tundra Rose USA 3843 CYC Seattle / GHYC – NZ 27 16 30 63 [41] 35 233 234
35 BLURRRR CAN 3373 West Vancouver Yacht Club 26 43 31 45 16 81 44247
36 Shell Shocked USA 5258 Dillon Yacht Club 35 [52] 45 40 43 30 25 25
37 Rhumba Girl USA 1826 Sandpoint Sailing Association 31 25 [51] 29 30 43 46 44 326 2
38 Seaweed USA 1938 Oswego Yacht Club 32 32 [40] DPI – 293 3 33 32 261
39 WHO CARES USA 2939 CYC Seattle [RET – 57] 444 DNE – 57 DPI – 166 5 648 387
40 Alice? USA 5356 NFYC 42 34 15 35 34 [53] 33 11
41 Two Shots USA 2342 Houston Yacht Club 41 36 24 DPI – 204 3 9 7 35 27 2
42 Jawbreaker GBR 3525 Saltash SC 46 [54] 33 41 46 23 22 12 48
43 HANGOVER JPN 4459 Suma Yacht Club 49 38 04 07 47 [53] 28 5
44 MAGICA FATA ITA 473 Circolo Nautico Cervia Amici della Vela 40 42 41 RDG – 41 RDG – 41 RDG – 41 273 30
45 Jibarito PUR 814 Gale Force Racing 25 35 50 43 54 7 1 7 31
46 Irrational USA 3839 CYC Seattle 37 50 [55] 30 38 22 47 49
47 Pilgrim ITA 498 Lega Navale Italiana di Mandello del Lario [55] 29 95 50 24 55
48 Atomic USA 674 Sandpoint Sailing Association 47 47 26 38 48 64
49 Sabawind USA 662 Canyon Ferry Yacht Club 51 49 [56] 46 29 25 43 83
50 Lady MINX USA 5482 Rochester Yacht Club 52 [53] 53 32 36 37 40 3 245
51 Super G GBR 4260 Saltash Sailing Club 48 40 [54] 44 50 22 48 75 349
52 EASY STREET USA 3746 CYC Seattle 50 [56] 52 48 34 35 54 44 36
53 Take Five USA 2223 California Yacht Club 45 39 39 [RET – 57] DNC – 57 DNC – 57 52 52 34 37
54 Queen’s Gambit USA 5171 North Flathead Yacht Club 53 34 44 52 50 46 [55] 377
55 Abracadabra USA 1910 Ventura Yacht Club 43 [55] 42 51 49 34 38 49
56 Katana USA 4157 SSSS [54] 51 46 49 51 35 25 2389
