The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS) played host to the 2024 J/70 Australian Championship, delivering four days of gripping competition on the famous Sydney Harbour. Nineteen high-calibre J/70’s, including four from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), battled it out in 11 races to determine the nation’s top J/70 sailors.
Image: RSYS/Darcie Collington
Day 1: Celestial Takes Early Lead
Thursday marked the start of the championship with a delayed kick-off due to lighter breeze conditions. Despite the challenges, the four front-runners – Celestial, Ambition, Vamos, and Juno – established their dominance in the first three races. CYCA’s Bryan Northcote’s Jedi and Marco Poli’s Nuvola also made their presence felt on the opening day.
Image: RSYS/Darcie Collington
Day 2: Tricky Winds Test Competitors
The second day of the championship presented another challenge with tricky winds from the east. Competitors had to navigate the conditions carefully as they vied for supremacy in the highly competitive fleet.
Day 3: N/E Breeze and Saturday Harbour Traffic
As the championship progressed to Day 3, the winds shifted back to the northeast. However, the sailors not only contended with the changing breeze but also had to navigate through the bustling Saturday Harbour traffic, as multiple fleets raced alongside the J/70 Australian Championship participants.
Day 4: CYCA Members Dominate Standings
The final day of the championship saw CYCA members making their mark at the top of the standings. Celestial, Ambition, Vamos, and Juno, skippered by Rob Davis, Chris and Lachlan Dare, Tim Ryan, and Reg Lord, respectively, showcased their prowess in the one-design class. With CYCA members on many of the leading boats, the club asserted its dominance in the J/70 fleet.
Image: RSYS/Darcie Collington
Final Standings: Celestial Secures the Crown
After 11 exhilarating races, it was Rob Davis and his crew on Celestial (AUS 507) from SYC who emerged victorious, securing the title of the 2024 J/70 Australian Champions. Rob and his crew displayed incredible consistency throughout this championship scoring a remarkable 25 points at the end of the series. Tim Ryan’s Vamos (AUS 1567) from CYCA claimed the second spot, closely followed by Chris and Lachlan Dare’s Ambition (AUS 1780) from SYC in third.
The championship showcased the incredible skill and crew work of the J/70 sailing community in Australia, highlighting Sydney Harbour as a premier destination for competitive sailing events.
- Celestial J70 (AUS 507) Rob Davis, David Chapman, Alex Gough & Jack Acton, SYC
- Vamos (AUS 1567) Tim Ryan, Robert Greenhalgh, Charlie Gundy & Jess Grimes, CYCA
- Ambition (AUS 1780) Chris Dare, Lachlan Dare, Ben Lamb & Murray Jones, SYC
