Please select your home edition
Edition
Noble Marine 2022 YY - LEADERBOARD

J/24 Autumn Cup at Plym Yacht Club

by Tim Octon 7 Oct 2023 07:11 BST 30 September - 1 October 2023
UK J/24 Autumn Cup 2023 in Plymouth © Paul Gibbins Photography

The fleet, a total of 12 boats, was made up of several local boats and various travellers. A special mention to the crew of Motley Crew, as this is the first time we have seen their 1978 TPI on the circuit.

Launching and mooring was at the Yacht Haven Quay dry stack, which proved to be very efficient. They ran two of the three forklifts which made short work of the launch and recovery.

Plymouth, the venue for the worlds in 2025, has two sailing areas; with the first day's forecast being a solid F4/F5 from the south - it was going to be tough sailing outside the breakwater. Two boats retired after race 1: Motley Crew with seasickness (a real issue in a J24 in big waves which can be a feature at Plymouth worlds - travellers be aware) and Juggernaut with a kicking strap failure.

Conditions saw boats fast footing upwind under jibs to enjoy a sleigh ride down wind with speeds up to 11+ knots(!) on the waves. The race committee handled the persistently veering wind during the day with superb race management, constantly adjusting the windward mark on each round. The day was won by Mr Mann with a near flawless performance, only missing out in race 2 to NJO2 when the bow was spotted up the mast during the starting sequence.

An excellent social event in the Plym Yacht Club gave the fleet a chance to bond over an organised Thai box meal and drinks in the club.

Day 2 and the forecast is F1/2 with gusts to 8 knots from the south-west. The Race Officer made the wise choice to pull the sailing area into the flatter water in the Sound, as the sea state outside was liable to be lumpy and with the light wind forecast un-sailable. Race 5 and the usual order is resumed with Mr Mann taking the win, Majic taking a 2nd and we see Jawbreaker making an appearance on the podium at 3rd. In the light wind a good start is paramount and race 6 with a nice start and a failure to cover by Majic saw NJO2 take their second win from Majic with Mr Mann in 3rd. The final race was a contest for 2nd overall between NJO2 and Majic with the win going to Majic.

Thanks especially to Sam Marshall sailing Wijit who pulled the event together.

If you want to race the Worlds in 2025 you will need to qualify during 2024 as it is not an open event or find a spot on a boat. The J24 association has access to a few boats that can be made available to newcomers.

Overall Results:

PosBoat NameHelmR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1Mr MannShane Hewlett121113‑79
2MaJicJames Torr23‑4422114
3NJ02Tim Octon3133‑51516
4JawbreakerDavid Cooper452234‑620
5Hi JinksMark Lewers5‑65565228
6WijitSam Marshall‑646646329
7Italian JobJohn Gorman7977‑107441
8HitchhikerChris Randall988878‑1048
9Violent JJ Culmer C Barton879911(RET)953
10NitroAnthony Goodwin1110RETRET‑12101164
11JuggernautNeil Trathen(DNF)DNCDNCDNC99865
12Motley CrewAndy Willett10RET(DNC)DNC8111266

Related Articles

Rooster are Clothing Partner of Poole Regatta
2026 is shaping up to be the largest in the event's history Rooster, the well-known watersports clothing and accessories manufacturer is to become the Official Clothing Partner of the International Paint Poole Regatta 2026. Posted on 22 May
J/24 Fowey Trophy and Southern Areas
Sunshine and swell, then rain and rivalries The 2025 J/24 Southern Areas Regatta took place over the weekend of 10-11 May, hosted jointly by the Fowey Gallants Sailing Club and the Royal Fowey Yacht Club. The event delivered exciting racing and tight results across the board. Posted on 17 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC overall
Awarding 7 class winners along with the overall award to J/24 Wharf Rat Day 2 of SDYC's Yachting Cup started with a bit of rain and overcast coastal skies. The race management team was concerned about the forecast conditions - specifically the sea state, which built as a result of an overnight offshore front. Posted on 5 May
2025 Yachting Cup at San Diego YC Day 1
Competitive racing with light conditions for the seven classes After all the concern about inclement weather and alternate plans... Day 1 of San Diego Yacht Club's Yachting Cup defied the forecasts. Posted on 4 May
SDYC hosts the 2025 Yachting Cup this weekend
Featuring one design and handicap classes racing Each year as the calendar flips to May, San Diego Yacht Club hosts the annual Yachting Cup regatta, featuring one design and handicap classes racing. Posted on 2 May
Sail On Alistair 'Storky' McLaughlin
Untimely passing of a truly outstanding sailing talent To say the untimely passing on 24th April of Ayrshire's Alistair 'Storky' McLaughlin, 64, has robbed only the north of Britain of a truly outstanding sailing talent would be to under-represent the dozens of regattas and championships he won. Posted on 29 Apr
J/24 Spring Cup at Plymouth
The build up to the world championship continues for the fleet 2025 is the year that the J/24 World Championship is hosted in Plymouth by the Plym Yacht Club and Saltash Sailing Club. Both clubs are actively building to an event in September that will see 60 plus J24's racing outside the breakwater. Posted on 27 Apr
Gorgeous sunny Spring Fest on San Francisco Bay
OIne-design fleets of J/24s, J/88s, and J/105s go racing The battle-hardened, hard-core sailors of San Francisco Bay, accustomed to the worst their Bay can dish out, were pleasantly surprised to contend with a very sybaritic weekend of sunny weather and light to moderate wind conditions! Posted on 21 Apr
Poole Regatta to Host IRC Europeans in 2026
4 days of competitive racing in a spectacular environment The enviable track record Poole has built for hosting unmissable regattas continues in 2026 with the inclusion of the prestigious IRC European Championship as an integral element of racing, alongside multiple class starts. Posted on 1 Apr
Bangor Packet takes J/24 Midwinter Championship
Bangor Packet closed with scores of 5,1,2 to net 27 points Class veteran Tony Parker's Bangor Packet stayed consistent through nine races to earn the 2025 J/24 Midwinter Championship in Miami, FL. Posted on 24 Mar