The J24 World Championship served up another drama-filled day in Plymouth Sound, where a westerly breeze of 25 knots — with gusts topping 30 — tested every crew. Race officers kept the action inside the breakwater, running two hard-fought races as the fleet steered clear of yesterday’s rash of black flag penalties in what is shaping up to be a one-discard series.
At the sharp end, Ireland’s Headcase kept their cool under pressure. Skipper Cillian Dickson and his crew banked a 3rd and a 1st, recovering from a wild downwind moment in race five to cross the line first. Their scoreline (8, 1, 1, 3, 1) leaves them with an impressive 6 points nett and a clear lead at the halfway stage.
The day’s standout performance came from the USA’s Bangor Packet, helmed by Tony Parker. With a slick 1-2, Parker’s team leapt into second overall on 11 points, chasing the Irish leaders hard. Fellow American Michael Goldfarb on WarCanoe remained rock solid, posting two fourths to sit third overall on 14.
Irish Fleet Update
Behind the headline act, the rest of the Irish contingent endured a mixed but promising day:
- Snoopy’s J (Martin Mahon) – 11th overall, 44 pts, boosted by a fifth in race five.
- Hard on Port (David Bailey) – 16th on 55 pts, with two steady top-10 finishes.
- Blind Squirrel (Colm O’Flaherty) – 18th, 62 pts, still riding their race-two seventh.
- Jupiter (Conor Haughton) – 20th, 67 pts, thanks to a solid 10th this afternoon.
- Il Riccio (JP McCaldin) – 21st, 68 pts, just a point back.
- Hedgehog (Mark Usher) – 28th, 102 pts, consolidating mid-fleet.
- Crazy Horse (Luke McBride) – 42nd, 145 pts, battling through the breeze.
- Proud Mary (Bernard McConville) – 50th, 179 pts, still searching for form.
Incidents & Highlights
Drama wasn’t confined to the scoreboard. Italy’s La Superba was disqualified from race five after a protest over a first-mark collision with Germany’s Derbe Kerle, which suffered serious rudder and transom damage. Hopes are high she’ll be repaired in time for tomorrow.
Local favourites Violent J (Jason Culmer, Saltash) shrugged off damage from a previous-day collision to deliver what the race officer hailed as “the best start of the regatta,” kicking off race four in style and claiming their best result so far.
Looking Ahead
With five races sailed and one discard in play, Dickson’s Headcase continues to set the benchmark. Parker’s Bangor Packet has momentum, while WarCanoe lurks close behind. For the Irish, Snoopy’s J is poised to attack the top ten, while the rest of the squad will aim to climb as the championship enters its decisive phase.
Top 3 Overall (after five races, one discard)
- Headcase (IRL) – 6 pts
- Bangor Packet (USA) – 11 pts
- WarCanoe (USA) – 14 pts
