Ireland's defending J/24 World Champions, Headcase, have arrived in Melbourne, Australia, and begun training on Port Phillip ahead of their bid to retain the world title at the 2026 J/24 World Championship, which gets underway at Sandringham Yacht Club on 7th November.
The Irish crew, led by Lough Ree Yacht Club's Cillian Dickson, are also the Afloat.ie Sailors of the Year 2025, having received the national award following their historic World Championship victory in Plymouth last September.
Now, after months of planning and preparation, the five-man team are back together aboard Headcase, familiarising themselves with the Australian sailing venue and its potentially demanding spring conditions.
The defending champions have already completed their first two training sessions on Port Phillip, following several days of boat preparation after their arrival in Melbourne. In an update from Sandringham, the team said it took five full days to get Headcase ready for launch, despite the boat apparently needing little attention after its previous event.
The effort has paid off, and the crew is now focusing on getting to grips with local sailing conditions ahead of the championship.
Port Phillip Conditions Promise a Challenge
Melbourne's notoriously changeable spring weather has already hinted at what could await the international fleet.
The Headcase crew reported temperatures exceeding 30°C during their first two days in Australia, followed by a dramatic weekend change, with temperatures dropping to around 10°C and heavy rain.
Squalls across Port Phillip have also brought gusts exceeding 30 knots.
The Irish sailors expect to spend several hours afloat each day over the coming week, building their knowledge of the race area and the conditions they could encounter during the championship.
Ireland's World Champions Return
Headcase made Irish sailing history in September 2025 when Dickson and his crew became the first Irish team to win the J/24 World Championship, securing the title in Plymouth after a closely fought international series.
Alongside Dickson, the championship-winning team comprises Ryan Glynn of Ballyholme Yacht Club, Marcus Ryan and Louis Mulloy of Mayo Sailing Club, and Sam O'Byrne of Howth Yacht Club.
Back for More – Ireland's defending J/24 world champions Headcase are preparing to retain their title in Melbourne, Australia. The 2025 Afloat.ie/Irish Sailing Sailors of the Year have begun training on Port Phillip ahead of the World Championship, which starts on 7 November. Photo: Bob Bateman
Their achievement was subsequently recognised with the Afloat.ie/Irish Sailing Sailors of the Year 2025 award, celebrating a remarkable success for an independently organised amateur crew representing several Irish sailing clubs.
The Melbourne championship will bring together 38 teams from ten countries, with 202 competitors expected to take part, according to Australian Sailing.
Among Headcase's principal challengers will be American entry Bangor Packet, skippered by Tony Parker, which finished runner-up at Plymouth, and Japan's Gekko, skippered by Kohei Ichikawa, which took bronze. All three podium finishers from the 2025 championship are entered for the Australian rematch.
Championship Racing Starts on 7th November
Sandringham Yacht Club will host two days of Pre-Worlds racing on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November, offering competitors an early opportunity to test themselves against the international fleet.
Registration and measurement follow from 4th to 6th November, with an invitational race and opening ceremony on Friday 6th November.
The championship itself is scheduled for five days of racing, from Saturday 7th November to Wednesday 11th November, with ten races planned on Port Phillip. Further information is available from the official championship website.
Irish Crew Thank Supporters
Headcase have also acknowledged the considerable logistical and financial effort involved in getting their campaign to Australia. The crew thanked friends, family, and members of Mayo Sailing Club, Lough Ree Yacht Club, Howth Yacht Club, and Ballyholme Yacht Club for helping make the trip possible.
Irish Eyes Are Smiling – The Headcase crew celebrate their historic J/24 World Championship victory in Plymouth in 2025. The Irish sailors, subsequently crowned Afloat.ie/Irish Sailing Sailors of the Year, are now in Melbourne preparing to defend their world title on Port Phillip
They also singled out Warren, a fellow J/24 competitor and Sandringham Yacht Club member, for helping with access to tools and workshop facilities and for extending generous hospitality to the visiting Irish sailors.
With the boat now afloat and the crew reunited, attention turns to the training sessions and Pre-Worlds racing before Headcase begin their defence of Ireland's J/24 world title.
