40th J/24 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy - Day 1
by Julie & Christopher Howell 27 Aug 2018 12:24 PDT
23-31 August 2018
40th J/24 World Championship at Lake Garda day 1 © Christopher Howell
J24 World Championships ©Event Media
Day 3 of the 40th J/24 World Championship ©Elena Giolai
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Lake Garda lived up to its "bucket list" reputation on the opening day of the J/24 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy.
Eighty-nine teams from 14 countries (Australia, Brazil, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden and United States) descended on the picturesque lake for the 40th edition of the Championship.
With sunny skies and breeze at 10-15 knots, American Will Welles' Kaster got out of the gate with the early advantage, posting 2,5,2 for nine points in the three races. Hungarian Tomai Bala'zs' J.Bond 037 started the day strong with 1,2, but a 13 in race three left him with 16 points for second place. Travis Odenbach's Honeybadger of the USA rests in third place with 29 points.
Bala'zs opened the regatta with a victory, ahead of Welles and Italian Ignazio Bonanno's La Superba. Keith Whittemore's Furio, USA, took the next battle, as Bala'zs dropped to second and Duncan McCarthy's Madeleine of Great Britain put another nation on the leaderboard. The final contest saw McCarthy, Welles and Whittemore comprise the top three.
Racing continues through Friday from Fraglia Vela Riva del Garda.
Full results and more information can be found at www.j24worlds2018.it