J/24 World Championship at Nautical Club of Thessaloniki, Greece - Day 1
by Julie & Christopher Howell 12 Sep 2023 10:57 PDT
9-16 September 2024
During the 45th anniversary of the J/24 Class, 10 nations are on hand to open the 2023 World Championship. This year's edition is hosted by the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki in Greece with 35 boats representing Argentina, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan and the United States. After three races under blue skies and breeze of 8-10 knots, American Keith Whittemore's Furio leads the pack with scores of 2,2,1 for just 5 points. Italian Ignazio Bonanno's La Superba holds second place with 11 points.
Alexandros Tagaropoulos's Hellenic Police of Greece is in third overall at 16 points and also topping the 20+ boat Corinthian division.
Bonanno's La Superba of the Italian Navy launched the Championship with a bullet, with Whittemore's Furio in second and the Irish Cillian Dickson's Headcase in third. Headcase won the J/24 European Championship in Hungary only two weeks ago. Tony Parker's Bangor Packet of the USA won the next match, with Whittemore and Dickson again runners-up. Whittemore's Furio dominated Tuesday's third and final battle, followed by Parker and Bonanno.
Teams arrived onsite last weekend for two days of efficient inspection and registration, including a practice race on Monday. The Naval Command Base of Northern Greece then presented the Opening Ceremony for the Championship, as competitors enjoyed a picture-perfect sunset.
Racing continues through Saturday. A complete list of all J/24 World Champions can be found at www.j24class.org/about-the-j24/hall-of-fame/world-champions. The first J/24 World Championship occurred in 1979 in Newport, Rhode Island USA.
Complete event details may be found at j24worlds2023.ncth.gr.