2026 J/24 Hodges Sandringham Australian Championship at Sandringham Yacht Club

‘Checkmate' blasting to windward on day 2, ‘Two Dogs' to leeward during the 2026 J/24 Hodges Sandringham Australian Championship © Marg's Yacht Photos

An invitation to Kurt Dammeier from Seattle to come to Oz prior to the 2026 Worlds has set us a new benchmark in Australia to aim for.

'Amuse Bouche' (Kurt chartering Sydney boat 'ACE') with Mike Marshall and home-grown pro Ben Lamb and crew, looked faster every time they raced, pipping 'Haywire' skippered by Victoria's own Barney Walker, with the reigning champion 'Checkmate' skippered by Sean Kirkjian finishing in third. With Kurt, Keiji from Japan, Lily from China, we had an unusual 27 boat 'International' National Championship.

Day 1

Didn't we turn it on for the first day, 410C with a Northerly building and gusting over 20 knots. Fortunately, on the water was the coolest place to be.

The day started with a briefing from Race Management followed by an acknowledgment of the recent passing of our beloved longtime Australian J24 President Steve Wright.

Steve's trimmer Ian Goodbury (now skipper on Steve's boat Tinto for the Regatta) spoke of Steve's love for the sailing community and his desire for his crew along with his wife Karyn to compete at the Nationals.

Day 1 Start during the 2026 J/24 Hodges Sandringham Australian Championship - photo © Marg's Yacht Photos

The Victorian Fleet's longtime friendship and camaraderie with Steve and the constant competitive interstate banter between the Southerners from Victoria ('Mexicans' as he liked to call us) and the 'Cockroaches' from NSW, will battle in honour of Steve with a new perpetual Steve Wright Memorial Trophy, bestowed to the state finishing with the three best boats scoring the lowest combined score in the Nationals.

Overall, with the wind up and down, along with big shifts and big holes we ended up with three different race winners over the 3 races sailed.

Day 2

What a difference 24 hours makes! As the winds swung from the North to the Southwest overnight and the swell increased, Port Phillip Bay turned on a show.

With the start of Race 4 hit by a few sustained 27 knot gusts the racecourse was not one for the faint hearted with base breeze around 20+ knots.

A 1-2 metre sea for good measure saw tough racing with crews lost overboard (and recovered), boats damaged and returning the marina, there was definitely a bit on.

Fox, Haywire and Amuse bouche during the 2026 J/24 Hodges Sandringham Australian Championship - photo © Marg's Yacht Photos

Highlights of the day included 'Amuse Bouche' skippered by Kurt Dammeier who came out hot, put the foot down and managed bullets in races 4 and 5. Race 6 was wrapped up in an easing breeze by 'Checkmate' skippered by Sean Kirkjian.

Consistent sailing by 'Haywire' (Barney Walker from Sandringham YC, a successful 40-year veteran of the class returning and loving the current J24 scene) and Keiji Kondo from Japan (sailing chartered boat 'Vice Versa' as 'Fox' with his son's crew) saw them consolidate themselves on the leader board.

Day 3

Gale warning on the bay today! 43 degrees of blazing heat with many uncontrolled bush fires raging. No sailing. With a forecast of 45+ knots and possible electrical storms, the day morphed into lunch in the club bar for some (watching dolphins round up bait fish only 20 metres from the panoramic club windows) while others were more adventurous. Turns out Kurt is a very keen golfer, and at the morning briefing, found a fellow golfer Daniel from 'Pokerface' and off they went, 9 holes in the heat, and even got the US flag raised!

Sadly, for many, it was a catastrophic bush fire day in country Victoria with many homes and farm stock lost and towns devastated.

Day 4

With bush fires still raging throughout Victoria and a Westerly change at gale force, another abandonment was decreed by Race Committee, ending the regatta.

Fortunately, after only two racing days, but with 6 races sailed, we had a series and were able to declare the winners of each division.

With lots of time to socialise along with photos, free steak sandwiches and drinks from the bar, many a story was shared spreading the J24 love amongst the crews from Victoria, interstate and of course our guests from China, Japan and USA. So many great memories.

Prize Winners: (full results below)

One Design
1st - Amuse Bouche skippered by Kurt Dammeier from the USA
2nd - Haywire skippered by Victoria's own Barney Walker
3rd - Checkmate skippered by Sean Kirkjian

PHS
1st - Two Dogs - Jack Fullerton, VIC
2nd - Wildfire - Nick Chapman, VIC
3rd - Convict's Revenge - Simon Grain, VIC

First Female Helm
Kaotic - Catherine Thornton-Rofe

Steve Wright Memorial Interstate Cup
Team Vic: 83 points, Team NSW: 91.5 points
Team Victoria the inaugural winner!

As a measure of the appeal of the J24 class in Australia, over 90% of the boats had one or more female crew, and there were four all female crews.

To the organisers, a big shout out to SYC Race Management, Steve Aulich RO, Clare Cope Deputy RO, and a great team of volunteers for a magnificently run regatta in sometimes difficult conditions.

A big thank you to our long-time sponsors, Hodges Sandringham Real Estate for their great support, with Amanda Thompson from Hodges presenting the trophies at the presentation dinner on Saturday night. Congratulations also to our Victorian J24 Committee, putting together a huge and successful regatta.

A great (if short) Regatta, and just a teaser for what's to come. See you all in November for the 2026 Epigen J24 Worlds!

Overall Results:

One Design

PHS