Gekko wins 2026 CTO J/24 Pre-Worlds Regatta after Port Phillip weekend of extremes

Kohei Ichikawa's Gekko, winner of the 2026 CTO J/24 Pre-Worlds Regatta, racing on Port Phillip © Tidal Media / Alex Dare

Kohei Ichikawa's Gekko has won the 2026 CTO J/24 Pre-Worlds Regatta after a four-race series that delivered two dramatically different days on Port Phillip.

Gekko finished level with Ireland's Headcase on 13 points, taking the title on countback after closing the regatta with three consecutive victories in Races 2, 3 and 4. Headcase, skippered by Cillian Dickson, finished second and was the leading Corinthian entry.

Nick Chapman's Australian team on Wildfire completed the podium with 23 points, while Tony Parker's American entry Bangor Packet finished fourth on 25 points. Sean Kirkjian's Checkmate was fifth on 30 points.

The 29-boat international fleet opened the weekend on Saturday in rain, lightning and a sharp wind change. Fawkner Beacon recorded a westerly gust of 63 km/h (34 knots) at 2.02 pm as Port Phillip delivered a proper Melbourne examination.

A race was abandoned as lightning moved through the area, sending the fleet back to shore. Racing later resumed after the course was reset, allowing race management to complete two races. Kurt Dammeier's Amuse Bouche won Race 1 ahead of Headcase and Bangor Packet. Gekko began its winning run in Race 2, followed by Checkmate and Wildfire.

The event's Race Officer, Steve Aulich, described Saturday's stop-start conditions: "There was more lightning — very frightening... We started, but we abandoned, and then we got into shore. People are very wet, but happy. We got them back out after we reset the course, and away we go. So, a wonderful sail for the second race — conditions, 20 knots or so."

Sunday brought the opposite challenge. The breeze disappeared, AP was displayed and boats began returning to Sandringham Yacht Club. Many crews used the delay for maintenance and boat work while race management waited for a raceable wind.

At 12.50 pm, the Bureau of Meteorology's Fawkner Beacon station recorded calm conditions: zero wind speed and zero gust. The Bureau's 10 am Port Phillip forecast had called for west to south-westerly winds of about 10 knots, becoming south to south-easterly late in the afternoon.

The breeze eventually returned and two further races were completed. Gekko won Races 3 and 4, while Headcase recorded a fifth and a second to finish level on points but second on countback.

Reviewing Sunday, the Race Officer Steve Aulich said conditions were "light and shifty" when the fleet went out. Following a two-hour postponement under AP, "we waited around and had scones and coffee... Those that hung around were greeted with a good six-to-eight-knot southerly. It was glorious conditions and bright sunshine."

With Japan's Gekko and Ireland's Headcase fighting for the regatta on the final leg, he described "a close finish" and "a sensational end to what's been a very successful two days."

J/24 Pre-Worlds Results: (top five)

1. Gekko (JPN), Kohei Ichikawa — 13 points (10, 1, 1, 1)
2. Headcase (IRL), Cillian Dickson — 13 points (2, 4, 5, 2) — Corinthian
3. Wildfire (AUS), Nick Chapman — 23 points (6, 3, 8, 6)
4. Bangor Packet (USA), Tony Parker — 25 points (3, 6, 9, 7)
5. Checkmate (AUS), Sean Kirkjian — 30 points (4, 2, 14, 10)

The Pre-Worlds gave the international fleet its first full test of the race area before the Epigen J/24 World Championship. Registration and measurement run from 4 to 6 November, followed by the invitation race and Opening Ceremony on 6 November. Championship racing is scheduled from 7 to 11 November.

For official notices, results and event information, visit j24worlds2026.com.