J/24 North American Championship postponed to August 2021

2019 J/24 North American Championship © Christopher Howell

The International J/24 Class Association (IJCA) and the Sayville Yacht Club in Blue Point, New York today announced the postponement of the Good Samaritan Hospital J/24 North American Championship slated for August 11-16, 2020. The revised dates are August 18-22, 2021, pending approval of the SYC Board.

The Organizing Authority reviewed COVID-19 guidance documents from World Sailing, US Sailing and New York State, as well as working closely with event sponsors. The Sayville Yacht Club started an Infectious Disease Committee which has been monitoring the CDC, state and local government agencies in order to develop the Club's policies for the summer of 2020.

Joseph Buonasera, SYC Rear Commodore and J/24 NAC Regatta Chairman, said, "First and foremost, the organizing committee has the responsibility to make sure that all of the participants, including the volunteers and the race committee are able to participate in a safe and secure manner. We also have a responsibility to our sponsors. We understand this is very disappointing for all of us. There has been a great deal of work done to prepare for this regatta, and due to reasons beyond our control we feel that this postponement is the right thing to do. Our sponsors are ready to come back in 2021, and it will allow our participants to have the event that they have come to expect and deserve."

The previously scheduled J/24 North American Championships will now shift one year, with Kingston, Ontario Canada hosting in 2022 and Sandusky Sailing Club in Ohio in 2023. In the meantime, the Class wishes all J/24 sailors and their families the best in these unusual times. We look forward to resuming sailing as soon as we can.