J/88 North American Championship 2024 at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club
by Meghan O'Rourke 2 Oct 19:35 BST
25-29 September 2024
J/88 North American Championship 2024 © J/88 North American / Vakaros
The J88 North American Championship took place this past weekend at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland, Michigan. With 11 highly competitive boats on the line, the stage was set for an intense showdown. Heading into the regatta, Team Banter, led by owner Ben Marden, reflected on the strength of the fleet.
"We felt like it was anybody's regatta, and that we'd be fortunate to make the podium with such a deep fleet of well-sailed boats and accomplished competitors," Marden noted. "Our plan was to have fun, stay consistent, focus on good communication, and not let emotions get too high or too low."
The event officially kicked off on Thursday, September 26th, but Mother Nature had other plans. A lack of breeze kept sailors ashore, and by 12:30 EST, the Race Committee hoisted AP over A, signaling the abandonment of racing for the day. While competitors were eager to get on the water, the postponement added to the anticipation of what would unfold in the coming days.
After Thursday's racing was abandoned, the Race Committee was determined to make up for lost time on Friday, setting an ambitious goal of completing four races to stay on schedule. The forecast promised plenty of action, with breeze expected to build from 15 to 20 knots throughout the day, offering perfect conditions for exciting, high-stakes racing.
Lindsey Duda's team, Sin Duda, thrived in these challenging conditions. With flawless boat handling, sharp tactics, and seamless teamwork, they dominated the day with three first-place finishes. Their consistency in navigating the shifty, offshore winds earned them a commanding lead in the standings. By day's end, Sin Duda had opened up a five-point cushion over Banter, who sat in second place, while Erica maintained a solid grip on third.
Saturday's forecast called for a left shift and a dying breeze throughout the day, creating challenging conditions for the fleet. Despite the tricky weather, the Race Committee managed to get two races off early, taking advantage of the breeze before it began to fade closer to shore. As the wind softened and became increasingly unstable, the fleet found itself in a convergent zone where shifts and lulls made tactical decisions critical. Recognizing the need for steadier conditions, the Race Committee made the smart decision to move the course further offshore in an effort to squeeze in another race before the day's end.
Piranha capitalized on these tough conditions, winning the day with strong performances, but Lindsey Duda's Sin Duda remained steady, maintaining their overall lead. Reflecting on the day, David Dennison, owner of Piranha, remarked, "Friday we thought we sailed well but we kept coming up middle of the fleet. Saturday, we went back to basics with confidence in our boat speed and counting on everyone to do their job. We tried to stick to our prestart plan regarding boat setup and tune and side of the course and focused on getting to pressure. The team did a great job keeping their eyes open for the next breeze and directing us to it." After three tricky races, Friday's leaders—Sin Duda, Banter, and Erica—continued to hold the top spots on the leaderboard heading into Sunday's final races.
On the final day of racing, the Race Committee sent out a morning notice with the intent to run three races, hoping to make the most of the day despite a challenging forecast. The breeze was predicted to shift left and gradually fade as the day progressed, making it clear that conditions would be tricky.
With this in mind, the RC was determined to push through and get all three races completed. The first race of the day went off cleanly. By the second race, the breeze started to fade. RC started the third race but as the fleet rounded the top mark the wind began to die. By the time competitors rounded the bottom mark, the wind shifted 90-degree and RC was forced to abandon the third race despite their best efforts.
It was a frustrating end for many, but the RC's quick decision-making ensured fair competition, and the competitors appreciated the commitment to giving them as much racing as possible in challenging conditions.
Sin Duda claimed victory at the J/88 North American Championship, taking home the overall title, while Piranha earned the Corinthian honors after an intense weekend of racing. With tight competition and tricky conditions, the fleet faced some of the most challenging racing seen in recent years.
Reflecting on the event, Lindsey Duda, Owner of Sin Duda, remarked "We anticipated that this event was going to be a battle the entire way through, and it absolutely was. The fleet is very competitive, so we set up the team to make sure we had the right personalities to weather the storm. The conditions during the event were extremely tricky, so not only were we battling the other teams but we had to overcome the shifty and breeze conditions too. I'm just thankful that we had such a strong team put together, we were able to handle everything and maintain our focus and composure."
The success of the regatta would not have been possible without the exceptional leadership of PRO Leif Sigmond, whose precise race management kept the event running smoothly. The Race Committee and volunteers from Macatawa Bay Yacht Club were equally vital, providing seamless support both on and off the water. Their dedication and hospitality made this championship weekend not only a great test of skill but a memorable experience for everyone involved.
A huge thanks to Macatawa Bay Yacht Club for hosting such a fantastic event. It was a weekend to remember, filled with tough competition, camaraderie, and a shared passion for sailing.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat name | Sail No | Owners | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Sin Duda! | USA 14 | Lindsey Duda | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 19 |
| 2 | Banter | USA 21 | Ben Marden | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 26 |
| 3 | Gaucho | USA 16 | Dave Tufts | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 31 |
| 4 | Piranha (Corinthian) | USA 05 | Dave Dennison | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 33 |
| 5 | Exile (Corinthian) | USA 88 | Andy Graff | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 38 |
| 6 | Dutch (Corinthian) | USA 29 | John Leahey | 3 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 42 |
| 7 | Erica (Corinthian) | USA 82 | Brian Kaczor | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 46 |
| 8 | Whirlwind (Corinthian) | USA 56 | William Purdy | 11 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 52 |
| 9 | Church Key (Corinthian) | USA 75 | Chris and Liz Chadwick | 6 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 65 |
| 10 | Julia (Corinthian) | USA 85 | Grace and Michael Gillian | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 65 |
| 11 | Deviation | USA 24 | Iris Vogel | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 68 |