Please select your home edition
Edition
GJW Direct 2024 Dinghy

J/24 World Championship 2024 at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle - Day 3

by Jay Leon 4 Oct 2024 08:02 BST 1-5 October 2024
Travis Odenback's Honeybadger team from Rochester Yacht Club score back-to-back 1st place finishes on day 3 - J/24 World Championship in Seattle © Dennis Pearce

Sailboat racing is a game of skill, but also a game of luck. It takes skill to make a boat go fast for an entire race. It takes skill to pick the best side of the racecourse. But sometimes the "best side" fades away, or the boats ahead conspire to make sure no clear lane will ever be available.

Other times, the lucky times, a wind shift materializes at just the right moment. Or the other boats leave your lane wide open. The statistically minded will tell you that random luck is equally distributed - that everyone gets the same number of lucky breaks.

After Travis Odenbach (bow 28) won races 4 and 5 back-to-back today he was asked how it happened and he said: "We got really lucky". He further explained that they were deep at the starts of both races, got pushed to the side of the course they didn't want, and then got "lucky" breaks that jumped them back up to the lead.

The only way to explain back-to-back first place finishes that are supposed to be lucky is to accept that some people are able to make their own luck. Sure, luck was involved, but as Travis further said: "We have a great team - that never gives up." After six races, Travis and his Honeybadger luck making team from Rochester Yacht Club are in first place with 19 points.

Not far behind and also from Rochester, is Mike Ingham's team with 23 points (bow 43).

While the rivals from Rochester fight it out for first and second, there are four teams vying for third place. The two Japanese teams that were first and second after day 1, Siesta and Gekko Diana have 42 and 38 points respectively, and Mike Goldfarb's War Canoe team from CYC Seattle (bow 48) has 39 and Paul Abdullah's Team Tarheel have 43. These four teams are essentially tied in pursuit of one remaining podium spot - unless luck runs short in Rochester!

Everyone on these teams had better wear their lucky socks tomorrow. The weather is turning from sunny skies and gentle north winds to a rainy and gusty southerly with blasts into the 20s. We have had six spectacular races over the past three days and tomorrow big things are bound to happen in the big breeze.

Related Articles

Poole Regatta to Host IRC Europeans in 2026
4 days of competitive racing in a spectacular environment The enviable track record Poole has built for hosting unmissable regattas continues in 2026 with the inclusion of the prestigious IRC European Championship as an integral element of racing, alongside multiple class starts. Posted on 1 Apr
Bangor Packet takes J/24 Midwinter Championship
Bangor Packet closed with scores of 5,1,2 to net 27 points Class veteran Tony Parker's Bangor Packet stayed consistent through nine races to earn the 2025 J/24 Midwinter Championship in Miami, FL. Posted on 24 Mar
Registration open for the 2025 Yachting Cup
San Diego's Premier Spring Regatta San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2025 Yachting Cup, San Diego's premier spring regatta. Posted on 4 Mar
Sydney Harbour Regatta champions decided
Another late start as a light sea breeze fought the land breeze on the final day Another late start as a light sea breeze fought the land breeze, making it hard on competitors and race officers alike earlier, but eventually everyone settled in and new champions and winners were declared. Posted on 2 Mar
The 2026 J24 Worlds announces Title Sponsor
Peerless Industrial Systems support the event in Melbourne, Ausutralia The 2026 J24 World Championship is being held at the iconic Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne from the 4 - 11th November. The Organising Committee is excited and proud to announce the confirmation of our Title Sponsor, Peerless Industrial Systems. Posted on 15 Feb
J24 Australian Nationals in Melbourne
The undisputed king picked up his 7th Nationals title Last week the undisputed king of J24s in Australia picked up his 7th Nationals title. Sean Kirkjian and crew dominated the racing, finishing ten races with five firsts to finish on 20pts, 10 clear of second place Brendan Lee. Posted on 19 Jan
2026 J24 Worlds set for Melbourne
Being held at the iconic Sandringham Yacht Club The 2026 J24 World Championship is being held at the iconic Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne from the 4-11th November. This will be the 4th Worlds to be held in Australia and the second at Sandringham YC. Posted on 17 Dec 2024
Enter now for Plymouth Race Week
Early Bird discount, with 100% money back guarantee if you cannot make it Plymouth is already getting ready for their annual Sailing Race Week. Devon's picturesque coastline will be the backdrop for another exhilarating Sailing Regatta 10-13th July 2025. Posted on 2 Dec 2024
Father Frost Regatta: An unforgettable weekend!
Hamburger Segel Club hosted 42 boats with 186 participants The Hamburger Segel Club hosted forty-two boats with 186 participants this past weekend. The HSC RC/ PRO team did an excellent job in the challenging lake winds to run seven exciting races in three classes: J/22s, J/24s, and J/70s. Posted on 24 Nov 2024
J/Fest Southwest a family affair!
A popular tradition among the J/Boat owners throughout the region The J/Fest Southwest Regatta celebrated its 14th Anniversary and it has been a popular tradition among the J/Boat owners throughout the region. For the 2024 edition, thirty-five J/Teams participated from around the country. Posted on 10 Nov 2024