The grand season finale for the 2024 J/70 SAILING Champions League was held in the picturesque coastal town of Vilamoura, Portugal this past weekend.
For four days, from the 26th to the 29th of September, the 24 best sailing teams from around the world competed for the coveted title. Teams from countries including Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Austria, France, USA, Poland, Netherlands, and Australia delivered nail-biting performances until the final moments.
Each day started with light winds, but by midday, the conditions on the Atlantic off the Algarve coast turned into perfect “Champagne Sailing”— an ideal setting for a late-September event.
The Danish Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub dominated from the start, but the Norwegian champion T@nsberg Yacht Club fought back fiercely. Both teams, known for their years of experience and tight teamwork, battled for the top spot.
The 2023 champions, Alandska Segelsdllskapet, struggled on the first day but managed a comeback on day two. Also notable was the Richmond Yacht Club from the USA, participating for the first time after securing a wildcard thanks to the introduction of the league format this year in the USA. The longest journey to Vilamoura was made by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club from Australia.
While the Danes dominated overall, Tonsberg took the first race. The excitement escalated when Esbo won the second race, but Tonsberg Yacht Club took risks in the third race and stumbled at the start. Remarkably, they recovered and claimed victory, making them the champions. Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub came second and Esbo Segelférening came third.
RPAYC Youth Development crew member, Bayley Taylor noted “Overall the racing was super tough. It took us a few races to figure out the boats but when competing against these guys who sail J70s as much as we sail Elliott 7s, it’s difficult to pinpoint the 1 percenters that make you go just half a knot faster. Towards the end of our racing we were able to start getting mixed up with the fleet a lot more, but unfortunately with such close racing, one mistake in both handling or strategy leads you straight to the back of the fleet.”
Team Goldfish will next be headed off to the Match racing championships in Hobart later this October. “We will be racing in Elliott 6s, so just myself Hugo and Josh are heading down”, said Bayley.
Bayley will also crew in an RPAYC YD all-female team of Isabella Holdsworth (Skipper), Heidi Bates, Sophie Aitken, Bayley Taylor and Annabelle Sampson in the upcoming Women’s Match Racing Championship / John Messenger Women’s Match Racing Regatta which commences 11 October through to 13 October.