The J/70 Victorian State Championship and Australian J/70 National Championship were held at Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC), Port Phillip Bay in Victoria throughout January. Eleven races were held over three days for the Victorian States from January 14-16. That event was immediately followed by the Australian J/70 National Championship with 16 races over four days from January 19-22. Teams from Sydney and the fleet from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron traveled to Sandringham for the events, bringing the total fleet to 14. Tim Ryan’s VAMOS held on to win the Australian J/70 Championship in a thrilling culmination to the regatta on Port Phillip Bay. VAMOS, crewed by Rob Greenhalgh, Jess Grimes and Charlie Gundy, took a seven-point lead over Sam Haynes’ CELESTIAL into the final day, while Sandringham Yacht Club local Rod Warren’s JOUST70 was in the mix, 10 points behind VAMOS. But, heading into the final race, the National title was still on the line after JOUST70 won three consecutive races to close the gap to VAMOS, which finished third, seventh and fourth in races 13-15. That meant VAMOS led JOUST70 by two points with two drops factored in, while CELESTIAL remained in third. CELESTIAL, crewed by David Chapman, Jack Macartney and Locky Pryor, closed out the regatta with victory in the final race, edging out JOUST70 as VAMOS finished fourth. With VAMOS and JOUST70 level on 30 points at the end of the weekend, VAMOS was declared champion on countback, with seven wins amongst 11 podium finishes from the 16 races.