26-year-old Edward Gary and his Ayacucho team sailed consistently across the eight race series to earn their first J/70 title. In true Corinthian spirit, Gary assembled a roster with a major friends and family component: Travis Carlisle, College Sailing teammate Brendan Read, and Brendan’s father Brad Read. “Feels great!” said Gary. “I’ve sailed J/70s for a long time, but this is actually only my third regatta driving one.” The team was supported by a large group of loved ones. “It’s a whole family affair. I travel with my dad. My mom and sister usually come too. Brendan’s mom and Travis’s girlfriend are here as well – We had about 11 people cheering us on. I’ve sailed with Travis and Brendan for years.” “Many of the top teams here usually sail with professionals, so you knew the game was on,” said Gary. “We had no race wins. Consistency was the key for us.” The Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May went above and beyond to host one of the J/70 Class’s cornerstone events, supported by a dedicated army of volunteers and daily social events. The Atlantic Ocean race course served up a mix of wind conditions and beautiful rolling waves. The J/70 Class continues to promote Corinthian all-amateur sailing, both globally and locally, with another successful J/70 Corinthian National Championship. Next year, the J/70 Corinthian World Championship will come to America; mark your calendars for Marblehead, Massachusetts, from September 22-28, 2025.
Top Three:
- Ayacucho, USA2, Edward Gary – 3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -5 -2 -[7] ; 19
- Casting Couch, USA34, Cate Muller-Terhune – 1 -4 -1 -[7] -7 -3 -4 -1 ; 21
- Derecho, USA27, Jim Golden – 2 -5 -3 -[8] -1 -7 -1 -2 ; 21
Results: https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=16371
Photos from Hannah Lee Noll: https://gallery.hannahleenoll.com/j70-corinthian-nats-2024/