On Tuesday, September 17, the bay of Palma witnessed a spectacular start of the 2024 J/70 World Championship, organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the International J/70 Class Association.
With the first two races completed, Douglas Newhouse and Jeremy Wilmot’s Yonder (USA) is leading the overall standings, ahead of two Brazilian teams: Bruno Bethlem’s Arete and Ralph Rosa’s Mindset. Yonder tallied a first and a seventh.
With about nine knots of wind from the northeast, the Race Committee blew the first starting horn at 11:45 am. After nearly an hour and a half of intense competition, it was Newhouse/Wilmot’s Yonder from New York Yacht Club, who took the win ahead of Douglas Rastrello’s Good to Go, also racing under the U.S. flag representing Newport Harbor YC. Third place went to a Spanish team: Luis Albert’s Patakin from the Real Club Náutico de Palma.
The second and last race of the day started around 14h30 with a wind that, although more unstable, was increasing in intensity up to 12 knots. Charles Thomson’s British Brutus II, sailing under the Royal Southern YC flag, and coming from a 23rd place in the opening race, scored victory. The current J/70 World Champion was followed by Bethlem’s Arete from the IC Rio de Janeiro and American Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy of New York Yacht Club/GLPYC.
With these results, Yonder becomes the first provisional leader of the Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds 2024. The early podium includes Arete in second place after scoring 14 and 2. Third is Rosa’s Mindset, with a 15th and a fourth place.
Day One Top Five:
- [USA] Yonder, Douglas Newhouse/Jeremy Wilmot, 8 points
- [BRA] Arete, Bruno Bethlem, 16 points
- [BRA] Mindset, Ralph Vasconcellos, 19 points
- [GBR] Jelvis, Martin Dent, 20 points
- [GBR] Brutus II, Charles Thompson, 24 points
For complete event details, visit https://www.rcnp.es/j70worlds/.