The premier lady skippers race on Port Phillip Bay Melbourne Victoria is the Jennifer Goldsmith Memorial Trophy regatta – this year swept by J/24 teams! In memory of Jennifer, a keen sailor, all the entry fees were donated to Melanoma skin cancer research. In its 24th year, the JGMT attracts Melbourne’s best female sailors from all the major keelboat clubs in the bay. This year the race began in very light, sunny 34 degree (93.3 degrees Fahrenheit) conditions, which quickly changed with the arrival of a southerly breeze reaching 12 knots, on what was a beautiful day for sailing. Amongst a fleet of 30, the boat size ranged from 44 footers to the smallest—two J/24s. Despite their disadvantage in size, the J’s had crew members who had competed at the highest level with both boats representing Australia in the J/24 Worlds in Sweden in 2011 and Bruschetta VI also in the Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge (New York 2014). HYPERACTIVE, skippered by Kirsty Harris with her all female crew, and BRUSCHETTA VI, skippered by Paulina Matilla with her male crew, excelled in the light conditions. By picking the wind shifts and changes in the freshening breeze, this resulted in both being in the top 10 boats over the finish line. HYPERACTIVE, who had an AMS rating, won the AMS division. However, the overall award was won by BRUSCHETTA VI with HYPERACTIVE second. Paulina Matilla was awarded the Jennifer Goldsmith Memorial perpetual trophy and a beautiful Tiffany & Co necklace. Paulina, who lives and sails in Finland, is currently working in Australia. The J/24s excelled against the competition, taking the major and divisional trophies. The Class has a strong local fleet of 20 active boats with the current and past Australian Champions amongst it. The J/24 has experienced a strong following in Australia and with results like these, it will only encourage more to take up J sailing! For more Australian J/24 sailing information, visit http://j24.com.au/.
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