2023 J24 North American Championships Report
Last week, the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team embarked on an exhilarating journey of competition, camaraderie, and challenge at the prestigious J24 North American Championship hosted by Sandusky Sailing Club (SSC) in Sandusky, Ohio. Twenty-eight teams from across the continent competed in a total of nine races over four days to crown this year’s North American champion. Competitors included teams from Jamaica and Argentina; as well as two all-female teams and a dozen Corinthian teams (i.e. boats sailing without professionals onboard).
With wind-filled sails and a determined spirit, the team leveraged their invaluable coaching with Mike Ingham and growth mindset to be the 1st place all-female team, 5th place Corinthian team, and 12th place overall.
Day 1: Putting it into Practice and Establishing Momentum
As the regatta kicked off, the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team wasted no time putting their recent coaching and new navigational tool, a Vakaros Atlas 2, to work. The opening day greeted sailors with moderate winds building throughout the day, slightly choppy waters, and four challenging races. Starts, mark roundings, and boat handling were the team’s strengths, but Sandusky Bay began to reveal what would become the main challenge of the 4-day regatta: shifting and complex wind patterns. The biggest goals accomplished were staying in phase (i.e. the strategy to minimize distance sailed upwind by staying on the tack that points you closer to the mark) and having boat speed. Staying in phase was the hard part! Led by skipper Erica Beck Spencer, the team demonstrated impeccable teamwork and strategic decision-making, leading to a strong start in the standings and finishing the day on a high note with a 7th place finish in the next to last race of the day.
Day 2: Postponed Ashore
Friday started with light and variable winds, so an Answering Pennant (AP) kept teams ashore for the morning. The lack of breeze became more apparent as the day progressed, and no races were sailed that day. Instead, the team used the opportunity to work on the boat, make new friends, and collect sail donations for the Sea Bags Sail Trade Program. The team collected 19 recycled sails over the course of the event!
Day 3: Bringing on the Breeze
The penultimate day of the regatta saw the team engage in intense battles for position in puffy moderate-to-heavy air accompanied by dramatic shifts in direction. With a strong fleet of competitors, every race counted and demanded flawless starts, crisp boat handling, and complex strategic and tactical maneuvers. The team's tenacity and determination were on full display as they jockeyed for advantageous spots in the fleet. Tactician Hillary Keimig’s shrewd decision-making at critical moments often paid dividends, inching the team closer to the top ranks. After two solid races, including a 4th place finish, the fleet sailed back to SSC in dramatic fashion under a tornado warning. Thanks to the phenomenal race committee, all teams were safely tied up minutes before 80-knot gusts pummeled the clubhouse. No major damage was done to any boats, but many tree limbs were downed in the gale.
Final Day: A Showcase of What We’ve Learned
As the final day dawned, the team found themselves within striking distance of the top ten. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation and excitement, but the light and variable winds forecasted for the day did not look promising. Like a light switch, the breeze went from 4 knots to 12 with gusts in the upper teens. With spirits high from the prior day's 4th place finish and skills honed to perfection, the team delivered an exceptional performance to earn a 5th place finish in the first race of the day. The second race upwind provided 30 degree shifts, but there’s no question the team (bow 10) won the start, which was the culmination of the team’s hard off-season work with coach Mike Ingham.
The final race brought a bit more wind, and with that, huge holes that created velocity headers, a sudden reduction in wind velocity which mirrors the effects of a change in wind direction. Upwinds proved difficult for trimmer Emily Carville and skipper Erica Beck Spencer; however the duo worked together to keep the boat moving fast with a consistent angle of heel, in building breeze and unpredictable puffs. The team made a few gains on the first downwind and set up for a strong leeward mark rounding, working the right side of the course despite a 60 degree wind shift hard right. This strong performance in unwieldy conditions moved the team up one place on the final day to finish 12th overall.
Gratitude and New Horizons
The J24 North Americans in Sandusky, Ohio, provided the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team with an unforgettable experience. The event not only showcased their growth as a team but also highlighted the power of cooperation, adaptability, and sportsmanship.
Skipper Erica Beck Spencer expressed her gratitude for the team's hard work and dedication, emphasizing that the regatta was not only about winning but also about the journey and the connections forged with fellow sailors. The Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Team's performance demonstrated that they are not only fierce competitors on the water; the women are also powerful ambassadors of the sport embodying the values of excellence, growth, unity, and the love of sailing.
As the team sets sail for new horizons, the members carry memories and lessons learned from competing against the best sailors from across the continent.
The team is looking forward to their next on-the-water challenge at the 2023 Lady Liberty Regatta in New York next month and hope to continue to inspire future generations of sailors to chase their dreams, embrace challenges, and sail toward excellence.
See you on the water.
- Written by Hillary Keimig (Tactician) and Laura Graham (Mast)