USJCA District 14 Fleet 21

Welcome to Austin Yacht Club’s J/24 Fleet. Established in 1979, we are celebrating our Silver Anniversary throughout 2004 as the second oldest recognized one design fleet at AYC. The Fleet provides great opportunities for its members and guests to enjoy a wide spectrum of sailing related opportunities both on and off the water. From our informal club socials to participating in world-class championship racing in international settings, our Fleet has something to offer sailors at all levels…and something to grow into for those who desire to notch up their sailing experiences over time! And all of this in a boat that offers a strong international class organization run by professional staff members, established class rules that are actively enforced by formally trained volunteer measurers and ownership options ranging from newly built to very reasonably priced ‘fixer uppers’. We encourage you to join us some time and feel first hand that unique J/24 sensation that keeps 50,000 plus people continuing to sail the over 5,400 (and growing) J/24s that make up more than 150 fleets in 40 countries!

Our Fleet’s activities are guided by our Fleet Officers; the Fleet Captain, a Treasurer, a Fleet Reporter and our Social Chair(s), which rotate among the Fleet members each year. Most of our Fleet activities are scheduled around AYC’s Series race schedule. We race 2 windward/leeward races each Series date and the Fleet sponsors an organized themed social after the first set of races of each Series. The Fleet usually provides drinks and a main dish and members are encouraged to bring side dishes that fit with the theme, past themes have included German, Mexican, etc. cultural angles as well as good ole Americana ideas like ‘Summer Picnic’. Of course we also tend to informally hook up after every Series race day to compare notes, help newer members with questions from tactics to boat setup/repair and general catching up on future plans.

While our Fleet is known for its serious racing focus, we bring that same gusto to our party making and have several annual “banner” parties above and beyond the Series socials. The biggest of these is our Annual Year End Party where we host a sit down dinner at a member’s home or the AYC Clubhouse, recognize member’s racing accomplishments of the year, induct our new officers and pay tribute to the outgoing ones. This great blowout is always capped off with a funny and spirited white elephant gift exchange! Traditionally our other annual parties include a shrimp boil and a “fajitas & ritas” cruise (yes you can cruise a J/24!) held in early summer and mid fall respectively.

If you are somewhat new to sailing our members are ready to help in multiple ways…if you want to crew, the boat owners in the Fleet are always looking for pick-up crew before Series races; if you are a new boat owner (we currently have several in the Fleet), established members are always willing to lend a hand, from being available to advise and answer questions to going out on your boat to practice before and/or during a race.

If you are an experienced club racer and are looking for the next level of challenge to notch up your racing skills, the J/24 Class offers just the ticket: the J/24 Texas Circuit. The circuit is a series of 2 day regattas exclusively for J/24 Class racing that are hosted by the various J/24 Fleets like ourselves that hail from other yacht clubs in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. These circuit regattas are run under the same rules and procedures the J/24 Class uses for its World Qualifying Regional, National and International regattas (yes, unlike most one design racing classes, you have to qualify to be invited to a J/24 World Championship). Successful boats at the J/24 Texas Circuit compete very well at J/24 Nationals and International regattas. In fact the AYC J/24 Fleet is home to past J/24 Texas Circuit and J/24 National Champions as well as crews who have placed as high as second overall at the J/24 North Americans and Midwinters…if you are interested in high caliber racing at interesting International venues, the J/24 is your boat and the J/24 Texas Circuit is your scrimmage field!

Of course, the local J/24 Fleet offers plenty of great racing practically on a weekly basis without ever having to leave home. Check out what is currently cooking with the local J/24 Fleet by reading our monthly J/24 Fleet articles in AYC’s monthly Telltales publication and/or our J/24 Fleet’s AYC Series racing scores. When you read through the Telltale keep in mind that while it makes a great monthly review, the Fleet has an active e-mail list that the Fleet Reporter uses to keep everyone (members, crew, friends of the Fleet, etc.) up to date in a timelier manner on key activities/events.

Ready to start checking out what the J/24 experience is all about?…it is as easy as just dropping a line to our Fleet Captain, Tom Lappin at tom@bevobus.com or just come out to AYC (use the directions on this website) on a Series race day an hour or so before first race signal and look for the J/24s being launched at the ramp, either way we would love to see you out on a J/24!