Hodges Sandringham J24 Australian Championship 2026 – Countdown to the Worlds
Hodges Sandringham J24 Australian Championship 2026 – Countdown to the Worlds
The excitement is building for the Hodges Sandringham J24 Australian Championship 2026, being held from Tuesday 6 January to Saturday 10 January 2026 at Sandringham Yacht Club. This regatta is the Australian qualifier for the Epigen J24 World Championship to be held at SYC in November 2026.
Regatta Organiser Megan Aulich, Race Officer Stephen Aulich, and Deputy Race Officer Clare Cope will lead the event, with racing to run from Wednesday to Saturday, with a program of 12 races — three per day — planned across the four days.
We’re proud to have the support of Amanda Thomson and Paul Bond at Hodges Sandringham, whose backing of the J24 Victoria community helps make this championship possible.
On the Water and Onshore
This year’s championship has attracted 27 boats and 135 competitors from Japan, the USA, and five states across Australia, along with support crews, families, volunteers, race management and a national jury. Fourteen of these entries are from SYC — good luck to Bruschetta VI, Code Violation, Convicts Revenge, Dire Straits, Gatsby, Gridlock, Haywire, Hyperactive, Jab, Jet, Panarea, Poker Face, Two Dogs and Wildfire.
The event will be run using the Vakaros RaceSense system, with a device on every boat and every mark of the course. We aim to share the live race feed in the Members Bar throughout the regatta, giving spectators the chance to follow the action in real time. For the best view of the racing, head to the Members Bar and keep an eye out for the green regatta shirts worn by our volunteers and competitors.
We’re fortunate to have two talented photographers — Russell Bates Photography and Marg’s Yacht Photos — capturing the event from start to finish. We will be sharing photos of the event throughout.
Social and Community Highlights
The championship is as much about community as it is about competition.
- Tuesday:Welcome BBQ to kick off the week
- Friday: 9am – J24 Australia Annual General Meeting
- Daily Debrief:Each day we host a short prizegiving in The Foredeck, with awards for J(24) of the Day, Pic of the Day, and Volunteer of the Day — a tradition that was a highlight of the 2025 Nationals.
This is a fantastic opportunity to come together as a club, support our sailors, and share in the growing excitement for the Worlds later in the year. Whether you’re racing, volunteering, or cheering from the shore, you’ll be part of something special.
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