12:48 AM Thu 8 Apr 2010 GMT
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'Doug MacGregor, a new skipper, competes at the J24 Nationals in Melbourne 2010 - J24'
David Staley
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In a world that is constantly changing and becoming more expensive, one keelboat class offers you the opportunity to cruise and race for under $20,000.
A class that offers fleets all over Australia and an international fleet of over 5,500 boats.
You guessed it - the J24. And it's making a big come back as people realise the unique potential of this little boat.
24 ft with a main, jib, genoa and kite, five crew, four bunks and an icebox. 24 ft of competitive excitement. And they are everywhere and compared to Etchells, Sportsboats and other similar sized keel boats - they're as cheap as hell.
Some call it old - it is, same age as the Etchell.
Some call it slow - it isn't, Div 3 of this years Spinnaker Cruising (Racing class) at Geelong Audi Week (the biggest class available), 56 boats and J24s gained three First places and a Second over the line in the four races held, even though it was the smallest boat in the fleet (beating boats 12ft longer over the line). It isn't a sports boat speedboat, but it is a one design that doesn't get out designed and out dated.
Some do call it outdated - it isn't in fact, in a handicap or measurement class it rates so well they hate us entering - we tend to win. We still put 90 odd boats on the start line at most world champs.
So what other one design keelboat is there for under $20,000 with all these benefits you can get into and race competitively (or cruise), in a fleet around Australia?
You're right - there isn't another one.
Some people call it all sorts of names.. But we call it the J24
We're putting stars into .. reasonably priced . boats !
by Simon Grain
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
 lost the J24 class to Chris Snow on a tiebreaker.jpg)
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