2024 Star North American Championship, Paul and Danny Cayard are the winners

It’s been a tight battle among the top two teams, the 2024 Star North American Championship held in Newport Harbor Yacht Club, ended yesterday and has a winner, actually two, it is the father – son team Paul and Danny Cayard. The duo is only three points ahead of George Szabo with Guy Avellon, with whom they were so close until the very finish, when they also had to discard their worst race in the Championship, a 13, among results no higher than a sixth place. An excellent result for the Cayards, who have previously sailed together in events such as the Star Vintage Gold Cup, but now together they conquered a Silver Star – Paul is also a Star World Champion and previous Continental Champion.

The sailing conditions went from light sea breeze in the first couple of days, to a stronger one towards the end of the Championship, allowing the 26 boat fleet to complete all of the six races scheduled. Current played an important part in the game, as much as the Ocean swell, Paul and Danny Cayard were the best at managing all of the elements and the fleet on the racecourse.

In third place the Star Class veteran, John Dane III with Dave Martin, the Southerner Olympian had an amazing week and finished only nine points behind the North American Champions, while another Star World Champion sits right behind, in fourth place, it is Eric Doylw with Payson Infelise, forced to retire in race six, they then could not discard an ‘heavy’ 14..

America’s Cup legend John Kosteki with Olympian crew Austin Sperry, here to train for the Star World Championship in San Diego from September 4 to the 13, finished sixth, a great achievement for the team who has only recently started sailing together.

The North American Championship fleet shortly be joined by another 40 boats for the 2024 Star World Championship in San Diego, a place dear to the Class, home and cradle of many Star legends.