A volunteer-led rebuild, support from championship sponsor Epigen and victory in the Youth Selection Regatta have given five young Victorian sailors the opportunity to compete at the 2026 J/24 World Championship in Melbourne.
A J/24 that was once sitting unused and far from race-ready has been given a new lease of life, with a Victorian youth team preparing to compete aboard the restored yacht at the Epigen J/24 World Championship 2026.
Renamed NEXT GEN, the yacht represents more than a boat restoration project. It has become a practical pathway for young sailors to enter the competitive J/24 class, supported by experienced sailors and volunteers determined to help the next generation.
The project involved extensive work to bring the yacht back into racing condition, including transport, repairs, rigging and preparation. Volunteers made repeated trips between Melbourne and Sydney, investing considerable time and effort to get NEXT GEN ready for competition.
Warren Slater, Simon Grain, Andy Forbes, Adam Keyes Tilley and Ramzey El Hila were among those instrumental in bringing the project together, alongside many other members of the J/24 sailing community.
Epigen backs the youth campaign
Championship naming sponsor Epigen has played an important role in helping NEXT GEN reach the start line.
The company donated a new set of sails for the yacht and provided support for the team’s qualification campaign and World Championship entry.
That assistance, combined with the efforts of the volunteers, gave the young crew the equipment and opportunity to develop a competitive campaign.
Qualification success and Pre-Worlds experience
The Victorian youth team secured its World Championship place by travelling to New South Wales and winning the Youth Selection Regatta.
With qualification secured, the crew returned to Melbourne to prepare for the international competition.
Their first major test came at the CTO J/24 Pre-Worlds Regatta on Port Phillip, where NEXT GEN finished 17th in the 29-boat fleet.
It was an encouraging result for a developing team learning the technical demands of competitive J/24 racing against experienced Australian and international crews.
The Pre-Worlds also provided valuable experience of Port Phillip’s challenging conditions ahead of the championship.
Meet the NEXT GEN crew
The five Victorian sailors representing NEXT GEN at the 2026 J/24 World Championship are:
- Josh Griffith
- Daniel Conacher
- Lulu Di Sciascio
- Felix Duell
- Ethan Hosking
Together, they represent the next generation of sailors coming through the Victorian J/24 fleet.
Passing the baton to the next generation
The team’s official World Championship shirts were presented by Ramzey El Hila, President of the Victorian J/24 Association and one of the volunteers involved in the yacht’s transformation.
J/24 Association President Andy Forbes described the presentation as team tops passing from one generation of sailors to the next — a fitting reflection of what the NEXT GEN project is all about.
From an unused yacht to a World Championship entry, NEXT GEN demonstrates what can be achieved when experienced sailors, volunteers and sponsors come together to support youth participation.
The project has not only returned a J/24 to the racing fleet but also created an opportunity for five young sailors to gain valuable experience at international championship level.
The Epigen J/24 World Championship 2026 begins at Sandringham Yacht Club on Saturday 7 November, with racing continuing through to 11 November.
Source: Carina Tomietto – Event media contact
For championship information, visit j24worlds2026.com.
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