Welcome to the J/24 Texas Circuit website. The J/24 Texas Circuit (known as the District 14 Championship) is one of the most well known and longest running district championship in the J/24 Class. The competitors in the Texas Circuit are among one of the most active sailors in the J/24 Class. At National events, it is common to see a caravan of Texas Circuit competitors show up to participate at those events in the U.S.
History of the J/24 – The J/24 is the world’s most popular one-design keelboats. It all started in 1975 when amateur boat designer Rod Johnstone was tinkering around in the garage at the family’s Stonington, Connecticut, home after having an idea for a small racing sailboat that was both race-worthy and family-friendly. The J/24 debuted with Hull #1 Ragtime. He turned a lot of heads as he and his family dominated every racecourse they came across. In 1977, Johnstone teamed up with Everett Pearson to build J/24s and as they say, the rest is history. Today, there are more than 50,000 people sailing 5,300 boats in 150 fleets in 40 countries. More about the J/24 overall history can be found at J/Boats.
History of the J/24 Texas Circuit – The J/24 Texas Circuit is the longest standing championship series in the United States. It all started in 1978 when John Kolius (Houston Yacht Club), a Seabrook fixture who went on to win the 1979 and 1981 J/24 World Championships, and a few other leading Texas sailors bought the newly introduced J/24 in 1978. Over forty years later, the J/24 Texas Circuit is still going strong.
Racing in District 14 – District 14 includes fleet members in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Along with the J/24 Texas Circuit, District 14 offers the J/24 District Series, which is a series of regattas across District 14 that is split into a North and South Division. This series is not a World qualifier, but competitors can race in the designated District Series regattas and the Texas Circuit. The purpose of the District Series is for new competitors to get involved in local one-design racing which follows Class Rules, but is not as stringent as the J/24 Texas Circuit. Ultimately, it is intended to encourage new competitors to eventually move up to and compete in the J/24 Texas Circuit. More information can be found at the District 14 website.
