2024 Star Worlds in San Diego welcomes new talent while celebrating a remarkable class

2023 Star World Championship © Martina Orsini

The Star World Championship returns to San Diego, California, for the first time in over a decade, September 7-13, 2024. San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) expects upwards of 60 Star boats on the starting line under sunny, SoCal skies for this competitive class, promising an unforgettable regatta experience on and off the water.

Anyone who follows the class knows the Star class is one to embrace tradition, while fostering the sport by recruiting the up and coming. Out of the nearly 50 registrants on the entry list thus far, you'll find a few "rising stars" mixed with seasoned champions.

Local to San Diego, newcomer Carter Cameron has been sailing Stars for less than a year. Although Cameron is new the fleet, he's no stranger to success on the water. Most notably, Cameron has four National Championships under his keel from his time sailing with the College of Charleston. Most recently, he raced in the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta in March.

"I look forward to being on the starting line with the best sailors! There's no better way to improve your sailing than sailing against people better than you," said Cameron.

Professionally, Cameron has worked alongside Star World Champions Mark Reynolds and George Szabo at Quantum Sails. "They've given me all sorts of advice on how to make the boat go fast. The advice that sticks out the most is making sure you sight your rig side to side on the water to make sure your lower shrouds are set properly, and then making sure the helm is balanced with that."

Also prepped and ready to race is the top USA skipper from the 2023 Worlds in Italy, Jack Jennings. Jennings finished last year's Worlds in 11th place and is back to working his way up the scoresheet with crew Pedro Trouche. Jennings has been sailing Stars for 15 years and has earned the champion title in North America and Europe, consistently placing in the top 5 or 10 of the fleet.

"Sailing the Star can change your life." - Jack Jennings

"There are many long-time Star sailors, but the ones that become champions really sacrifice a lot of time, effort and work to become the best. You have to know going in that it is a long road and there are no shortcuts," started Jennings. "There are many things to love about the Star, but you have to love the process of getting better to win. Pace yourself and enjoy the process."

After racing in the 2024 Star Worlds in San Diego, Jennings and team will go back to Miami to prepare for the 2025 Bacardi Cup in advance of the 2025 Star Worlds to be held in Croatia.

And, of course, we have some of San Diego's best on the starting line for 2024, including Eric Doyle, who has time and again made his home-club proud. He's even left a lasting impression on Star Legend himself, Dennis Conner.

"Eric Doyle is one of our best world champions." - Dennis Conner

"Eric Doyle is a world champion and could be adding to his world medals here in a couple of months," said Conner. "In September, he'll be a force to reckon with."

In preparation for this historic event at SDYC, we sat down with Conner and Malin Burnham, another Star Legend, to recount their history with the class and to hear stories of their successes.

Lowell North and Malin Burnham at 1945 Worlds - photo © Ann Frank Beach Collection

Conner noted, "The biggest event I ever won was held in Kiel, Germany in 1968, when Ron Anderson from Sausalito and I won every race in the Star World Championships with 89 boats — a feat that I dare say will never be accomplished again. When people talk about my greatest victories, winning four America's Cups is one thing...but the real thing that stands out for me, in my heart, is that I know the greatest victory for me is in a Star boat."

"The greatest victory for me is in a Star boat." - Dennis Conner

Echoing Conner's sentiments of holding the Star class in high esteem is Malin Burnham. Burnham's love for the Stars goes back to age 16, when he won the International Star Class regatta for SDYC - the youngest crew to have ever done so. Fast forward to graduation when Burnham and Lowell North, who was 15 years old at the time, took a five-day trip from Los Angeles to New York, where they won the Star World Championship in 1945.

"We got back on the train...and somewhere in Kansas the train stopped. Well, it turned out that World War II was over," Burnham remembered.

BID ON A ONE-OF-A-KIND AMERICA'S CUP EXPERIENCE

Dennis Conner invites you to join him for the 2024 Star Worlds Gala Dinner and Auction on Saturday, August 31 at the San Diego Sheraton Hotel and Marina, in support of the regatta.

At this formal affair, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a one-of-a-kind experience, a 37th America's Cup Tour Package hosted by Dennis Conner to the W Hotel Barcelona from September 27 to October 5.

Package Includes:

• Round trip, first-class airfare on American Airlines
• First-class accommodations at the W Hotel Barcelona, located on the waterfront in America's Cup Village with stunning views of the course
• Personal tour of America's Cup Competitors Compound
• Original Dennis Conner created AC Signed Serigraph

For Gala tickets, contact 858-422-8162 or email .

STAR SOCIAL AT SDYC

San Diego Yacht Club will be home to daily socials event during the 2024 Star World Championship.

• Saturday, September 7: Opening Ceremonies
• Sunday, Monday & Wednesday after racing: Dockside socials with complimentary beer
• Monday, September 9: Lowell North Day
• Tuesday, September 10: Malin Burnham Day with traditional Midweek Trophy Dinner aboard the USS Midway featuring four-course seated dinner and open bar
• Thursday, September 12: Dennis Conner day with a progressive dinner at SDYC featuring multiple happy hour locations. One stop along the "tour" will be the yacht America. Competitors and guests can enjoy live music by Gin n' Jukes

More information and event tickets are available at worlds.starchampionships.org.