Forty-nine J/24 teams are vying for the 2019 J/24 US National Championship hosted by Rochester Yacht Club in New York. Three races were accomplished on the opening day in light and lumpy conditions. Reigning J/24 World Champion Will Welles kept up his hot streak on Buckaroo, totaling 7 points on two seconds and a third. John Mollicone’s triumph in race three threw team Helly Hansen into second place with 11 points. Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger suffered a 14 in the first match, but added a 1,3 for 18 points and third place. When six races have been completed, the discard will take effect. William Bomar’s Bangor Packet started off the day with a bullet, with Welles and Ryan Lashaway’s Rumming on Empty on his tail. Local Odenbach’s Honeybadger mastered the middle race, as both Bomar and Welles kept themselves in the top three. It was Helly Hansen’s turn in the closing contest, in advance of Welles and Odenbach. Racing continues through Sunday. Complete results may be found at https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=6056, and photos are available on the USA J/24 Class Facebook page.