With rolling waves and breeze increasing above 20 knots, the J/24 Midwinter Championship launched for 27 boats at Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida on Friday. One race was able to be completed, although many finished without hoisting their spinnakers due to gusty winds ahead of a cold front. Paul Abdullah’s Team Tarheel took victory in the lone race, ahead of Travis Odenbach’s Honeybadger and Mike Ingham’s USA5443. Half of the fleet is competing with all-amateur teams, led currently by James Freedman’s LOL (also fourth overall). Teams were sent safely to shore mid-day under AP over H, but conditions became more intense during the afternoon. Racing resumes Saturday and continues through Sunday. Photos are posted on the USA J/24 Class Facebook and Instagram pages, and complete results are available at https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eid=16288.