Smooth bottoms should make for fast racing when the J24 national championships get underway today.

This year's regatta finds the fleet in peak condition with all of the boats having just been rigorously measured and prepped for the recent Women's World Match Racing Championships.

With defending champions John Corless and Todd Olson, who won both last year and the year before, having jumped ship to the J105 class, a new name will be engraved on the trophy.

Favourites will be this season's overall leaders Mike Lewis and the Erin team, who will be looking to add a nationals title to a cabinet already full of silverware. But they can expect a strong challenge from previous winners Trevor Boyce in New Wave and the pairing of Shelagh Tasker and Pete Ramsdale aboard Sadiiqi.

Talent in the J24 fleet runs deep and the pairings of Simon Boden and Neil Redburn on Solaise and John Nicholls and Peter Backeberg on Siren may also have plenty to say once the racing starts at 10.30 this morning.

Ten or more boats are expected on the starting line with all five races to count.

Prizegiving, sponsored by CCS, will be held at the host Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club following the races.