The final day of any boat class Worlds can often be an odd one. Sailors battle each other all week. Throughout that time, as in real battles, small skirmishes, pockets of unseen individual personal heroism and little victories happen all over the field, aside from the main strategic objective. Nearly everyone is involved in some way or other. And the final victory could range from an overwhelming and inexorable force, that was usually apparent from early on, to a touch and go, narrow-margin, last ditch effort to secure the strategic objective.
And this year at the PredictWind A-Cat Worlds was no exception. But our twin fleets, we have two championships running simultaneously, so we get to see it all twice. On the larger Classic Fleet, it was apparent early on, that it was only going to be one of maybe four contenders, barring a major breakage happening to any of them. It has to be said, that this was the overwhelming force battle was what we saw in this fleet. Andrew Landenberger AUS 308, Jamie Jochhiem AUS 956 and Mike Drummond NZL 287 traded top places in some great racing in conditions ranging from class 5kt minimum to class 22kt maximum, and arguably beyond for short times, with the full range in between, so none could say ‘oh such & such is a great light airs sailor…’ etc. the leaders of any Worlds should and are the best in all the class conditions.
And the top 4, except for that full-on epic stadium racing Friday action, it was these top guys. Landy, a veteran multiple Olympic and championship medal winner, and one of our undisputed and a treasured class legend, battled with this bemused new yet supremely talented lad, Jamie Jochhiem. A workboat upholsterer from Cairns, and all round cool yet very self-effacing dude, in a way only Aussies can be, has only been in this class for 2 years. Previously sailing anything that floats, 49er, Laser, whatever. Then took up motorcycle racing but now turned up in our dysfunctional family and is making big waves.
Mike, too had some good finishes, popping now and then into the podium slots. A great sailor, with a CV few could match in terms of prestige and sailing level. This class does attract the cream sometimes, non more so than this America’s Cup Hall of Fame member Mike. A quiet and personable guy with big skills, and he is self-assured enough to perform his standout moment of the championships, with his signature and beautiful sideways finishing technique, amply demonstrated for the race committee on Saturday, whilst still maintaining his place in the race. A true legend indeed.
But the standout performance of this fleet in the veteran Sopot based UKS Navigo sailor, Jacek Noetzel POL 41. His boat, a foiling Exploder AD3 platform, fitted with the latest Exploder foils and rudders, was simply untouchable. This slippery configuration, and many years racing experience is what finally propelled him to the top. His downwind deep angle speed, aside from talent, is attributed to the new shape Classic foils. A 1400mm constant radius leading edge, but with some subtle sectional changes throughout the length resulting in more lift and less drag, so the boat skims better, whilst maintaining class legality, and allowing deeper angles downwind. His thinner T-rudders are also drag reducing. That combination got him straight bullets across the board and earned him the Classic trophy by the final Saturday race. Jacek didn’t sail the two Sunday races. These became a race to sort out the other placings. Mike got one bullet and Jamie the next, putting him confirmed runner up and Landy third. Great job all!
Now we turn to the other battle. The overnight leader was the twice World Open Champion Kuba Surowiec POL 41, but only 4 point ahead was another young former champion, Ravi Parent USA 76. The battle lines were closely drawn in this one but each sailor knew and respected the other. Any error or breakage, or a collision with that pod of Orcas seen earlier chugging South towards the harbour, would decide the crown and ruin someone’s day somewhat. (don’t think Orcas do chug really, do they?)
At the start area of Course B, the Northerly of the two, the Westerly breeze was about 7-9kts. Enough to foil downwind, but never upwind. In this vicinity, before the race, you usually see them all trying out their moves. Foiling about, finalising their settings and modes before settling down to float about a little, all hove to and looking pensive. Some stand up to try and see if there is any better side to the course, others sit with the feet dangling in the water to arrest any residual speed the boat has. Then honk! and the orange flag rises, to signify the course is all set, radio instructions are barked by the race officer, and confirmations received from the team. And the sequence is started; the class flag is flown. A minute later, another horn and the P flag is flying. The boats move into position with silent precision, usually to the starboard quarter of the committee boat, but just moving slowly, the tension rises, game plans re-rehearsed in their heads, plan B’s decided upon if it goes wrong, or they get blocked in. Downhauls pulled to the upwind starting mode, travellers pulled in, and the boats come alive, twitching under the power of that bug 13sqm, 9m tall super-efficient rig capable of going from a standstill to 23 kts in 8 seconds.
Then the P flag drops, a minute to go. The race officer rechecks the wind direction and someone records the speed, their assistant has their eye nailed to the flagpole transit to the pin end Rib, with their Orange flag as the sailors get their beasts wound up, occasional shouting, some wriggling around to get a better position, or defending theirs, aiming to hit that line at T+1 sec going flat out. 5, 4 , 3, 2, 1, Horn! And they are go!
Emmanuel Dode, FRA 2 nails the pin end. The fleet heads off to the left, only those who got trapped, or squeezed upwind tack off to the right side to try their hand there. Always tack away if you are in this position, a golden rule. POL 41 pulls ahead from the centre, but at the top it is the Italian Fox, Lamberto Cesari ITA 13 won leads, his exploded rudder of yesterday fixed overnight by the carbon master in the fleet. Local hero Dave Shaw NZL 270 and IACA President Bailey White USA 320 chasing. Kuba comes next., then Ravi, the battle is on.
Down at the gybe point on the left side, and Dave falls over for some reason, giving away valuable places. But Ravi, seems to struggle for speed, almost as though he’s missed a gear or something. He drops back and seems to just sail back and forth at the top of the course. Kuba just carries on to the bottom mark, but the wind is dropping. Ravi finds the correct gear, and heads down to follow. Sailors chose either side now, as some think the right is looks better, others favour way out on the left. By now, the wind had become rather Swiss cheese like again, and those who could join the gusts around the holes were the victors. At the top it’s now Darren Bundock, AUS 88. He has decided to do his traditional final day thing by winning races. Why he doesn’t change this to the first day is beyond me, but it’s what he does.
Kuba rounds for the second lap, but behind and chasing the newly washed sail of Dave. Bundy just sails serenely on, in his effortless looking style., so at the Blue flag it was Bundy, with Dave following a few minutes later, his capsize just a distant memory. Then Kuba arrived, with Adam Beattie, AUS 14 and Lambi chasing. However, Ravi arrived in 8th and sailed away from the fleet to lick his wounds and reset his mind for the next race. Mental resilience is a key quality for these top end sailors. To bounce right back from a poor race is a proper skill indeed.
Which is exactly what the lad did. He set off the next race lie a daemon possessed. The wind had increased a little, and he was fast from the gun, and chasing Adam hard. Those lost points needed to be regained now. By the second lap the Florida sailor was leading and Kuba was somewhat stuck in the pack with Lambi, Emmauel and Bundy, so at the end, he crossed in fifth place, Ravi had snatched a vital four points back.
These were a superb championships. A great Day for Polish sailing, and indeed for the UKS Navigo club, where both are members. The organisation of the racing was top quality and professional, the committee boats teams did the event proud. On the beach, local volunteers were usually on hand as happy trolly-dollies. Head barmaid Deslee oversaw her young team efficiently and cheerfully serving these sailors. The boatswain and his team, with other local clubs donating RIBs and crews to keep everyone safe on the water and the backroom folk under the command of Christine and The Commadore Andrew, where on hand to efficiently iron out any problems, and those young pie and ice-cream sellers also deserve a mention for keeping the sailors spirits up with such local delicacies. The Milford Cruising Club can consider this event as a job well done indeed. Agreed, the numbers were lower, but the racing was easily just as good and hard.
Thanks again, to all those who helped, in any capacity.
Next stop will be in late May/June, with the Euros on the Mar Menore. Then to Florida in November for the Worlds 2026 in St Petersburgh. We look forward to meeting again.
#predictwind #aclasscatamaran #aclassworlds25. #milfordcruisingclub #sailingphotography #catamaransailing#guppypix
Thanks!
Gordon Upton
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