Over the next five days 34 teams from 10 nations will challenge for the world title. It is the largest world championship for the class for many years and will undoubtedly be the most competitive for a very long time.
Opening ceremony
The Scandinavoan Gold Cup prizegiving was held in the evening on the Piazza Azzurra at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, and this was followed by the opening ceremony for the 2023 World Championship, starting Monday, which was opened by YCCS Commodore, Michael Illbruck, 5.5 Metre Class President Louise Morton, and YCCS Sports Director, Edoardo Recchi.
Commodore Illbruck welcomed the competitors and said, "We are delighted to be hosting the International 5.5 Metre Class, the atmosphere of this event, with its wonderful sense of sportsmanship, is really special, as are the owners and sailors. The weather conditions during the Scandinavian Gold Cup were challenging but today was a spectacular final day with sunshine and a Mistral wind. The forecast for the week ahead looks favourable to guarantee the right amount of fun at sea, and I wish all the participating crews fair winds!"
Louise Morton thanked Commodore Illbruck and the team at the YCCS for kindly hosting the Scandinavian Gold Cup and the World Championship this week and commented that it is a great pleasure to be working with such a professional team at one of the greatest racing locations in the World.
She mentioned that the last time the Class was here at the Club it was 1984 and that there are a number of people here still racing 5.5 Metres, notably Gavin McKinney, Bob Stoddard and Philippe Durr, who was the World Champion in 1984, here this week helming Shaolin.
She said very much looks forward to a great championship on and off the water this week.
Preview
During the Scandinavian Gold Cup several teams showed excellent pace in lighter winds and with light to moderate wind forecast for the coming week, the field is wide open.
Ku-Ring-Gai III (AUS 66, John Bacon, James Mayjor, Terry Wetton) led both light wind races on the opening day of the Gold Cup, while New Moon III (BAH 25, Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger, Peter Vlasov) also proved they have plenty of speed. However, at recent light wind regattas, Caracole (SUI 214, Bernard Haissly, Daniel Stampfli, Nicolas Berthoud) has been king, so this could provide an interesting battle.
In the breeze, The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairadh Scott) would be expected to be fairly dominant, but next week, several days of light wind are forecast, so it could be a hard week for them. Artemis (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne, Trond Solli-Saether), and Aspire(POL 17, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Przemysław Gacek, Edward Wright) had their moments during the Gold Cup and both teams have huge experience. Nergaard is the most prolific winner in the class ever, and last won the world title in Newport, Australia in 2020. For Aspire, it is their first world championship in the class, but they are quick in all conditions and have won many regattas over the past three years.
And then there is Girls on Film (GBR 41, Louise Morton, Andrew Mills, Sam Haines), who were on fire during the Gold Cup in all conditions and are sailing very well for their first time in the boat together. Also, there are former world champions John B (BAH 26, Gavin McKinney, Mathias Dahlman, Lars Horn Johannessen), with a new boat, Marie-Françoise XXII (SUI 232, Jürg Menzi, Lionel Rupp, Christof Wilke), and Ali Baba (SUI 224, Flavio Marazzi, Julie Marazzi, Eline Marazzi). Marazzi is a multiple world champion in the class and sailing with his daughters this week.
Throughout the fleet there are many returning champions and new names and it is all set to be an enthralling competition in a fantastic setting. It is the second time the championship has been sailed in Porto Cervo, after previously being held here in 1984. The winner that year, Philippe Dürr is back again at the helm of Shaolin, SUI 226, sailing with Andreas Kindlimann and Hans Von Werdt.
As well as 23 Moderns, the fleet also includes six Classic 5.5 Metres racing for the The Quail Trophy and five Evolutions, racing for The Frank Tolhurst Perpetual Trophy. And for the first time, to encourage more women to helm a 5.5 Metre at the world championship, there is a new trophy for the first female helm. There are two women helming boats his week, Louise Morton on Girls on Film and Maria Cristina Rapisardi on 5billy5.
Racing is scheduled to begin Monday at 12.00.