Practice Race and Opening Ceremony kick off 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds
Monday March 24, 2025
Today marked the first day of the 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds, as 200 excited sailors and race officials from around the world gathered at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) on Pittwater for a practice race, followed by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, opening the Championships.
The event takes in the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships. Among those competing are Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medallists and world champion sailors.
Registration of competitors ended with the Spanish team the last to check in. Then it was time for the practice race and the sailors got off lightly in a 2-5 knot easterly, suiting some, but not all. For most, it was a pleasant way to get used to sailing on Pittwater.
Pittwater alive with colour of Hansa 303s.Photo: Alex Dare, Down Under Sail, Hansa Worlds
The Race Briefing followed at 4pm and then the best of the day, the Opening Ceremony started at 5pm with the Parade of Nations and a Smoking Ceremony and Traditional Aboriginal Welcome by Walangari Karntawarra.
International Hansa Class Association World President, Vera Voorbach, who is also a competitor at this event, welcomed all to the event.
RPAYC Commodore, Robert McClelland, also welcomed official guests, competitors, officials and the multitude of volunteers:
“This event is a celebration of freedom, independence, and inclusivity—principles that are at the very heart of Hansa sailing and fundamental to our Club,” he said.
“The Class has opened the doors of our sport to thousands of people, allowing sailors of all abilities to compete on a level playing field.
“None of this would have been possible without one man’s vision. Chris Mitchell is the founder, designer, and driving force behind the Hansa class. His dedication has resulted in over 3,800 Hansa boats sailing in 38 countries, introducing approximately 200,000 people to sailing every year,” the Commodore said.
The Governor of NSW, the Honourable Margaret Beazley, then officially declared the Championships open, as a flag bearer raised the flags of each nation.
Her Excellency, the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW opened the Championships. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
A gourmet dinner is to follow at RPAYC. Much talk was already centering around the day’s practice race, the beauty of Pittwater, when most have never visited before – and of course, tomorrow’s first race of the Championships. Racing will commence from 1pm on two course areas and everyone will enjoy live music from 5pm back at the Club afterwards.
Racing in the Hansa 2.3, 303 (one and two-person), Liberty and SKUD18 classes will take place every day from tomorrow until the final races on Sunday 30th March. The Closing Ceremony and Presentation will follow.
Weather-wise, competitors can expect a south-easterly of around 10 knots becoming east to north-easterly in the middle of the day. It could provide tricky if the south-easterly is still lingering when racing gets underway. All will have to be ready for the transition to a sea breeze.
Competitors are here from Australia wide, Chile, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Türkiye and USA.
For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/
By Di Pearson
‘Crazy’ conditions test fleets in 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds opener
Tuesday March 25, 2025
Racing got underway in the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships today on Pittwater, with the Hansa 2.3, Liberty and SKUD18 racing on Alpha course, while the 303 Two Person raced on Bravo course and already some have shown their clear intentions.
The weather played havoc, it was all over the shop, with massive wind shifts, making life difficult in the extreme for Principal Race Officer, Megan Kensington and her race officers, not to mention for the competitors.
Both SKUD18 races were won by Daniel Fitzgibbon (AUS) and his long-time sailing mate, Chris Somers. Fitzgibbon has two gold and silver Paralympic medals in the class, but had not sailed the boat for years until recently, when he and Somers prepared for this event.
Neil Rowsthorn and Jack Wallace are in second place having picked up a pair of second places, while Naomi Ohue and Joe Thompson are third, scoring two third places. The top three teams all hail from Queensland.
“We got some massive gusts over the hill – 25 knots,” said an incredulous Fitzgibbon. “It was very variable, one of the craziest SKUD racing days I’ve ever had.
“There was an easterly coming over the land and building – and holes in other parts. It went from zero knots to 25 in the gusts. It started out south-east, then north east and east and swung back twice. And it rained!
“We were smoking and almost had a broach. It was a crazy day!
Fitzgibbon confessed, “In my rustiness, we missed the first start and took the stern of the whole fleet. But we fought our way back after hooking into a shift and held on to finish first.
“The second race was a bit more under control with a better start. It’s hard getting back into racing, trying to remember all the little details, tricks, trimming constant and changing gears.
“It’s a very competitive fleet and I’m happy with that. There are some young hot shot sailors in this class. I’m enjoying the able bodied and disabled sailors together in the boats and in the fleet. And they still can’t beat Dan – brilliant,” he said, laughing.
Dan Fitzgibbon hasn't lost his touch - credit Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
The Hansa 2.3 was an all Japanese affair at the top of the scoreboard across the two races. Yui Fujimoto leads, Daisuke Zenju is in second and Koji Harada third. There is little in it and it is tight behind the top three as well.
In fifth place is Doug Monk, who is the early leader of both the NSW and Australian Hansa 2.3 Championships, but there are still five days of racing remaining.
On the Bravo course, where the Hansa 303 Two Person class sailed, the breeze made its way around the compass a few times. The 303s were scheduled for more racing, but the conditions made that impossible.
The French pair of Gauthier Bril and Camille Massonnaud gathered themselves, not letting the conditions get the better of them, to win the opening race and claim that lead from two Australian pairs. Sarah Plunkett and John Sanderson are in second place, while Chris Symonds and Maunela Klinger are third.
Two races were put away in the Liberty. Hong Kong’s Yuen Wai Foo’s win and second place were enough to give him the lead on countback to Charles Weatherly (AUS) who scored a pair of wins. Paul Phillips (GBR) is in third place after scoring 3-4 results. There are many waiting in the wings, so there is no room for complacency.
All business at the Hansa 303 start. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
The Championships continue tomorrow for the Hansa 2.3, Liberty, SKUD18 and Hansa 303 One Person classes. The Hansa 303 Two-Person teams will be back in the action on Thursday, as some sailing in this class are also sailing in the One Person class so they will rotate their days on the water.
Light winds are expected on the course area tomorrow, an east to north-easterly of under 10 knots has been forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology.
A total of nine races are scheduled for each class and racing will take place every day until the final races on Sunday 30th March. The Closing Ceremony and Presentation will follow the last race.
The Worlds take in the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships.
Seventeen nations are competing at the Championships hosted by at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) on Pittwater in NSW: Australia, Chile, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and USA.
For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/
By Di Pearson
Internationals in the limelight at 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds
Wednesday March 26, 2025
Day 2 of the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships on Pittwater and competitors and officials alike were hoping for a more stable breeze than what was dished up to them yesterday and while the wind wasn’t as fresh as Day 1, the shifty conditions prevailed but did not get the better of the international competitors who are making their presence felt.
Racing was underway on the two Pittwater courses from 1pm. The Hansa 2.3, Liberty and SKUD18s were on a course near Avalon, while the Hansa 303 One Person sailed a course in front of Scotland Island.
The Hansa 303 One Person competition started today, churning out three races. The fleet was split into Blue and Yellow groups due to their sheer volume – 75 competitors in total.
Hansa 303 One Person fleet away. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Gauthier Bril (FRA), in the Yellow group, is atop the leaderboard after winning the first race and taking second in Race 2 when the two groups’ scores were tallied.
“The wind is shifty,” Bril said of the predominantly east-north-easterly breeze. And although he is leading, Brill claimed, “I need to try harder, I’m here to do my best.
“I was in front with the British guy (Rory McKinna) in the first race for a while, it was close,” he said of winning the Yellow opening race in which McKinna was third. “The second race was closer, I took second in a very close finish,” he said of placing second to Polish sailor, Cichocki Piotr, who also beat him to first in the third race.
Overall, though, it is Bril from João Pinto (POR) from the Blue group, with Piotr third.
Bril continued, “It is (Pittwater) really like our home waters in France (he comes from Nantes in the Brittany region), but it is more shifty here.”
The French sailor said he has worked to do well here. “We worked for this Worlds for one year now. We worked hard on practice, strategy and training before coming here.”
Two races were conducted in the Liberty class, bringing the total to four. The consistent Yuen Wai Foo (HKG) retains the lead, adding 2-1 results to his score. Charles Weatherly (AUS) has maintained second place, four points adrift of the leader.
Vera Voorbach (NED), a past world and European champion in the class, has moved up to third place, courtesy of winning Race 3 and placing third in Race 4. She is one to watch.
“Today was quite challenging,” Yuen Wai Foo said. Of his closest rivals, the modest sailor said, “The other racers are not competitors, they are friends and they are doing well too. In the first race there was another racer doing better than me (Vera Voorbach). It leads me to be focused and do better in the other races to win the regatta – and I think I can win it.
“Anyway, it was not easy, because other racers are very strong, but I managed to win a race. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone helping to organise these Worlds.”
Yesterday’s top three in the Hansa 2.3 remains the same – and in the same order. All are from Japan. Yui Fujimoto still leads, having won both races of the day.
“The racing has been very close, there were just seconds between the three of us in the first race today,” Fujimoto said of the top three, Daisuke Zenju in second place and Koji Harada third. “Always we were chasing each other.
“Compared to yesterday, there wasn’t much wind, which was good. I’m not good at strong wind,” Fujimoto said, laughing.
“It was very nice on the water. I have sailed in Australia before, in Perth, but never Pittwater. I arrived in time to train on Monday, so it is good to do well. I am enjoying my time here.”
 Liberty casts a yellow hue on a magic day - Hiroshi Haseyama.jpg?timestamp=1743223251464)
Hiroshi Haseyama's (JPN) Liberty casts a yellow hue on a magic day.Photo: Hiroshi Haseyama
The SKUD18 also put two more races to bed and the top three are Australian pairs from Queensland. Triple Paralympic medallist Daniel Fitzgibbon and Chris Somers remain unbeaten, winning both the day’s races to carry a five point lead into tomorrow.
Second and third places also remain unchanged. Neil Rowsthorn and Jack Wallace have a four point advantage over Naomi Ohue and Joe Thompson.
The Hansa 2.3, Liberty, SKUD18 and Hansa 303 Two Person classes sail tomorrow. The Hansa 303 One-Person teams will be back in action on Thursday.
More of the same weather is forecast for tomorrow, an east-north-easterly around 10 knots.
A total of nine races is scheduled for each class. Racing will take place every day until the final races on Sunday. The Closing Ceremony and Presentation will follow the last race.
The Worlds take in the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships.
Sixteen nations are competing at the Championships hosted by at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) on Pittwater in NSW: Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and USA.
For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/
By Di Pearson
Competition heating up at 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds
Thursday March 27, 225
Day 3 of the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships on Pittwater arrived and all were keen to launch from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) to start the day’s sailing after avoiding the morning downpour which had transformed into a blue sky and sun right on time.
The Hansa 303 Two Person fleet was back on the water today. The aim was four races after the class only completed one on the opening day due to the extremely difficult conditions dealt out by the wind gods. And four races it was.
Chris Symonds and Maunela Klinger (AUS) came out all guns blazing and the Tasmanians were leading - until a drop came into play. Piotr Cichocki and Olga Górnas-Grudzien (POL) are at the top of the leaderboard after dropping their 15th place from Race 1 on Tuesday.
 and Chris Symonds & Maunela Klinger - credit Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds.jpg?timestamp=1743223960977)
Genevieve Wickham & Mia Lovelady (3569) and Chris Symonds & Maunela Klinger.Photo: credit Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
In second is the British pair of Rory McKinna and Jess Wong, who dropped a 13th place also from Day 1, while Symonds and Klinger have been relegated to third overall, their drop being a sixth place. This class is shaping up to be a humdinger.
Cichocki explained, “Some of these crews are lighter than ours, so sometimes it’s hard when it’s on the edge, but that is sailing conditions, so it’s OK,” he said.
“We are trying to stay in front and hope they have to come to try and catch us,” he said, citing the two teams behind them as their major competition. “But there are a few others as well. Our day went really great, it was good sailing conditions.”
Two more races for the Liberty’s and with six now sailed, Yuen Wai Foo (HKG) still leads – on countback to Charles Weatherly (AUS) - again. The day did not go according to plan for the Hong Kong sailor. He retired from Race 5, but bounced back to place third in Race 6.
Weatherly’s 2-1 results have him well and truly back in the picture. He is in second place but on equal points with the leader. Vera Voorbach (NED), a past World and European champion, is still third, but is now a mere point away from the top two after 1-2 results today. This class is sure to be a nailbiter to the end.
From left: Linda Buchan & Arthur Spithill, Brent Geritz & Angus Wheatley, Paul Wager & Annika Pennifold. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Back at the RPAYC, Weatherly commented, “Vera’s very good in the light stuff, she’s rock solid. She sails all the time, I sail part time, but I’ve been doing some training for the Worlds.
“The Hong Kong guy, Foo, stitched me up at Southport, but I don’t like being beaten, so I made friends with him, That makes it easier when I’m beaten!
“Foo didn’t finish the first race today, because he picked up weed on his rudders. The Hong Kong manager asked me if I put the weed there and I said, ‘no’, that one of my friends had!
“The first time I sailed here at Pittwater was 2004 and every second year we sailed here in the Jubilees. I love sailing here, it suits me.”
Voorbach commented, “It was a very good day, we had quite good wind, 10-13 knots, but shifty, so you had to get the good shifts. I got them in the first race and got far ahead and kept getting good shifts. It was difficult to see them on the water today though.
“The second race was more challenging. At the second mark, there was no wind then a 30 degree shift, then the wind popped up again! You have to concentrate the whole course.
“The first day there was a lot of wind. It was just a little bit too much for me and very different to where I live,” ended Voorbach, who has previously sailed Worlds in Sydney, but never sailed at Pittwater. “It’s very good here. I’ve met sailors that I know from other events and I’m meeting new ones too.”
Two races also for the Hansa 2.3. Yui Fujimoto (JPN) continues to top the scoreboard. With a worst result of third in Race 5 used as her drop, she kept up the momentum and won Race 6. Fujimoto is all business.
The Japanese have a stranglehold in the class. Daisuke Zenju and Koji Harada remain second and third overall. In winning Race 5, Zenju is just three points behind Fujimoto now.
In the SKUD18, nobody has been able to stop Paralympic triple medallist, Daniel Fitzgibbon and his team mate, Chris Somers (AUS) who have a clean sheet. Two more were sailed today and the pair were in the enviable position of using a win as their drop.
Nobody has managed to put a dent in the scores of Neil Rowsthorn and Jack Wallace or Naomi Ohue and Joe Thompson either, so they remain second and third respectively.
“We got passed in both races today, so it’s been tight to the end,” Fitzgibbon admitted. “We might be winning, but the young fellas and old campaigners are all having their moments.
“It was so shifty today. We got off to a very good lead, but at the wing mark, we fell into a massive hole. People sailed around us and there was nothing we could do. We had to fight our way back and we did and linked it all up.
“The second race was more consistent, but on the whole, it was a lot trickier than the other day. We had maybe 8-10 knots and it was fairly due east coming over the land.”
There was much buzz around the inclement weather forecast for the weekend.
Addressing the issue, Principal Race Officer, Megan Kensington, said: “We’ve considered over long chats. The information we’ve been given is that it looks like it won’t be so bad on Saturday, but Sunday looks bad.
“We’ll run the 303 One Person class, as scheduled, tomorrow. We will then revisit the weekend and look at the possibility of running an extra race on Saturday and also look at the possibility of starting racing earlier on Sunday.”
Hansa 303's taking no prisoners off the start. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
A total of nine races are scheduled for each class. The Closing Ceremony and Presentation will follow the last race on Sunday.
The Worlds take in the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships.
Sixteen nations are competing at the Championships on Pittwater in NSW: Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and USA.
For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/
By Di Pearson
International showdown in 303 One Person at 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds
Friday March 28, 2025
The Hansa 303 One-Person fleet was the only one out racing on Day 4 of the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships at Pittwater, while the other classes enjoyed a lay day, although some chose to go out and practice in preparation for Saturday’s races.
Three races were run under gloomy skies with the sun teasing by poking its head out every now and again. So, six races have been sailed in total, with three more scheduled for Sunday’s showdown. On a tight scoreboard, six internationals hold the cards - and it could go to any of them. However, Gauthier Bril (FRA) is the one to beat.
Bril has sailed the most consistently, counting four wins and a pair of second places in the six races. And despite taking the lead on the first day of the competition, fired a warning salvo: “I need to try harder, I’m here to do my best.” In other words, second places are not good enough!
His leading margin is slim though, as Piotr Cichocki (POL) is one point behind. Jens Kroker (GER) has come into the picture today, his 10 points with a drop in play mean he is just four points off the lead.
After scoring 2-1-5 results, Kroker, who skippered German Paralympic Sonar teams to silver, gold and silver medals at the 2000, 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games respectively, has Davide Di Maria (ITA) on equal points with him, but is fourth on countback. And Spain’s Pau Toni Homar is breathing down their necks. Sunday will be all to play for.
Kroker said this afternoon, “It was a very intense and challenging day on the water, because it was very, very shifty. You had to go with shifts, but keep looking at the bigger picture at the same time. The top sailors did a very good job all day. Many of the same people finished in the top places.”
To make the point, after winning the second race of the day, Kroker was in 12th or 13th place in the third race and moved up to finish fifth overall.
“I was able to move up. A lot of the sailors were moving up and down quite a bit.”
The top sailors move into the Gold fleet for Sunday’s races, while the other half go into the Silver fleet. They are planning three races for Sunday in the Gold and Silver fleets.
“The weather forecasts for Sunday look very challenging – up to 30 knot gusts. They might start us two hours early. They will decide in the morning,” Kroker said.
On his chances of winning, the German sailor said, “I am more like a leisure sailor these days, I have no time to practice anymore, which makes it more challenging. Once you reach a certain age and you are doing other things, it becomes difficult to practice.”
Jens Kroker playing the shifts but eyeing the big picture Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Kroker was complimentary of RPAYC which is hosting the Worlds.
“This is really an outstanding example of inclusion. They are marvellous. There are lots of volunteers who are always kind and happy and willing to help. The Club is setting an example. I will take it home to Germany to my work, Turning Point, to see if we can replicate what they have done here at the Club.”
Turning Point unites several hundred years of experience in sailing for people with disadvantages. And Kroker says, “Those affected by a disability often lack the necessary self-esteem and courage to discover their talents and realise them in a self-determined way. Our focus is to help turn that around.”
On the ground at RPAYC and running around at this event is Chris Mitchell. As RPAYC Commodore, Rob McClelland, pointed out in his speech at the opening of the Worlds on Monday: “Of course, none of this would have been possible without one man’s vision—Chris Mitchell. Chris is the founder, designer, and driving force behind the Hansa class.”
Mitchell, it transpires, had been all over NSW prior to the event: “We collected around 70 boats from around NSW, mainly thanks to Sailability NSW, plus brought 25 of our own boats to the Alfreds. We collected Libertys and took them home and fixed and buffed them,” he said.
“We went past Orange to get boats, Port Macquarie, Moruya, Sydney, Gosford and put them in the Crystal Bay carpark at the Alfreds. It took around two weeks to get them all here. We started on the 10th of March and last ones came in on 22nd March,” Mitchell explained.
When Sunday afternoon comes around, all those who own their own boats will leave first and then Mitchell will spring into action again.
“We bought some discs and marked all of charter boats with them, so that when they come out of the water on Sunday, we can recognise them straight away. We got some second hand carpet and we’ll put them on that in carpark and then we’ll take them back to where we collected them from on two trailers.”
Mitchell said, “It’s terrific seeing all these people here sailing the boats, but this is just a milestone, a step, we think in terms of vision for the future.”
And some of that future involves trying to get sailing back into the Paralympic Games in time for Sydney 2032.
During the event, Mitchell is not sitting idle either. “I am running around fixing competitors’ boats. I also go on the water with Jackie (Jackie Kay is the International Hansa Committee Association Treasurer/Secretary). We went out with Alan Storman yesterday and tomorrow we’re going on Pretty Woman with Richard Hudson.”
“The Alfreds are fantastic. The dockmaster, Phil, is a past Commodore of the Club, so is Russell Murphy, the volunteer’s coordinator and Alan Storman, who is coordinating measurers. Everyone is pitching in,” Mitchell ended.
 is leading the 303 One Person Para Women - credit Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds.jpg?timestamp=1743224405912)
Betsy Alison (USA) is leading the 303 One Person Para Women - credit Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Racing at the Worlds continues tomorrow from 1pm, weather permitting, when all but the 303 One Person classes are back on the water for the penultimate day.
The Worlds take in the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships.
Sixteen nations are competing at the Championships on Pittwater in NSW: Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and USA.
For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/
By Di Pearson
Downwind made quite a spectacle for viewers. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Four new world champions decided at 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds
Saturday March 29, 2025
Grey, buckets of rain, cold, no breeze, swirling light air - the penultimate day of the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships on Pittwater gave competitors everything except a steady breeze and sun - which meant one race each in two classes only and four new world champions declared.
In a sliding doors moments, Rory McKinna (GBR) and Jess Wong won the Hansa 303 Two-Person Worlds from Chris Symonds and Maunela Klinger (AUS) and Piotr Cichocki and Olga Górnas-Grudzien (POL), who despite winning the final race, dropped to third overall after taking a penalty in Race 5 yesterday, which cost them the World crown and second place.
McKinna, from Ayrshire, then explained, “This is my first time in the Southern Hemisphere. I was originally only going to sail in the 303 One Person event and decided late that I would also sail in the Two Person event. So, I asked Chris Symonds if he knew anyone…
“Through him, Jess (an Australian) came to sail with me and she is new to sailing Hansas. We’d not met, let alone sailed together before. You know within five minutes of being in the boat whether it will work out or not – and I knew it would.”
Wong added, “It wasn’t particularly hard getting together. I knew I was in good hands. I felt comfortable with him straight away.”
McKinna went on to say, “We’ve had a very interesting week to say the least. We got off to a very good start with the Practice Race, but then we took a backward step in the first race. From there, though, we went up and up, so consistency was the name of the game.
“I wasn’t expecting to win. I never even envisaged winning the Two Person, I’ve always been a singles sailor. We’re not entirely sure how to feel at this stage. I don’t want to get excited just yet, because I’m hoping to get out tomorrow in the singles if the weather lets us. I’ve dropped to eighth, but I want to do my best. You never know what can happen.”
McKinna knows he can’t win or place second, as the top two have hardly strayed outside winning races, but third is achievable – and so far fate has been on his side.
No matter, the Scotsman is going home with a world championship trophy, just not the one he envisioned!
The only other class to race was the SKUD18. Daniel Fitzgibbon and Chris Somers (AUS) won all seven races to win these Worlds. Fitzgibbon owns two gold and one silver medal from three Paralympic Games. Although he had not sailed the boat since the 2016 Rio Games, it all fell into place with some practice.
Fitzgibbons’ team mate, Somers, is an old friend he sailed in the 420 class with back in the day, so the combination was a natural one.
Second and third places overall also remain unchanged, going to Australian teams Neil Rowsthorn and Jack Wallace and Naomi Ohue and Joe Thompson respectively.
“Rainy, light and shifty. Very unusual conditions - a south-wester. It was about sailing in pressure and you couldn’t always find it. It was like finding your way in the dark,” Fitzgibbon said.
“We didn’t have it all our own way today. We had to fight our way back to the front,” he admitted.
“Chris and I had to work out our communication. It took us a couple of days, but we managed that - and to stay friends! He loved it so much here and loved being involved with all the different people from around the world. He embraced it all.
“It’s been enjoyable sailing here. I’m just so happy to come back into sailing and see old friends. And the regatta was run very well by the RPAYC. The Commodore (Rob McClelland) was running the crane and craned us all out of the water this afternoon. Where else do you get that? Rob’s a great guy, he genuinely enjoys helping people,” Fitzgibbon concluded.
RPAYC Commodore Rob McClelland, Hansas Jackie Kay and Chris Mitchell and RPAYC Vice Commodore, Julia Hornsby. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Because of the tricky conditions, the Liberty and Hansa 2.3 did not get to race, so their World Championships were decided on six races each.
Lou Hutton, Race Officer on Bravo course explained: “We had 5-7 knots, it dropped out to 2-3 knots and like the rest of the week, it was very shifty. It was south-west, pretty much, but there was a fair bit of movement in that.
“We sat for a while and could see it wasn’t going to get any better, so we came home. We had to consider the competitors in the cold and rain and decided they should come in.”
Yui Fujimoto (JPN) is the new World Champion in the Hansa 2.3. Counting four wins, a second and a third, she deserved to win. Daisuke Zenju and Koji Harada filled out the podium. The Japanese trio started top three from Day 1 and were never headed, they were just too good.
It was a different story in the Liberty class where the top places fluctuated between four sailors and then three.
Yuen Wai Foo (HKG) won the Championship, but on countback to Charles Weatherly (AUS). The two found themselves in this position twice. Vera Voorbach (NED) took the final podium place and was just one point behind the top two. She spent the week moving up the leaderboard. She and Weatherly were looking forward to more races, but it was not to be.
The Hansa 303 One Person is the only class scheduled to race tomorrow, but it depends on conditions. As Hutton explained: “A small problem is the current gale warning. It will be looked at. We are intending to start racing at 11am - if it is safe to go out there,” she said.
The Worlds include the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships. All winners will be announced at the Presentation, followed by the Closing Ceremony at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) tomorrow, once the Hansa 303 One Person top three are established.
Sixteen nations have been competing at the Championships hosted by RPAYC on Pittwater in NSW: Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and USA.
For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/
By Di Pearson
Competitors thrilled to be going on the water today. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
SKUD18s on the racetrack today. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Final world champions announced at 2025 Hansa and Para Worlds
Sunday March 30, 2025
One last bid for redemption in the Hansa 303 One Person class at the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships on Pittwater today, with five realistically vying for the crown, but big conditions decided otherwise and Gauthier Bril (FRA) was named new World Champion.
A visibly relieved Bril was sipping a beer after the race was canned: “I am super happy to win after finishing sixth at the Worlds two years ago and then doing one year of training.
“Sailing here was really difficult, because at the front of the fleet you can’t make any mistakes, you need to be the best you can. The sailors who make the least mistakes win, but there are many other variables as well.
When Bril arrived at the event, he already knew second placed Piotr Cichocki (POL) and João Pinto (POR). “I knew them and the top nine, from racing them at other international events. I knew it would be difficult, so I trained as hard as I could,” he said.
Bril’s next event is the French Championship and his next gig? “I am racing on a Mini 6.50 for the Mini Transat 2027 (a solo, nonstop ocean race across the Atlantic on a 6.5-metre yacht in which he placed 11th in the 2023-2024 race). He has a big sailing program ahead.
It was all in the lap of the weather gods as to whether the race would go ahead. Principal Race Officer, Megan Kensington and her race management team, monitored the Gale Warning that predicted 30 knot gusts and rainy weather all day.
Meanwhile, a nervous top three paced, waiting to hear their fates. Bril: “The last day is always stressful because other guys could win it. I could have moved down the podium… So, yes, I am relieved.”
Bril was only one point clear of Piotr Cichocki (POL) and four ahead of Jens Kroker (GER). Breathing down the necks of the top three were Davide Di Maria (ITA) and João Pinto from Portugal. The latter pair were on equal points and eight points off the lead.
The top three each had reasons to make the last race count. Bril came into the competition focused and determined to wear the World Championship crown and put everything into his training beforehand.
Cichocki was poised to take out the Hansa Two Person Worlds, but a penalty in the penultimate race ultimately cost he and Olga Górnas-Grudzien that crown, making his resolve even firmer in this class.
For Kroker, it was more about proving to himself he could still do it. His past efforts include skippering German Paralympic Sonar teams to silver, gold and silver medals at the Paralympics from 2000 to 2012, but then family and work commitments took precedence.
Yesterday Yui Fujimoto (JPN) was declared World Champion of the Hansa 2.3 class, after their racing was also cut short due to the weather.
“Before I came here, I wished I could win and I made it,” exclaimed Fujimoto.
“The weather was always changing and the tide was strong. I’m not used to sailing in these sorts of conditions. It was very tricky. I was always looking everywhere, checking everyone, Liberty and SKUD classes too, as they were on our course. I kept my head out of the boat.”
Close encounters at a SKUD18 mark rounding. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Japanese sailors filled the podium. Fujimoto explained, “We sail at the same place, so we are always competing against each other. Here, the three of us were together on the same side of the course most of the time. We followed each other and stuck together somehow.”
On the event as a whole? “Of course, I have loved sailing here. I wish we could have sailed another race yesterday. I have also enjoyed mixing with everybody back at the Club,” said Fujimoto, who will head home to Japan for her next regattas.
Yesterday, Foo Yuen Wai stitched up the Liberty World Championship and we caught up with him: “At that moment (when they cancelled further racing), “I felt very relieved and expressed my good mood, by saying, ‘At last I got the trophy,’” he said.
“At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, I finished third. After training hard for 10 months, that was my first major trophy. Then last year, at the Asia Pacific Championship on the Gold Coast, I was named Liberty class champion.”
On his rivals, Foo Yuen Wai said, “Australian sailor Charlie (Weatherly, who placed second overall), was the toughest. I knew he would be. We are good friends. “It was a huge relief to not sail another race. I was leading, but we were on equal points.”
“I feel happy too, because the atmosphere at Alfreds… All the organising people, volunteers, people at reception, all the staff, they are so friendly and helpful, which makes it easy. I was comfortable each day when I came here, receiving smiles and welcomes. I am overwhelmed by all the friendly people, the sailors and everyone - and to make it better - I got the trophy!”
“We hope Hansa Organisation can organise a Worlds like this in Hong Kong. They held East Asia Championships twice, now they would like to hold the Worlds,” Foo Yuen Wai ended.
 red & white sail - winner of the Liberty Worlds - credit Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds.jpg?timestamp=1743351484176)
Yuen Wai Foo (HKG) red & white sail - winner of the Liberty Worlds. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds
Other World Champions within the main event were also crowned at the 4pm Presentation ahead of the Closing Ceremony. Full results can be found on the official website.
Rob McClelland, Commodore of RPAYC, was among the many from his Club to roll up the sleeves and pitch in. The final words belong to him.
“The 2025 Hansa World Championships have been sailed and it’s fair to say this has been one of the most memorable and meaningful weeks in the life of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club,” he said.
“Pittwater delivered challenging, world-class conditions and our Club delivered an experience that many competitors have described as ‘life-changing’. Sailors from around the world felt welcomed, supported, and celebrated — and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
“Many said they’ve never experienced a regatta so well organised, so thoughtfully delivered and so full of heart. Chris Mitchell, founder of Hansa Sailing, summed up best when he said he’d ‘never seen a Worlds run this well’. That was pleasing to hear, the Commodore said.
“To the competitors, volunteers and our incredible staff — thank you. Our volunteers (over 80 of them) worked tirelessly across all areas and yet did so with smiles on their faces. They formed friendships and found joy in the experience.
“Our staff went above and beyond and across every department the level of service. Their care and professionalism was exceptional. This event has shown what our Club is capable of when we come together. The legacy of this regatta will live on — not just in results or trophies, but in the stories, memories and impact it’s left on everyone involved.
“To all of you - sail safe, travel well – and please come back again,” the Commodore ended.
Eighteen nations competed at the Championships hosted by RPAYC on Pittwater in NSW: Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and USA.
We leave you with memories of the past week via photos taken by Alex Dare at Down Under Sail.
For full results, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/results/
For all information, including video and photos please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/
By Di Pearson
Gauthier Bril - the photo says it all. Photo: Alex Dare, Hansa Worlds