Over 200 sailors and race officials from around the globe will descend on Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) this week for the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships, among them Paralympic gold medallists, Saltwater Veterans, world and former world champions.
Sailors 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 will congregate for these events to be held from 23-30 March.
This week the RPAYC's Commodore, Robert McClelland, made available the club's, and Pittwater's, Welcome:
Welcome to the 2025 International Hansa Class Association World and International Championships incorporating the 2025 Para World Sailing Championships
Dear Fellow sailors, guests, volunteers, officials’ and members,
It is with immense pleasure that we welcome you to the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) for the 2025 Hansa World and International Championships, as well as the Para World Championships. This landmark event will bring together 182 sailors from 19 countries, supported by over 130 dedicated volunteers and officials, all converging on our picturesque Pittwater.
RPAYC has a proud history of promoting inclusivity and excellence in sailing. Our commitment to adaptive sailing dates back to 1997 when we hosted the Hobie 16 Trapseat World Championships for sailors with disabilities. This tradition continues as we prepare to host the upcoming championships, which will feature competitions in five Hansa classes, including the Hansa 2.3, Hansa 303 (one-person and two-person), Liberty, and SKUD 18.
We are honoured to welcome back esteemed sailors such as Paralympic gold medallist Dan Fitzgibbon, who will be competing in the SKUD 18 class. Their participation, along with that of other distinguished sailors like Vera Voorbach (NED), a past world and European champion in the Liberty class, and Paul Phillips (GBR), second at the 2023 Hansa Worlds, underscores the high calibre of this event.
This championship is not just a competition—it is a celebration of equal opportunity in sailing. The Hansa class is uniquely designed to accommodate sailors of all abilities, from able-bodied athletes to those with significant physical impairments, ensuring that everyone can experience the freedom and joy of sailing on an even playing field. RPAYC is proud to serve as the venue for this prestigious event, showcasing our dedication to inclusivity and the spirit of sailing for all.
To our members, your unwavering support and enthusiasm are invaluable. We encourage you to actively participate in the event, whether by volunteering, attending races, or extending a warm welcome to our guests. Your involvement enriches the experience for all and exemplifies the camaraderie that defines RPAYC.
To our guests, we extend our heartfelt welcome. We hope you feel at home and experience the hospitality that our club is renowned for. May your time here be filled with memorable races, new friendships, and a deepened passion for the sport of sailing.
Let us come together to celebrate this remarkable occasion, fostering a spirit of unity, competition, and mutual respect.
Warm regards,
Robert McClelland
Commodore, RPAYC
Welcome, Hannah Stodel, to RPAYC!
We’re absolutely thrilled to have Hannah Stodel—four-time Paralympian, three-time World Champion, and an inspiration in inclusive sailing—here at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club!
Hannah is not only a world-class sailor but also a passionate advocate for equal opportunity in sailing, ensuring that everyone—able-bodied and disabled sailors alike—can compete on a level playing field. That’s exactly what the Hansa Class is all about, and it’s why we’re so excited to host the 2025 Hansa Class World & Para World Championships from March 24–30!
Ahead of the big event, Hannah is leading a World Sailing International Development Program (IDP) at RPAYC, helping sailors from around the world improve their skills, gain confidence, and experience the freedom of sailing—no matter their abilities. Her expertise, dedication, and energy are making a huge impact, and we can’t wait to see her continue inspiring sailors this week.
Welcome, Hannah! We’re honoured to have you at RPAYC and can’t wait to see the incredible sailing ahead!
Hannah Stodel—four-time Paralympian, three-time World Champion. Photo: RPAYC
Star-Studded Line-up
A star-studded field will sail in the Hansa 2.3, Hansa 303 One and Two-Handed, Liberty and SKUD18 classes. The latter was a Paralympic Games class when Dan Fitzgibbon won Silver at the 2008 Beijing, followed by Gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016.
This time, the Australian sailor, representing RPAYC and Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, will be crewed by old friend Chris Somers, who he sailed a 420 with before his accident. Fitzgibbon, who moved back to Queensland five years ago, explains, “You’re allowed to have an able-bodied person on the SKUD now, so that’s what people are doing.
“I’m trying catch up with everyone, because I’ve only sailed the boat once since Rio and they’re sailed so differently now – more brute force and kinetics. Before it was more finessing. It’s an open format - different to Paralympics - and the boats are faster with leverage on the side deck.”
Daniel said it was Interesting getting back in the boat after many years: “I thought I’d struggle, but it was just like it was 2016 getting back in boat. I felt so comfortable. Chris Mitchell (a collaborator in the SKUD18 design) loaned me the boat – which was very good of him. We’ve been adapting some things on it, as crew is allowed to hike now.”
Having sailed out of the Alfreds for some years, Fitzgibbon shared, “I’m so excited to sail on Pittwater again. It’s such a nice place to sail. And to come back to the Club. It’s such a good club – they have great compassion and are socially responsible. I’m looking forward to meeting old friends.”
Fitzgibbon added, “John Bacon (a RPAYC director) got me going again. He put all the wheels in motion. He’s such a good guy and a mover and shaker.”
The triple Paralympic medallist and Somers arrived at the venue a couple of weeks early to do some training. “I’m still trying to learn how to sail the boat the best in the new configuration.”
A bevy of names in the Hansa 303 One-Person Dinghy includes Jens Kroker, who skippered German Sonar Paralympic Games teams to Silver at Sydney 2000, Gold in Beijing 2008 and Silver at London 2012, is a former world champion and a force to be reckoned with.
However, Kroker has many rivals. One of the most recognisable is Betsy Alison. The US sailor won Gold at the 2023 Sailing World Championships, nine months after becoming a Para sailor. Beforehand, she coached the USA’s most successful Paralympic Sailing Team of all time, before becoming a para athlete in 2022.
Before Para sailing, Alison was named Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year five times after dominating performances in multiple classes throughout a distinguished career. Her team won the inaugural Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship in 1985 and 12 years later, won four in a row.
The Rhode Island sailor won a Laser Radial Worlds, a Women's Match Racing ISAF Sailing Worlds, an Open Yngling Worlds and is a three-time Women’s National sailing champion. She has left nothing behind in sailing, on or off the water.
Alison Weatherly (AUS) is another. The Victorian took Bronze at the 2023 Para Sailing Worlds in the Netherlands, which sits alongside the Bronze she won in 2022 and Silver from 2019.
“I’m focused on the team rather than myself,” Weatherly explains of the Victorian team vying for the Nationals at the Hansa Worlds. I also try not to focus on the Para sailors,” she says, pointing out the events are open to sailors with a disability and able bodied alike.
“I’m hoping to do well in the Open fleet and most looking forward to racing against Bruce (James). He’s the person I know best and we sail against each other a lot and have fun – it’s important to have fun at regattas.”
Weatherly names others: “Chris Symonds (AUS), Olga Górnas-Grudzien (POL) - she won a race in the open fleet in Japan in 2022, Takumi Niwa (JPN) - he won the 2023 Asia Pacific Championships, Jens (Kroker), Miray Ulas (TUR) - she and I are usually pretty even. Spain has a strong fleet, so they might be there.”
Like some others, Symonds will race in the 303 One and Two-Person events. In the latter he is paired with Manuela Klinger (AUS). They won every race at the 2024 Asia Pacifics. Between 2021-2022, the Tasmanian also won the Hansa 303 Doubles at the Para Worlds in Italy and the 303 Doubles and Para Doubles at the Italian nationals. He was awarded Australian Para Sailor of the Year from 2018-2022.
A strong team from Japan heads the 2.3 Hansa starters and includes: Koji Harada and Hidenori Hirasawa, who will be joined by Poland’s Andrzej Bury and India’s Ajay Singh and Australia’s Allister Peek. The ACT sailor has an abundance of trophies to his name.
The Liberty field includes Vera Voorbach (NED), a past world and European champion in the class, Paul Phillips (GBR), second at the 2023 Hansa Worlds and Rachael Cox (AUS), the SKUD18 2008 Paralympic silver medallist (with Fitzgibbon), are in the fleet too.
“Hansa sailing is about inclusivity, opportunity, and ‘Freedom on the Water’ - a principle that resonates deeply with Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s values. This event will bring together nearly 200 sailors from 16 yacht clubs across the world, competing on a level playing field. We are honoured to provide a world-class venue and a warm welcome to these sailors,” Commodore Robert McClelland said.
“The Club takes great pride in hosting events of this calibre and we’re committed to making it a successful Championships. Our experienced race management team, dedicated volunteers and the natural beauty of Pittwater will ensure an unforgettable regatta - both on and off the water. We’re looking forward to a week of thrilling competition and fun ashore.”
RPAYC organisers have a huge task with the magnitude of these Worlds, but are at home holding major events. This year alone, the Club has hosted the Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta, inclusive of Australian and NSW Championships, the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race and the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race in October, as well as others.
For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: hansaworlds.org
For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: rpayc.com.au
By Di Pearson
