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. 

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. 

Graham Hook (NZL) on a downwind leg - credit Alex Dare Hansa Worlds

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.” 
 
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/ 

Words: Di Pearson/Hansa Worlds

Photos: Alex Dare for Down Under Sail