Gustavo Doreste Blanco and Jakub Surowiec are the new A-Class World Champions 2024
With 180 boats competing under extreme weather conditions and organizational challenges, the event in Punta Ala became truly memorable, managed with dedication by the Centro Velico Punta Ala.
The A-Class Catamaran World Championships in Punta Ala, Tuscany, have just concluded after six days of competition, during which athletes faced highly variable weather conditions: from sunny days with moderate winds to sudden storms, strong gusts, and even a tornado! The weather didn’t hold back, challenging both participants and organizers. It was no easy task for the Centro Velico Punta Ala, which handled the sports side of the event.
With a record participation of 180 boats, equally divided between the Open and Classic categories, this was the largest A-Class catamaran event ever organized, making the competition legendary. From the water, the sight of the white, gray, cream, and black sails lined up on the beach, framed by the pine trees of PuntAla Camp & Resort, will remain unforgettable. The warm welcome of this beautiful location, directly overlooking the coast, made the experience even more special. Being together in the same resort, just steps away from the boats, created a unique atmosphere, culminating in beachside aperitifs with a spectacular view of Elba Island. Fantastic!
In the blue waters of the Gulf of Follonica, between Scarlino and Castiglione della Pescaia, 7 races were completed out of the 12 initially planned, where the best sailors showed their adaptability to all conditions. Consistency and resilience were rewarded, with applause going to the new world champions: Gustavo Doreste Blanco (ESP 72) in the Classic category and Jakub Surowiec (POL 41) in the Open category.
Maria Luisa Cionini from Centro Velico Punta Ala stated:
“The weather conditions we faced were exceptional: a sudden temperature drop, heavy rainstorms that in a few hours brought the amount of rain we usually see in a month, strong winds, and powerful swells. The Centro Velico Punta Ala pulled out every possible resource, collaborating with the Yachting Club Isole di Toscana and the Club Velico Castiglione della Pescaia, along with the invaluable help of the beach team from PuntAla Camp & Resort and volunteers. Despite the challenges, we successfully completed 7 races over 6 days of competition."
The event started with a bang. On Monday, after a morning of light winds, the breeze quickly strengthened, with gusts reaching 20-25 knots, making the conditions extremely difficult, with many boats capsizing and the final race of the day cancelled due to bad weather.
The second day delivered dream-like conditions, with stable winds between 10 and 16 knots, allowing for the smooth running of all three races for both categories in perfect conditions, showcasing the best of the A-Class.
Great frustration for the athletes on the third day, as only one race could be completed due to weak winds. On Thursday, even though the wind was sufficient for sailing, a sudden and violent storm hit, with significant swells along the coast, trapping the fleet on the beach as the large waves made it too dangerous to head out to sea.
Despite these difficulties, enthusiasm remained high until the final day, when the 7th and final race was held in tough conditions, with strong winds and waves that tested the participants. Unfortunately, many sailors withdrew early, decimating the fleet. However, those who stayed enjoyed themselves immensely, living a complete experience, truly worthy of a World Championship.
Challenging themselves in these variable conditions offered a demanding but extremely rewarding competition, allowing sailors to demonstrate their full range of skills, from managing light winds to enduring the toughest conditions.
Maria Luisa Cionini commented: "It was unfortunate that many had to withdraw, but the Open Championship also brings less experienced participants who struggle in such demanding conditions. The sea always tests you, and a good sailor must know how to face it."
Gordon Upton, media manager of the IACA, added: "Leaving early is a tactical mistake: in events like this, the dropout rate can be high, and staying in the race provides the opportunity to move up in the standings. Some undecided sailors often discover, once on the water, that it was a much more enjoyable decision than they initially thought."
Despite everything, the A-Class World Championship 2024 concluded successfully, with great satisfaction from all participants, once again proving the ability of the Centro Velico Punta Ala to manage international events, even in extreme conditions.
Congratulations to the new World Champions: in the Classic category, Gustavo Doreste Blanco from Spain won the title, followed by John Scott Anderson (Australia) and Jacek Noetzel (Poland). In the Open category, Jakub Surowiec (Poland) emerged as the champion, with Darren Bundock (Australia) and Mischa Heemskerk (Netherlands) on the podium.
A special thank you goes to the partners Forward WIP, Ciu Ciu Tenimenti, Challenger Sails, and Alpes, as well as the valuable support from the municipalities of Castiglione della Pescaia and Scarlino, the Marina di Scarlino, and the Marina di Punta Ala, the Federazione Italiana Vela FIVand the Comitato Seconda Zona, who contributed to the success of this extraordinary event.