Two days ago, the World Championships for sailors with disabilities kicked off in Newport, Sydney, overlooking the picturesque Pittwater. The event includes the World and International Hansa Championships, the Australian and New South Wales Hansa Class Championships, and the Para World Sailing Championships.
Day 2 of the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships on Pittwater
On Day 2 of the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships at Pittwater, competitors and officials were hoping for more stable winds than those they faced on the previous day. While the breeze wasn’t as strong as on Day 1, the shifty conditions continued but didn’t deter the international sailors, who made their presence known.
The Hansa 303 One Person competition kicked off today with three races. Due to the large number of competitors, the fleet was split into Blue and Yellow groups, with 75 sailors in total.
Gauthier Bril (FRA) leads the Yellow group, topping the leaderboard after winning the first race and finishing second in Race 2 when the scores from both groups were tallied.
“The wind is shifty,” said Bril, referring to the primarily east-north-easterly breeze. "Although I’m leading, I know I need to try harder—I'm here to do my best."
He added, "I was in front with the British sailor, Rory McKinna, for a while during the first race, and it was very close. The second race was tight too, and I finished second in a close finish behind Polish sailor Cichocki Piotr, who also won the third race."
Despite the tough competition, Bril remains in the lead, followed by João Pinto (POR) from the Blue group, with Piotr in third.
“It really feels like our home waters in France (he’s from Nantes in Brittany), but it’s more shifty here,” Bril said.
He mentioned that the French team has been preparing for this World Championship for the past year, focusing on practice, strategy, and training.
Liberty Class
Two races in the Liberty class were completed, bringing the total to four. Consistent sailor Yuen Wai Foo (HKG) retains the lead, adding a 2-1 result to his score. Charles Weatherly (AUS) stays in second place, trailing by four points.
Past world and European champion Vera Voorbach (NED) has moved up to third after winning Race 3 and finishing third in Race 4, making her a sailor to watch.
Hansa 2.3 Class
The top three in the Hansa 2.3 class remain unchanged, and all three are from Japan. Yui Fujimoto continues to lead after winning both races of the day.
“The racing has been very close, with only seconds separating the top three in the first race,” Fujimoto said, referring to Daisuke Zenju in second and Koji Harada in third. "We were always chasing each other."
He added, “The wind today was much lighter, which suited me as I’m not good with strong winds,” laughing.
Fujimoto also shared that he has sailed in Australia before, in Perth, but this is his first time racing at Pittwater. “I arrived just in time for training on Monday, so I’m happy to do well. I’m enjoying my time here,” he said.
SKUD18 Class
Two more races were held in the SKUD18 class, and the top three positions remain the same, with all competitors from Queensland, Australia. Daniel Fitzgibbon, a triple Paralympic medallist, and his crewmate Chris Somers are still unbeaten, winning both races of the day and holding a five-point lead heading into tomorrow’s races.
Second and third places also remain unchanged, with Neil Rowsthorn and Jack Wallace in second, holding a four-point advantage over Naomi Ohue and Joe Thompson in third.
Looking Ahead
The Hansa 2.3, Liberty, SKUD18, and Hansa 303 Two-Person classes will compete tomorrow. The Hansa 303 One-Person teams will return to action on Thursday.
Weather forecasts predict similar conditions for tomorrow with an east-north-easterly wind around 10 knots.
A total of nine races are scheduled for each class, with racing continuing every day until the final races on Sunday. The Closing Ceremony and Award Presentation will follow the last race.
About the Event
The championships encompass the Hansa World and International Championships, the Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships, and the Para World Championships.
A total of 16 nations are competing at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) on Pittwater, NSW: Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, and the USA.
For more information about the event and entries, visit hansaworlds.org.
For details on RPAYC and its facilities, visit rpayc.com.au.
Photo credit: A Dare, Down Under Sail, Hansa Worlds
2025 Hansa and Para Worlds Media Release