Wireless Communications International 505 World Championship at Adelaide Sailing Club Overall

by Jordan Spencer 7 Jan 08:29 GMT 2-7 January 2025

Sandy Higgins and Paul Marsh win the Wireless Communications International 505 World Championships © Christophe Favreau

The final day of the Wireless Communications International 505 World Championships was crazy. Racing started early at 11am. Two races were planned. The weather was beautiful, the breeze in the morning was easterly, straight offshore.

The forecast was for 15-20kn from the South East but fading. At the top of the leaderboard Peter Nicholas and Luke Payne led by 6 points from Sandy Higgins and Paul Marsh, with a further 5 points to Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn. If two races were sailed a second drop would count. This would benefit the leaders, Nicholas and Payne's, position.

For the start of race 8 the wind was at 130 degrees, ESE. and 10-11kn. For most of the first beat the boats to the right looked strong, but as we closed on the shore, it bent left. Rounding the top mark for the first time, Chris Nicholson and Charlie Wyatt led Sandy and Marshy. Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn, and Pete and Luke were deep. With the marginal strength breeze, half the fleet were reaching downwind and half were running. On the second beat, Sandy and Marshy moved to the lead, Nathan Batchelor and Sam Pascoe were flying and moved to second. Mal and Angus Higgins worked up the middle to get to the front as well. There were plenty of passing opportunities on the final run with Nicholas/Payne splitting to the other from Higgins/Marsh and looking very threatening, but a late right shift killed that hope. Sandy and Marshy won, just holding out Batchelor/Pascoe and Mal and Angus Higgins. Nicholas and Payne scored a 12th.

Into race 9 Sandy and Marshy led Nicholas/Payne by 5 and it was down to the two leaders. The double drop basically meant whoever beat the other would win. The race started in 8kn with the wind at 180. By the bottom mark the first time, it was a thumping Sou'wester and there was carnage across the course. At the start, the two leaders matched raced. Nicholas has competed on the World Match Racing Tour, but Sandy won his first match racing event as a teenager. Both were very confident and it was awesome. Nicholas/Payne did gain control on the first start, but it had to be abandoned. For the second, Higgins and Marsh got a nice spot early on the line, with Nicholas/Payne in a tough spot mid line. At the first top mark it was tightly bunch, with Nic Baird and Eric Anderson leading from Nicholson/Wyatt. Sandy and Marshy were fourth. Pete and Luke were tenth. By the bottom mark Sandy and Marshy were second and Pete and Luke had moved into the teens as they took big risks. By now the wind was thumping. The title was in reach for Higgins/Marsh, only breakages or a capsize could ruin their party. On the final run, they sailed extra conservative, giving up places to reduce risk. And then, they won! The local crowd went crazy for their local winner.

Sandy Higgins and Paul Marsh sail 505's at Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club, the home of the first, home Australian World Championship win in sailing, when Sir James Hardy won the 505 World Championships in 1966 and became famous. Sir James and the Hardy family have supported Sandy and Marshy throughout their sailing life. Hardys Wines are a major sponsor of this 505 Worlds, and with the passing of Sir James in 2023, it all ties together so neatly and we now have a successor. Congratulations Sir Sandy and Sir Paul.

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Crew	Nat	Sail No	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts
1	Sandy Higgins	Paul Marsh	AUS	9272	B&SYC	3	4	4	3	2	‑6	‑13	1	4	21
2	Peter Nicholas	Luke Payne	AUS	8801	RFBYC	2	1	1	‑18	6	4	2	‑12	9	25
3	Nathan Batchelor	Sam Pascoe	GBR	9253	Tynemouth Sailing Club	‑15	3	2	5	5	5	DNF	2	8	30
4	Chris Nicholson	Charlie Wyatt	AUS	9134	LMYC	4	‑13	7	‑11	8	1	3	7	1	31
5	Howard Hamlin	Andy Zinn	USA	9262	NHYC	6	6	9	1	1	‑15	4	‑13	6	33
6	Mike Holt	Carl Smit	USA	9072	SCYC	1	5	8	7	7	‑10	9	‑10	3	40
7	Nic Baird	Eric Anderson	USA	9248	StFYC	11	‑16	6	12	12	2	1	‑39	5	49
8	Ian Pinnell	Charles Dwyer	GBR	9238	HISC	10	11	15	‑16	4	‑21	5	4	2	51
9	Jan Saugmann	Nick Johnston	DEN	9244	HSC	8	‑28	3	9	‑34	3	17	6	7	53
10	Robin Duessen	David Snoad	AUS	9194	ASC	9	2	16	8	3	DNS	‑21	8	12	58
11	Mike Martin	Adam Lowry	USA	9106	StFYC	5	14	5	4	17	7	10	‑24	‑20	62
12	Malcolm Higgins	Angus Higgins	AUS	9191	BSYC	‑32	7	‑21	2	21	13	16	3	10	72
13	Philippe Boite	Marin Carnot	FRA	9270	CVSQ	12	8	18	‑20	9	14	11	‑23	19	91
14	Micki Daisenberger	Johannes Tellen	GER	9198	DTYC	7	‑29	13	17	19	8	8	‑26	23	95
15	Michael Babbage	James McAllister	AUS	8794	NC YC	19	‑26	10	24	‑26	9	6	18	13	99
16	Alexandra Alder	Marcus Cooper	AUS	9209	HSC	‑30	9	DNF	14	20	25	15	9	15	107
17	Michael Wilson	Stu Bithell	GBR	9229	IoMYC	24	‑39	‑29	6	10	16	28	5	22	111
18	Kevin Cameron	Sam Heritage	Aus	9061	DPSS	25	10	11	‑39	‑32	11	20	17	18	112
19	Tom Stivano	Simon Burt	AUS	8759	B16YC	14	17	17	23	24	DNF	DNC	15	17	127
20	Mark Stowell	Jake Bessen	AUS	9254	RFBYC	20	‑27	14	25	11	17	19	22	‑33	128
21	Douglas Hagan	Ho Nalu	USA	9252	PCYC	DNF	DNF	19	13	15	12	14	41	14	128
22	Alexander Holzapfel	Arne Wittemer	GER	9258	PSK	‑35	12	20	22	13	29	12	‑33	21	129
23	Tim Boeger	Finn Boeger	GER	9260	HSC	23	15	23	‑37	14	18	‑30	11	27	131
24	Nigel Lott	Bob Franks	AUS	9167	DPSS	16	21	33	15	16	DNF	‑36	28	16	145
25	Michael Quirk	Cam McDonald	AUS	9263	Tba	‑39	30	30	10	18	19	27	19	‑31	153
26	Alex Blacker	Jesse Mitton	AUS	9018	ASC	21	22	31	27	35	24	DNC	‑42	11	171
27	Ryan Menzies	Lucas Geddes	AUS	8893	WASC	‑45	20	26	40	‑50	30	7	32	26	181
28	Mike Punnett	Blaine Pedlow	USA	8576	PCYC	17	36	‑37	31	33	23	18	29	‑46	187
29	Edward Cox	Peter Nicholson	AUS	9205	CYCA	29	DNF	32	21	‑53	28	34	14	30	188
30	Herve de Kergariou	Geraud Lafortune	FRA	9147	YCF	40	‑42	41	19	22	32	24	16	‑44	194
31	Terry Scutcher	Daniel Roos	GBR	8760	CYCA	18	33	‑39	33	27	31	‑37	21	32	195
32	Justin Carey	Chris Carey	AUS	8809	DPSS	31	32	DNF	‑46	30	26	26	20	38	203
33	Chris Gregg	Ian Gregg	AUS	8781	DPSS	28	‑45	22	28	43	22	23	43	DNF	209
34	Ayden Menzies	Adam Wyatt	AUS	8644	TBC	38	19	12	38	‑40	36	DNF	34	37	214
35	Carter Jackson	Will MacDonald	AUS	9265	MSC	42	DNF	24	43	37	20	22	‑56	34	222
36	Stefan Koechlin	Andreas Achterberg	GER	9070	SVS	13	18	25	32	25	46	DNF	DNC	DNC	230
37	Matt Hansen	Shane Attwell	AUS	9273	FSC	26	23	48	‑50	46	33	29	‑52	25	230
38	Nicholas Mariani	Alexander Thomson	AUS	9264	FSC	33	41	27	34	29	DNF	DNF	37	29	230
39	Ryan Kelly	Harry Mitton	AUS	8946	ASC & WSC	‑56	25	28	‑53	44	27	31	35	51	241
40	Owen Vale	Quinn Andrew	AUS	8796	RPAYC	36	31	40	‑42	‑48	34	SCP	36	24	242
41	Michael Duffield	Anthony Gaunt	AUS	8817	FSC	34	24	35	26	DSQ	DNF	DNC	25	28	243
42	Tim Murphy	Paul Von Grey	USA	8937	SCYC	37	‑46	36	30	28	40	45	27	DNF	243
43	Nicola Birkner	Angela Stenger	GER	9197	VSaW	‑51	40	45	35	23	43	43	30	‑49	259
44	Cullen Hughes	Paul Rees	AUS	9136	BSC	44	‑57	34	‑47	47	38	32	40	35	270
45	Damien Carey	David Ottaway	AUS	9223	HSC	22	38	38	56	45	‑71	25	53	‑59	277
46	Luke Ingalls	John Ingalls	USA	8786	SYC	‑71	58	43	29	39	‑71	44	38	36	287
47	Neil How	Zoe How	AUS	8891	HSC	‑60	34	46	‑54	38	47	42	45	54	306
48	Andrew Cawley	Patrick Attwell	AUS	8855	RFBYC	43	54	DNF	58	‑62	SCP	33	44	40	309
49	Brooke Jones	Brian Jones	AUS	8589	HSC	46	‑63	49	49	‑61	39	35	50	43	311
50	Tony Turton	David Clayton	AUS	8886	BSYC	53	43	DNF	44	36	DNF	DNC	31	39	317
51	Aussie Higgins	Jarrod Hazell	Aus	8797	FSC	49	51	42	52	41	42	DNF	46	‑58	323
52	Brian Pike	Riley Pike	AUS	8639	GSC	47	50	44	48	‑56	51	47	‑59	42	329
53	Ian Burford	David Christie	AUS	9213	DPSS	52	37	53	‑59	49	37	‑71	47	55	330
54	Finlay Crisp	Tom Alder	AUS	9192	ASC	27	49	DNF	41	52	DNF	DNC	55	41	336
55	Scott Lidgett	Ben O'Brien	AUS	8626	DBYC	‑63	35	50	‑64	60	TLE	41	49	53	342
56	Michael Gallagher	Matt Brooman	AUS	8840	WSC	48	‑55	51	51	‑58	44	46	54	50	344
57	Aaron Ross	Rob Waterman	USA	9083	ABYC	41	48	52	36	51	DNF	DNC	57	60	345
58	Frank Weigelt	Nathan de Vries	GER	8884	DTYC	55	56	47	57	31	52	DNF	48	‑61	346
59	Luke Abbott	Kieren Abbott	AUS	8968	FSC	58	60	60	‑62	57	41	40	‑65	45	361
60	Grant Abbott	Matthew Till	AUS	8667	FSC/MOFSC	50	61	56	‑66	‑64	45	38	61	56	367
61	Roger Pell	Byron Mavrick	AUS	9017	RFBYC/ FSC	‑64	47	54	60	‑65	50	49	58	57	375
62	Mirco Gantenberg	Jacob Niewiarra	GER	9074	SCH	61	64	55	61	42	DNF	DNC	51	47	381
63	Richard Batten	Jamie Batten	AUS	8739	HSC	57	65	DNF	‑69	67	48	50	64	52	403
64	Steve Howden	Jeremy Kerrisk	AUS	9115	PMYC	59	53	61	65	63	DNF	DNC	60	48	409
65	Martin Smith	Sam Byass	AUS	9022	HSC	54	TLE	59	68	TLE	TLE	48	TLE	DNF	417
66	Richard Hyde	Lindsay Gilbert	AUS	9071	DPSS	62	52	58	55	54	DNF	DNC	DNC	DNC	423
67	Joshua Till	Ashlie Duffield	AUS	881	FSC/SoPYC	TLE	62	57	‑70	68	49	DNF	62	62	427
68	Anna Hauschild	Julia Achterberg	GER	8682	SCSeV	DNF	59	DNS	45	55	DNF	DNC	DNC	DNC	443
69	Robin Cross	Tim Griffin	AUS	8839	BSYC	65	44	NSC	63	59	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNF	444
70	Peter Croft	Gary Rushton	AUS	9037	SYC	DNF	DNC	DNC	67	66	DNF	DNC	63	DNF	480