Contender World Championships 2024 at Pensacola Yacht Club - Day 1
by Ed Presley 20 Feb 22:03 GMT
The 2024 Contender World Championships stands out for numerous reasons, it takes place in 2025, it is the first event in North America for 8 years, and is being held at the beautiful Pensacola Yacht Club.
Following a successful pre-event US National Championship, form was starting to show; Søren Dulong Andreason showed imperious form to win the Nationals from Antonio Lambartini and Paul Verhallen.
Day 1 of the Worlds took place in a 15kt northerly with plenty of shifts to keep the sailors guessing. Race one was led from start to finish by Simon Mussell of GBR, with another Brit Graeme Wilcox in second and Antonio Lambartini of Italy in third.
The front five cover all possible weight categories which shows how close the event will likely be.
The second race had the breeze slightly less; Antonio won by taking a right-hand lane into the gate to take the lead, with Simon following for second and Graeme in third.
Simon leads the event, and with more breeze forecast for day 2.
Results after day 1:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Nat | Club | R 1 | R 2 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 2420 | Simon Mussell | GBR | Highcliffe SC | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | 2561 | Antonio Lambertini | ITA | AVAL | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | 2787 | Graeme Willcox | GBR | Netley Sailing Club | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 9 | Paul Verhallen | NED | WV De Helling | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 5 | 1 | Soren Dulong Andreasen | DEN | Hellerup Sejlklub | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 678 | Tom Hooton | GBR | Burton Sailing Club | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 7 | 2719 | Rene Heynen | NED | Maas en roer | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| 8 | 2618 | Nick Noble | GBR | RYA | 9 | 7 | 16 |
| 9 | 2576 | Winfred Westerman | NED | WV Makkum | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| 10 | 40 | Luca Bonezzi | ITA | Circolo Vela Arco | 8 | 13 | 21 |
| 11 | 2383 | David Davies | GBR | Loch Ryan & Prestwick SC’s | 13 | 9 | 22 |
| 12 | 13 | Egidio Babbi | ITA | Circolo Vela Cesenatico | 12 | 14 | 26 |
| 13 | 2733 | Neil Ferguson | GBR | Yorkshire Dales SC | 16 | 11 | 27 |
| 14 | 2806 | Kees Storm | NED | WSVO | 15 | 12 | 27 |
| 15 | 2 | Mark Thorborg | NED | krzv spaarne | 11 | 18 | 29 |
| 16 | 2721 | Robert Wiedemeijer | NED | GWV DE Vrijbuiter | 14 | 15 | 29 |
| 17 | 2536 | Joel Magnan | CAN | Outer Harbour Centreboard Club | 19 | 16 | 35 |
| 18 | 2757 | Michael Smits | CAN | Outer Harbour Centreboard Club | 18 | 21 | 39 |
| 19 | 2398 | Neil Smith | CAN | CSC | 20 | 19 | 39 |
| 20 | 666 | Bill Hooton | GBR | Burton Sailing Club | 17 | 23 | 40 |
| 21 | 2397 | Raines Koby | CAN | OHCC | 25 | 17 | 42 |
| 22 | 2630 | Pim Langendijk | NED | WV Braassemermeer | 21 | 22 | 43 |
| 23 | 2585 | Peter Hale | CAN | Outer harbour centreboard club | 27 | 20 | 47 |
| 24 | 2702 | John McLean | GBR | Darling Pint Sailing Club | 22 | 25 | 47 |
| 25 | 2525 | Stephanie Mah | CAN | Outer Harbour Centreboard Club | 23 | 26 | 49 |
| 26 | 2428 | Bernie Bieber | CAN | OHCC | 30 | 24 | 54 |
| 27 | 1722 | Sofie Peerlinck | BEL | HZC | 24 | 30 | 54 |
| 28 | 757 | Nathan Brand | CAN | Outer Harbour Centerboard Club | 26 | 29 | 55 |
| 29 | 1731 | Nick Mercier | USA | Kittery Point YC | 28 | 27 | 55 |
| 30 | 2117 | Nathaniel Plant | USA | spsc | 29 | 28 | 57 |
| 31 | 2537 | Tim Willett | CAN | OHCC | 31 | DNC | 68 |
| 32 | 2498 | Lawrence Christian | USA | Massabesic Yacth | DNC | DNC | 74 |
| 32 | 2535 | Ethan Bixby | USA | SPSC | DNC | DNC | 74 |
| 32 | 2399 | Roger Martin | CAN | BBYC | DNC | DNC | 74 |
| 32 | 2541 | Riccardo Cugini | USA | Sail Sand Point | DNC | DNC | 74 |
| 32 | 2708 | Ed Presley | GBR | Castle Cove Sailing Club | DNC | DNC | 74 |
