Hansa and Para World Championships 2025 at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club - Day 4
by Di Pearson / Hansa Worlds 28 Mar 08:00 GMT
23-30 March 2025
Downwind made quite a spectacle for viewers - Hansa and Para World Championships day 4 © Alex Dare / Hansa Worlds
The Hansa 303 One-Person fleet was the only one out racing on Day 4 of the 2025 Hansa and Para World Championships at Pittwater, while the other classes enjoyed a lay day, although some chose to go out and practice in preparation for Saturday's races.
Three races were run under gloomy skies with the sun teasing by poking its head out every now and again. So, six races have been sailed in total, with three more scheduled for Sunday's showdown. On a tight scoreboard, six internationals hold the cards - and it could go to any of them. However, Gauthier Bril (FRA) is the one to beat.
Bril has sailed the most consistently, counting four wins and a pair of second places in the six races. And despite taking the lead on the first day of the competition, fired a warning salvo: "I need to try harder, I'm here to do my best." In other words, second places are not good enough!
His leading margin is slim though, as Piotr Cichocki (POL) is one point behind. Jens Kroker (GER) has come into the picture today, his 10 points with a drop in play mean he is just four points off the lead.
After scoring 2-1-5 results, Kroker, who skippered German Paralympic Sonar teams to silver, gold and silver medals at the 2000, 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games respectively, has Davide Di Maria (ITA) on equal points with him, but is fourth on countback. And Spain's Pau Toni Homar is breathing down their necks. Sunday will be all to play for.
Kroker said this afternoon, "It was a very intense and challenging day on the water, because it was very, very shifty. You had to go with shifts, but keep looking at the bigger picture at the same time. The top sailors did a very good job all day. Many of the same people finished in the top places."
To make the point, after winning the second race of the day, Kroker was in 12th or 13th place in the third race and moved up to finish fifth overall.
"I was able to move up. A lot of the sailors were moving up and down quite a bit."
The top sailors move into the Gold fleet for Sunday's races, while the other half go into the Silver fleet. They are planning three races for Sunday in the Gold and Silver fleets.
"The weather forecasts for Sunday look very challenging - up to 30 knot gusts. They might start us two hours early. They will decide in the morning," Kroker said.
On his chances of winning, the German sailor said, "I am more like a leisure sailor these days, I have no time to practice anymore, which makes it more challenging. Once you reach a certain age and you are doing other things, it becomes difficult to practice."
Kroker was complimentary of RPAYC which is hosting the Worlds.
"This is really an outstanding example of inclusion. They are marvellous. There are lots of volunteers who are always kind and happy and willing to help. The Club is setting an example. I will take it home to Germany to my work, Turning Point, to see if we can replicate what they have done here at the Club."
Turning Point unites several hundred years of experience in sailing for people with disadvantages. And Kroker says, "Those affected by a disability often lack the necessary self-esteem and courage to discover their talents and realise them in a self-determined way. Our focus is to help turn that around."
On the ground at RPAYC and running around at this event is Chris Mitchell. As RPAYC Commodore, Rob McClelland, pointed out in his speech at the opening of the Worlds on Monday: "Of course, none of this would have been possible without one man's vision—Chris Mitchell. Chris is the founder, designer, and driving force behind the Hansa class."
Mitchell, it transpires, had been all over NSW prior to the event: "We collected around 70 boats from around NSW, mainly thanks to Sailability NSW, plus brought 25 of our own boats to the Alfreds. We collected Libertys and took them home and fixed and buffed them," he said.
"We went past Orange to get boats, Port Macquarie, Moruya, Sydney, Gosford and put them in the Crystal Bay carpark at the Alfreds. It took around two weeks to get them all here. We started on the 10th of March and last ones came in on 22nd March," Mitchell explained.
When Sunday afternoon comes around, all those who own their own boats will leave first and then Mitchell will spring into action again.
"We bought some discs and marked all of charter boats with them, so that when they come out of the water on Sunday, we can recognise them straight away. We got some second hand carpet and we'll put them on that in carpark and then we'll take them back to where we collected them from on two trailers."
Mitchell said, "It's terrific seeing all these people here sailing the boats, but this is just a milestone, a step, we think in terms of vision for the future."
And some of that future involves trying to get sailing back into the Paralympic Games in time for Sydney 2032.
During the event, Mitchell is not sitting idle either. "I am running around fixing competitors' boats. I also go on the water with Jackie (Jackie Kay is the International Hansa Committee Association Treasurer/Secretary). We went out with Alan Storman yesterday and tomorrow we're going on Pretty Woman with Richard Hudson."
"The Alfreds are fantastic. The dockmaster, Phil, is a past Commodore of the Club, so is Russell Murphy, the volunteer's coordinator and Alan Storman, who is coordinating measurers. Everyone is pitching in," Mitchell ended.
Racing at the Worlds continues tomorrow from 1pm, weather permitting, when all but the 303 One Person classes are back on the water for the penultimate day.
A total of nine races are scheduled for each class. The Closing Ceremony and Presentation will follow the last race on Sunday.
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 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 RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: rpayc.com.au