Mumm 30 World Championships - Overall

Collins wins the Mumm 30 Worlds and his weight in Mumm Champagne

In a totally focussed and ruthlessly dedicated display of consistent power sailing, Ed Collins of West Dover, Vermont, is the new Mumm 30 World Champion. He took the title by a clear margin from Walter Geurts of The Netherlands and Britain's Mark Heeley in a manner which had all his rivals paying tribute. Collins scoreline of one win, five seconds, three thirds, a fifth and a ninth in 11 starts tells its own story. The ninth was the result of having to recover from a shredded spinnaker when he was lying third. Collins was second in the first unofficial worlds in Annapolis, fifth in Marseille and second last year to Luca Bassani in Hilton Head, South Carolina. "We have been practicing hard for this one," said Collins afterwards. "We came here knowing consistency pays. We were perhaps a little more conservative on the start line, perhaps took less chances than the others." But there was a wealth of experience on the boat. Collins has sailed the Commodores' Cup, tactician Judd Smith has raced an Etchells Worlds on the same water, and there had been an "aggressive sail development programme" with Smith after he had left North Sails for Doyle. "We have worked hard for this," said Collins, who included the UK Nationals and the Euro-Med leg in the warm-up programme and won them both.

He will be sailing again next weekend, he and partner Allerdice have two Mumm 30s and they will on Long Island Sound on Saturday. The World Championship-winning boat, USA50, is staying in Europe and Collins plans to campaign it in the Tour de France a la Voile next year.

Every kind of condition had been forecast by chief race officer Tony Lovell of the hosting Royal Southern Yacht Club, and every condition there was, including a gale on the final day providing surfing conditions and no room for error. But, by then, Collins nearly had the title in the bag and, with partner Allerdice, had put the icing on a campaign that had been three years in the making.

The reaction to the racing was enthusiastic and very positive. The policy of running three and even four short, sharp races a day was well received and provided a great test for the competitors, spectacular watching for the flotilla of spectator boats scurrying between the windward and leeward mark turnings.

At the final prize-giving there were five nations represented in the top six places. The second place went to Walter Geurts who won more races than anyone else but a 15th in race 7 put paid to his chances of winning the championship. Commenting on his loss, Geurts said, "It's been a good regatta and we are satisfied, but not satisfied because things went wrong. Our boat handling was not that good and we need more practice, but we think we had good boat speed - perhaps the best out there."

Mark Heeley - U.K. came a creditable third bringing his talent and experience to bear - including helmsman in this year's 4th placed U.K. team in the Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup. The Italian team of Mezzaroma and Sodo, placed 4th are some of the most experienced in the Mumm 30 Class, having campaigned at every major championship event, winning the Mumm 30 European Circuit Championships this year. France was well represented with two boats in the top 10 places - Jimmy Pahun and Laurent Sambron. Last year an Italian, Luca Bassani travelled to South Carolina to win the Mumm 30 Worlds, this year an American took the championship in Europe, next year the Mumm 30's will be in Miami in November and there'll be plenty of opportunity for practice before then.

For further information:
E-mail: m30@1stresults.co.uk
Website: www.mummyacht.com/mumm30
Photos: Intersail Mumm 30 Photograph Album