5.5 Metre Class World Championship 2023 at Yacht Club de l’Odet
5.5 Metre Class World Championship at Yacht Club de l’Odet – Day 4
29 August – 7 September 2024
Seven boats are now race winners in the 2024 world championship, yet only one has scored two victories – Aspire (Przemek Gacek, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, and Kilian Weise), which is currently lying fourth overall.
Race wins on Thursday went to Australian boat Beta Crucis (Martin Cross, Bob Stoddard, and Simon Reffold) and Ali-Baba (Flavio Marazzi, Julie Marazzi, and Eline Marazzi).
A left-hand wind shift before the start of the first race suggested a strong port end bias on the starting line, leading many top teams to position themselves there. Aspire made an early move and emerged ahead of the fleet in clear air, while The Jean Genie (Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) also looked well positioned.
“It was an interesting start today,” Cross reflected. “We got a little bit sandwiched but managed to hold on for a couple of hundred meters before we had to bail out and go right. We then found a clear lane up the center with a nice lift, and managed to pick the right beat, reaching the windward mark simultaneously with some tough competition.”
“Though we theoretically led the race all the way, it was touch and go, and we had to work very hard to stay ahead. The fleet is incredibly competitive, and we were relieved to finish ahead.”
Race 8 began in slightly more breeze, but still no more than 7-9 knots, and the pin end of the line was largely avoided by the fleet. Ali-Baba started between a Bahamian boat and The Jean Genie, then tacked onto starboard and moved right to find more breeze, finishing among the top three at the first windward mark.
“From there, it was all about finding the best pressure,” said Flavio Marazzi, who is racing with his daughters. “It’s challenging, but we noticed that the right side was consistently stronger, so we opted for that path.”
Julie Marazzi expressed her excitement about winning a world championship race. “It’s incredible. After our recent win in the Scandinavian Gold Cup, I didn’t think anything could top that. This experience is amazing as it marks our first race victory at this level.”
With only two races remaining in the championship, Ku-Ring-Gai III leads by nine points over Ali-Baba. Artemis (Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne, and Trond Solli-Saether) holds third on 33 points, followed closely by Aspire in fourth with 38 points, and New Moon III (Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger, and Peter Vlasov) in fifth with 41 points. All five boats still have a chance to win the championship.
ChlikaChlikaChlika (Antonin Radue, Pascal Radue, and Patrick Huguenin) extended its lead in the Evolution division today, ahead of another Ali-Baba (Wolf-Eberhard Richter, Kallkowski Beata, and Joerg Gruenwald) and Singora (Hans Köster, Cedric Menzela, and Mine Köster). Manuela V (Guido Tommasi, Matteo Barison, and Andrea Racchelli) continues to lead the classic fleet, followed by Twinns XLL (Jean-Philippe Gervais, Eric Gaiani, and Johnathan Commissaire).
The day ended with one of the 5.5 Metre class’s famed pontoon parties, organized by teams from Australia, Germany, and Britain. Two more races are scheduled for Friday with windier conditions anticipated.
Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.