IRSA World Championship at Limone sul Garda, Italy - Overall

GER187 Nigel Winkley and FRA 77 Gilles Breteche during the IRSA Marblehead World Championship at Lake Garda © Valentijn van Duijvendijk

Great Britain's Brad Gibson gets the hat trick

After a week of tough sailing in Limone / Lake Garda the 2016 (2014, 2012) Marblehead World Champion is Brad Gibson. The model of consistency, Brad was never ruffled or fazed by the conditions and competitors and managed to combine quality racing with his usual top quality socializing. Well done Brad! Thanks to the hosts and members of North West Garda Sailing for their great effort and hospitality.

After 5 days of racing in a variety of conditions, Brad Gibson has been crowned the 2016 Marblehead class World Champion here in Limone del Garda. The result for Brad makes this 3 in a row - hat trick, a feat only bettered by fellow GBR skipper Graham Bantock who despite a late charge, just fell short of runner up, with that honour going to Italian Matteo Longhi.

The World Championship was organized by IRSA and the Italian "Vela Club Campione". The team led by Virginio Boglietti, Renato Bolis, Matteo Longhi and Gerd Mentges with help from the team of North West Garda Sailing did a great job. Thanks for the work also to Pierre Gonnet our unwavering race officer and last but not least the umpires around Gordon Davies and Chris Atkins (Vice President at World Sailing).

GBR 42 Brad Gibson leads the pack during the IRSA Marblehead World Championship at Lake Garda - photo © Alessia Carmignani

At halftime we had a tight battle between Brad Gibson GBR only one point ahead of Matteo Longhi ITA and another three points clear of Marc Pomerade FRA. With Yannik Rossignol FRA, Graham Bantock GBR, Lincoln Mc Dowall AUS and Chris Harris GBR all in contention with 15 points separating them from first, it was all to play for in the last two days of racing.

On the last two days Graham Bantock was able to change the order with consistent sailing achieving top 3 places and getting the better of Marc Pomerade FRA who slipped back to 4th by one point but not quiet able to match Matteo Longhi ITA who took a well deserved runner up spot.

Of the rest some may have hoped for a little more but across the board all enjoyed the experience and will be back for more in Germany 2018.

Top Sailors and Designs:

1. Brad Gibson GBR 42 (Grunge)
   Marblehead class World Champion in 2012, 2014 and now 2016 achieved the hat trick with his internationally and nationally undefeated Design "Grunge".

2. Matteo Longhi – ITA 24 (Nioutram)
   Put the maximum pressure on Brad Gibson at the top. Sometimes a little too quiet and fair racing the newly design "Nioutram" by Marc Pomerade from France.

3. Graham Bantock GBR 95 (Quark)
   Second at the World Championships in 2012, 2014 and now third in 2016. Sailing his own design "Quark".

4. Marc Pomerade FRA 44 (Nioutram)
   The developer of the "Nioutram" racing his own design at the front of the fleet, archiving good results with the predecessor "Tramontan" the new design seems a good step forward.

5. Darin Ballington GBR 98 (Grunge)
6. Chris Harris GBR 21 (Starkers)
7. Yannik Rossignol FRA 22 (Nioutram)
8. Robert Walsh GBR 25 (F-3)
9. Laurent Gerbeaud FRA 71 (Quark)
10. Ante Kovacevic CRO 9 (Quark)

    Full Results at worlds2016.marbleheadclass.org/results/full-result

    
    Brad Gibson wins the IRSA Marblehead World Championship at Lake Garda - photo © Alessia Carmignani

    More information can be found on the event website at worlds2016.marbleheadclass.org

    For more information on the Radio Sailing and the World Championships visit www.radiosailing.org

    For more information on the Radio Sailing and the World Championships visit www.radiosailing.org