Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Star World Champions heading to Etchells World Championship 2025

by Etchells World Championship 28 Oct 2024 06:19 GMT 10-14 January 2025
Star World Championship © ISCRA Matias Capizzano

The Etchells National and World Championships in January 2025 at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, are attracting a range of international performers across classes including the most recent Star Class World Champions, John Kostecki and Austin Sperry.

"I am still living a dream," said Sperry. "JK and I jumped back in the star this past May after a 20-year break sailing a star together. Going into the final race of the Worlds there were six boats that had a chance to win the regatta. Fortunately, we sailed a great last race and won the world championship by one point. What a relief!" he exclaimed.

On transitioning from the Star to the Etchells, Austin Sperry said it was an easy choice given the reliability of the class to attract a high quality fleet, with good people, and great sailing.

"I am now 46, the Star is a very physical boat and I am not getting any younger! I've sailed Star boats in Miami over the winter for the last three decades. I've watched from afar the great turnout the Etchells Class generates for each and every regatta during the winter months and the amount of talent in the class. I know a lot of the people in the class, but I enjoy making new friends and learning as much as possible about the boat and how to make it go fast."

There is also a new challenge for Sperry with crew numbers and boat configuration.

"With three people aboard it is a new dynamic I am not used to. Plus this spinnaker thing is an entirely new challenge for me personally. I am very fortunate to sail with John Kostecki in the middle and Noel "Nitro" Drennan up front," he professed.

Kostecki was the skipper for the Star World Championship win, and won a silver medal in the Soling Class in 1988, among other accolades across a substantial career in sailing. Nitro is no stranger to the Etchells class, with the 2022 World Championship to his name, and a successful one-design and ocean racing career alongside a solid career as a sailmaker, now specialising in One-Design for North Sails.

"The experience these two have over the course of their respective careers is obviously very impressive," Sperry stated. "We sailed most of the events in Miami this past winter together, there were a few (schedule) conflicts at times and Max Salminen was a key member of our team. Overall I was very happy with our first season in the Etchells together."

With this crew line up, their preparation, and recent form across the board this surely puts this team into a favourable position, but Sperry was quick to chat about the process rather than the outcome.

"On our team we never worry about the outcome, we very much focus on the process - daily. We are there to do well of course, but if we can get better every single time we step aboard the boat we will have a great regatta. There are so many variables in the sport of sailing that are outside of our control, it makes no sense to me to begin thinking about the what-if's. There are many great competitors in this class, all very accomplished sailors in their own right. I can't spend time focusing on what they may or may not do. We have to trust the process, lock in and give it our full 100% focus. The outcome will take care of itself."

On travelling to Melbourne and the logistics, Sperry said that he made it as easy as he possibly could for the team by purchasing a local boat.

"I bought Chris Manton's boat, 1514 which is already in AUS so I am excited to see how the new boat performs. We've got a few training camps that we are preparing to do in AUS leading up to the Worlds."

So even in a new class, with a stacked crew line up, a boat that is already in Australia, and the promise of summer sailing in Australia, Sperry is keen to get "downunder".

"The class is super competitive, and I am really enjoying learning a new one-design class. I love being part of a team, with a common goal. It's been a lot of fun thus far and I am excited to give it a go in Melbourne."

It's not too late to join the growing list of entries for what is set to be a competitive but enjoyable regatta at the Etchells World Championship 2025 at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. There are also a number of lead-in regattas including the Christmas Cup in mid-December, and Pre-Worlds the first week of January 2025. Entries close at the end of November.

Quick Links:

Related Articles

Scottish Series champions will be back to defend
Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne starts soon Last year's overall winners of the Jura Scottish Series, Allan Manuel's Etchells 22 Bounce Back, are returning to Tarbert, Loch Fyne over the coming days looking to defend the class title which they won with a convincing scoreline. Posted on 20 May
Etchells North American Championship overall
Luke Lawrence and team win at San Diego Yacht Club The competitors for the Etchells North American Championship in San Diego left the dock Sunday morning for the final two races of the regatta with a lot of work still in front of them to determine the winner. Posted on 19 May
Etchells North American Championship day 2
Three more races held on Saturday The 2025 Etchells North American Championship continued with 3 more races on Saturday. Conditions were more favorable for racing today with wind in the 8 - 12 kt range. Posted on 18 May
Etchells North American Championship day 1
A strong day for Masfen, Cooke and Wilkinson give the NZL team top position Day one of the Etchells North American Championship started off under an AP flag with mostly cloudy skies. After an almost 90 minute delay, Race 1 got under way at 12:55 with a course bearing of 235 with 1.2 nm legs. Posted on 17 May
2025 Etchells North American Championship Preview
Racing set to Kick Off Friday May 16th in San Diego San Diego Yacht Club welcomes 39 teams competing in the 2025 Etchells North American Championships - a 3-day regatta May 16-18. Posted on 15 May
BMW Spring Regatta 2025 at RHKYC
Attracting 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture The BMW Spring Regatta attracted 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture - across four Big Boat divisions & eight one-design classes including Dragons, Etchells, Flying Fifteens, Impalas, J/80s, Pandoras, Ruffians, and Sportsboats. Posted on 13 May
Tomes Cup 2025 at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
Sixty-seven boats enjoyed fair wind in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour The finale of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2024-2025 took place in Hong Kong on Saturday 3 May, completing the series of four pursuit races to determine the top-performing boat for the season. Posted on 6 May
Jesberg Wins Etchells Orca Bowl
Busch/Madden Win Etchells West Coast Spring Series The Orca Bowl wrapped up the 2025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series on April 26-27 with a 5-race regatta sailed by 33 teams on the ocean course off of Point Loma in San Diego, CA. Posted on 29 Apr
It's So Easy to Shop for Winning Sails Online
Shop North One Design sails online anytime for fast delivery Shop North One Design sails online anytime for fast delivery, in-stock availability, and podium-ready results. Don't wait, your next win starts here. Posted on 28 Apr
2025 Etchells Midwinters West in San Diego
Chris Busch wins tight battle after a dynamic three days of racing The 2025 Etchells Midwinters West, hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club and sailed on the Coronado Roads, delivered a dynamic three days of racing, concluding the third leg of the West Coast Spring Series with a hard-fought victory by Chris Busch Posted on 1 Apr