Contender World Championships 2024 at Pensacola Yacht Club - Overall

by Ed Presley 27 Feb 06:01 GMT February 17-23, 2025

After a very chilly third day, the final two days of racing were forecast to be in light winds. On day 4, PRO Hal Smith and his professional crew were able to make a start on time, but the wind also decided it was too cold to hang around the Gulf of America and dropped to near nothing making the race a one lap affair.

Getting left seemed to give the most value and Søren Dulong Andreasen was able get there first with Antonio Lambertini and Rene Heynan following. Soren maintained his lead until the end, and Graeme Wilcox did not start well but was able to recover to fourth. After this exciting episode, the day was canned with hopes for more wind on day five.

Unfortunately, the next and last day brought even lighter winds and challenging pressure systems that held the fleet ashore. Multiple sailor meetings thrashed out the options, but ultimately it was not to be, and at noon, with the threat of thunderstorms, the PRO ended the day and the event with six races run.

Our 2024 World Champion is now Graeme Wilcox of GBR, who showed consistency and careful race management in a full range of conditions. Graeme has been the strongest sailor in the UK for a few years and this title is his first at the top level. Pushing Graeme all the way was Søren who with three first place finishes was very unlucky - but he already has two titles and also captured the 2024 Master’s trophy! And in third was Dutch sailor Rene Heynen who improved as the event progressed. Belgium sailor Sofie Peerlinck is the women’s world champion. Canadian sailor Nathan Brand is the top junior (under 24). And Dutch sailor Mark Thorburg is the top Grand Master.

This Worlds marks the first win by a Hartley boat, the first British built winner in 20+ years. It is also the first win for the North sails laminate that is becoming more prevalent in the UK. The top ten boats were three epoxy Bonezzis, five wood Bonezzis, one Shappi and Graeme's Hartley. All builders now able to make fast and durable boats that are capable of winning championships.

If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a nation to run a regatta, and many thanks are owed. First and foremost the class is forever grateful to the Pensacola Yacht Club, who made this a memorable event. PYC brought their A-game with high level race management under Hal Smith, a ton of great food and drink, custom rash guards (!), and real Southern hospitality under the guidance of regatta chair Tom Pace. Any dinghy fleet considering a championship should think about PYC as a venue as their facilities and members are outstanding. Second, a big thank you to the European, British, and Australian sailors who took the time and expense to make the trip – Bill, Ed, Rob, and Paul – you guys are all heroes and your efforts will ensure the fleet in North America stays alive. Finally, props to the North American contender sailors who ran an efficient measurement day and mostly behaved.

For some great interviews from the event, check out Nick Noble’s youtube channel at www.youtube.com/@nicknoble3190

The Contender class now looks forward to the 2025 World Championships at Malcesine, Lake Garda, where we expect to have at least 160 boats in attendance. The regatta runs from July 28 to August 3. Charters will also be available – get in touch with your national contender association if you’re keen.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Skipper	Nat	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	2787	Graeme Willcox	GBR	Netley Sailing Club	2	3	[4]	2	1	4	12
2	1	Soren Dulong Andreasen (M)	DEN	Hellerup Sejlklub	[5]	5	1	1	5	1	13
3	2719	Rene Heynen (M)	NED	Maas en roer	7	8	2	3	[16]	3	23
4	2420	Simon Mussell	GBR	Highcliffe SC	1	2	9	4	[17]	16	32
5	678	Tom Hooton	GBR	Burton Sailing Club	6	6	11	5	[14]	6	34
6	9	Paul Verhallen	NED	WV De Helling	4	4	17	10	4	[19]	39T
7	2618	Nick Noble (M)	GBR	RYA	9	7	6	7	[10]	10	39T
8	2561	Antonio Lambertini (M)	ITA	AVAL	3	1	5	[UFD]	RET	2	48
9	2576	Winfred Westerman (M)	NED	WV Makkum	10	10	[15]	12	13	8	53
10	2721	Robert Wiedemeijer (M)	NED	GWV DE Vrijbuiter	14	15	[UFD]	8	8	17	62
11	2	Mark Thorborg (GM)	NED	krzv spaarne	11	[18]	10	17	7	18	63
12	2806	Kees Storm (M)	NED	WSVO	15	12	[18]	9	18	12	66
13	2397	Raines Koby (GM)	CAN	OHCC	[25]	17	23	11	11	5	67
14	40	Luca Bonezzi (M)	ITA	Circolo Vela Arco	8	13	[UFD]	UFD	3	9	70
15	2757	Michael Smits (GM)	CAN	Outer Harbour Centreboard Club	18	21	13	15	6	[25]	73
16	2536	Joel Magnan (M)	CAN	Outer Harbour Centreboard Club	19	16	12	6	[22]	22	75T
17	2585	Peter Hale (GM)	CAN	Outer harbour centreboard club	[27]	20	8	13	23	11	75T
18	2733	Neil Ferguson (M)	GBR	Yorkshire Dales SC	16	11	[UFD]	14	24	13	78
19	2535	Ethan Bixby (GM)	USA	SPSC	[DNC]	DNC	7	UFD	2	7	90
20	2117	Nathaniel Plant (M)	USA	spsc	[29]	28	19	21	9	15	92
21	1722	Sofie Peerlinck (F)	BEL	HZC	24	30	21	[RET‑AF]	12	14	101
22	13	Egidio Babbi (GM)	ITA	Circolo Vela Cesenatico	12	14	3	[DNF]	DNC	DNC	103
23	2383	David Davies (M)	GBR	Loch Ryan & Prestwick SC’s	13	9	25	[DNF]	DNC	20	104
24	2398	Neil Smith (M)	CAN	CSC	20	19	28	24	15	[31]	106
25	2525	Stephanie Mah (F)	CAN	Outer Harbour Centreboard Club	23	[26]	16	23	25	23	110
26	666	Bill Hooton (GM)	GBR	Burton Sailing Club	17	23	[26]	19	26	26	111
27	2630	Pim Langendijk (GM)	NED	WV Braassemermeer	21	22	20	[UFD]	20	29	112
28	2702	John McLean (M)	GBR	Darling Pint Sailing Club	22	25	24	16	27	[DNS]	114
29	1731	Nick Mercier	USA	Kittery Point YC	28	27	22	20	19	[DNC]	116
30	757	Nathan Brand	CAN	Outer Harbour Centerboard Club	26	[29]	27	18	29	24	124
31	2708	Ed Presley	GBR	Castle Cove Sailing Club	[DNF]	DNC	14	UFD	21	21	130
32	2428	Bernie Bieber (M)	CAN	OHCC	[30]	24	29	22	28	30	133
33	2537	Tim Willett (M)	CAN	OHCC	31	[DNC]	DNF	DNC	DNC	28	170
34	2498	Lawrence Christian (GM)	USA	Massabesic Yacth	[DNC]	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	27	175
35	2541	Riccardo Cugini (M)	USA	Sail Sand Point	[DNC]	DNC	30	DNC	DNC	DNC	178
36	2399	Roger Martin (GM)	CAN	BBYC	[DNC]	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	185