5.5 Metre World Championship - Day 3
by Robert Deaves 12 Jun 00:01 BST
9-13 June 2025
Aspire (POL 17, Przemyslaw Gacek, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Kilian Weise) has taken a 10-point lead at the 2025 5.5 Metre World Championship in Sopot, Poland, after two more races on Wednesday in a cold northerly between 12-23 knots. After winning an eventful first race they then placed second in the next, behind defending world champions. Ku-Ring-Gai III (AUS 66, John Bacon, Edward Wright, Joost Houweling).
Girls on Film (GBR 41 Louise Morton, Charlie Cumbley, Sam Haines) drops one place to second with last week's Scandinavian Gold Cup winners, Marie-Françoise XXII (SUI 233, Jürg Menzi, Jürgen Eiermann, Christof Wilke), in third.
The wind had turned to the north, was even colder, but the rain largely stayed away on the third day of the championship, despite some brief drizzle. The first race was sailed in 10-15 knots, with some big holes on the first downwind, but then strengthened through the day to a solid 20 knots in the second race.
There were multiple leaders in Race 3. Ku-Ring-Gai III led at the top from the left, with Aspire second. The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) took lead on second beat as the wind strengthened only to drop their kite over the bow at the second gate and fall back. Caracole (SUI 214, Bernard Haissly, Nicolas Berthoud, Daniel Stampfli) then took the lead but Aspire were faster upwind to lead round the top and down to the finish. Caracole crossed second with Beta Crucis (AUS 63, Martin Cross, Bob Stoddard, Simon Reffold) sailing a great race to cross third. The Jean Genie finished 14th.
The breeze had strengthened for Race 4 with Aspire judging the first beat well to round just ahead of Ku-Ring-Gai III. The two fought for the lead with the Australians getting the advantage on the second upwind to maintain it through to the finish. The Jean Genie recovered from a start line incident and doing some turns to come through to third.
Przemyslaw Gacek, from Aspire said, "This was a tough day. In the first race we had quite a good start and went right. Then we lost on the downwind but went right on the next upwind again and gained and finally at the last top mark we emerged in the lead and defended to the finish.
"Then in the next one the wind was picking up and we went to the right and had a good fight with John Bacon - they sailed very well today. We had some technical issues on the second upwind and finally finished second. So, we are quite happy but all very wet and tired."
On the rest of the week, "We try to go well every race. We know we have good speed, so without mistakes we can get good results. I think what we learned last year was consistency. Last year we won two races but also had one bad day, so we just want to be consistent and let's see what happens at the end."
John Bacon said, "Today we had 20-25 knots, freezing cold and choppy water. But we had a pretty good day today with a nice win and a seventh in the first race. Pretty solid day all round. That's our first win at the worlds since Porto Cervo in 2023. It was windy and choppy, so it was hard work. Despite the cold and the weather, we really enjoyed it and enjoyed the competition."
Aspire, the 2023 world champions, now has a 10 point lead on the fleet after four races. One of the burning questions is how many races remain. For the moment, three are scheduled for Thursday, while Friday is the final day.
Results after Day 3: (four races)
1 Aspire (POL 17, Przemyslaw Gacek, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Kilian Weise) 11pts
2 Girls on Film (GBR 41, Louise Morton, Sam Haines, Charlie Cumbley) 21pts
3 Marie-Françoise XXII (SUI 233, Jürg Menzi, Jürgen Eiermann, Christof Wilke) 21pts
4 Ku-Ring-Gai III (AUS 66, John Bacon, Edward Wright, Joost Houweling) 22pts
5 The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) 24pts
6 Otto (NOR 68, Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Berthelsen, Herve Cunningham) 26pts
7 Caracole (SUI 214, Bernard Haissly, Nicolas Berthoud, Daniel Stampfli) 27pts
8 Beta Crucis (AUS 63, Martin Cross, Bob Stoddard, Simon Reffold) 33pts
9 New Moon III (BAH 25, Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger, Peter Vlasov) 36pts
10 Artemis (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne Trond, Solli-Sæther) 36pts
Full results available here.
Photo gallery Day 3 available.