Tuscany, Italy - The Punta Ala Camping Resort in Tuscany, Italy will host the 2010 Sunfish World Championship from June 12-19, 2010. The class is excited to be contesting its premiere championship on European waters for the first time since 1985.
Nassau, Bahamas - David Loring of the United States has won his third World Championship. Loring sailed a consistent regatta and never placed outside the top 5. On the event’s final day he withstood the charge of his US teammates Paul-Jon Patin and David Mendelblatt. The US trio finish the regatta separated by only 4 points and occupy the 3 top spots.
The final top 10:
1. David Loring (USA) 28.6 points
2. Paul-Jon Patin (USA) 30
3. David Mendelblatt (USA) 32
4. Peter Stanton (US VI) 41
5. Marx Chirinos (Venezuela) 43
6. Malcom Smith (Bermuda) 57
7. Juan Jose Delgado Hurtado (Guatemala) 60.9
8. Ard Van Aanholt (Curacao) 67
9. Mathieu De By (Holland) 85
10. Cor Van Aanholt (Curacao) 111
Nassau, Bahamas - During the penultimate day of the World Championship, strong winds continued to challenge the competitors. David Loring of the United States holds a narrow lead over Marx Chirinos of Venezuela.
The 2009 World Championship will conclude on Friday. With two races scheduled and only 8 points separating the top 4 sailors, it is going to be an exciting finish!
The top 10 after day 3:
1. David Loring (USA) 21.6 points
2. Marx Chirinos (Venezuela) 23
3. Paul-Jon Patin (USA) 26
4. David Mendelblatt (USA) 29
5. Peter Stanton (US VI) 34
6. Juan Jose Delgado Hurtado (Guatemala) 38.9
7. Ard Van Aanholt (Curacao) 41
8. Malcom Smith (Bermuda) 41
9. Mathieu De By (Holland) 54
10. Cor Van Aanholt (Curacao) 83
Nassau, Bahamas - At the regatta’s halfway point, David Loring (USA) moved into first place in the 2009 World Championship by the narrowest of margins. The 2006 World Champion leads last year’s runner up, Marx Chirinos (VEN) by only 2/10ths of a point. The day 1 leader, Paul-Jon Patin, continued to sail a consistent series and sits in third only three points out of the lead.
The top 10 after day 2:
1. David Loring (USA) 13.8 points
2. Marx Chirinos (Venezuela) 14
3. Paul-Jon Patin (USA) 17
4. Ard Van Aanholt (Curacao) 22
5. David Mendelblatt (USA) 27
6. Juan Jose Delgado Hurtado (Guatemala) 29
7. Peter Stanton (US VI) 32
8. Malcom Smith (Bermuda) 33
9. Mathieu De By (Holland) 53
10. Cor Van Aanholt (Curacao) 63
Nassau, Bahamas - Former World Champion Paul-Jon Patin (USA) jumped out to an early lead in the 2009 World Championship. The first day of the regatta challenged competitors in a strong northeast breeze with gusts to 30. The regatta continues on Tuesday with the forecast again predicting high winds. With only 2 out of 10 scheduled races completed, endurance and physical fitness are sure to play a factor in deciding the championship.
The top 10 after day 1:
1. Paul-Jon Patin (USA) 3 points
2. Marx Chirinos (Venezuela) 5
3. Ard Van Aanholt (Curacao) 6
4. David Loring (USA) 6
5. Peter Stanton (US VI) 10
6. Malcom Smith (Bermuda) 13
7. David Mendelblatt (USA) 13
8. Juan Jose Delgado Hurtado (Guatemala) 14
9. Mathieu De By (Holland) 14
10. Hank Saurage (USA) 21
The 2008 Sunfish World Championship concluded today. After a great week of sailing at Buffalo Canoe Club, seventy two tired sailors returned to shore after finishing the final 3 races of the 12 race series in a 15-20 knot southeast breeze.
The experience of Paul Foerster shined throughout the regatta. He sailed a consistent, smart series and never finished outside the top 10. Paul is a well respected sportsman and competitor in the Sunfish Class.
After winning the 2004 470 Olympic Gold Medal in Greece, Paul began exclusively racing Sunfish at Rush Creek Yacht Club in Texas. Since that time, he won the 2006 Sunfish North American Championship, a bronze medal in the 2007 Pan Am Games in Sunfish and in August of 2008, won the 2008 US Sailing Singlehanded Championship. For years Paul has been an embassador to the sport of sailing, and the Sunfish Class is thrilled that he is a member of our family.
The final day of sailing at the 2008 Sunfish World Championship was physically and mentally grueling. It was by far the breeziest day; the wind was from the southeast at 15-20 knots. With everything on the line, the skippers were extremely aggressive starting, and several found themselves over the line early.
Paul Foerster continued to sail a consistent series and won the 2008 Sunfish World Championship with a race to spare and elected to not sail the final race of the regatta. This is the second major title Paul has won in the month of August. About one month prior he captured the US Singlehanded Championship.
Lee Parkhill, the 2008 Laser Standard CORK Champion, found the breezy conditions to his liking. Lee won races 10 and 11 today. Paul-Jon Patin had finishes of 3-3 in the same two races.
Coming into the final race of the regatta, places 2-6 are separated by 6 points. The race has finished, but the results are not available yet.
Unofficial Results (11 races completed)
Today is the final race day at the 2008 Sunfish World Championship. The forecast calls for an ESE - SE breeze at around 10 kts. Assuming the wind develops as predicted, the fleet should be able to complete the scheduled 12 race series.
The overall rankings could still change significantly because there is plenty of racing this afternoon. Further, if a 12th race is completed every competitor will receive a second throwout.
Race 10 is scheduled to start at 11 AM.
The second day of racing at the 2008 Sunfish World Championship brought another unusual wind direction to Buffalo Canoe Club. The international contingent of sailors arrived at the club to find a 8-12 kt easterly breeze.
Sailors prepare for the second day of racing
Photo by David Mesicek of LaserPerformance
In anticipation of the scheduled 11 AM first warning signal, the fleet rigged their boats and began the two mile sail from the club to the racing area in the middle of Lake Erie. Once offshore, there were 2 foot waves and the breeze was a shifty 10-15 knots.
During the second day of sailing, the fleet continued to separate the contenders from the pretenders. However, one sailor clearly established himself as the man to beat. Paul Foerster, the 2004 Olympic 470 Gold Medalist, posted consistent scores of 3-1-2. Paul’s 8 points for the series leaves him 19 points clear of his nearest competitor at the regatta’s halfway point.
While there is no denying Paul Foerster’s enormous talent, his success is also a tribute to the level of competition in his local Sunfish fleet at Rush Creek Yacht Club in Texas. Every week, Paul is pushed to remain sharp and improve by his fellow club members. Among them is Greg Gust. Greg continued to sail a consistent series at the Sunfish World Championship with second day scores of 6-2-13. His 27 points overall for the series leave the Rush Creek Yacht Club sparring partners with the top two overall spots in the regatta.
Paul Foerster and Greg Gust battle at the finish of race 5
Photo by David Mesicek of LaserPerformance
Behind the Rush Creek Yacht Club dynamic duo are 4 sailors separated by only 4 points. In third is the 2008 Sunfish North American Champion Doug Kaukeinen. Doug stepped up his game on day 2 and sailed to finishes of 1-3-10. In 2007, Malcolm Smith of Bermuda was the runner-up at the Sunfish World Championship. He kept himself in striking distance with finishes of 5-4-30 and sits in 4th overall. Venezuela’s Victor Diaz De Leon had a consistent day (4-7-7) and sits in 5th overall. Although he struggled relative to his first day’s scores, former World Champion Paul-Jon Patin kept himself in the hunt with finishes of 11-11-19.
There were several notable big movers in the second day. Youth sailor Alexander Zimmerman of Peru displayed skill and experience far beyond his years. Alexander had the second best result of the day with a 7-6-1. After taking the first day to get acclimated to his first Sunfish regatta, the 2008 CORK Laser Standard Champion, Lee Parkhill of Canada sailed a 2-8-21 and leaped into the top 20.
A tight windward mark rounding
Photo by David Mesicek of LaserPerformance
The racing continues on Wednesday at 11 AM. Three more races are scheduled. The wind forecast is for a light East - East Southeast breeze.
Preliminary Results after 6 races