NEWS

Magpie AUS1486 skippered by Graeme Taylor with James Mayo have defended their title in the 2024 Etchells World Championship with crew member Ben Lamb with a classic match race to finish off the series. 

At the end of the penultimate race, the scores were tied between USA1473 DanEgerous skippered by John Dane III with Eric Doyle and Bill Hardesty, and for the first time a different team was on top of the leaderboard with DanEgerous having more heat wins. 

“That is just one of the most epic wins of my life, to be honest. Perth was awesome and to win at home is just like wow, in front of all your mates, your family, having Vic and my dad on the water today, you know, just really special,” said Graeme Taylor.

“John Dane's a fantastic guy and Bill Hardesty and Eric Doyle, they're just absolute professionals and they're doctors of the sport, so we knew we were playing with a pitbull and it was a lot of fun.”

“Lamby did an epic job of just going [saying], this is what we've got to do and this is how we're going to do it, and I'm like, okay. I'm sure they would have done it the same way if they needed to as well”.

“Even though we were even on points, we were super strong mathematically going into that last race, and I guess that's how you win a world championship in the end, two boats duking it out, seeing what happens,” finished Taylor.

Magpie had a worst discard of 7, while DanEgerous had a discard of 16, meaning that Magpie could not be defeated for second place, but could lose the win. So there was no option, it would come down to a boat on boat battle for the regatta title. 

The match racing began from the time the Orange Flag was hoisted (start line on station), five minutes before the warning signal for the race. It continued right until the gun. Magpie started slightly to leeward of DanEgerous, and when John Dane III tacked onto port, Magpie followed, and the teams went well beyond the starboard layline. 

“Well, sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield,” commented Bill Hardesty on how the final race unfolded.

“If we had been ahead, it would have been tables turned,” echoed John Dane III, answering what GT had surmised. 

“To be tied going in the last race was pretty exciting. These guys did such a great job pulling me through. This guy in particular [Bill Hardesty] yelled at me a lot, but loves me,” joked Dane.

“At my age to be tied going into the last race, at 74 years old, I feel good. These guys were all disappointed. Needless to say, to come so close. But it was a great regatta,”. 

John Dane III wins the Senior skipper (highest Placing Skipper over 60 yrs of age) prize as well as the Grandmasters World Championship (150 years combined age). 

In the other divisions, in Corinthian and Youth, Lisa Rose AUS1484 were never headed. 

“It's been a massive learning exercise for us and I think we're all pretty happy with how we sailed today. We went out probably with the lens to keep it simple and just keep improving every day and we love every day we get on the water because we get better,” said Jack Abbott. 

“We can't wait to do more as a team,” said James. 

“And, look, we couldn't be here without Marty, obviously. It's his boat and he's been a big support to us. So, helping us just learn as much as we can about the ocean in such a short time,” confirmed Xavier.

“Thanks again to the whole organising committee, all the sponsors, everyone involved, the club. Everyone's put in so much effort to make this event work and we wouldn't be here without them. So, we want to extend our thanks to them as part of this as well,” finished Abbott. 

In Race 8, while many were watching what would unfold at the top of the overall leaderboard, First Tracks, AUS1485 skippered by Peter “Billy” Merrington, with Ian McKillop and Will Parker were just coming into their stride. 

“We waited all week for it,” said Merrington. 

“We just actually showed ourselves what we're capable of if we sailed properly the whole week,” he said of their 1 and 4 on the final day.

“The boys did a great job today,” he continued. “On the first beat we had a huge lead, we got it a little bit wrong on the second beat and they came back to us, but the first top mark was nice to look back and do a bit of spectating. Look at that,” he finished remembering. 

It was similar for the Race 9 winners, AMac USA1494 skippered by Andy Beadsworth with Brian Ledbetter and Will Ryan. 

“It was obviously a good race, nice to win a race,” he commented while packing up. “We’ve had a pretty tough week and it hasn't really come together but we got off the line, had good pace and no issues in that race at all”. 

“They came and caught up a couple times [the fleet] but then we would extend again so just a shame we couldn’t find it earlier in the week,” he lamented. 

“It was good to win the race to the crane,” he finished smiling. 

Etchells Australia: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia

Etchells Class Association: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass

This regatta would not be possible without the support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto Australasia, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and volunteers, and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. 

The next World Championship for the Etchells class will be held from the San Diego Yacht Club, 10-15 May 2026. 

Event website

Entry list

Results

FULL PRIZE LIST

Race Winner Trophies

DanEgerous – USA1473 John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty

Race 1 - presented by US Etchells Fleet #6, Newport Beach, CA 

Race 4 - US Etchells Fleet #4, presented by Eastern Yacht Club

Race 5 –presented by US Etchells Fleet #12, St. Francis Yacht Club

Flying Higher – AUS1518 Jeanne-Claude Strong, Seve Jarvin, Max Jameson, Sam Newton               

Race 2 - Peter Tirion Trophy, presented by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club

Tiger – AUS1524 Nigel Abbott, Rod Hagebols, Chris Manton

Race 3 - presented by Brisbane Etchells Fleet 

Magpie – AUS1486 Graeme Taylor, Ben Lamb, James Mayo    

Race 6 – American Yacht Club Centennial Trophy, presented by the American Yacht Club, NY

Racer CC – HKG1482 Mark Thornburrow, Mike Huang, Malcolm Page, Julian Plante

Race 7 - New Zealand Kauri, presented by Gulf Harbor Yacht Club

First Tracks – AUS1485 Peter Merrington, Ian McKillop, William Parker

Race 8 - Jim Annand Trophy, presented by International Etchells Class, Australia

AMac – USA1494 Andy Beadsworth, Brian Ledbetter, Will Ryan, Jack Jakosky (owner)

Race 9 - presented by the Cowes Fleet in honor of Ante Razmilovic 

Division Winners

Master Highest Placing Skipper over 50yrs of age

Ogilvy Masters Trophy presented by Members and Governors of the Class to honor Stan Ogilvy (recipient skipper must be at least 50 years old).

Magpie – AUS1486 Graeme Taylor, Ben Lamb, James Mayo

Senior Highest Placing Skipper over 60yrs of age

Robert W. Sides Seniors Trophy, presented by the US Etchells Fleet #4 Marblehead, MA for the winner of the Senior (recipient skipper must be at least 60 years old) division.

DanEgerous USA1473 – John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty   

Grand Masters

Kingsford Smith Trophy, presented by the Sydney fleet in honor of Ian Kingsford Smith to be awarded to the skipper and crew with best results at the World Championship with a combined age of 150 years for a three person crew or 200 years for a four person crew.

DanEgerous USA1473 – John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty   

Presentation of The Bill Munster Sportsmanship Trophy 

Bill Munster Sportsmanship Trophy, presented by Jim DeWitt in honor of Bill Munster. To be awarded annually to the competitor who in the eyes of the Organizing Authority, Race Committee and International Jury exhibits the most sportsmanlike qualities of the event.

Scott Walton Barry AUS924 

After breaking his mast, gave his boom and spinnaker pole to competitors so they may continue to race and complete the series.

Only boat with all female crew 

Carabella IV AUS1219 – Maddy McLeay, Charlie Alexander, Lily Richardson, Matilda Richardson

Bill Steele Trophy

Awarded to the crew with the lowest average age.

Carabella IV AUS1219 – Maddy McLeay, Charlie Alexander, Lily Richardson, Matilda Richardson

Corinthian fifth overall

Matilda AUS1488  – Blake Robertson, William Kelly, Thomas Kelly

Corinthian fourth overall

Pegasus AUS1278 - Grant Hudson, Brian Donovan, Lucas Patrick, Mitchell Kennedy

Corinthian third overall

Jukes of Hazzard AUS1011  – Brendon Jukes, Nigel Jones, Owen McMahon, Michael O’Brien

Corinthian second overall

Flirtation AUS1026 - Matt Crawford, Jason Antill, Scott O’Connor

Corinthian Highest placing Corinthian boat

Top Corinthian Crew Trophy, presented by Patricia Stadel in recognition of outstanding yacht racing achievement by Corinthian sailors to be awarded to the so defined (World Sailing category 1) Corinthian skipper and crew achieving the best result in said International Etchells Worlds Championship Series.

Next Generation 

Next Generation Trophy, presented by the friends of Hans Fogh, awarded to the skipper and crew, all 29 or younger, as of January 1, 2025, achieving the best result.

Lisa Rose AUS1484 – Jack Abbott, Xavier Winston Smith, Tom Trotman, James McLennan

Fifth Overall

Rogue USA1519 – Scott Kaufman, Gonzalo Ribiero, Hugo Rocha, Carlos Robles

Fourth Overall

USA1519 – Austin Sperry, John Kostecki, Noel Drennan

Third overall
Top Female Helm

Awarded to the female helm achieving the best result.

Flying Higher AUS1518 – Jeanne-Claude Strong, Seve Jarvin, Max Jameson, Sam Newton

Second overall

DanEgerous USA1473 – John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty   

Bill Bennett crew trophy

Bill Bennett Perpetual Trophy, presented by US Fleet 13.
Awarded to the World Champion crew.

Magpie AUS1486 - Ben Lamb, James Mayo

Etchells Worlds Winner 

The Founders Trophy, presented by Mary Etchells 

Magpie AUS1486 - Graeme Taylor, Ben Lamb, James Mayo

Magpie AUS1486 skippered by Graeme Taylor, with James Mayo and Ben Lamb have maintained their lead in the Etchells World Championship 2025 with a 7, 1, 2 with a total of 17 (now with one drop). The next closest, DanEgerous USA1473 closed the gap once the drop came into play, on 19 points, then Flying Higher AUS1518 on 26 points.  

“One more day,” said Graeme Taylor of today’s sailing, not wanting to elaborate until the job is done.

The first race was set at 210 degrees ready to commence at 1155 after a short postponement on shore. There was a shift to the left mid sequences, and the Race Committee postponed with one minute to go to drop the pin back to be at 200. 

Peter McNeill (aka Polly) with Peter Bellingham and Andrew Smith on Lucy AUS1082 led around the first top mark by some margin, with Flying Higher just behind, following their brilliant start on port. 

“It was a cracker! It was, Polly wanted a cracker up there! We got a great start and just launched it… the wind went all a bit funky and we couldn’t hold onto it,” said Peter McNeill.

DanEgerous AUS1473 skippered by John Dane III with Eric Doyle and Bill Hardesty took advantage of those around them faltering. They got inside of Flying Higher AUS1518 at the bottom mark to move up from third to second, and then chased down the leader on the second beat and weren’t headed from there. 

Magpie rounded the first top mark in 26th place, and finished seventh - displaying regatta saving sailing. The crew showed resilience to come back and table a keeper score. 

The course for the second race was set at 180 degrees at a length of 1.8 nm which was extended for the final run of the race as the wind continued to pick up, increasing to 18 knots in the gusts. 

The first boat across the line was Magpie, and the relief was evident. 

By the last race, the southerly had more than set in, and the wave state had doubled with the outgoing tide pushing against the breeze that was peaking at 22 knots. The Race Committee set a double windward-leeward course again, with a 2.4 nautical mile beat set at 180 degrees. 

Mark Thornburrow’s Racer CC AUS1482 led from start to finish, extending on every leg, even when the crew said it was tough going. 

“I’m absolutely shattered,” said dual Gold medallist Malcolm Page who is the tactician on Racer CC. “Those 2.4 nautical mile beats when the wind got up to around 20 knots, with some brutal waves, especially on port tack”. 

On finding their form in today’s conditions, the team said it wasn’t on any leg in particular. 

“Yeah we got off the start and we were right up there, upwind and downwind,” said Thornburrow.

“We’re just getting our mojo - right at the end,” said Page. 

“At the end of the regatta,” confirmed Thornburrow. 

“We're ready to go!” exclaimed Page. 

There are two more races scheduled for tomorrow to complete the full schedule of nine races, commencing at 1055. 

Etchells Australia: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia

Etchells Class Association: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass

This regatta would not be possible without the support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto Australasia, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and volunteers, and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. 

Event website

Entry list

Results

A storm front with gale force wind and lightning, which then resulted in a lack of wind resulted in no racing on the third day of the Etchells World Championship 2025 from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. 

At 1130 the fleet was advised via VHF to stay onshore until further notice, and a parade of sailors returned to the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, framed by an ominous cloud approaching from the south. 

The first postponement was flown right on 1255 from the Race Committee (RC) vessel in the marina. The RC headed out at 1315 after the lightning had passed, and the fleet headed out with the hope of getting in at least one of the scheduled two races. 

At 1451 (AEDT/GMT+11) the Race Officer Rob Ridley echoed across the still waters of Port Phillip. 

“Attention Etchells Fleet, Attention Etchells Fleet, Race Committee - we can’t maintain an average of five knots. The afternoon forecast is for a dying breeze, so it is our decision, AP/A, AP/A”. 

“Unfortunately we were unable to make any racing today, but tomorrow it is our intention to amend the schedule. So we will start earlier tomorrow morning, yet to be determined, but we’ll amend the schedule and start earlier tomorrow for three races. Tomorrow’s forecast, and the day after, look great”. 

“AP/A, we thank you for your patience,” he finished. 

Etchells Australia: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia

Etchells Class Association: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass

The Etchells World Championship 2025 continues tomorrow with an amended schedule as indicated by the Race Officer. The first warning will be at 1055 (AEDT/GMT+11), with the intention to complete three races tomorrow, and two on the following day, also with a start time at 1055, with the hope of meeting the full schedule of nine races. 

This regatta would not be possible without the support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto Australasia, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and volunteers, and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. 

Event website

Entry list

Results

The Etchells World Championship 2025 is looking like a family affair on day two of racing, with Nigel Abbott’s Tiger AUS1524 and Lisa Rose AUS1484, skippered by Jack Abbott AUS1484 both featuring in the results. 

Nigel Abbott, who celebrated a birthday yesterday was the winner in Race 3, and now sits in third place overall, and Jack Abbott, who first led in Race 3, but went on to take second in Race 4 (which his Dad also led at one stage), sits in fifth overall and is first Youth and Corinthian.

“I thought, you know, everybody should have a win on their birthday but to get it the day after is just fine, I assure you,” said Nigel Abbott. 

“Absolutely delightful to be out there racing with your son and our buddies… there's nothing better really,” he continued. 

“I wonder what mum will be saying, whether she's going around saying she's Jack's mum or Nigel's husband,” questioned Jack Abbott. 

“It is a real problem out there. Everybody else wants to win too which is causing a bit of havoc for the Abbotts,” confessed Nigel Abbott. 

*Videos were filmed post-racing before protests, results spoken about are reflective of timing. 

First overall remains the same as at the end of Day 1, with defending World Champions, Magpie AUS1486 maintaining a significant lead with two keeper scores in the tough conditions. 

DanEgerous also maintained their overnight position, and are in second place on the overall standings. The team stepped up from second at the first top mark in Race 4 to take the win in the final race of the day, and lead on a countback over Tiger AUS1524. 

John Bertrand’s Triad2020 AUS1478 which he is sailing with dual Gold medallist Matt Wearn and Mateusz Kusznierewicz also had a good day with a fourth place across the line in race three (later an 18.1 SCP) and a six. Post-racing, the Triad2020 team took a scoring point penalty during arbitration rather than going to protest which altered the Race 3 results post interview. 

“You could easily put some big points on the board so all in all, a solid day,” said Wearn of their second day of racing. 

Fellow teammate Kusznierewicz continued, “We are happy… we want to be on the last day of racing, still in the hunt for a top place”. 

It was a long day on and off the water for sailors after a postponement flag was flown at 11:00. 

“In at 7 o'clock, it's like an Olympic program. I'm not cut out for that,” joked the legend, John Bertrand AO, skipper of Australia II and multiple former Etchells World and National Champion. 

“There's a long way to go with this regatta. I've never raced in a regatta where it's normal so this is part of the deal,” he finished, speaking of the exceptionally variable conditions.   

It looks like another Northerly gradient is on the cards for tomorrow morning with an earlier swing to the South-West than today, at 11am rather than in the afternoon. The Etchells social channels will have live updates, with race coverage going live once the racing is in sequence. 

Etchells Australia: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia

Etchells Class Association: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass

This regatta would not be possible without the support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto Australasia, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and volunteers, and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. 

Event website

Entry list

Results

Defending World Champions Magpie AUS1486 skippered by Graeme “GT” Taylor with James Mayo and Ben Lamb lead the Etchells World Championship 2025 after day one at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, following a pair of second places in the first two races. 

Video Wrap of Day 1

Winners of race one, DanEgerous USA1473, skippered by John Dane III with Eric Doyle and Bill Hardesty are in second place overall after a convincing win in Race 1 and stealing a sixth in Race 2. 

“It was a great start. I've got a great crew, who got me a super start in the first race and we were able to lead to every mark,” said Dane of their first race win. “We're happy… It was a wonderful first day at the Worlds,” he finished on their day. 

Third place overall after day one was Flying Higher AUS1518 skippered by Jeanne-Claude Strong with Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Max Jameson. They led around every mark in the second race of the day to add just one point to their eighth in Race 1.  

“The guys did an amazing job as always,” said JC Strong, as always crediting her success to her crew. “Max was awesome. He hikes harder than anyone in the fleet and never whinges”.

“Come on you guys put in, put in,” said Seve Jarvin, mimicking Max who is 12 years old and the youngest in the Etchells fleet for this World Championship by some margin. 

“It was him that got us across the line, he was on fire,” continued Jarvin. “Maxi said to start down the leeward end, get to the left and cross the fleet and go”.

“He’s our strategist,” said Sam Newton. 

“And he does the tactics,” continued Jarvin of their 12-year-old crewmate. 

The first Corinthian after day one is Lisa Rose AUS1484, also the first Youth sitting in ninth overall after a 14th and a strong fourth in the second race. There are 24 Corinthians (teams with no professionals on board) within the fleet of 46. 

“We love what we're doing under the Club Corinthian banner, which is something that Martin [Hill of HillPDA] and I are very passionate about. All the guys on our boat, we're all working professionals and we're doing it [the regatta] for the love of sailing,” said Abbott. 

Racing today had a strong south-southwest direction with race one starting within the region of 10 knots of wind speed with a bearing of 195° before strengthening to 12 knots of wind speed and a change in bearing to 190°-180°. 

While DanEgerous held first place around all the marks in Race 1, the rest of the fleet traded places as they moved up and down the course and made for a thrilling finish across the line.  

In Race 2, the breeze strengthened to 16 knots by the start. The additional breeze also built on the already short sharp and steep chop, with the outgoing current ripping into the onshore breeze. The conditions on starboard tack were difficult for the fleet given the waves were almost straight on the bow. 

“The chop was not too heavy, but enough to separate the boats. On starboard tack, you were going straight into it and you'd hit a wave and go from 5.7 knots to 5 and then get your speed back, but it was tough steering on starboard tack,” Dane concluded.

With the first of five days of racing completed there's still plenty of opportunity for those chasing on the leaderboard and tight competition throughout the fleet. 

Race 1 Live

Race 2 Live

Racing is set to continue tomorrow from 1255 with two races scheduled. The northerly may fight longer with the sea breeze, which may affect the racing, live updates on the racing schedule will be available on the Etchells Facebook channels. 

Etchells Australia: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia

Etchells Class Association: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass

This regatta would not be possible without the support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto Australasia, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and volunteers, and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. 

Event website

Entry list

Results

The Etchells World Championship 2025 kicks off with full force tomorrow following the practice race today. 

The first to cross the line was David Dunn, owner and skipper of Great White Hunter AUS1483 after a beautiful final work which he put down to his crew Bret Perry and Sandy Higgins. 

“We've sailed quite a bit before and it's great getting the old team back. It's been a couple of years now and especially with Sandy [Higgins] having just won the 5-o [5o5] World Championship, it's really good. We all get on well and we sail well together and it's fun”. 

“I'm not sure if that's a good thing,” he said of taking the gun in the practice race. “We were going to finish earlier, but we thought there's a bit of work to do with our pace and practice, so we used the race to do that”. 

On the weather for the regatta, Dunn said that the tough race track of today might just be a warm up. 

“Looks pretty tricky all round from the north and into the south… so the timing's going to be important and as was said at the opening, it's a game of chess out there. It's not a Formula One track, so we're going to have to have our heads out of the boat”. 

Heads out of the boat, as they did today in the later part of the race to take the win. 

“I'll doff my hat to Sandy on that one, on the last work especially, we got it going and he read it beautifully. Checkmate”. 

39 boats started the practice race out of the 46 entries, and with three boats OCS, despite their Race Sense warnings, and 16 retirements, 20 boats lasted the full distance. 

Kelpie AUS882, skippered by Richard Smith with Toby Conn, Bentley Conn and Raf Heale was the first to round the first top mark, reading the tricky conditions the best. 

“The polishing must have helped”, said Smith. But he commented that it didn’t help them at the bottom mark where they experienced a few tangles with their spinnaker. 

“There is no pressure going into tomorrow now”, he commented.

That won’t be the case for all with multiple world champions across a variety of classes, Olympians, Olympic medallists, America’s Cup sailors, SailGP sailors and numerous sailing heroes and legends throughout the fleet, as well as exceptionally well practiced teams at the peak of their performance. 

The 46-strong-fleet is set for a 1300 local time (AEDT/GMT +11) start tomorrow, with two races scheduled. Conditions are likely to start in the North like today, with the Southerly due to start building from race time. 

Follow live coverage at the Etchells Australia and the International Etchells Class Association Facebook pages. 

Etchells Australia: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia

Etchells Class Association: https://www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass

Event website

Entry list

Results