Etchells World Championship 2025 at Royal Brighton Yacht Club - Day 1
by Nic Douglass 10 Jan 11:34 UTC
10-14 January 2025
Defending World Champions Magpie AUS1486 skippered by Graeme "GT" Taylor with James Mayo and Ben Lamb lead the Etchells World Championship 2025 after Day 1 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 degrees before strengthening to 12 knots of wind speed and a change in bearing to 190 degrees-180 degrees.
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: www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia
Etchells Class Association: 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.
More information: