Over 200 sailors and race officials from around the globe will descend on Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) at Pittwater in March for the Hansa World and International Championships, Australian and NSW Hansa Class Championships plus the Para World Championships, among them Paralympic gold medallists, world and former world champions.

Sailors from Australia wide, Chile, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Türkiye and USA will congregate for these events to be held from 23-30 March.

A start-studded field will sail in the Hansa 2.3, Hansa 303 One and Two-Handed, Liberty and SKUD18 classes. The latter was a Paralympic Games class when Dan Fitzgibbon won Silver at the 2008 Beijing, followed by Gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

This time, the Australian sailor, representing RPAYC and Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, will be crewed by old friend Chris Somers, who he sailed a 420 with before his accident. Fitzgibbon, who moved back to Queensland five years ago, explains, “You’re allowed to have an able-bodied person on the SKUD now, so that’s what people are doing.

“I’m trying catch up with everyone, because I’ve only sailed the boat once since Rio and they’re sailed so differently now – more brute force and kinetics. Before it was more finessing. It’s an open format – different to Paralympics – and the boats are faster with leverage on the side deck.”

Fitzgibbon said it was Interesting getting back in the boat after many years: “I thought I’d struggle, but it was just like it was 2016 getting back in boat. I felt so comfortable. Chris Mitchell (a collaborator in the SKUD18 design) loaned me the boat – which was very good of him. We’ve been adapting some things on it, as crew is allowed to hike now.”

Having sailed out of the Alfreds for some years, Fitzgibbon shared, “I’m so excited to sail on Pittwater again. It’s such a nice place to sail. And to come back to the Club. It’s such a good club – they have great compassion and are socially responsible. I’m looking forward to meeting old friends.”

Fitzgibbon added, “John Bacon (a RPAYC director) got me going again. He put all the wheels in motion. He’s such a good guy and a mover and shaker.”

The triple Paralympic medallist and Somers will arrive at the venue a couple of weeks early to do some training. “I’m still trying to learn how to sail the boat the best in the new configuration.”

A bevy of names in the Hansa 303 One-Person Dinghy includes Jens Kroker, who skippered German Sonar Paralympic Games teams to Silver at Sydney 2000, Gold in Beijing 2008 and Silver at London 2012, is a former world champion and a force to be reckoned with.

However, Kroker has many rivals. One of the most recognisable is Betsy Alison. The US sailor won Gold at the 2023 Sailing World Championships, nine months after becoming a Para sailor. Beforehand, she coached the USA’s most successful Paralympic Sailing Team of all time, before becoming a para athlete in 2022.

Before Para sailing, Alison was named Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year five times after dominating performances in multiple classes throughout a distinguished career. Her team won the inaugural Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship in 1985 and 12 years later, won four in a row.

The Rhode Island sailor won a Laser Radial Worlds, a Women’s Match Racing ISAF Sailing Worlds, an Open Yngling Worlds and is a three-time Women’s National sailing champion. She has left nothing behind in sailing, on or off the water.

Alison Weatherly (AUS) is another. The Victorian took Bronze at the 2023 Para Sailing Worlds in the Netherlands, which sits alongside the Bronze she won in 2022 and Silver from 2019.

“I’m focused on the team rather than myself,” Weatherly explains of the Victorian team vying for the Nationals at the Hansa Worlds. I also try not to focus on the Para sailors,” she says, pointing out the events are open to sailors with a disability and able bodied alike.

“I’m hoping to do well in the Open fleet and most looking forward to racing against Bruce (James). He’s the person I know best and we sail against each other a lot and have fun – it’s important to have fun at regattas.”

Weatherly names others: “Chris Symonds (AUS), Olga Górnas-Grudzien (POL) – she won a race in the open fleet in Japan in 2022, Takumi Niwa (JPN) – he won the 2023 Asia Pacific Championships, Jens (Kroker), Miray Ulas (TUR) – she and I are usually pretty even. Spain has a strong fleet, so they might be there.”

Like some others, Symonds will race in the 303 One and Two-Person events. In the latter he is paired with Manuela Klinger (AUS). They won every race at the 2024 Asia Pacifics. Between 2021-2022, the Tasmanian also won the Hansa 303 Doubles at the Para Worlds in Italy and the 303 Doubles and Para Doubles at the Italian nationals. He was awarded Australian Para Sailor of the Year from 2018-2022.

A strong team from Japan heads the 2.3 Hansa starters and includes: Koji Harada and Hidenori Hirasawa, who will be joined by Poland’s Andrzej Bury and India’s Ajay Singh and Australia’s Allister Peek. The ACT sailor has an abundance of trophies to his name.

The Liberty field includes Vera Voorbach (NED), a past world and European champion in the class, Paul Phillips (GBR), second at the 2023 Hansa Worlds and Rachael Cox (AUS), the SKUD18 2008 Paralympic silver medallist (with Fitzgibbon), are in the fleet too.

“Hansa sailing is about inclusivity, opportunity, and ‘Freedom on the Water’ – a principle that resonates deeply with Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s values. This event will bring together nearly 200 sailors from 16 yacht clubs across the world, competing on a level playing field. We are honoured to provide a world-class venue and a warm welcome to these sailors,”
Commodore Robert McClelland said.

“The Club takes great pride in hosting events of this calibre and we’re committed to making it a successful Championships. Our experienced race management team, dedicated volunteers and the natural beauty of Pittwater will ensure an unforgettable regatta – both on and off the water. We’re looking forward to a week of thrilling competition and fun ashore.”

RPAYC organisers have a huge task with the magnitude of these Worlds, but are at home holding major events. This year alone, the Club is hosting the Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta, inclusive of Australian and NSW Championships, the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race and the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race in October, as well as others.

For all information on the event, including entries, please visit: https://hansaworlds.org/

For all information on RPAYC and its facilities, please visit: https://rpayc.com.au/

By Di Pearson/RPAYC media

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