(Provisional) Final Results published - Wood Gold, Maas Silver, Warren Bronze
Robin didn't sail the final race, which Alistair Warren won from Chris Maas. This meant that Chris stayed in silver medal position by one point, although he would also have retained the place on countback had he finished third. Gaz lost his rig which put him right down the fleet overall, and Peter Ullman (GER) took 4th.
Steve Bowen took the ACs with 4 wins from 8 races, with Andy Gordon in Silver and John Robson in bronze.
Cladius Junge has the gold in the Taifuns, Andreas Steiman silver and Ole Junge & Antnia Reyer-Gloe bronze.
Worlds Views
It would be really good to have a whole lot of paragraphs, sentences, essays, whatever from folks all over about how the worlds were for them. As a starter here;s something from Willy Clark, first posted on SA.
Updates from a really fun week of IC sailing in Wales:
Robin sailed a wonderful regatta and took home his fourth IC World Championship, edging out Chris who had a couple tough moments which cost him. Robin has bought Chris' boat Black Betty, so may be getting even faster! The rest of the IC fleet trembles at the thought of it. Meanwhile Chris will be building another new machine. The only thing that has been determined is the color (electric orange).
Gareth sailed two absolutely terrific races to take home the New York Cup. Chris and I fought hard with Alistair, but Gareth was out of reach. He's going really well in his Maas design put together by Andy Patterson, and sailed a great regatta before a breakdown in the final race cost him a potential spot on the podium. Colin Brown is also fast as ever in his Maas/Patterson boat. Guy could pass me on a reach in his sleep.
Further updates from the UK - the new Morrison design looks pretty flash. Dave Timson, Chris Hampe, and Steve Clarke are all going well. Meanwhile Alistair's Dragonfly design seems to be getting better every year. He has gotten even faster down reaches. Furthermore he and Phil never seem to capsize. Three 3rds in three tries for Alistair. Charlie Chandler and Mike Fenwick are making their M1s go fast. Finally John Ellis' design is pretty sweet and points like a demon.
As for the Germans - Peter Ullman is as fast as ever. Flies down reaches, and seemingly sails directly into the wind on the beat. He's fast AF. And he just bought himself a new hull from Chris. Annette did well in String Theory (boat still beautiful). Meanwhile a bunch of the younger Germans (Anton, Emma, Hauke) are all making strides. All competed well. And Freddy spent the week measuring everything in sight so he can build himself a new design.
The Aussies - Brett "The Thunder from Down Under" Holly may have had more fun than anyone at the regatta (both on shore and on the water). And in between capsizes Stefan was f---ing fast in Hellcat (borrowed from Lt. Steve Gay of the USA). Lots of excitement from Oz for the next Worlds.
And finally, for the USA - Chris had some brilliant moments. Had a couple of unfortunate setbacks which cost him. Todd was a force in the heavy air. Struggled a bit with the chop in the light stuff. Dad was quick in the light stuff in Machete. Not as quick in the heavy air. I meanwhile suffered the expected new boat breakdowns which happen when you show up to a regatta with a boat you've never sailed. These issues were compounded by me twisting my ankle falling off Anton's skateboard on Wednesday (I'm too old to be this stupid. Was having too much fun). In the times when I had my act together, the boat felt really really fast. But obviously it wasn't much of a regatta for me. Knew it going in, and had a good time in spite of it all. We're thinking of pulling a mold off Bagheera (Carbon version of Dance Commander). Those interested in a pulling a hull let me know. Also Dance Commander and Machete are for sale to the right buyer (we'd love to keep them on the east coast if at all possible).
My overall thought on designs is - it seems that they've gotten close enough together that it's mostly down to the quality of the sailors, which is what you'd want. Different designs and different sailors excel in different conditions.
I'm currently posted up at Alistair Alsdair's home for wayward canoe sailors in Manchester with Freddy and Charlotte waiting for my flight tomorrow morning. Great week. Went by too fast. Can't wait for 2020 in Australia.
Willy Clark
These are the news sources that I am aware of. I'd welcome more. Facebook seems to have as many updates as anywhere else.
- Latest Results as posted on the Sailwave website.
- International Canoes group on Facebook.
- Some Photos on the IC Worlds Website.
- Lots of Robert Muller photos on the Team Germany site.
- Some Photos on VR Sports Facebook page.
- Inteview (in German) with Team Germany.
- Deutsch Team's Worlds Blog.
Team Germany's Blog is great, even if you have to use Google Translate to read it!
There are also photographs at Green Sea Photography, but the site seems to require registration, including an email address, before you see anything of any consequence, and so I can't provide good links to the IC images.
Final Day Features
Day Five Features
NYCCCC Match Features
The New York Canoe Club Challenge Cup, the second oldest competition in international sailing, is now resident in the UK after the GBR team of Gareth Caldwell, Robin Wood and Alistair Warren defeated the USA team, Chris Maas, Todd Twigg and Willy Clark 2-0 today, Wednesday 23rd.
- VR Sport Video presentation of the NYCCCC.
- Yachts and Yachting Report NYCCCC.
- Sailweb NYCCCC report.
- IC Worlds website news.
Day Three Features
- VR Sport Video presentation of Day Three.
- Yachts and Yachting Report Day Three.
- Sailweb Day Three report.
- Results after 5 races - on the IC Worlds website.
Day Two Features
- Yachts and Yachting Report Day Two.
- Sailweb Day Two report.
- VR Sport Video presentation of Day Two.
- Results after 4 races - on the IC Worlds website.
Day One features
- VR Sport Video presentation of Day One.
- Sailweb Day One article.
- Yachts and Yachting Report Day One.
Day Zero (Cancelled Practice Race and Previews)
- Yachts and Yachting Report Practice Race Day.
- Sailweb Day Zero feature.
- VR Sport Video presentation of Day Zero and Tech Talk.
- Dave Timson photos on Facebook.
- Gareth Caldwell's preview on Yachts and Yachting
There is an event web site here, although its not being very frequently updated. Here is the Notice of Race.
The 2017 Worlds are being held at Pwllheli Sailing Club in Wales, from 19th to 25th August. Pwllheli SC is one of the UKs major championship venues.
In case you are wondering, very roughly its pronounced puth-HEL-ee, and yes, you will hear Welsh spoken in local pubs and shops, but they all speak english too. It may be only 250 miles from London, but you will believe you're in a different country if you haven't been to West Wales before. I haven't sailed at Pwllheli myself, but I've competed at a championship a few miles down the coast in Cardigan Bay, and that was memorable for being paced down the reaches by dolphins, who will certainly be able to keep up with Canoes if they so wish.