John Bertrand wins Etchells Worlds

Cowes, UK (September 10, 2016) – The overall winner of the 2016 Etchells World Championship, hosted by the Royal London Yacht Club, is John Bertrand (AUS), representing the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, with a crew of Paul Blowers (GBR) and Ben Lamb (AUS). Bertrand, who skippered Australia’s winning team at the 1983 America’s Cup, also won the Etchells title in 2010.

The windy finale was won by Bertrand’s team to eliminate all doubt. Finishing the ninth race in second was Pedro Andrade (POR) followed by Ante Razmilovic (GBR).

“It’s been a roller coaster ride,” said Bertrand winning his second Etchells Worlds at 69 years of age. “This is a team that was only put together for the Worlds and it is so nice to gel together and get better and better. Tom Slingsby was on the bow when I won in 2010, this year, we have Ben Lamb, who grew up with Tom, and he has been incredible this week. Paul (Blowers) knows these waters so well.

“Winning the Worlds is fantastic because of the people who compete, there are sailors from all over the world and from every aspect of the sport. Thanks should go to the organisers and supporters of the Etchells Worlds, especially David Franks who should be running every World Championship. They have produced a fantastic, well run and very enjoyable event.”

Runner up at the Etchells Worlds for the second year in a row was Steve Benjamin (USA) with a crew of Michael Menninger, Ian Liberty, and George Peet (all USA). “The best team won, you can’t say fairer than that,” said Benjamin. “I love coming to Cowes, it is one of my favourite places to sail anywhere in the world and this week, we have had a real mix of conditions, well done to John and his team, they deserve it.”

Finishing in 23rd overall, Thomas Brennan’s team (GBR) finished fifth in the final race to move up a step to win the Corinthian Class. Despite a BFD penalty today, Martin Webster (AUS) finished second and Mark Downer (GBR) in third. James Badenach (HKG), who had been leading the class, was found to be ineligible.

Fifty-eight teams representing 11 nations competed for six days on September 5-10 in the Central Solent.

Final Results (Top 10 of 58; 9 races)
1. John Bertrand/ Paul Blowers/ Ben Lamb, AUS – 4 -2 -22 -5 -5 -6 -[34] -8 -1; 53
2. Steve Benjamin/Michael Menninger/Ian Liberty/George Peet, USA – 14 -5 -5 -1 -17 -[19] -10 -11 -6; 69
3. Noel Drenna / Brian Hammersley/ Andrew Mills, SIN – 7 -17 -1 -12 -16 -5 -2 -18 -[59]; 78
4. Ante Razmilovic/ Chris Larson/ Stuart Flinn, GBR – [30] -1 -10 -17 -20 -11 -6 -13 -2; 80
5. Mark Thornburrow/Mike Huang/Malcolm Page/Simon Cooke, HKG – 18 -12 -9 -4 -[59] -28 -5 -1 -4; 81
6. Chris Hampton/ Sam Haines/ Mark Andrews, AUS – 1 -8 -28 -13 -3 -23 -9 -10 -[59]; 95
7. Skip Dieball/ Jon McClean/ Jeff Eiber, USA – [59] -10 -13 -35 -8 -3 -4 -15 -11; 99
8. Seamus McHugh/Luis Doreste/David Vera Vera/Leo Ramio, GBR – 21 -14 -2 -3 -26 -[59] -20 -9 -9; 104
9. Andrew Wills/ Anatole Masfen/ Matthew Kelway, NZL – 31 -3 -[38] -8 -11 -20 -3 -19 -18; 113
10. Lawrie Smith/ Joost Houweling/ Tim Tavinor, GBR – 40 -6 -3 -6 -27 -9 -1 -22 -[59]; 114

Event details – Scoreboard – Tracker – Facebook – Highlight video

Report by Louay Habib.