Bahamas knocking on the 5.5 Meter door

The 5.5m boats was the formula one in world class sailing from the beginning of the 1950s until the end of the 1960s. For five Olympic Games, it was where legends were made, and the Class continues to rumble on.

Seven countries representing three continents competed in the 2020 5.5 Metre World Championship, held January 9-13 in Newport, Australia. After seven races, Kristian Nergaard (NOR) won his tenth world title, but he was chased by the three Bahamian teams that finished on his heels:

1. Artemis XIV, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne, Anders Pedersen (NOR)
2. New Moon II, Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger, Peter Vlasov (BAH)
3. Ali Baba, Craig Symonette, Flavio Marrazi, Will Alloway (BAH)
4. John B, Gavin McKinney, Mathias Dahlman, Lars Horn Johannessen (BAH)

“I’ve been with the class for some time, but right now I see that there is more guys coming into the class,” noted Nergaard. “There are more boats being built and there is quite a bit of interest and I think that there are going to get more than 20 moderns at future world championships, so that is good. It’s definitely at a good place right now and I think we will see a lot of good sailors coming into the class and lot of interest in the class..”

In the whole 76-year history of the 5.5 Metre, only one skipper has ever won back to back titles in both the Scandinavian Gold Cup and the world championship – Kristian Neergard. Now he has repeated that feat and a word of warning for those looking to take over his mantle – next year’s events will be at his home club in Hankø, Norway.

Event details – Results – Photos