Strong field for Star World Championship

Eighty-three teams from 18 countries are entered for the 2021 Star World Championship for September 6-11 in Kiel, Germany. Defending champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) with five-time winning crew Bruno Prada (BRA) will seek to get Prada another title, making him the first and only person to hold six Star World titles.

Kusznierewicz, who initially collected successes in the Finn with a gold and bronze medal at the Olympic Games and two Gold Cup titles, switched to the double handed keelboat to win the World Championship in 2008 and 2019. As the 2020 Star Worlds was cancelled, the 1999 Sailor of the Year will now try to keep his hands on the prestigious trophy in Kiel.

The 46-year-old already proved that he still has “it” with stellar crew Prada at the traditional Bacardi Cup in Miami. With eight victories in all eight races, the duo dominated the event and to become the first duo to ever win the competition with a clean sweep since it was founded in 1927. Mateusz and Bruno have won Kieler Woche several times each, so they are quite familiar with the spot, making them the team to beat.

However, the list of favorites at the 99th Star Class World Championships in Kiel is long. Other than the defenders, the reigning European Champions and two-time Olympian Enrico Chieffi with Ferdinando Colaninno (Italy), and the European Vice-Champions Hubert Merklebach, Class President, with Kilian Weise (GER), are here with clear goals set in their minds, the Gold star on their mainsail.

But also, three-time World Championship runner-up Diego Negri (ITA) with 2014 World Champion Frithjof Kleen (GER); two-time Finn Olympian Jake Lilley (AUS); five-time European Laser Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic (CRO); 2017 Star World Champion, Olympian and Volvo Ocean Race finisher, Eivind Melleby (NOR); and of course, the five-time Olympian, bronze medalist in Athens in the Star and seven time Finn and Star World Champion, Xavier Rohart (FRA), will all be on the starting line.

Six races are scheduled, one per day as the class tradition dictates.

Race details – Entry list – Facebook

Source: Star Class