Charisma wins RC44 World Champs

Monaco-based Dutchman Nico Poons and his Charisma team won the 2022 RC44 World Championship held October 12-16 in Portoroz, Slovenia. While five out of the eight teams competing had previously won the class world title, this was the first time for Poons and Charisma.

Poons attributed their success to their consistency of their crew. This comprised Hamish Pepper (tactician), Chris Hosking (main trimmer), Ross Halcrow (headsail trimmer), Dimitri Simmons (offside trimmer), Ryan Godfrey (pit), Ivan Peute (bow), and Robin Jacobs (grinder), supported by coach Morgan Reeser, boat captain Julian Hampe, Sam Poons, and Sophie Heritage.

“Outside of sailing, the team is quite relaxed with themselves,” notes Poons. “We have Julian, who is doing a very good job together with Sophie. Hamish is a very special talent and without him we wouldn’t have this success. But the whole crew is special – Chriso, Rosco have sailed a long time with me now and Ivan is the longest serving.”

Pepper adds, “We knew this week was going to be tough and we worked hard on our light air performance. The guys on the boat are so damn good that I don’t need to be concerned about anything. It gives me the opportunity to be the best I can at my job. We were really fast downwind this week. I don’t know why. Rosco and Chriso and Nico really worked the boat well and the guys on the bow were using their bodyweight to help.”

For the 5-event schedule in 2022, this was the third consecutive victory for Charisma with just one event remaining.

Series Information – Event Details – Results

2022 44Cup Schedule
February 9-13 – 44Cup Calero Marinas, Lanzarote
May 11-15 – 44Cup Cascais, Portugal
June 29-July 3 – 44Cup Marstrand, Sweden
October 12-16 – 44Cup World Championship Portoroz, Slovenia
December 7-11 – Muscat, Oman

About the RC44 boat
Five-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts conceived the design of the light-displacement, high-performance one-design RC44 with naval architect Andrej Justin in 2005.

Created for top level one design racing in international regattas under strictly controlled Class Rules, the concept and design features of the RC44 are aimed at the amateur helmsmen with professional crews. For its thirteenth season in 2019, the RC44 Championship Tour was rebranded the 44Cup. https://www.44cup.org/

Source: 44Cup