2024 International Knarr Championship

Jens Christensen and his team from Denmark prevailed in the 2024 International Knarr Championship (IKC) on September 1-7 in San Francisco, CA. With a scorecard that included two firsts and three seconds over 10 races, the Danish Olympian (Star Class, 1980) won by three points in the 25-boat fleet.

The battle for first was close going into the final day, with Christensen one point behind Randy Hecht (USA). The Danish team finished the final race in second, happily sliding into first place overall. Don Jesberg (USA) won the final race to end the regatta in third, just one point behind Hecht.

The regatta rotates between clubs in the United States, Denmark, and Norway, with each country sending their top Knarr sailors to compete using the host country’s fleet. Boat assignments are made by draw and owners cannot compete in their own vessels. Christensen returns to Denmark with his second IKC title.

“When you end up winning, well of course we have had a great week!” said Christensen.

Going into final day with three races left to sail, Hecht needed three good starts in a row to take the regatta; there was no room for slippage. “Throughout the regatta we were the fastest consistent boat upwind, we had the starts we wanted, and I think the other guys had the starts they wanted,” said Hecht.

“It was the closest final day I can remember. With just one race to sail, we had a perfect pin end start but a massive wind shift came down that negated that. A big puff got to others before it got us, and they pushed out ahead. The racecourses are narrow, it’s tough to pass people in large numbers so that was it.”

Sailing with Hecht, Russ Silvestri, also a former Olympian (Finn Class, 2000) added, “It’s been a great week; we didn’t get worse than ninth and the boats we drew were all good. We just didn’t get the luck of the puff on the final race!”

Jesberg, racing in his third IKC and the first time on home waters. “Going into the final race any one of the top six boats could have won the regatta,” he said. The conditions were good all week. The camaraderie was excellent—to have close course racing, tacking up the Cityfront with 25 boats and at the end of the regatta have no protests, that is polite, good sailing.”

Details: https://www.theclubspot.com/regatta/T4afdxXYf5

Source: StFYC