First qualifier for Offshore Double Handed World Championship

With a wind speed recorded at over 30 knots, the first elimination race of the 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Championship produced a high speed battle in full on conditions. Twenty-two mixed teams were divided into two groups, with each completing an overnight race to decide the ten teams to make the World Championship Final on September 29.

Racing the One Design Sun Fast 30s from Lorient, France, 11 teams started the first elimination race on September 25, which was won by Charlotte Yven/ Lois Berrehar (FRA), with the top five advancing to the Final. The second elimination race is delayed until September 27 with a start not before 1700 (UTC+2).

Qualifier #1 Final:
1. France 2 : Charlotte Yven/ Lois Berrehar
2. Uruguay: Federico Waksman/ Justina Pacheco
3. Belgium 1: Jonas Gerckens/ Djemila Tassin
4. Great Britain 1: Maggie Adamson/ Cal Finlayson
5. Canada: Benjamin Daniel/ Sarah Nicholson

Charlotte Yven/ Lois Berrehar (FRA) finished the race of approximately 82 nm in an elapsed time of 10 Hrs 40 Min 45 Secs, winning the race by over 40 minutes from Federico Waksman/ Justina Pacheco (URU). Finishing sixth as the first team to miss the cut was Barbara Karpinska/ Kevin Morgan (USA).

A low pressure system before the start of postponed the start one hour, and shortened the original course from 112 nm to allow the first low pressure system to pass while avoiding an area of big sea state.

At the start of the race, the early leader was Karpinska/ Morgan (USA), who made a big gain taking an inshore route. However, after passing the lighthouse at the Glénan islands, Yven/ Berrehar (FRA) and Gerckens/ Tassin (BEL) found another gear to take up the lead. About five miles from the top mark at Cap Caval, the Americans took a tack north and Waksman/ Pacheco (URU) carried on the same tack, moving into third place.

The French and Belgian teams made Cap Caval virtually side by side, with the breeze building and the sea state approaching three metres. Both teams opted to hoist the gennaker – not the spinnaker – and set off for a wild reach, blasting along with water cascading down the deck. Later on in the downwind sleigh ride, with spinnakers flying, the leading boats were hammering along.

“We saw 32 knots of wind and a top boat speed of 19 knots,” commented Berrehar. “We used the small spinnaker and we were happy with that, the risk was smaller than the reward.” Yven added, “Our first goal was to familiarize ourselves with the boat and our competitors. As always, we try to do the best preparation and understand the weather conditions. After that, we try to find the way to make the boat faster, so we look at different settings and modes. This race was very good preparation for the final.”

The Belgians were flying along challenging the French team for the lead, but a problem with the spinnaker sheet forced them to take down their kite.

“Our goal at the start was simple; make the top five, so we are happy,” commented Gerckens. “It was a shame that we had a problem, but it was good to line up against Charlotte and Lois, they are one of the favourite teams for the World Championship and our speed looked good against them.”

For the Canadian team, this was the first time the pair had raced together as they live apart on separate coasts. “Our goal was to make the final, so we are really happy with the result,” commented Nicholson. “We had a game plan to stay on the left as the forecast was for a favorable shift.

“At first, the plan didn’t work and we were looking at the transoms of quite a few competitors but by the Glénan islands, the plan was working. We had overstood a bit but coming in with the Code Zero with the scow bow was quick.”

“After Cap Caval, the British team ahead of us started to pull away, but we felt comfortable in fifth with a fair lead on sixth place,” added Daniel. “Like a few other competitors, we broached a few times and had problems with the spinnaker sheets. We kept looking over our shoulder but we never really felt threatened. Now we have made the final, we will have to set a new goal!”

Atool Sinha/ Sweta Shervegar (IND) retired from the race due to an injury to Atool. The team are now safely ashore and a special mention to Tim Lemeer/ Lisa Vos (NED) who retired and stood by to assist, placing another competitor’s safety before their own result.

Race details – Tracking – Entry list