Qualifying done for Offshore Double Handed World Championship

The second and final elimination race for the 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Championship produced a thrilling finish to decide the five teams that would progress to the final. Two hours before sunset on September 27, the 11 teams racing the One Design Sun Fast 30s began the 87 nm race from Lorient, France, setting off on a downwind course in close to 30 knots of windspeed.

The international fleet were at maximum velocity for a 40-mile blast south through the islands south of Lorient and then a reaching leg offshore, west of Belle-Île into Atlantic swell for a 30-mile beat. At the break of dawn, as the fleet approached the finish, the breeze eased to about ten knots creating a final flourish for the teams looking to place in the top five.

With 22 teams competing, the entrants were divided into two qualifying heats, and the top five from the first qualifier will join the top five from this race for the final race to determine the world title.

Qualifier #2 Final:
1. France 1: Elodie Bonafous/ Basile Bourgnon
2. Sweden: Anna Drougge/ Martin Angsell
3. Netherlands 1: Erik Van Vuuren/ Yvonne Beusker
4. Germany: Lina Rixgens/ Sverre Reinke
5. Turkey: Onur Tok/ Pelin Keskin

Elodie Bonafous/ Basile Bourgnon (FRA) crossed the finish line on Septembr 28 over one hour ahead of Anna Drougge/ Martin Angsell (SWE) to claim the second race win of the World Championship for France.

“We didn’t make a perfect race but we are happy to have won the race,” commented Bonafous. “Before the start, we were the first crew to set the spinnaker and we had decided to prioritize making good maneuvers and also to limit the number of gybes downwind as much as possible.” Bourgnon added, “Our speed was good but to have a chance of winning the final, we have to make no mistakes, just like racing in the Figaro, if you make a mistake, you do not win.”

The Swedish duo crossed the line just two minutes and 20 seconds ahead of the Dutch. “Our speed at the start was good but the Dutch team were faster than us later on the downwind leg. For sure we can improve both our tactics and our speed as we have learnt a lot,” commented Angsell.

“We are more than delighted,” added Drougge. “Our goal was to make the final, so top five, but Martin said we should aim for top three to make sure. So coming second is above our expectation. It was super-close with Netherlands but that fight helped both of us, because in that battle, we both increased our performance, especially upwind in the big waves.”

The German duo were sixth after the long downwind leg but attacked on the beat north to climb up the rankings. “The beat was tough, big seas and very dark, so it was difficult to see the way through the wave pattern,” shared Reinke. “We were changing driver every 15 minutes to keep the concentration. Although it was a short race, it was extremely tiring, we gave everything to get into the top five and we are looking forward to the final race.”

The battle for fifth went to the wire. The ‘hot seat’ to make the Final of the Offshore Double Handed World Championship was decided by just two minutes and 40 seconds. Onur Tok/ Pelin Keskin (TUR) took fifth with Timothée Deplasse/ Alix Schouller (BEL) in sixth.

Turkey and Belgium were barely apart for 15 hours of racing. As they rounded the island of Groix for the reach to the finish, Belgian went all the way inshore and hoisted their Code Zero, the last throw of the dice to try to get by the Turkish team.

“We were so tired by the end, but we saw the Belgians put up the Code Zero and we had to do the same,” said Tok. “We had nothing left, when we crossed the line, but to represent Turkey in a World Championship final is fantastic, we are very proud.”

The North American team in the heat was Erica Lush and Tim Kent (USA) that finished ninth.

Due to the forecast weather and sea state, the start of final championship race is delayed one day with a start on September 30.

Race details – Tracking – Entry list