Aussies win 5o5 World Championship

With winds from 5 up to 25 knots during the 2025 5o5 World Championship, Sandy Higgins and Paul Marsh (AUS) took the title held January 2-7 in Adelaide, Australia.

With two races planned for the final day, the forecast was for 15-20 knots but fading. At the top of the leaderboard, reigning world champions Peter Nicholas and Luke Payne (AUS) led by 6 points over Higgins/ Marsh, with a further 5 points to Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn (USA). If two races were sailed a second drop would count. This would benefit the leaders, Nicholas/ Payne’s position.

The start of race 8 had 10-11 knots, Chris Nicholson and Charlie Wyatt led Higgins/ Marsh while Hamlin/ Zinn and Nicholas/ Payne were deep. With the marginal strength breeze, half the fleet were reaching downwind and half were running. On the second beat, Higgins/ Marsh moved to the lead, winning the race while Nicholas/ Payne and Hamlin/ Zinn finished 12 and 13 respectively.

Into race 9, Higgins/ Marsh led Nicholas/ Payne by 5 and it was down to the two leaders. The double drop basically meant whoever beat the other would win. The race started in 8 knots but by the bottom mark for the first time, it was a thumping Sou’wester and there was carnage across the course.

At the start, the two leaders matched raced with Nicholas/ Payne gaining control on the first start, but it had to be abandoned. For the second, Higgins/ Marsh got a nice spot early on the line, with Nicholas/ Payne in a tough spot mid line. At the first top mark, Higgins/ Marsh were fourth while Nicholas/ Payne were tenth.

By the bottom mark, Higgins/ Marsh were second while Nicholas/ Payne moved into the teens as they took big risks. By now the wind was thumping, and the title was in reach for Higgins/ Marsh; only breakages or a capsize could ruin their party. On the final run, they sailed extra conservative, giving up places to reduce risk but sealing the victory.

Four North American teams finished in the top 11: 5. Hamlin/ Zinn; 6. Mike Holt/ Carl Smit; 7. Nic Baird/ Eric Anderson; 11. Mike Martin/ Adam Lowry. All four teams were from the USA.

Seventy teams from six nations competed in the 9-race series.

Event details – Results – Facebook