A-Class Worlds- Ashby wins eighth World title

by Heather Forbes and Sail-World on 17 Feb 2014
Australia's Glenn Ashby won his eighth World Championship in the International A-Class off Takapuna, Auckland, on Sunday.

The final race was sailed in a building seabreeze, which provided limited foiling opportunities. Another top Australian sailor, Nathan Outteridge is widely conceded to have a sweet spot in these marginal foiling conditions, and the 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist used this advantage to ease past Ashby on the final downwind leg, to score his first race win of the regatta.

The sailors left the beach for an 11am start but due to light winds the race committee delayed the race instructing sailors to return to the beach. After a short while a light sea breeze of 6 knots started to develop, peaking to 10 knots for the final leg of the race which began at 1pm.

Ashby was headed for a clear finish when Nathan Outteridge, (whose foils are better suited to light conditions) foiling beautifully, on the down wind, and final leg, came from fourth place to win.

Outteridge was heard to say later 'It doesn’t matter where I am as long as I can foil, I’ll win!'

Race 9 results: First - Nathan Outteridge (Aus), second – Glenn Ashby (Aus) and third Ray Davies (NZ).

Overall results for 2014 A Class Catamaran World Championships:
First place: Glenn Ashby (Aus)
Second place: Blair Tuke (NZ)
Third place: Peter Burling (NZ)
Fourth place: Andrew Landenberger (Aus)
Fifth place: Ray Davies (NZ)

Great Grand Master:
First – Scott Anderson (Aus),
Second – Simon McKeon (Aus)
Third - Mark Johntson (Aus)

Grand Master:
First - Luc de Bois (Sui)
Second – Peter Melvin (USA)
Third – Murray Philpott (NZ)

Master:
First – Andrew Landenberger (Aus)
Second – Jacek Noetzel (PL)
Third – Lars Gluck (USA)

Best Female: Denise Hillebrand (NED)

Youth:
First: Blair Tuke (NZ)
Second: Peter Burling (NZ)
Third: Thomas Stuchbery (Aus)