Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Routing 728x90 TOP

Sunfish World Championship - US clean sweep

by ISAF on 27 Oct 2009
Sunfish World Championship Photo: Robert Dunkley http://sunfish2009.nassauyachtclub.org Robert Dunkley

The USA swept the board at the Sunfish World Championship held at the Nassau Yacht Club in the Bahamas, with David Loring taking the 2009 World title.

The Bahamas has ended up being somewhat of a good luck charm for David Loring. The Charleston, South Carolina native won his third Sunfish World Championships in Nassau on Friday 23 October with a net total of 28.6 points. He got his first championship title in 1995 in Abaco, the last time the event was held in The Bahamas.

The gruelling championship came down to the final moments of the last regatta. 'Physically it was as tough as it got. I’ve never been through a Worlds or any regatta at this level where it’s come down to the last 200 yards,' Loring said, 'I was actually losing the regatta as I rounded the last mark. As I made it into the home stretch, I was sixth and I needed to be fourth in order to win overall. I managed to pass three boats in a fight to the finish and ended up coming third in that race to win overall.'

His last minute rally put fellow Americans Paul-Jon Patin (30 points) in second place and David Mendelblatt (32 points) in third.

Three-time Sunfish World Champion Donnie Martinborough was the Bahamas’ top finisher, coming in 13th overall (156 points). Charles Kelly was the second best Bahamian finisher in 23rd place (224 points) and Bahamian junior nationals champion Christopher Sands finished 27th overall (234 points).

'The wind conditions were tough, it blew in excess of 20 knots all week long and it’s ironic, but those kinds of wind conditions aren’t what Bahamian sailors are used to,' said Martinborough, 'We all trained really hard in the usual conditions experienced here, so it was really disappointing for us to be so prepared, but end up with such different wind conditions.'

'These things happen, you can’t predict the weather, and you have to be able to sail in all conditions in order to be the best and that proved to be more than the case this week,' he said, adding, 'I think another week it could have been a whole different outcome because the level of sailing was that good.'

Seventy-two sailors representing 14 countries competed in the event, which was hosted by the Nassau Yacht Club.

'The level of the competition was really good. The top five competitors were fighting until the very last race, which made the regatta really exciting. The hosts did a wonderful job of putting on this event,' said Andres Santana, President Sunfish Class.

The top 10 finishers as well as the first female overall and top finishers in the master divisions were all presented with one of a kind driftwood with bronze sea life sculpture trophies created by Pete Johnston’s Foundry in Abaco.

The Ministries of Tourism and Youth, Sports and Culture and a number of corporate sponsors including Pictet Bank & Trust, Atlantis and Fun Foods Wholesale (Nestle Ice Cream) lent much needed logistical and financial support.
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERPantaenius 2022 - SAIL & POWER 1 FOOTER ROW

Related Articles

British Classic Week Day 1
Northerly winds gusting 22 knots make for a brisk start Day one at British Classic Week in Cowes saw fast-paced racing around the cans sponsored by Spirit Yachts for over 50 classic and modern classic yachts.
Posted on 7 Jul
International Moth Worlds Opening Ceremony
137 sailors from 25 nations have gathered, featuring some of the biggest names in sailing After weeks of preparation and an intense lead-up, the 2025 Moth World Championship is ready to get under way. Official racing begins tomorrow, 8 July, on the waters of Lake Garda, with the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
Posted on 7 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 2
No racing, but spirits stay high in Aarhus Day 2 of the iQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus tested the patience of sailors, coaches, and the Race Committee alike, as the wind refused to settle across the bay.
Posted on 7 Jul
Foiling Frenzy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine
The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! Regardless of where sailors are in their careers, or the reputation they have, everyone wants to be there and have a tilt at the title.
Posted on 7 Jul
British clubs get set for Champions League final
British Keelboat League teams representing three UK clubs are off to Kiel Keelboat teams representing three British clubs will be taking on Europe's finest in the 2025 SAILING Champions League final in Germany.
Posted on 7 Jul
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 overall
A weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais The 6th edition of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy came to a close this Sunday after a weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais.
Posted on 7 Jul
2025 Cowes Dinard St Malo Race Preview
The thirteenth race of the RORC Season's Points Championship The Cowes Dinard St Malo Race is the thirteenth race of the RORC Season's Points Championship—the world's largest offshore racing series.
Posted on 7 Jul
Protect Your Skin, Stay Out Longer
Rooster know that long days on the water are what summer is all about At Rooster, we know that long days on the water are what summer is all about. But with the sun high and strong, protecting your skin is just as important as protecting your kit.
Posted on 7 Jul
Tom Dolan flies to the finish in Course des Caps
Irish offshore champion finishes 5th in 2,000-nautical-mile race around Britain and Ireland Irish offshore sailor Tom Dolan has completed the Course des Caps in an impressive 5th place, racing aboard the IMOCA 60 Charal alongside legendary skipper Jérémie Beyou.
Posted on 7 Jul
Nastro Rosa Tour La Maddalena overall
Perfect weather conditions for a spectacular and exciting inshore race The perfect marine weather conditions offered the public of La Maddalena a spectacular and exciting inshore race.
Posted on 7 Jul