McDougall+McConaghy Moth Worlds- Burling wins world title in a gallop

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com on 16 Jan 2015 New Zealand sailing prodigy, Peter Burling, has won the 2015 McDougall+McConaghy Moth Worlds in Sorrento, Melbourne.

Sailing in conditions at the top end of the range for the foiling singlehander, Burling finished sixth in the first race of the day, and won the title with a race to spare.

Racing was delayed after the conclusion of the first race of the day, while organisers waited for the winds to ease, which happened about an hour before the final time allowed for a race start.

Provided only one race was sailed in the day, Burling had enough points to secure the title, ahead of the now-previous World Champion, Nathan Outteridge. Speaking with Oliver Hartas just after the finish of the last race Burling said he was pleased 'to get it won in that last race in 25kt winds and large waves. I'm absolutely on top of the world,' he added.

'It was real top end, we got a gust of over 30 knots. It is easy for things to go wrong in these boats. I am stoked that the boat stayed in one piece and kept going fast all week.

Burling told Hartas that he was looking forward to coming back next year to defend his title. 'I'm sure that Nathan will be there trying to take it off me,' he added.

The 160 strong Moth fleet was littered with Olympic medalists, world champions, and four America's Cup teams had sailors competing.

Burling noted that the regatta had a range of conditions from light to heavy - but not much in between.

The Australian Nationals and Pre-World series was wiped out when light winds prevailed for the first two days, and stayed in for the initial stages of the World Championships. Burling told Hartas that he had been training in both light and heavy airs in Auckland, with others in the Emirates Team NZ team, including America's Cup skipper, Dean Barker and tactician Ray Davies.

Blair Tuke was the second best placed Emirates Team NZ member finishing sixth and sailing in his first Moth Worlds. He used Burling's second Moth getting away to a good day on the first day, winning a race in the Qualifiers.

The rivalry between Nathan Outteridge and Burling continued in this regatta. The long time competitors trained together prior to the 2012 Olympics where Outteridge, then World Champion won the Gold medal, with Burling second. After the Olympics Burling has been unbeaten in the 49er being the current World and European Champion.

The pair both contested the A-class catamaran Worlds in Takapuna with Burling finishing third behind comrades in arms at Emirates Team NZ - Glenn Ashby and Blair Tuke. Outteridge finished 6th in the single-handed foiling catamaran sailed from the trapeze.


Although Outteridge, skipper of Artemis Racings AC72 in the last America's Cup regatta, did not have Burling's sparkling result sheet with nine wins from 14 races, he put together a very consistent series, and due to the way the series was scored between the Qualifying and Final series he was able to control, the points margin to stay within striking distance of Burling going into the Final day.

Third was a previous World Champion, Josh McKnight (AUS), who again sailed a consistent series finishing every race, except the last in the top six - with the majority of his placings being in the top three.

Burling adds the Foiling Moth class World title to his other World Championship win in the Olympic Skiff, the 49er. He finished third in the foiling A-class catamaran World Championships off Takapuna, New Zealand, less than a year ago.

Along with his long-standing crew, Blair Tuke, Burling is part of Emirates Team NZ and is expected to helm one of the teams AC45's in the America's Cup World Series, if the team secures NZ Government backing to continue with its challenge fr the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda.

Burling and Tuke also won the Silver medal in the 49er class at the 2012 Olympics and are finalists for the team of the year at the 2014 Halberg Awards to be held in February 2015.

For more image and video from the 2015 Moth Worlds keeping checking the Oliver Hartas site for new material being posted later tonight and over the next couple of Click here for results