Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

GAC Pindar to be pace setter at tomorrow’s M32 European Series Sanremo warm-up

by M32 Series 21 Mar 2019 06:53 PDT 22-24 March 2019
Ian Williams' GAC Pindar is expected to be the stand-out performer this weekend - M32 European Series © Drew Malcolm / WMRT

When racing gets under way tomorrow five teams are set to battle it out at the M32 European Series warm-up event hosted by Yacht Club Sanremo in San Remo, Italy.

The form boat is expected to be Ian Williams and his GAC Pindar team. The British six time Match Racing World Champion is at the top of his game in the M32 at present. While GAC Pindar is the present M32 Europe Series defending champion, having scored a clean sweep in all the five events they sailed on the European circuit in 2018, Williams also won the M32 Corinthian World Championship in Chicago last September calling tactics for Rick Devos on REV.

For 2019 the GAC Pindar crew will be marginally different with hot new recruit Will Alloway coming on board, having skippered the INEOS Rebels on the Extreme Sailing Series and been part of the British America's Cup team's victorious Red Bull Youth America's Cup crew in Bermuda in 2017. He joins long term GAC Pindar crew Richard Sydenham and Peter Nicholas.

For Williams, sailing in Sanremo will be a first and he is looking forward to getting back in the saddle aboard his own boat in Europe this season. "We have had a friendly reception from the Yacht Club in San Remo. I think it is going to be a great three days of racing. I look forward to lining up against the new teams."

Another high profile campaign competing in Sanremo is Richard Göransson's Inga Racing Team. The Swedish team, regularly participates in the 6 metre, Melges 40 monohull classes, and will be trying their hand at catamaran racing for the first time this week.

Also from Sweden is Håkan Svensson, CEO and owner of Aston Harald, manufacturer of the M32 catamaran. He will be skippering his Cape Crow Vikings teams with a crew including young Swede Nicklas Dackhammar and some of his match racing team. A rising star in professional sailing, Dackhammar and his ESSIQ Racing Team are current leaders of the World Match Racing Tour having ended 2018 on high with their first circuit win at the Regata de Portugal Trophy in Lisbon in October.

Another repeat customer from 2018 will be representing Italy this weekend. Guido Maini's Shark team finished fifth in the M32 European Series in 2018. The 2019 season will be good for the Italian teams with the M32 European Series kicking off in Marina di Pisa over 24-26 May and returning for the last event in Riva del Garda on 24-25 August, prior to the M32 World Championship on 26-30 August. Maini's team is likely to spend the season jockeying to be top Italian team with Andrea Lacorte, whose Vitamina Veloce team finished the M32 European Series second last year behind GAC Pindar.

Skippering the 'development boat' that Aston Harald has generously provided for the M32 European Series this year will be Daniel Bjørnholt. Despite only being 24 years old, Bjørnholt has much experience on two hulls even since he was twice runner-up in the catamaran class at the Youth Sailing World Championship. Since then he has been the 2016 Hobie 16 World Champion and subsequently made two valiant campaigns for both the 2013 and 2017 Red Bull Youth America's Cups with his Team Youth Vikings Denmark. Recently Bjørnholt been trying to get as much time as possible on board the high performance M32s, starting in Miami in 2017 and culminating last year in the World Match Racing Tour event in Risør, Norway.

Among the Danish youth crew are Bjørnholt's twin brother Nicolaj (who he's sailed with regularly since the Youth Worlds) and others with Nacra 17 experience.

Racing in Sanremo will take place over Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th March with a first warning signal on Friday at 1400. The forecast, according M32 Class Manager and Principal Race Officer Mattias Dahlström, is looking ideal: "It is beautiful spring weather with blue sky and sunshine. The wind is 5-10 knots, so light but sailable - good for the first event of the season."

For further information contact Mattias Dahlström at

2019 M32 European Series schedule

  • San Remo, Italy - 22-24 March (non-scoring warm-up event)
  • Marina di Pisa, Italy - 24-26 May
  • Medemblick, Holland - 21-23 June
  • Marstrand, Sweden - 19-21 July
  • Stenungsund, Sweden - 15-17 August (two days inshore racing followed by the Tjörn Runt)
  • Pre-Worlds, Riva del Garda, Italy - 24-25 August
  • M32 World Championship, Riva del Garda, Italy - 26-30 August
m32world.com/europe

Related Articles

Faithful look forward to Airlie Beach Race Week
Performance Racing category has already attracted 15 entries Just as Whitsunday Sailing Club is looking forward to 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week, so too are competitors, including those in the Performance Racing category where already 15 have signed up ready to race in the 37th edition. Posted on 25 Jun
M32s at the NYYC 171st Annual Regatta
Clean Sweep Continues: Surge Takes Top Spot Ryan McKillen's Surge is four for four. The M32 team remains undefeated in 2025 after winning the M32 fleet at the New York Yacht Club 171st Annual Regatta, the opening event of the M32 Newport One-Design Series. Posted on 16 Jun
171st Annual Regatta at the New York Yacht Club
Coast Guard Cadets Show Their Mettle With About Face Sometimes a regatta win is just that. Sometimes it can mean a little bit more. For those looking for a splash of positivity that extends well beyond the racecourses at the New York Yacht Club's 171st Annual Regatta, consider the performance of Elan. Posted on 16 Jun
Entries surpass 100 for Airlie Beach Race Week
74 Islands Distillery has signed up as Naming Rights Sponsor As entries breach the century mark, Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is pleased to announce that 74 Islands Distillery has signed up as Naming Rights Sponsor for 2025 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) Posted on 15 May
Come to ABRW where fun doesn't set with the sun
60 entries received just a short time after entries opening Just a short time from entries opening for Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) 2025, keen competitors started committing to the fun event and with 60 entries received to-date, it is a good start to what is sure to be another great week of racing. Posted on 16 Apr
2025 M32 Miami Winter Series Event 4
One final battle in the Miami heat 4 events. 11 teams. 16 drivers. 42 races. 1 hell of a season. The 2025 M32 Miami Winter Series wrapped today. Ryan McKillen's Surge won the final event, while young Charlie Julien's Rated X took the winter series Rooster Trophy. Posted on 7 Apr
M32 Miami Winter Series 3
Eleven M32s draw a crowd in Miami The M32 fleet is thriving. Eleven boats lined up for the March edition of the M32 Miami Winter Series, making it one of the most competitive events in recent years. Posted on 3 Mar
2025 M32 Miami Winter Series Event 2
Surge strikes first, fast, and never looks back Ryan McKillen's Surge ran the table in Miami for the second edition of the 2025 M32 Miami Winter Series. Posted on 3 Feb
M32 Miami Winter Series: From Rookie to Victor
"To win is the best feeling ever," said Charlie Julien "To win is the best feeling ever," said Charlie Julien after his Rated X team claimed the tiebreaker victory over Ava Wilson's Convexity. Posted on 13 Jan
M32 Snowbird Season starts now
The migration begins The high-flying M32 fleet has returned to its winter home on Biscayne Bay, with an arsenal of catamarans assembling at Shake-A-Leg Miami for the 11th edition of the M32 Winter Series. Posted on 10 Jan
Switch One DesignMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast