Please select your home edition
Edition
McDYachts_Pyewacket-for-Sale_1456x180 TOP

12 Metre Pre-Worlds during Newport Regatta

by Barby MacGowan 8 Jul 2019 02:53 EST 8-13 July 2019
From left: Victory ‘83 (KA-22), winner in Modern Division, and Nyala (US-12), winner in Vintage Division, at the 12 Metre Pre-Worlds, part of Sail Newport's Newport Regatta © Ian Roman

In preparation for next week's 12 Metre World Championship (July 8-13) in Newport, R.I., a fleet of 16 12 Metres competed in Sail Newport's annual Newport Regatta and counted it as their official 12 Metre Pre-Worlds. After five races over two days (July 6-7), New Zealand (KZ-3), Victory '83, (K-22) Columbia (US-16) and Nyala (US-12) became the names to beat, winning their respective divisions, but not without a fight. This regatta foreshadowed the intense competition to come when 22 of these yachts - considered some of the most iconic in the history of sailboat design and spanning the decades between the 1920s and 1980s - compete at the Worlds.

"It was unprecedented and awesome to see so many 12 Metres together on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound (where they sailed, respectively, on Saturday and Sunday)," said 12 Metre Worlds Event Chair Peter Gerard, "And it will be even more spectacular next week when another six 12 Metres join the racing, making it the largest gathering of 12 Metres since the 2001 America's Cup Jubilee."

The 12 Metres, most famous as America's Cup boats but also with ties to the Olympics in the early 1900s, are divided into divisions based mainly on when they were built. They are Grand Prix (for 12 Metres built between 1983 and 1987 with winged keels), Modern (1967-1983), Traditional (1958-1964) and Vintage (1907-1958).

After two firsts and a second on Saturday, Dennis Williams' Victory '83 (KA-22) had four points on Enterprise (US-27) going into Sunday's Modern Division racing. "We just wanted to sail the racecourse as fast as we could," said Williams, who won Sunday's first race by 20 boat lengths or so and "never looked back" after establishing an early lead on the eight-mile twice-around windward-leeward course. "In the second race, a start near the pin end didn't really work for us; we got pinned out by Intrepid (US-22) and couldn't sail the course we wanted to sail. We finally got free and ended up second but took a penalty (2 points) for fouling Challenge XII (KA-10) at the weather mark.

"If you make a mistake you get shot out the back; it's pretty simple," said Williams. "You can't find big boat around-the-buoys racing like this anywhere else. There's lots of very close competition, and the boats are technically challenging; it's really a lot of fun. We hope we can go out and show our competitors the way around the course next week!"

Nyala (US-12) won all of its races in Vintage Division, but skipper Mauro Pelaschier said he will have to concentrate to stay ahead of the rest next week. The last time he sailed in Newport was 36 years ago (1983) when he was helmsman for Azzurra (I-4), the first Italian challenger for the America's Cup. "I'm really happy to be back in Newport where I started my professional sailing life," said Pelaschier, who has also sailed in three Olympic Games. "My crew is all from Azzurra, too, so we are not only a vintage boat but also a vintage crew," laughed Pelaschier. "We have sailed together in many regattas, so we always learn, learn, learn. Our boat is competitive for sure, and the crew is ready."

New Zealand (KZ-3) with Max Buerman at the helm, edged out Kookaburra (KA-10), steered by Torben Grael in Grand Prix Division, while Columbia (US-16) won Traditional Division over American Eagle (US-21).

In Road to the Worlds Waypoints Series Standings, the point spread is close: Courageous (US-26) is leading with 87 points, while Victory '83 (K-22) is close behind with 84 points. They are followed by American Eagle (US-21) and Challenge XII (KA-10), each with 82 points.

2019 Newport Regatta
Results for 12 Metre Pre-World Regatta

Grand Prix (One Design - 4 Boats)

1. New Zealand (KZ-3), Gunther and Maggie Buerman, Highland Beach, FL/Newport, RI, USA - 1 -3 -1 -1 -1; 7
2. Kookaburra II (KA-12), Torben Grael / Patrizio Bertelli, Arezzo, ITA - 2 -1 -2 -2 -2; 9
3. Legacy (KZ-5), Thomas Andersen / Jesper Bank, Munkebo, Fyn, DEN - 3 -2 -3 -3 -3; 14
4. Kiwi Magic (KZ-7), Johan Blach Petersen, Aarhus C, DEN - 4 -4 -4 -4 -4; 20

Modern (One Design - 7 Boats)

1. Victory '83 (K-22), Dennis Williams, Hobe Sound, FL/Newport, RI, USA - 1 -2 -1 -1 -4; 9
2. Enterprise (US-27), Clay and Nancy Deutsch, Newport, RI, USA - 2 -1 -4 -3 -1; 11
3. Courageous (US-26), Ralph Isham / Steve Glascock / Alexander Auersperg / Ward Marsh / Arthur Santry, Newport, RI - 3 -5 -3 -2 -3; 16
4. Intrepid (US-22), Jack Curtin, Toronto, Ont, CAN - 6 -4 -2 -6 -6; 24
5. Freedom (US-30), Charles Robertson, Guilford, CT, USA - 5 -5 -5 -5 -5; 25
6. Challenge XII (KA-10) Jack LeFort, Jamestown, RI, USA - 4 -9 -9 -4 -4; 30
7. Defender (US-33), Tom Webster, Hilton Head, SC and Dick Enersen, San Rafael, CA, USA - 7 -6 -9 -7 -7; 36

Traditional (2 Boats)

1. Columbia (US-16), Kevin Hegarty / Anthony Chiurco, Newport, RI, USA - 2 -1 -2 -1 -1; 7
2. American Eagle (US21), Eagle 2019 Syndicate, Middletown, RI, USA - 1 -2 -1 -2 -2; 8

Vintage (3 Boats)

1. Nyala (US-12), Mauro Pelaschier/Patrizio Bertelli, Arezzo, ITA - 1 -1 -1 -1 -1; 5
2. Blue Marlin (FIN-1), Henrik Andersin, Kaunianen, FIN - 2 -2 -2 -2 -2; 10
3. Onawa (US-6), Jim Blanusha / Steven Gewirz / Louis Girard / Earl McMillen / Mark Watson, Newport, RI, USA - 4 -3 -3 -3 -3; 16

For more information on the Newport Trophy Regatta or the 12 Metre Worlds visit 12mrworlds.com

Related Articles

You just gotta love a good algorithm
So, I opened up YouTube, and there it was. Could not believe my luck, actually. So, I opened up YouTube, and there it was. Could not believe my luck, actually. The algorithm had coughed up something I really wanted to watch. Yes, I know it means Big Brother is watching and listening.Also, every key stroke is being recorded. Posted on 7 Sep
Newport Classic Yacht Regatta concludes
Classic Yacht Challenge Series fleet marks Labor Day weekend The Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) fleet wrapped up its Narragansett Bay racing calendar over Labor Day weekend with the Newport Classic Yacht Regatta, presented by IYRS. Posted on 4 Sep
46th Cannes Royal Regatta Preview
A new dream vintage! After four extraordinary editions, the 47th Régates Royales de Cannes are once again shaping up to be under the best auspices this year. Posted on 30 Aug
CYCS brings Classic Yacht Racing at Summer's End
The Herreshoff Classic Yacht Regatta featured races up and down the bay The final two weekends of August feature classic yacht racing in Narragansett Bay as the 2025 CYCS enters its final month of competition. Posted on 28 Aug
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Here, there is no prize money - only the pursuit of glory True to tradition, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez honours each of its 19 classes with awards presented in the pure Corinthian spirit inherited from the legendary Nioulargue. Here, there is no prize money - only the pursuit of glory. Posted on 19 Aug
Cole Brauer talks Offshore success
Cole Brauer - Shirley R talks to the first American woman to sail non-stop, alone, around the planet Shirley Robertson talks to the first American woman to have sailed non-stop, alone, around the planet, as Cole Brauer takes time out from an Admiral's Cup campaign to sit down and talk about her remarkable career. Posted on 14 Aug
12 Metre North Americans 2025 Preview
A legacy of elegance returns to Newport The elegance of classic yachting returns to Narragansett Bay this fall as the 12 Metre North American Championship comes to Newport, hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club in partnership with the International Twelve Metre Association Americas Fleet. Posted on 12 Aug
Ian Williams - Eight times WMRT champion
Shirley Robertson is joined by eight-time World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams Shirley Robertson is joined by eight-time World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams, as the duo get together to discuss Williams' career at the sharp end of the most combative discipline in the sport of competitive sailing. Posted on 17 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona overall
Some of the most celebrated gems of classic yachting in the waters off Barcelona The sails have now been lowered on the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica, which this week brought together some of the most celebrated gems of classic yachting in the waters off Barcelona. Posted on 12 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water. Posted on 11 Jul
Selden 2020 - FOOTERSwitch One DesignV-DRY-X