#NSVictoryList: A trio of 12 Metre World Champs
by North Sails 16 Jul 2019 18:00 AEST
North Sails is proud to add three new world champions to the #NSVictoryList off the back of the 12 Metre Worlds in Newport, RI. Beyond cleaning up on World Champ titles, North Sails outfitted the inventories on 12 of the 14 podium finishers. It has been an exciting five days of racing and we can't think of a better conclusion to this historic event.
Conditions, competition, and camaraderie are three words that sum up the 2019 12 Metre Worlds. The nine-race series featured 21 boats hailing from six countries and is the largest gathering of 12 Metres to have ever sailed in North America. The crew lists were stacked with familiar names from past America's Cups; trimmers from the late '70s and '80s getting the job done and giving the young crew onboard a run for their money.
"This has been a historic event and something the sailing world is going to remember for a long time"
Throughout the week, race mornings were plagued by postponements which gave way to a solid sea breeze in the afternoons. US12 Nyala, packed with current and former Luna Rosa teammates, clinched their Vintage Division victory on the penultimate day of racing to finish the regatta with eight bullets across the series.
Jack LeFort's KA 10 Challenge 12 had a strong regatta but began the final race day with uncertainty after a DSQ in Race 7. They docked out in second place for the Modern Division, two points behind US 27 Enterprise, won their final race and docked back in having been named World Champs. US 16 Columbia claimed their place on the World Champ roster after winning the event's final race.
The team under the guidance of Anthony Chiurco put all their cards on the table with the bold decision to cover US Nefertiti, a gamble that paid off for the Traditional Division winner. And although they were not sailing for a World Championship, US 42 America II bested their New York Harbor Sailing Foundation sparing partner US 46 America II in the Spirit Division.
"As cool as the racing on the water was- all the participants are going to remember walking down the dock each morning," said Ken Read, President of North Sails and tactician on World Champion Challenge 12. "Seeing these boats in one place, and all your friends from past regattas is really special. The boats were evenly matched and each of the teams sailed really well. This has been a historic event and something the sailing world is going to remember for a long time."
North Sails was the Official Sailmaker to the 12 Metre Worlds and teamed up with sailing photograph Ian Roman to document both racing and shoreside activity - see the collection here.