Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Brothers

2023 Star World Championship at Marina di Scarlino, Tuscany, Italy - Day 3

by ISCYRA 21 Sep 11:30 PDT 17-24 September 2023

After two windless days, it was finally time to get going at the 2023 Star World Championship at the Marina di Scarlino, Tuscany.

The frustration that had accumulated in the past two days for the 100 teams, representing 25 different countries in Italy, was finally released thanks to a 10-knot southerly wind blowing on the racecourse since the morning. The fleet was soon on the water in the Gulf of Follonica, and the first race started as planned.

Race One began at around 11:15 with a 9-knot southerly breeze. The first start attempt ended in a general recall, and a second start was more successful after the Race Committee, led by PRO Giancarlo Crevatin, hoisted a U flag. At the top mark, the German former Finn Sailor Max Kohlhoff, along with Ole Burzinski, rounded first, followed by current Star World title holder Diego Negri with his new young crew member Alessandro Soldano (ITA), then Doug Smith/Brian O'Mahony (USA), Enrico Chieffi/Nando Colaninno (ITA), and in fifth place were Piet Eckert and Frederico Melo (SUI). The mark rounding at the weather mark was very busy, crowded and intense, and the fleet started the downwind leg with the wind increasing slightly and the waves getting bigger. The positions remained very similar at the gate, with the Germans in the lead, Chieffi / Colaninno in second, and the Belgians Manu Hens and Joost Houweling making their way into the top group in third.

After another long upwind leg and a quicker downwind leg, the Germans claimed the first race of the 2023 Star World Championship, followed by Negri/Soldano, Eckert/Melo, Enrico Chieffi (1996 star world champion), with Nando Colaninno, and the Irish duo of Peter O'Leary/Steve Milne in fifth. Among the top four teams, two golden stars are present, showcasing the high level of competition.

"This is our second Star World Championship; we participated in Kiel in 2021. However, we were really looking forward to this venue because we love it here and we thought it would be good sailing for us. In the first race, we just had a pretty good start; I guess when you think you're over, it's always a good start. We played the shifts really nicely. I think we had good speed, and we're well set up. In Kiel, we finished 14th, so it's good to have won the first race here," commented Max Kohlhoff. Max is part of the successful U30 program that Arnd Glunde has been running in northern Germany for the past few years, lending them his and other owners' boats and showing them how it's done. "I've arrived here from the Under 30 program that Arnd initiated with the Heinz Nixdorf Pokal Trophy in Germany, and we now have a lot of young sailors attending. He kind of recruited me after I stopped my Finn career, and since then, the learning curve was really steep. This year we even have a new boat, which is going much faster than the previous one, and we're just really happy."

After a short wait, race two got under way with the same nice breeze, following three general recalls. The PRO opted for a black flag, which had everyone paying more attention to the line. The start remained very tight, with most of the fleet fighting for the Committee side. At the top mark, another U30 sailor making his way in the Class, Matthew Rajacich with Eric Wagner (USA), rounded comfortably in first, followed by Eugenio Cingolani/Juan Francisco Carrasquet, Jurg Wittich/Christian Trachsel, and Paolo Nazzaro/Alessandro Vongher.

However, the latter team was subsequently disqualified with a black flag (BFD), taking them out of the race. The wind gradually diminished on the downwind but picked up a little on the fourth and final leg. Some of the big names that rounded the weather mark in the middle of the fleet had recovered a bit, and Italian America's Cup skipper Flavio Favini, participating in his first Star World Championship, won the second race with local crew Nicolas Seravalle.

"They say that when the water is dirty, there's better fishing... Yes, we had a good one, finally, as in the first race, we struggled. We went left, and it was not a good idea; the right paid off big. The second race followed more the usual path, and the breeze played a little on the left. This is our first Star World Championship; Nicolas and I started with the Star a couple of years ago, but we had never attended the Worlds as they were too far away. This place is close to home, and we are thrilled to be here", declared Flavio Favini.

Piet Eckert and Frederico Melo's consistency paid off, and they are the current leaders in the overall ranking. However, the winner of the last two Star World titles is only one point behind them, and American Scott Barnard, with World Champion crew Phil Trinter, are not too far behind in third place. Tonight, the Mid-Week Award Ceremony will take place at the Marina di Scarlino, along with the presentation of the Harry Gale Nye Trophy, which recognizes an individual's outstanding contribution to the ISCYRA.

Related Articles

Bacardi Cup U30 Program paves the way for youth
A commitment to nurture the next generation of Star Class sailors Building on the resounding success of the inaugural year, Bacardi, in collaboration with the Star Class, is thrilled to announce the return of the Bacardi Cup U30 Program for 2024. Posted on 3 Nov
Yeoman Winter Champs at Snowflake
With regular racing for dinghies and Star class On Sunday the 29th October Snowflake sailors gathered in glorious conditions of sun and a nice gentle breeze for the Yeoman Winter Championships and points racing for the dinghies and Stars. Posted on 31 Oct
European Star Championship overall
Jack Jennings and Pedro Touche win in Cannes, Jürgen Schoeherr and Markus Koy top Europeans After four races at the 2023 Star European Championship in Cannes, France, for the numerous 45 boat fleet there are two new champions, Jack Jennings (USA) and Pedro Trouche (BRA). Posted on 28 Oct
European Star Championship day 1
Cannes delivered a great day for the 45 boat fleet The Star European Championship kicked off today in the Bay of Cannes, organized by the Yacht Club de Cannes and the International Star Class. 45 teams from 15 nations were on the starting line of the first two races of the Championship. Posted on 25 Oct
European Star Championship preview
Rain of Stars in Cannes! Nearly 45 competitors expected From 24 to 29 October 2023, the Yacht Club de Cannes is organising the European Star Championship. Nearly 45 competitors are expected in the harbour of Cannes, with an exceptional line-up. Posted on 20 Oct
Star Class selects Paul Cayard as President
Paul began sailing Stars in 1977 and won the Worlds in 1988 The International Governing Committee of the Star Class has selected Paul Cayard to perform the duties of the Star Class President under Class Rule 11.1.2 through 2025. Posted on 18 Oct
Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta entry open
There is nowhere quite like Miami to deliver the unique blend of glamour sailing, fun & friendship Online entry is now officially open for the highly anticipated 2023/2024 Bacardi Winter Series, leading into the world-famous Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta from March 3-9, 2024, on Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL. Posted on 9 Oct
7th Annual Star Class Vintage Gold Cup overall
Brazilians Lars Grael and Mauricio Bueno win the title The Vintage Gold Cup and ISCYRA announce the final results for the 2023 Vintage Gold Cup. For the second day in a row all races were canceled; the results remain the same as after first day of racing. Posted on 30 Sep
7th Annual Star Class Vintage Gold Cup Day 2
No racing possible due to lake of breeze on Gull Lake The Vintage Gold Cup and ISCYRA canceled the three scheduled races for day two of the Vintage Gold Cup. Slight breeze was visible on the lake in the morning, with little to no pressure. Posted on 30 Sep
7th Annual Star Class Vintage Gold Cup Day 1
Three races held on Gull Lake, Michigan The Vintage Gold Cup and ISCYRA announce results of the first day of racing in light and variable winds. The three scheduled races were completed with very close racing. Posted on 29 Sep
J Composites 2022 - J45 v4 FOOTERCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERHenri-Lloyd 2022 December - SW FOOTER