Etchells World Championship 2025 at Royal Brighton Yacht Club - Overall
by Nic Douglass 14 Jan 07:21 PST
10-14 January 2025
Magpie grinners - Etchells World Championship 2025 © Nic Douglass @sailorgirlHQ
Magpie AUS1486 skippered by Graeme Taylor with James Mayo have defended their title in the 2024 Etchells World Championship with crew member Ben Lamb with a classic match race to finish off the series.
Video wrap of day
At the end of the penultimate race, the scores were tied between USA1473 DanEgerous skippered by John Dane III with Eric Doyle and Bill Hardesty, and for the first time a different team was on top of the leaderboard with DanEgerous having more heat wins.
"That is just one of the most epic wins of my life, to be honest. Perth was awesome and to win at home is just like wow, in front of all your mates, your family, having Vic and my dad on the water today, you know, just really special," said Graeme Taylor.
"John Dane's a fantastic guy and Bill Hardesty and Eric Doyle, they're just absolute professionals and they're doctors of the sport, so we knew we were playing with a pitbull and it was a lot of fun."
"Lamby did an epic job of just going [saying], this is what we've got to do and this is how we're going to do it, and I'm like, okay. I'm sure they would have done it the same way if they needed to as well".
"Even though we were even on points, we were super strong mathematically going into that last race, and I guess that's how you win a world championship in the end, two boats duking it out, seeing what happens," finished Taylor.
Magpie had a worst discard of 7, while DanEgerous had a discard of 16, meaning that Magpie could not be defeated for second place, but could lose the win. So there was no option, it would come down to a boat on boat battle for the regatta title.
The match racing began from the time the Orange Flag was hoisted (start line on station), five minutes before the warning signal for the race. It continued right until the gun. Magpie started slightly to leeward of DanEgerous, and when John Dane III tacked onto port, Magpie followed, and the teams went well beyond the starboard lay line.
"Well, sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield," commented Bill Hardesty on how the final race unfolded.
"If we had been ahead, it would have been tables turned," echoed John Dane III, answering what GT had surmised.
"To be tied going in the last race was pretty exciting. These guys did such a great job pulling me through. This guy in particular [Bill Hardesty] yelled at me a lot, but loves me," joked Dane.
"At my age to be tied going into the last race, at 74 years old, I feel good. These guys were all disappointed. Needless to say, to come so close. But it was a great regatta,".
John Dane III wins the Senior skipper (highest Placing Skipper over 60 yrs of age) prize as well as the Grandmasters World Championship (150 years combined age).
In the other divisions, in Corinthian and Youth, Lisa Rose AUS1484 were never headed.
"It's been a massive learning exercise for us and I think we're all pretty happy with how we sailed today. We went out probably with the lens to keep it simple and just keep improving every day and we love every day we get on the water because we get better," said Jack Abbott.
"We can't wait to do more as a team," said James.
"And, look, we couldn't be here without Marty, obviously. It's his boat and he's been a big support to us. So, helping us just learn as much as we can about the ocean in such a short time," confirmed Xavier.
"Thanks again to the whole organising committee, all the sponsors, everyone involved, the club. Everyone's put in so much effort to make this event work and we wouldn't be here without them. So, we want to extend our thanks to them as part of this as well," finished Abbott.
In Race 8, while many were watching what would unfold at the top of the overall leaderboard, First Tracks, AUS1485 skippered by Peter "Billy" Merrington, with Ian McKillop and Will Parker were just coming into their stride.
"We waited all week for it," said Merrington.
"We just actually showed ourselves what we're capable of if we sailed properly the whole week," he said of their 1 and 4 on the final day.
"The boys did a great job today," he continued. "On the first beat we had a huge lead, we got it a little bit wrong on the second beat and they came back to us, but the first top mark was nice to look back and do a bit of spectating. Look at that," he finished remembering.
Race 8 Live
It was similar for the Race 9 winners, AMac USA1494 skippered by Andy Beadsworth with Brian Ledbetter and Will Ryan.
"It was obviously a good race, nice to win a race," he commented while packing up. "We've had a pretty tough week and it hasn't really come together but we got off the line, had good pace and no issues in that race at all".
"They came and caught up a couple times [the fleet] but then we would extend again so just a shame we couldn't find it earlier in the week," he lamented.
"It was good to win the race to the crane," he finished smiling.
Race 9 Live
Etchells Australia: www.facebook.com/EtchellsAustralia
Etchells Class Association: www.facebook.com/EtchellsClass
This regatta would not be possible without the support of HillPDA, Vakaros, North Sails, Musto Australasia, the Victorian Government, the organising committee and volunteers, and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
The next World Championship for the Etchells class will be held from the San Diego Yacht Club, 10-15 May 2026.
More information:
Full prize list
Race Winner Trophies
DanEgerous - USA1473 John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty
Race 1 - presented by US Etchells Fleet #6, Newport Beach, CA
Race 4 - US Etchells Fleet #4, presented by Eastern Yacht Club
Race 5 -presented by US Etchells Fleet #12, St. Francis Yacht Club
Flying Higher - AUS1518 Jeanne-Claude Strong, Seve Jarvin, Max Jameson, Sam Newton
Race 2 - Peter Tirion Trophy, presented by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club
Tiger - AUS1524 Nigel Abbott, Rod Hagebols, Chris Manton
Race 3 - presented by Brisbane Etchells Fleet
Magpie - AUS1486 Graeme Taylor, Ben Lamb, James Mayo
Race 6 - American Yacht Club Centennial Trophy, presented by the American Yacht Club, NY
Racer CC - HKG1482 Mark Thornburrow, Mike Huang, Malcolm Page, Julian Plante
Race 7 - New Zealand Kauri, presented by Gulf Harbor Yacht Club
First Tracks - AUS1485 Peter Merrington, Ian McKillop, William Parker
Race 8 - Jim Annand Trophy, presented by International Etchells Class, Australia
AMac - USA1494 Andy Beadsworth, Brian Ledbetter, Will Ryan, Jack Jakosky (owner)
Race 9 - presented by the Cowes Fleet in honor of Ante Razmilovic
Division Winners
Master Highest Placing Skipper over 50yrs of age
Ogilvy Masters Trophy presented by Members and Governors of the Class to honor Stan Ogilvy (recipient skipper must be at least 50 years old).
Magpie - AUS1486 Graeme Taylor, Ben Lamb, James Mayo
Senior Highest Placing Skipper over 60yrs of age
Robert W. Sides Seniors Trophy, presented by the US Etchells Fleet #4 Marblehead, MA for the winner of the Senior (recipient skipper must be at least 60 years old) division.
DanEgerous USA1473 - John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty
Grand Masters
Kingsford Smith Trophy, presented by the Sydney fleet in honor of Ian Kingsford Smith to be awarded to the skipper and crew with best results at the World Championship with a combined age of 150 years for a three person crew or 200 years for a four person crew.
DanEgerous USA1473 - John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty
Presentation of The Bill Munster Sportsmanship Trophy
Bill Munster Sportsmanship Trophy, presented by Jim DeWitt in honor of Bill Munster. To be awarded annually to the competitor who in the eyes of the Organizing Authority, Race Committee and International Jury exhibits the most sportsmanlike qualities of the event.
Scott Walton Barry AUS924
After breaking his mast, gave his boom and spinnaker pole to competitors so they may continue to race and complete the series.
Only boat with all female crew
Carabella IV AUS1219 - Maddy McLeay, Charlie Alexander, Lily Richardson, Matilda Richardson
Bill Steele Trophy
Awarded to the crew with the lowest average age.
Carabella IV AUS1219 - Maddy McLeay, Charlie Alexander, Lily Richardson, Matilda Richardson
Corinthian fifth overall
Matilda AUS1488 - Blake Robertson, William Kelly, Thomas Kelly
Corinthian fourth overall
Pegasus AUS1278 - Grant Hudson, Brian Donovan, Lucas Patrick, Mitchell Kennedy
Corinthian third overall
Jukes of Hazzard AUS1011 - Brendon Jukes, Nigel Jones, Owen McMahon, Michael O'Brien
Corinthian second overall
Flirtation AUS1026 - Matt Crawford, Jason Antill, Scott O'Connor
Corinthian Highest placing Corinthian boat
Top Corinthian Crew Trophy, presented by Patricia Stadel in recognition of outstanding yacht racing achievement by Corinthian sailors to be awarded to the so defined (World Sailing category 1) Corinthian skipper and crew achieving the best result in said International Etchells Worlds Championship Series.
Next Generation
Next Generation Trophy, presented by the friends of Hans Fogh, awarded to the skipper and crew, all 29 or younger, as of January 1, 2025, achieving the best result.
Lisa Rose AUS1484 - Jack Abbott, Xavier Winston Smith, Tom Trotman, James McLennan
Fifth Overall
Rogue USA1519 - Scott Kaufman, Gonzalo Ribiero, Hugo Rocha, Carlos Robles
Fourth Overall
USA1519 - Austin Sperry, John Kostecki, Noel Drennan
Third overall
Top Female Helm
Awarded to the female helm achieving the best result.
Flying Higher AUS1518 - Jeanne-Claude Strong, Seve Jarvin, Max Jameson, Sam Newton
Second overall
DanEgerous USA1473 - John Dane III, Eric Doyle, Bill Hardesty
Bill Bennett crew trophy
Bill Bennett Perpetual Trophy, presented by US Fleet 13.
Awarded to the World Champion crew.
Magpie AUS1486 - Ben Lamb, James Mayo
Etchells Worlds Winner
The Founders Trophy, presented by Mary Etchells
Magpie AUS1486 - Graeme Taylor, Ben Lamb, James Mayo