5.5 Metre World Championship - Day 4
by Robert Deaves 12 Jun 21:33 PDT
9-13 June 2025
The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) produced the best of the day on Thursday in Sopot at the 5.5 Metre World Championship with a 2,1,1 to take a two-point lead into the final day.
Aspire (POL 17, Przemyslaw Gacek, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Kilian Weise) managed a 2,2,7 to droop to second, while Ku-Ring-Gai III (AUS 66, John Bacon, Edward Wright, Joost Houweling) rise to third with a 4,4,4. Artemis (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne Trond, Solli-Sæther) produced he second best performance of the day with a 1,3,2 to move up to sixth.
The racing was quite formulaic, with most boats heading left out of the start and the racing marks not changing position all day with no more than five degrees shifts all day. But it was sunny for the first time in a week.
Artemis led all the way in the first race, followed by Aspire and The Jean Genie, who moved into second place just before the finis to best Aspure by about one and a half metres.
Ku-Ring-Gai III (AUS 66, John Bacon, Edward Wright, Joost Houweling) was the early leader in the second race, followed by The Jean Genie. However, the Australians went right on the second upwind and dropped to fourth, with Aspire in second and Artemis third
The final race in 20-23 knots was led from start to finish by The Jean Genie winning by several minutes after the final downwind. Artemis came through to second with John B (BAH 26, Gavin McKinney, Larn Horn Johannessen, Mathias Dahlman) having their best race of the week in third. Aspire had a poor start, and was buried on the first upwind, to cross in seventh.
Artemis had a difficult start to the series but today posted three top three places.
Johan Barne said, "We thought it would be a stronger breeze when we started out but then the first race was tricky because we had to change to the medium jib, but we had three good starts today and we played the left side because we thought that was the way to go. I think there was bit of a wind bend because we always ended up on a high port hand tack. We had good speed up and downwind, so was a good day for us. And think everyone enjoyed it.
"We had a 1,3,2 which was a very good result for us. We started the week badly, so we just let our shoulders down and haven't really looked at the scoresheet and I think we'll do that for another day and just see where we end up."
After some calamity on Wednesday, The Jean Genie posted an almost flawless 2,1,1.
Peter Morton said, "It was quite a funny day because the forecast I had was 16 up to 24 knots. But the first race was lighter and quite difficult. It wasn't that windy to start with while the breeze picked up. I found it quite difficult in the big waves and not great winds, we struggled a bit had a good last leg and caught a few waves and just jumped onto second.
"The last two races were all pretty close. We were in a few boat lengths of each other all the way round, but we seemed to have an edge downwind in surfing conditions, but pretty even upwind. I think we like the flatter water better. We've got a slightly heavier keel so that helps with the righting moment, but the pitching moment is quite severe.
"But a good day today, we didn't make any mistakes, good clean starts, and Ruairidh Scott put us in the right place all the time, so that always makes it easier.
"It's all on the last race or last races tomorrow. One thing for sure is that you can never write off Przemyslaw and Mateuez, they are a class act."
The championship concludes Friday with a possible two races scheduled in slightly lighter winds. Aspire has the slightly better discard, but it still remains very close.
Results after Day 4: (top ten, 7 races)
1 The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) 14pts
2 Aspire (POL 17, Przemyslaw Gacek, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Kilian Weise) 16pts
3 Ku-Ring-Gai III (AUS 66, John Bacon, Edward Wright, Joost Houweling) 24pts
4 Girls on Film (GBR 41, Louise Morton, Sam Haines, Charlie Cumbley) 30pts
5 Artemis (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne Trond, Solli-Sæther) 31pts
6 Marie-Françoise XXII (SUI 233, Jürg Menzi, Jürgen Eiermann, Christof Wilke) 34pts
7 Beta Crucis (AUS 63, Martin Cross, Bob Stoddard, Simon Reffold) 40pts
8 New Moon III (BAH 25, Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger, Peter Vlasov) 45pts
9 Otto (NOR 68, Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Berthelsen, Herve Cunningham) 50pts
10 Caracole (SUI 214, Bernard Haissly, Nicolas Berthoud, Daniel Stamp?i) 53pts