Two US Teams take on 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championship

Two US Teams take on 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championship © US Sailing

Two mixed-gender US teams - Jesse Fielding & Leah Sweet and Joseph Kurta & Adrianna Lee - will take to the waters off Cowes in the United Kingdom September 22 to October 1 to compete against some of the best shorthanded offshore sailors in the world for the Offshore Double Handed World Championship.

US Sailing is proud to endorse both teams as they compete against 28 other teams from across the world.

Hailing from the New England area, Open Ocean Racing is skippered by Jesse Fielding (Newport, R.I) and co-skippered by Leah Sweet (Portsmouth, N.H.). Fielding is an accomplished shorthanded ocean racer, having competed in the Solitaire du Figaro, crewed on Volvo70s and has many offshore miles under his belt. Sweet has extensive experience in the offshore realm as an IMOCA boat captain, TP52 and VO65 race crew. Alongside racing success, Sweet is a Magenta Project leader and change-maker in the world of female sailing.

"It is the dream of every racing sailor to make the start line of big international events like this," commented Jesse Fielding, Open Ocean Racing Co-Skipper. "Offshore sailing is our passion; we are looking forward to every aspect of the competition. Taking on this challenge is daunting, but thanks to the generous support of our generous donors at the East Bay Sailing Foundation of Bristol Yacht Club and New England Keelboat Sailing, we have the amazing opportunity to represent the United States at this prestigious event."

"The East Bay Sailing Foundation together with Bristol Yacht Club are excited to continue supporting offshore racing by sponsoring Open Ocean Racing in the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championship," said Bob Millard, BYC Vice Commodore and Board Member of East Bay Sailing Foundation. "Offshore double handed sailing represents the very best of teamwork, resilience, and determination - values that reflect the heart of our sport. We're proud to help make this campaign possible."

The second team, Team Captains, skippered by Joseph Kurta (Grosse Pointe Park, M.I.) and co-skippered by Adrianna Lee (Detroit, M.I.) will represent Great Lakes offshore sailors on the world stage. Kurta has a history with double handed offshore sailing, having been selected to represent the Royal Ocean Racing Club in the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour & Il Veloce in 2024. He has also done a number of major ocean passages (including Sydney-Noumea Yacht Race) and competed in many of the classic Great Lakes offshore races.

Lee is newer to the world of double handed offshore racing, having begun participating in the discipline in 2024. She has been offshore sailing since the age 10, competing in 15 Port Huron to Mackinac races earning four Bayview Gold Medals and a high percentage of podium finishes. Lee was also a member of the College of Charleston Dinghy Team from 2018 to 2022, where she contributed to the team winning national championships and ultimately the 2022 Fowle Trophy.

Together, the American teams have been collaborating on the water in Europe, learning how to navigate the Sun Fast 30s they will sail for the event. They have been working on speed and local knowledge by sailing some of the pre-events in the area, including the National Championship of the C30 in Cherbourg, France September 4-7.

"We are proud to see two American teams representing the United States at the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championship in Cowes," remarked Charlie Enright, US Sailing Chief Executive Officer. "Racing at this prestigious event is a positive step for the future of offshore sailing for American sailors. This event is a true test of skill, endurance, and teamwork; and it is an important opportunity for our sailors to compete on the international offshore stage. We are excited to cheer them on."

Organized by the RORC with the support of Cap-Regatta, Yacht Club de France, Lorient Grand Large and Jeanneau, the event will be a mixed crew event using the Sun Fast 30 One Design. This is the second edition of the Offshore Double Handed World Championship.

For more event information visit the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championship Official Website.