2018 Star Class World Championship

This morning when the 62 teams arrived at the Tred Avon Yacht Club with two races scheduled, the discard coming in play after Race 5, and a very windy forecast, anything was possible. Jorge Zarif and crew Guilherme de Almeida had a comfortable eight point lead over the second place team Paul Cayard (USA) and Arthur Lopes (BRA), and even more over the third place Class President Hubert Merkelbach and Markus Koy (GER). After a DNF in Race 5 for Cayard / Lopes, and a discarded DSQ for 2017 World Champions Eivind Melleby (NOR) and Joshua Revkin (USA) the window of opportunity opened back up for either of the three teams to take the Championship title at the start of a thrilling Race 6.

Jorge Zarif and Guilherme de Almeida fought a tough battle, always sailing within top 10 boats, losing some points in the second upwind beat, then regaining them in the last downwind to finish fourth behind race winner Tomas Hornos and Pedro Trouche, just meters before Melleby / Revkin, Eric Doyle and Payson Infelise in third. The Brazilians narrowly clinched the fourth spot from George Szabo (USA) and Roger Cheer (CAN) by half boat length.

Olympic Finn sailor Jorge Zarif at 26 years old is the youngest World Champion since 1981 when Alex Hagen (GER) won as a skipper at the same age.

A very windy awaking for the 62 team fleet of the 2018 Star World Championship in Oxford, MD, this morning. The remnants of Hurricane Michael passed over the area overnight and left behind a breeze between 18 to 20 knots. Though the wind was slowly decreasing to about 15 knots, gusts were still up to 20 with the sea state a short, steep chop with big sets rolling through was not considered safe for the majority of the fleet by the Race Committee. So PRO Bill Stump sent everyone home and racing will resume tomorrow, Saturday October 13th at 11.00 with the two last races of the series scheduled.

Day four of the 2018 Star World Championship in Oxford, Maryland, started with rain, a great 14 knot breeze from north east and choppy sea, all caused by hurricane Michael making its way up north. The flags of the 12 nations representing the 62 teams waved vigorously while the teams got dressed in their wet-weather gear and docked out towards the racecourse.

The mischievous breeze didn’t last through both of the races sailed today, and had died down to 6-8 knots by the second start of the day. Near the end of Race 4 the wind dropped even more on the last downwind leg after shifting of almost 180° and forced the competitors to finish going upwind. Today’s bullets go to Jorge Zarif with Guilherme de Almeida (BRA) conquering the windy third race of the series, and to Paul Cayard (USA) with Arthur Lopes (BRA) for the tricky fourth one.

Both names occupy the top spots of the provisional overall ranking, with Zarif/de Almeida leading, followed by former World Champions Eivind Melleby and Joshua Revkin and Cayard/Lopes in third. (results are provisional and there is a hearing in the jury room that could affect the leading positions).

A nice breeze finally made its appearance on the Choptank River on day three of the 2018 Star World Championship held in Oxford, Maryland, hosted by the Tred Avon Yacht Club. Two races were completed by the 62 boat fleet but only one can claim the traditional daily prizes: reigning World Champions Eivind Melleby (NOR) and Joshua Revkin (USA) took both bullets, and let everyone know they’re not ready to hand back one of the most prestigious trophies in sailing. Brazilian Olympic Finn sailor Jorge Zarif with crew Guilherme de Almeida are following the lead pair in the provisional ranking, and in third place, 1988 Star World Champion Paul Cayard (USA) with crew Arthur ‘Tutu’ Lopes (BRA).

Another day with no racing on the Choptank River for the 2018 Star World Championship hosted by Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford, Maryland. The morning presented with a little more breeze than yesterday so the Committee boat eagerly docked out and called the fleet for a 12,00 start. Once on the racecourse, though, the wind never properly settled and after a two hours’ waiting under the unusually for the season warm sun, the PRO Bill Stump, sent everyone back ashore postponing the first race of the 2018 Star World Championship to tomorrow, yet again.

Racing for the iconic and coveted Star World Championship trophy has been delayed until day two of the event, the starting time has been adjusted to 11am and the PRO will attempt for two races. Sailors arrived at the venue anticipating a lighter day and were unfortunately met with glassy waters on the Choptank River. All sixty-two teams remained on shore all afternoon rehashing strategies on dealing with the current and watching weather forecast for the week.