6 Meter Weltmeisterschaft 2022

Xacobeo Six Metre World Championship 2022 Open Division Day 1 – All images © SailingShots by Marian Muiña

Sanxenxo, Spain – 14 June 2022 – The opening day of the Xacobeo International Six Metre World Championship 2022, hosted by the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo, produced two terrific races for the 40 teams from 15 nations competing. Although initially overcast and misty, the wind gods delivered a decent 12-14 knots from the southwest, which clocked right and dropped to around 6-8 knots as the sun broke through later in the day. The Race Committee opted for the inner course, which not only provided perfect racing conditions, but also allowed spectators at the RCNS clubhouse a grandstand view.

In the Open Division, the newly launched Judel/Vrolijk designed Momo, owned by Dieter Schoen, led race one from the off and came second in race two to end the day with a five-point overall lead. Jamie Hilton’s 1986 Howlett designed Scoundrel, which shipped from the USA for the event, Johan Larson’s 1988 Pettersson designed Rebecca from Sweden and Philippe Durr and Rainer Müller’s defending World Champion Junior from Switzerland, a 1981 Pettersson/Howlett design, are all tied on eight points with Scoundrel claiming second overall thanks to a race two win, Rebecca third and Junior fourth.

In the Classic Division reigning champion Bribon 500, a 1947 Laurin design owned by Jose Cusi and helmed by Pedro Campos, got her defence off to a solid start with a third followed by a win giving her a two-point delta on her nearest competitors. On the water the opening race was won by Catalin Trandafir’s 1956 Sparkman & Stephens designed Essentia, helmed by Erik Jesperson, and she went on to finish sixth in race two, putting her initially into second overall, however, back on the dock she faced a race one protest and was disqualified so drops down to eleventh overall. Essentia’s disqualification was good news for ISMA President Louis Heckley’s 1950 Aas designed Dix Août, which now lies in second place, two points ahead of Ossi Paija of Finland’s Astree III, another Aas design but this time from 1959, which scored a sixth and a second. Andy Postle’s Nirvana took seventh in race one and third in race two ending the day fifth overall.

Whilst the leader board is starting to take shape there’s a lot of sailing to come. Several of the top players experienced mixed fortunes today and may well bounce back in the days to come. In the Open Division Jan Eckert’s Gingkotoo placed second in race one but found herself down in tenth in race two so now sits seventh overall. Patrick Monteiro de Barros’s Seljm sailed to a solid third in the opener but found it harder to gain traction in race two finishing in seventh for fifth place overall.

It was a similar story in the Classics where Mauricio Sanchez-Bella Carswell and the crew of Titia won race one thanks to Essentia’s disqualification and followed with an eighth in race, putting them initially into fifth overall. Back ashore however they too found themselves in the protest room and disqualified from race two, dropping them down to ninth overall.

The closeness of the racing and the cut and thrust of some of the mark roundings confirm that we are in for an exciting regatta as the teams battle it out to find the Xacobeo Six Metre World Champions 2022.

Whilst the chase for the victor’s laurels is always intense in the Sixes, equally intense is the love the owners and sailors have for these beautiful, complex and in many cases historic racing machines. An Olympic class for almost half a century from 1908 to 1952, the Sixes were also used as a testbed for the America’s Cup during the 12 Metre era. The fortunes of the class may have waxed and waned over the years, but with new boats being built, classic restorations undertaken and entry into the fleet possible for a very modest sum through the second-hand market, the class retains a firm grip on its well-deserved reputation as one of the World’s foremost development classes.

Another big appeal of the fleet is its camaraderie and love of a good party, and in this regard the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo is the perfect partner, as not only does the club run superb racing, but it also throws a world class party. Each evening the regatta village welcomes the sailors for complimentary entertainment, drinks, and food, all supported by some of Galicia’s finest producers. This evening’s supper offering was the local delicacy Fideuá with Chicken, which is to pasta what Paella is to rice. Huge thanks must go to the sponsors, official suppliers, and club team for laying on such spectacular hospitality.

The forecast for day two of the regatta is for an overcast day and very light winds from the northern quadrant, giving little chance of a sea breeze. The Race Committee will brief the competitors at 10:00 in the morning and if conditions allow races three and four of the eight race series will be run, with a planned first start of 13:00. The regatta continues until Saturday 18 June.

Provisional Overall Top Five

Open Division

1. SUI142 – Momo – Dieter Schoen – 1, 2 = 3
2. USA126 – Scoundrel – Jamie Hilton – 7, 1 = 8
3. SWE119 – Rebecca – Johan Larson – 5, 3 = 8
4. SUI77 – Junior – Philippe Durr – 4, 4 = 8
5. POR4 – Seljm – Patrick Monteiro de Barros – 3, 7 = 10

Classic Division

1. ESP16 – Bribon 500 – Pedro Campos Calvo-Sotelo – 3, 1 = 4
2. FRA111 – Dix Août – Louis Heckly – 2, 4 = 6
3. FIN80 – Astree III – Ossi Paija – 6, 2 = 8
4. USA96 – Hanko III – Thomas Kuhmann – 4, 5 = 9
5. GBR33 – Nirvana – Andy Postle – 7, 3 = 10

Full Results

Photo Gallery – All images © María Muiña / Xacobeo 6mR Worlds

Youtube Channel

Further information about the event can be found at 6mrworlds2022.com and about the class at www.6metre.com and on the ISMA Facebook page .

For additional information please contact ISMA Press Officer Fiona Brown on fiona.brown@fionabrown.com or +44 7711 718470

The International Six Metre Class has managed to retain the heritage of international class racing in thoroughbred boats that don’t have to break the bank. We believe some 1225 6 Metres exist around the world today. Early Fife boats built in 1907 are still racing – often against new Moderns. Some classics have been beautifully modified for cruising; several race only occasionally. The class has managed to cover a wide range of sailing need. All have one thing in common: their distinctive sailing silhouette and an adherence to a tried and tested formula. They are a tribute to their designers and builders. There is no doubt the class generates a passion and devotion driven by the stunning appearance of the boats and their historical significance.

Now more than a century since the first rule was written, metre boats remain at the forefront of yacht development – they were among the first boats sailing in the Olympics, right from the 1908 London Olympics until 1968 in Mexico, and 6 Metres were regularly used for the British-American Cup (team racing and an event far more prestigious than the America’s Cup in its day). The Six Metres have also been used for the legendary Seawanhaka Cup (Match racing) no less than 16 times from 1927 through to 1987, by far the largest number of appearances by a class in the event.

Hull designs have always been technologically advanced. Wing keels, rod shrouds and the latest in sail composition on the Moderns contrast with the ageless wooden decks and fittings of the Classics. In recent years there has been a real resurgence of interest with many old boats being restored, new boats being built and some of the mega-stars of the sailing world choosing metre boats for their personal sailing. The International Six Metre Association has members in most European and American sailing centres.