2024 Star World Championship kicks off at San Diego Yacht Club
by Rachele Vitello, International Star Class 8 Sep 17:15 NZST
September 7-13, 2024
San Diego Yacht Club has always had a special place in the Star Class history. Some of the GOATs of sailing, and the Star boat, banged their first corners just off Point Loma, with 15 Star World titles won by SDYC members over the years. Lowell North, Malin Burnham and Dennis Conner are among the most successful and world-renowned Star sailors from San Diego, but the Pacific keeps on fostering talented sailors.
This is what makes the 2024 Star World Championship so special, being in what is indeed one of the cradles of Star sailing in the USA. The event opened today, September 7, with an official ceremony and flag parade presented by the SDYC Junior Sailors. This week, the World Championship follows its traditional format with one 2-mile leg race per day over six days with the names of the 2024 Star World Champions confirmed on Friday, September 13.
Star Class President and 1988 Star World Champion Paul Cayard commented, "Standing with the 100-year-old World Championship Trophy makes you realize once again the great history of the Star Class and the big legacy we have to honor as Star sailors, and for me, especially as Class President. This trophy was won 15 times by members of the San Diego fleet. The center of the San Diego Yacht Club burgee has a red star as well, and that's the emblem of the Star Class, which highlights the tight link between us, so we're very happy to be back in San Diego. Everybody is friendly and super organized, we're really looking forward to starting racing here."
Sixty-four teams have arrived in Southern California representing 14 countries, all of which will vie for the Gold Star and to engrave their names on the trophy, making history. Some others are here to try to win it again, like Class President Paul Cayard (USA) sailing with two-time World Champion Frithjof Kleen (GER), or locals George Szabo and Eric Doyle, respectively sailing with Guy Avellon and Payson Infelise, or Miami Star and Snipe hero Augie Diaz, crewed by Bruno Prada (BRA), his winning partner back in 2016, and John Dane III with Peter Sangmeister.
Swiss Piet Eckert with Portuguese sailor Bruno Melo, runner-up last year in Scarlino, Italy, are giving it another shot at the old trophy. America's Cup legend John Kostecki (USA) is here for the first time at the Star Worlds with Olympian Crew Austin Sperry, to prove their talent. Six U30 teams are joining the fleet, five from the USA and one from India, who is in the US to complete his master's degree in Astronomy.
"We're thrilled to host sailors from around the globe for this prestigious event. Over the next week we'll witness incredible racing, honor some of sailing greatest legends and enjoy memorable events both on and off the waters," concluded SDYC Commodore Al Pleskus.
The first warning will be signalled starting tomorrow at 13.00 local time (GMT -7), repeated daily until Friday.
More information at worlds.starchampionships.org