2024 PredictWind Moth Worlds - Day 4 - Beach rebuild keeps Coutts' hopes alive
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 9 Jan 03:21 NZDT
4-9 January 2024
Mattias Coutts in action with a new rudder gantry - Day 4 - 2024 PredictWind Moth Worlds - Manly Sailing Club. January 8, 2025 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz
A rapid rebuild effort took place on Manly Beach during the first race of the Finals of the 2024 PredictWind Moth Worlds. It was enough to keep the overnight leader, Mattias Coutts in contention for the 2024 World Championship title which will be decided on Thursday.
The first day of Finals racing with the fleet split into Gold and Silver fleets took place under leaden skies and a SW breeze that flicked between 12-18kts.
The breeze was down a little on previous days when racing has been suspended for exceeding class wind limits, however shifty winds again challenged the 67 competitors from 17 nations, sailing on two courses.
Mattias Coutts (19yrs) came close to losing control of the world championship, before the start of racing today when he hit an underwater object, at speed, damaging his rudder foilaand taking the whole supporting gantry off the stern of the boat.
A quick call to Mackay Boats, conveniently located in nearby Silverdale, provided the lifeline that Coutts desperately needed.
Coutts takes up the story:
"I managed to go out before the first race hit something in the water.
"So it wasn't ideal, broke the main foil, the rudder foil, and broke the main gantry as well - which is what the rudder foil effectively sits on.
"I was little bit worried about that!"
"I came back into shore and was lucky to have a great team, to support me to get back out on the water. Managed to just make it out for the second race in a bit of a rush."
"I was happy with how I sailed the second race. I managed to win that one. And then the next race was very tricky, very shifty. Had a pretty good result there, and just inside the top 10, I think. And in the last one that was lucky enough to come away with the win. So it was good."
Coming up with the parts for the Mackay Bieker V3 Moth, when most of New Zealand is still on their summer holiday, is a big ask. Fortunately for Coutts Mackay Boats David McDiarmid, a three times winner of the JJ Giltinan Trophy for 18ft skiffs was on hand, and brought the required parts down to Coutts as he arrived onshore..
Had Dave McDiarmid, who is at Mackay boats. He managed to, luckily bring me one down just in time, as we sort of got into the beach and, and, we got pretty lucky there. I mean, managed to have him down there. He was really helpful, to get the gantry back on and just get back out there.
Coutts estimates the whole exercise took around 45minutes, and he missed the first race, which was won by his close rival, Jacob Pye - who is lying second in the regatta.
The pair have been training partners in the months building up to the World Championship which is being sailed in their home waters.
"Obviously I've got huge respect for Jake," Coutts said. "He's been a good mate of mine for a long time now. He's obviously been going really well.
"He's very fast, and has been putting a lot of pressure on which is which I think is good.
"It's been great fun," he added.
The major talking point of the world championship has been the rise of the Youth sailors in the standings, at the expense of some top Olympic, America's Cup and SailGP sailors. However to be fair to the superstars most have their focus on the 2025 Worlds due to be held in Lake Garda, Italy in late July 2025. Most have recently had a break after Barcelona 2024, Paris2024 and SailGP.
In comparison the youth sailors have been in serious training for several months at the worlds' venue.
"We did a lot of training," Coutts elaborated. "The last three months in particular, leading into the worlds were pretty jam packed. I think in one of the months, we did 25 days of sailing in the month."
"Luckily for us, we have a little bit more time on our hands than those with recent America's Cup Olympic and SailGP commitments. I guess it's nice for us to have a little bit more time on our hands, and than maybe they do, so we get a little bit of an advantage in that sense. I guess because, obviously, they are all amazing sailor. It's privilege to sail against them."
Turning his eye to the future Mattias Coutts says he is looking at getting back into the 49er campaigning towards the 2028 Olympics. "In terms of the Moth for me, we've got Garda Worlds, midway through next through next year. We'll be prepping for that a little bit, but mostly 49er stuff for me."
Asked if he had had any conversations with a certain person about getting Youth event into SailGP, Coutts response was "I haven't actually, but I think for me, that's a fair way off. I've got a lot of work to do," he added.
Down the other end of the boatpark, Coutts' close rival Jake Pye was looking forward to the final day of the event, despite finishing mid-fleet in the final race of the day.
"I had a decent day. Started well, and just trying to keep it together at the moment," he reflected. "Didn't go so well in the last race. But I'll drop that and get into it tomorrow."
The breeze right through the Pre-Worlds and now the World Championship itself, has been from the south west, and mostly above 12kts, with strong winds causing the suspension of racing on the first two days of the Worlds.
"But tomorrow looks a bit different," Pye says - maybe from the east, nor' east, [onshore] which would be good mix it up a bit," he explains.
Winds are expected initially to be light, but swinging to the east and building to a moderate seabreeze.
Pye says that at Manly "the nor'easter, is generally, quite a light breeze, when it's a sea breeze- but we shall see."
In those conditions, Pye says the foiling Moths need about 6-7kts to pop onto their foils.
"It depends sea state and how much wind you got. But generally, if it's flat water and about six, seven knots, you'll find yourself taking off quite, quite comfortably.
Despite a few up and downs, and the unchanging conditions, Pye says it has been a great regatta.
"I love competing at this level. It's it's good to finally be in the same fleet as the top guys, and yes, it's a bit more tough, and the mistakes are costly, but it's good racing."
Four races are scheduled for the Final day, on January 9.
Third overall is Richard Didham (USA), who is also the first open fleet sailor. He is 16pts behind Pye, and has another top NZ Youth sailor, former World 420 World champion Seb Menzies, just 1pt back. That situation is repeated several times in the Open fleet, and the pressure is on to sail consistently - particularly in a new wind direction and sea state.
For full results click here