Lorient Prepares for Offshore Sailing World Championship – Part 1
by 2024 Offshore Double Handed World Championship 22 Sep 13:14 PDT
24 September – 1 October 2024
World Sailing Offshore Double Handed World Championship: Lorient La Base © Thibault Poriel
The event is organized by Lorient Grand Large in collaboration with FFVoile, the Yacht Club De France, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, supported by Cap-Regatta and Multiplast/Jeanneau.
With less than three days remaining until the World Sailing Offshore Double Handed World Championship (ODHWC) commences, teams from around the globe have arrived in Lorient, France. Mixed teams of two sailors from 17 nations will compete offshore in One Design Sun Fast 30s.
The racing area extending from Lorient features the rugged Atlantic Coast, known for hosting challenging conditions. Competitors in One Design Sun Fast 30s will navigate as far west as the Isles of Scilly and east towards the English Channel’s western approaches.
Under the direction of World Sailing, two elimination races will determine the ten teams advancing to the World Championship Final. The first nighttime elimination race is set for Wednesday, 25 September, with the second elimination race on Thursday, 26 September. The top five vessels from each elimination will secure spots in the Final Race, which is scheduled to start on Sunday, 29 September.
Département du Morbihan Race – Elimination Race One
Start: Lorient 1600 CET Wednesday 25 September.
Elimination Race One, known as the Département du Morbihan Race, anticipates a robust weather forecast with strong westerly or south-westerly gusts. The approximately 12-hour race will feature 11 entrants from countries such as Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, Greece, India, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Uruguay, and the United States.
France 2 – Charlotte Yven & Loi¨s Berrehar
France 2 stands out as a potential favorite for the World Championship. Charlotte Yven & Loi¨s Berrehar both participate in the MACIF Skipper Programme, a path trailed by François Gabart, Charlie Dalin, and Yoann Richomme. This year, during her second Solitaire du Figaro, Charlotte placed fifth and ranks 7th in the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship. Loi¨s Berrehar has been part of the MACIF Skipper Programme since 2022, having competed in six Figaros, where he secured second place this year and third in 2023. He currently holds the 3rd position in the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship.
Belgium 2 – Djemila Tassin & Jonas Gerckens
As competitors in the Sun Fast 30 OD, Djemila Tassin & Jonas Gerckens exhibited strong form during this year’s Dhream Cup, finishing third in a windy race. They intend to embark on a global journey in 2025 with an entry in the Globe40 Race.
Great Britain 1 – Maggie Adamson & Cal Finlayson
Scottish duo Maggie Adamson & Cal Finlayson typically race in separate two-handed teams. Maggie has logged thousands of miles with Gavin Howe’s Sun Fast 3600 Tigris, achieving victory in the doublehanded class during the 2024 RORC Transatlantic Race. Cal races on a competing Sun Fast 3600 Diablo owned by Nick Martin, which finished third among 400 boats in the 2024 RORC Season’s Points Championship. Maggie and Cal have previously teamed up, securing third place in the 2023 Nastro Rosa Tour.
New Zealand 2 – Aaron Hume-Merry & Anna Merchant
Aaron Hume-Merry & Anna Merchant boast over 6000 miles of two-handed racing experience together in the past six years. Aaron previously represented New Zealand in the ILCA 7 and was included in Yachting New Zealand’s Olympic campaign for the 49er class. Anna emerged from the esteemed RNZYS youth training program, participating in her first offshore event at age 17 and achieving podium finishes in two World Match Racing Championships.
Uruguay – Federico Waksman & Justina Pacheco
After years of sailing yacht work worldwide, Federico decided to compete in the Mini Transat 6.50, ultimately winning the 2023 event, becoming the first South American to accomplish such a feat. He now aims to participate in the Solitaire du Figaro. Justina Pacheco secured national titles during her youth in Uruguay.
India – Sweta Shervegar & Atool Sinha
Atool, hailing from Mumbai, has competed at high levels in match racing across India and the Far East. Sweta has participated in elite competitions within the 470 and 49er FX Classes, notably finishing as runner-up in the 49er at the 2018 Asian Games. Atool serves as a Captain in the Indian Armed Forces.
Japan – Yoshihiko Murase & Naho Takahara
Murase has participated in both the 1991 and 1995 Melbourne to Osaka two-handed races and has entered six consecutive Transpacific Yacht Races as well as three Sydney Hobarts, commanding his 54ft racing yacht. Naho Takahara, a novice Mini Transat sailor, aspires to be both the first Japanese woman and the youngest Japanese individual to complete a solo transatlantic crossing.
Canada – Sarah Nicholson & Ben Daniel
Ben and Sarah form a new double-handed team, though they share thousands of offshore miles individually. Ben Daniel is a 27-year-old sailor from British Columbia who has been racing offshore since age 15. Sarah Nicholson, 25, from New Brunswick, possesses a deep passion for offshore racing. Concurrently engaged with North Technology Group as an engineer, Sarah has accumulated significant racing experience, including her role as skipper in the Newport to Bermuda Race.
Netherlands 2 – Tim Lemeer & Lisa Vos
This Dutch duo is connected to the Magenta Project, an award-winning initiative aimed at fostering equity and inclusion for women in sailing. Tim serves on the Board of the Magenta Project and has previously been the Rear Commodore of Scheveningen YC. Lisa Vos is a Magenta Mentee who contributed as a sailor and logistics manager for VO65 Team Jajo in 2023.
Greece – Gerasimos Petratos & Evi Delidou
Representing Greece, Gerasimos Petratos & Evi Delidou race their Dehler 30 Aether in a doublehanded format, designed similarly to the Sun Fast 30. This pair secured the Doublehanded class victory at this year’s Aegean 600.
USA1 – Barbara Karpinski & Kevin Morgan
Barbara Karpinski has participated in nearly all major offshore races in the western hemisphere and has played a vital role in promoting offshore double-handed racing since the movement’s inception in the United States.
Stay updated with all the action during the Offshore Double Handed World Championship via LIVE TRACKING. For more information, visit www.lorientgrandlarge.org
