The International Hansa Class Association Hansa Worlds 2025 took place at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport (Sydney) from 24th to 30th March 2025. It was a big week of sailing in light to moderate and very shifty breezes in the Hansa Liberty fleet. We got 6 races in of the 9 race series over 4 days of racing, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Very light breeze with lots of tide and waterflow down the Hawkesbury River from rain meant unfortunately we didn’t get a full 9 races in to round out the series on Saturday. The three races scheduled for this day were abandoned by the race committee.
It’s been great to be here, and to get here, and to sail against some very competitive and knowledgeable sailors! The thing I love about this fleet is that the former world Champ Vera Vorbach in the top 3 this event sails with full servo assist for main, jib trim and steering. I had some great starts in amongst the best, and a couple of not so great ones. Also there were some fantastic downwind legs overtaking boats on the ‘run’ towards the finish.I was proud to place 5th and 7th in a couple of races out of the 6 of the series, and there were other races where I finished mid- fleet, pulling up my total series score. 13th out of 32 boats is pretty good for me out of a week long event, doing this sport I enjoy so very much. This is an accumulated score of all the races for the races sailed. The boat with the lowest score wins!⛵⛵
https://sailingresults.net/sa/results/overall.aspx?ID=81841.4
So many thanks to Sailability WA at RPYC for loaning the Rob Carter Liberty for this event, and for funding some of the boat transport costs. It might sound a bit cheesy but it has meant the world to me to get to Pittwater NSW for the Hansa Worlds, and to have YOUR support (yes you the person that is reading this) to sail at this regatta. Going to this event would not have been possible without your support!
While I feel like this event has been my ‘last hurrah’ for World Champs…. maybe at some point in the future, there might be another ‘hurrah’ at a State champs or National Titles.
See below for some photos of sailing in the Liberty fleet – in this beautiful and scenic patch of water, surrounded by so many trees. I am sailing in AUS 3460, the dark blue boat with the light blue main and white jib.
Now that the regatta has finished and awards given to the winners, the Rob Carter boat has been packed on its trailer to head for home tomorrow, where the boat will continue to be sailed at Sailability WA at RPYC.
Many thanks for your generosity towards my ‘last hurrah’ at a World Event, it has been quite awesome to sail on Pittwater with the best in the Liberty fleet and to chat with and connect with international sailors.
Written by Rachael Cox (31 March 2025)
