Congratulations to Celestial’s Sam Haynes, Locky Pryor, Sam Abel, Tom Grimes and coach, David Chapman, who have placed 3rd in the 2023 Corinthian J/70 World Cup.

The inaugural J/70 Corinthian World Cup kicked off in Riva del Garda on 1 June.  Open exclusively to non-professional sailors and thanks to the joint organization of J/70 Italian Class, J/70 International Class and Fraglia Vela Riva, the Corinthian World Cup attracted 75 crews representing 20 nations.

All sailors had to be registered as World Sailing Group 1 (amateur). Upon arrival, the Race Committee (RC) checked names against passports, while a representative from World Sailing prepared a list of names from the crew list for further interview. This led to some crew switches before racing as the RC was serious about Amateur status and a few were sent home.

Measurement was based on the honor system but the RC randomly called three boats at the end of each day’s racing for full inspection. Moreover, three boats were called randomly after each race for on the water checklist inspection.

The first two days of racing were brilliant with 12 to 17 knots. The racing was tight, the competition stiff, with umpires on the course having their hands full at mark roundings. The big winds of the Ora and Pelèr that Lake Garda is known for did not show up the last two days and racing was cancelled due to lack of wind.

Final places were determined from the series of six races, with the worst result being discarded.

The final standings were gold for Italy’s Gianfranco Noè’s on White Hawk, Silver for Estonia’s Tonu Toniste on Irrational Exuberance and bronze for Australia’s Celestial team led by Sam Haynes.  Fourth overall was Let It Be skippered by the Spanish Marcelo Baltzer Foucher and in fifth place Three Musketeers, from Brazil, led by Alberto Guarischi.

The Celestial team has now qualified for the 2024 Corinthian World Championship in Copenhagen as well as the 2024 Open Worlds in Palma, Mallorca.