Please select your home edition
Edition

2023 Star World Championship at Marina di Scarlino, Tuscany, Italy - Overall

by ISCYRA 24 Sep 2023 12:26 PDT 17-24 September 2023

Dreams come true when you work hard for them. Max Kohlhoff and Ole Burzinski won the 2023 Star World Championship today in Marina di Scarlino, Tuscany, after three years of dedication, training, and passion for sailing and for the Star boat.

They started the Championship with a bullet and ended it with a golden star affixed to their mainsail, a lifelong dream for the 200+ Star sailors in Scarlino. For some, this was their 20th attempt. This year, it was Max and Ole's turn to win.

"Since we started three years ago, our goal was always to win the gold star to put on the mainsail. We believed it was possible, but it was definitely hard work... and doing it here, on our second attempt, is unbelievable!" commented Max Kohlhoff right after coming off the water. "It's hard to find words for this special moment, achieved here in Scarlino. We had some great regattas this year, always finishing second, but finally, this time it clicked, and it was the reward for our hard work."

The final day of the 2023 Star World Championship started with a different breeze from the north. The first race of the day started around 11:15 AM with 7/8 knots of wind speed, but it varied throughout the four legs, with a gentle but constant shift to the right. The 30-year-old German team Max Kohlhoff and Ole Burzinshi and the Belgian/Dutch team Manu Hens and Joost Houweling had a great start and rounded first and second at the top mark. Kohlhoff / Burzinski took over Hens / Houweling on the last downwind leg, won the race, and became the provisional overall leaders due to a poor race by the Swiss Pete Eckerd with the Portuguese crew Frederico Melo and an even worse one by Diego Negri and Alessandro Sodano (ITA). After Race Five, the discard rule came into play, so all three teams were still in the hunt for the title ahead of Race Six.

For the last race, the wind came even more from the right, 050 degrees, and the wind speed varied from as little as 5 knots to as much as 13. The best at reading it were the Irish Peter O'Leary and Steve Milne, even though the first at both the top mark and the gate were the Americans Doug Smith and Brian O'Mahony. Negri / Sodano and Eckert / Melo finished eighth and 12th, respectively, which was enough to keep them both on the podium: the Swiss/Portuguese team won silver, and the Italians took bronze.

"We had a terrific week, we sailed really well, very consistently, but today was our worst day, a very difficult day, very shifty. It always looked good, I never had bad feelings, but it was either no wind or gusts coming from the other direction. We just had something missing, so yes, it's bittersweet, but also so good!" said Piet Eckert. "It's a tricky day, a little disappointing, of course, after starting the day as leaders, but our goal was to make the top 10. We had never made the top 10 in our previous three World Championships, so finishing second is fantastic, even though we came out today to win. Congratulations to Max and Ole; they did amazing today!" added Frederico Melo.

"Last year, I started the World Championship without sails, this time without my crew... Sergio Lambertenghi had a little accident to his foot, and the day before coming here, he called it off. Luckily, Alessandro was ready to step in after just a couple of days of training together this summer. This week was racing but also training at the same time, as I was teaching him how to do things for the first time on the boat. So, finishing third feels even more amazing, and it makes me think that I really know this boat well!" commented Diego Negri. "Many thanks to Diego for giving me this opportunity. It came at the very last minute, and I was so excited to join him and join the Star Class," added Alessandro Sodano.

With the prize-giving at the Yacht Club Isole di Toscana, the 2023 Star World Championship comes to a close. It will be remembered for the crazy weather, the long waits, the frustration, and the fear of not making it. Still, it will also be remembered for the excitement of having two new young Star World Champions, emerging from a successful U30 program run by Arnd Glunde in the North of Germany. This is a sign of hope for a Class that's more than 100 years old, which has seen great legends of the sport raise the 100-year-old trophy and can continue to produce champions.

More Information:

Related Articles

Star World Champions heading to Etchells Worlds
A range of international performers ahead heading for Royal Brighton Yacht Club in January The Etchells National and World Championships in January 2025 at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, are attracting a range of international performers across classes including the most recent Star Class World Champions, John Kostecki and Austin Sperry. Posted on 28 Oct
Bacardi continues support for next generation
Supporting young talented Star Class sailors Bacardi continues to support young talented Star Class sailors in their pursuit of success with its Bacardi Cup U30 Program 2025. Posted on 30 Sep
2024 Star Worlds at San Diego overall
John Kostecki and Austin Sperry crowned champions John Kostecki and Austin Sperry crowned champions. A hard-fought battle on the water among the top six teams, the Americans finished third in the last race, overall one point ahead of Will Stout with Danny Cayard and Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre. Posted on 14 Sep
2024 Star Worlds at San Diego Day 5
Wide open going into the last day tomorrow Will Stout and Danny Cayard win Race Five, their second bullet in the series, and are the provisional overall leaders, tied on points with John Kosteki and Austin Sperry. Posted on 13 Sep
2024 Star Worlds at San Diego Day 4
Another beautiful day in San Diego San Diego delivered yet another beautiful day on the water, with winds up to 12 knots, sunshine and cooler air. Posted on 12 Sep
2024 Star Worlds at San Diego Day 3
A family affair Out of three races of the 2024 Star World Championship, two were won by the American-German team Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen, the other one, yesterday's, by Will Stout and Danny Cayard, Paul's son, so every race so far was won by a Cayard. Posted on 11 Sep
2024 Star Worlds at San Diego Day 2
Fickle wind hard to read for the 64 boat fleet Four start attempts for Race Two at the 2024 Star World Championship in San Diego, California, were a frustrating beginning of a day that the the fleet will remember as a very difficult one. Posted on 10 Sep
2024 Star Worlds at San Diego Day 1
Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen win the opening race with good pace and smart race management San Diego delivered incredible conditions on Day One of the 2024 Star World Championship. With sunshine, 12 to 15 knots of northwesterly breeze, and chop mixed with ocean swell, the 64 teams participating had it all. Posted on 9 Sep
2024 Star Worlds kicks off at San Diego
San Diego Yacht Club hosts the event for the ninth time in the Star Class's 100+ years of history 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. Posted on 8 Sep
Entry open for Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta
There is no better place to experience a unique blend of exhilarating racing and Bacardi hospitality Set sail for the world-renowned 2025 Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta and the 2024/2025 Bacardi Winter Series. Our online entry is officially open! Posted on 5 Sep
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service StayMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER