Anticipation builds for the Hansa World and International Championships
by Brendan Rourke 9 Nov 21:25 PST
23-30 March 2025
Anticipation builds for the Hansa Worlds © RPAYC
Anticipation is building as sailors worldwide prepare for the 2025 Hansa World Championships, set to be hosted at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport, Australia. Fresh off the recent Hansa Class Asia Pacific Championships at Southport Yacht Club, top competitors from across the globe are gearing up for fierce competition in March 2025.
At the Asia Pacific Championships in October, Japan's Takumi Niwa delivered an impressive performance in the Hansa 303 One Person fleet, securing the win after consistently placing in the top three in all eight races. Niwa, along with Polish Para World Sailing Champion Piotr Cichocki and Australia's Alison Weatherly, will reunite in Newport to vie for the Hansa 303 Para World and Open World titles. Spain's Isaias Iglesias, who took second in the European Championships, will also add to the challenge.
The 303 Two Person category saw Australians Chris Symonds and Manuela Klinger dominate by winning every race. Next year's competition will feature strong European contenders including France's Gauthier Bril and Camille Massonnaud, along with past medallists Piotr Cichocki and Olga Górnas-Grudzien, in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
In the Liberty class, Hong Kong's Foo Yuen Wai, with six wins out of nine starts, claimed victory in Southport and now sets his sights on a World Championship. Britain's Paul Phillips and former champion Vera Voorbach from the Netherlands will join him in Newport, alongside Japan's Ryo Sasaki, who secured the Liberty Servo title at the Asia Pacific's.
Queensland's local talent also shone on the Gold Coast Broadwater, with Neil Rowsthorn, Brent Geritz, and Ross Manning taking the top three spots in the SKUD 18 division. They will face serious competition from New Zealand's top crews, who are shipping boats to compete in the SKUD 18 Open and Para categories. Notably, Paralympic gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch will make a highly anticipated return to the SKUD 18, aiming for a strong showing at the Worlds.
Entries for the 2025 World and International Championships close 30 November. Competitors and Coaches are encouraged to register to participant prior to the close of entries to avoid a late fee. Charter boats and request for RIBs is on a first come first serve basis, complete a Charter Form downable from the event website.
View the full list of current entrants here.
Important Details for Entrants:
- Early Entry Deadline: Midnight, Saturday, 30 November. A late fee is applicable thereafter.
- World Sailing ID: Required for para category participants to ensure para rankings.
- Logistics: Visit the event website site for details on Accommodation options, how to Charter Boats, Charter RIBs, and volunteer opportunities.
For more details and to stay updated on all aspects of the Hansa World Championships 2025, visit our official event website at hansaworlds.org.