Competitors got a breezy start on the 1st day of competition at Southport Yacht Club Hollywell for the start of competition in the 2024 Hansa Class Asia Pacifics.

Following a competitors briefing, sailors in the Liberty and 303 doubles divisions were away first in a 17 knot breeze, with the tide causing issues with rounding the top mark.

Two races were scheduled for each division, with honours in the first Liberty race going to Hong Kong’s Yuen Wai Foo from Australia’s Sean Hogan. Race two saw Australia’s Charlie Weatherly improving on his 4th place in the 1st race to win the second, from Foo in 2nd place. New Zealand’s John Buchanan sailed consistently to take 3rd place in both races.

In the 303 doubles the top 3 places were taken by Australians, with reigning Asia Pacific Champions, Tasmania’s Chris Symonds & Manuela Klinger took 2 bullets from Victorians Craig & Sarah Millsom & Qld’s Sonya Macfarlane.

In the afternoon session, the winds strengthened to around 27 knots by the final of the 2 races for the 303 singles and SKUD18.

In the 303 singles, Japan’s Niwa Takumi scored a first and second place to lead the fleet, in front of a pack of Australian sailors, with Victorians Stephen Griffith in second and Allison Weatherly in third. Due to the strengthening wind, several competitors chose not to compete in the second race in the 303 singles. Winds are expected to ease on day 2.

In the SKUD18, Brent Geritz and Joel Turner took the honours in both races in perfect winds for their craft.

Day two will see the fleets reversed, with the SKUD18 and 303 singles sailing the morning session, and the 303 doubles and Liberties in the afternoon.

Full results available at – https://hansaregionals.org/results/