Jamie Hilton’s Scoundrel and King Juan Carlos of Spain’s Bribon are 2023 Six Metre World Champions
With zero wind forecast for the scheduled final day of racing at the Six Metre World Championship 2023 in Cowes, the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Race Committee elected to run all three remaining races, races six to eight, on the penultimate day of the competition.
After a long, hot, and incredibly intense light airs three race day, Jamie Hilton’s Scoundrel, sailing for the New York Yacht Club and crewed by Mike Marshall, Dave Hughes, Allan Terhune Jr and Addison Caproni, was declared 2023 Open Six Metre World Champion with a race to spare. The battle for second place in the Open Division came down a final race shoot-out between Violeta Alvarez’ Stella of the Royal Yacht Squadron and Dieter Schoen’s 2022 World Champion Momo, sailing for the Sailing Club of St Moritz, with Stella ultimately prevailing by a single point.
“The boat goes so great, and the guys get the boat going so well, that everything just fell into place. I feel very fortunate, very luck. We had great competitors that really kept us on our toes and made us work hard.” – said a clearly delighted Jamie Hilton.
The fight for the Classic Division was even more intense and was only decided on the final race. As the boats crossed the final finish line, it was His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s Bribon, being sailed for the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo by Ross McDonald, Alejandro Abescal, Simon Fisher, Aleberto Viejo and Roi Alvarex, that claimed a narrow victory over Louis Heckly’s Dix Août, helmed by Gery Trentesaux under the burgee of the Yacht Club de France. Simon Williams’ Silvervingen of the New York Yacht Club took the final place on the Classics podium.
After sailing His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s pride in his team was clear as he said, “It’s a sensational team, a really good team. We’ve worked for it, we’ve fought for it, and here is the result.”.
The Corinthian Division winners were Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller’s Junior of the Club Nautique de Versoix in the Open Division, and Patrick Sandman’s May Be VI of Finland’s Nyländska Jaktklubben in the Classics.
The Official Prize Giving Ceremony will take place as planned on Friday 8 September at the Royal Yacht Squadron from 19.00.
A full press release with additional photos, video and quotes will follow.
Additional information about the 2023 International Six Metre World Championship, including a list of entries with details of each boat is available at 6metreworlds.com.
Final Results Open Division
1st Scoundrel, USA123, Jamie Hilton – 1, 3, 7, 3, 2, 2, 2, (19/RTD) = 20
2nd Stella, GBR112, Violeta Alvarez – 5, 2, 1, 4, 6, 3, 6, (6) = 27
3rd Momo, SUI143, Dieter Schoen – (9), 5, 8, 2, 1, 1, 4, 7 = 28
4th Junior, SUI77, Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller – 6, 9, 4, 1,11, 4, 1, 9 = 34
5th GinkgoToo, SUI140, Jan Eckert – (14), 1, 6 12, 3, 5, 7, 2 = 36
Final Results Classic Division
1st Bribon, ESP16, His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain – 3, (12), 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 4 = 18
2nd Dix Août, FRA111, Louis Heckly and Gery Trentesaux – 1, (14), 1, 4, 1, 6, 4, 7 = 24
3rd Silvervingen, GBR31, Simon Williams – 7, 3, 7 , 3, 9, (16/UFD), 2, 3 = 34
4th Titia, ESP72, Mauricio Sanchez-Bella – 11, 1, 5, 7, 3, (16/UFD), 3, 5 = 35
5th May Be VI, FIN51, Patrick Sandman – 9, 7, 2, 6, 5, 5, (16/DSQ), 8 = 42
