Impressive line-up

Top contenders head for Etchells Worlds in Fremantle

Strong breezes and the best international fleet for the Etchells Worlds for many years, will sail on Fremantle's Cockburn Sound in the 2006 Audi Etchells Worlds Championships from 17-26 November 2006.

Recent history would suggest that an Australia sailor should win the Championship. The Etchells Worlds have been raced eight times in Australia since 1984 and only once, when Brit Chris Law won in Fremantle in 1990, has the title gone offshore.

However there is another piece of history that will make this a tougher task than in previous years. It seems this will be a record international fleet, certainly the greatest number in recent Etchells World history. 35 boats out of 75 overall will be international competitors, therefore the traditional host country fleet 'numerical advantage' will be much less.

The San Francisco Worlds last year was sailed in plenty of breeze, so the dozen US crews including Tito Gonzales the 2005 winner, Jud Smith who just won the 2006 North American titles, Dennis Conner and a number of other gun skippers including Russ Silvestri and Craig Healy are expecting similar, but warmer conditions with blue water, rather than brown.

The UK squad, looking towards next year's Championship in Cowes will be here in force and looks to be settling at around 13 crews with Stuart Childerley the 2001 and 2002 World Champion, and 2006 British and European champion, with a wooden tiller and tiller extension leading the bunch that includes brothers Ante and Nils Razmilovic.

This squad also includes current second placed European Etchells sailor, Andy Beadsworth, former GBR Challenge helm and Soling champion and current Star campaigner.

Entries include four Irish crews, including the winner of the Audi Etchell Irish Nationals Dan O'Grady and three Kiwis crews including the 2006 National Champion Alistair Gair and crews from Hong Kong, Italy and Bermuda and more international additions are expected.

This field is wild open. Gonzales, Smith, Conner and Childerley, who will be sailing his Etchells swan-song, will be battling against a host of top class Australian Etchells sailors.

Initially it seemed that Australian East Coast support might be lagging, but there is now strong representation from NSW and Victoria, as well as good Queensland and South Australian support.

As well as John Bertrand, the top Australian's include Sydney sailor Rob Brown, one of Bertrand's 1983 crew, and the 2006 Audi Etchells Australian champion and the 1999 World Champion, Cameron Miles from Pittwater, NSW.

Michael Coxon and Julian Plante from North Sails in Sydney have each been strong campaigners and they should be even better together as a team.

Noel (Nitro )Brennan is back from his Volvo 70 campaign and is sailing with Bill Browne and Peter Ahern. He won the Perth Nationals with the same crew in 2001.

From the WA fleet Rob Bird, the current State champion and 2004 Masters World Champion and Skip Lissiman, another of Bertrand's Australia II winning crew and Michael Manford who won two races in the Auckland Worlds in 2002 will have local knowledge up their sleeves.

The event will be sailed on Cockburn Sound, a superb stretch of water located just two kilometres from the Port of Fremantle and sheltered by the outlaying Carnac and Garden Islands and a great venue for this important event. As Rob Bird says, 'Great breezes there, sometimes too good which is why racing will start at 11am, rather than later when sea breeze has really kicked in.'

During the Fremantle Worlds 16 years ago, Dennis Conner said, 'these would have to be the best sailing conditions in the world!' He was talking about the same course that will be used in 2006".

As Nev Wittey, a former New South Wales champion in Etchells, Olympian, two times World champion in Yngling and Soling keelboat classes 'Fremantle and this fleet full of World Champions. This has to be THE event for this summer.'

Title sponsor Audi Australia, who sponsored the Audi Etchells Nationals and who are supporting a wide range of Australian sailing events, will be certain to make this a memorable event.

The Maersk shipping line Line is a Premium Sponsor and their support has meant that 28 containers are scheduled to bring Etchells to Perth from around the world.

The Audi Etchells Worlds will be preceded by the six-race Syd Corser Championships, from 13-15 October, followed by the Australian National Championships, on 10-12 Nov. Both these events will provide a strong form guide.


The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) and the Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) are the host clubs, with the Fremantle Sailing Club providing the venue.

Major Sponsor: Audi Australia. Premium Sponsors: Maersk Line, Pro Choice Safety Products, Fontys Pool Wines and Events Corp. Support Sponsors: Superdata, Perth Integrated Health Clinic.


Past Winners

Year World Champion Venue

2005 Tito Gonzales, San Francisco, CA, USA
2004 Peter McNeill Mooloolaba, Australia
2003 Ken Read Long Island Sound, CT, USA
2002 Stuart Childerley Gulf Harbour, New Zealand
2001 Stuart Childerley Lymington, England
2000 Vince Brun San Diego, CA, USA
1999 Cameron Miles Pittwater, Australia
1998 Dirk Kneulman Marblehead, MA, USA
1997 Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen, Hong Kong
1996 Adam Gosling Cowes, England
1995 Colin Beashel Brighton, Australia
1994 Dennis Conner Balboa, CA, USA
1993 Colin Beashel Brisbane, Australia
1992 David Curtis Larchmont, NY, USA
1991 Dennis Conner San Francisco, CA, USA
1990 Chris Law Fremantle, Australia
1989 Larry Klein San Diego, CA, USA
1988 John Savage Newport, Australia
1987 Bruce Burton Marblehead, MA, USA
1986 Bruce Burton Toronto, Canada
1985 David Curtis Balboa, CA, USA
1984 Iain Murray Sydney, Australia
1983 David Curtis Rye, NY, USA
1982 David Curtis San Francisco, CA, USA
1981 David Curtis Marblehead, MA, USA
1980 Peter O'Donnell Brighton, Australia
1979 John Savage Toronto, Canada
1978 David Curtis Balboa, CA, USA
1977 Frank Tolhurst Newport, Australia
1976 David Curtis & Bob Danforth Newport, RI, USA
1975 Randy Bartholomew Marblehead, MA, USA