The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) is proud to announce that Ku-Ring-Gai III skippered by John Bacon has emerged victorious at the prestigious 5.5m World Championship 2024 held in Benodet, France.
Ku-Ring-Gai III, led by John Bacon and his crew Joost Houweling and Edward Wright, displayed exceptional skill and determination throughout the championship, culminating in a well-deserved triumph on the global sailing stage.
Competition throughout this fleet, which includes several former Olympic sailors, as well as national and international champions across multiple classes, is always intense. This year was no exception and there were plenty of teams with the potential to win.
RPAYC congratulates John Bacon, his skilled crew, and all Australian competitors, including RPAYC sailors Martin Cross, Bob Stoddard and Simon Reffold sailing Beta Crucis and Stephen McConaghy and Tom Spithill who sailed onboard Arunga XIII skippered by Mark Tolhurst, for their outstanding performance at the 5.5m World Championship. The victory not only highlights their exceptional abilities of the Ku-Ring-Gai III crew, but also underscores the spirit of sportsmanship, determination, and teamwork that are synonymous with the sailing community.
The 5.5m World Championship trophy is returning to Aussie soil with a winning Australian team for the first time since 1979. Celebrations for John and his esteemed crew are set to take place at the Alfred’s this Saturday 14 September, post-racing, where RPAYC Commodore, Robert McClelland and Rear Commodore Yachting, Peter Farrugia will officially present the team with the championship trophy on home turf.
The clubhouse will be a buzz with sailors competing in the first Saturday race of the new season together with competitors competing in day 1 of the David Lukins Regatta. Everyone is invited to the clubhouse to be a part of the trophy presentation and join in the celebration.
Read more about the 5.5m World Championship final wrap and view overall results here. View images from racing here
